Category: Oceania

After a wonderful weekend (photographic evidence will follow), today started less than wonderful, with humid heat and cramps (the joys of being a woman…) to accompany a long lecture and tutorial. However, I did get my grades for the Human Resources paper I took before Christmas – a very satisfactory A-. Now, if only I can manage a semi-decent effort for the test I have coming up the day after tomorrow in Organisational Behaviour…

But anyway, after uni was finally over, I went to view a flat right in the city centre, on the famous Cuba St (where there are loads of bars, tattoo shops and cafés). Then I went home to a nice hot water bottle, before heading out to check out a listing I’d seen this morning on TradeMe (the NZ version of eBay, where you can find anything from the usual auctions over cars to flats and houses). This turned out a very good find: a studio with all the amenities I have now, in a building above the shopping/business district, with several floors assigned specifically to students. Rent for students is about the same as I would pay if I stayed where I am now – and I’d even be a bit closer to campus!

They apparently still have lots of vacancies, so I’m taking the luxury of checking out another flat tomorrow evening, which would be shared but cheaper, before giving them my application. I’ll also wait to cancel Loafer’s Lodge until Thursday or Friday, I think. I did quite like it there, but the price was just a bit high for the location and the shared facilities.

So yes, unless I hear from the university accomodation services tomorrow that I can stay where I’m now, I’m pretty sure I’m moving the first weekend of February. I’ve even got a car organised – Dan, one of the guys I met in Wanaka, has generously offered his services as a chauffeur. Life is good! 🙂

[tags]moving, accomodation, uni, wellington[/tags]

I’ll be spending the weekend with Denise and her family in New Plymouth. Looking very much forward to that, although I’ll also have to at least try and get some studying done – I have a test and an essay coming up next week. Still, I really wanted to use the chance to go up there again and this is the last of my four-day weekends this semester that I’m free.

Wishing everyone a good weekend!

[tags]taranaki, friends, uni[/tags]

Had my first viewing today. Furnished one-bedroom flats or studios aren’t very common and furnished rooms in flats even less so, so I don’t expect to find a place as nice as Education House. Still, I don’t think I’ll send in the application for this one unless I really have to – small, dark, no desk (only a fold-out thingie), no chair, no cooker (you’re allowed to install your own hotplates) and costs more than I pay now. Good thing I have another viewing booked for tomorrow afternoon – the location is less ideal, but it should still be doable (3.5km to uni instead of 1.7km), and it’s cheaper. So keep your fingers crossed, yes?

[tags]accomodation, moving, wellington[/tags]

I spent the whole day on the bus traveling along the coast from Franz Josef, but I didn’t mind at all, as it’s one of the most stunning parts of coastline ever. I’d done the same trip before, but I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing the cliffs, the beaches and ocean…

Now I’m dead tired and think I’ll fall into bed soon. Franz Josef was fun – I used the short amount of time I had there to the best of my abilities and went for some short walks around the base of the glacier. Then I met up with Kevin, a friend I’d met online who works there, and we had a good time. So I’m definitely glad I stopped there – might even have to go back for a real glacier tour one of these days.

I don’t have the time to see anything of Nelson, however, but I already checked out some of the sights last time and I might be back to go to the Abel Tasman National Park that’s very close to here. At the moment it’s incredibly busy – everyone seems to want to use the holidays to enjoy the scenery and the summer weather at the beach.

Tomorrow I’m catching a bus to Picton, where I’ll have a couple of hours to kill before the ferry back to Wellington leaves. So next time you’ll hear from me, it’ll be back at my place… Good night for now! 🙂

I left Wanaka behind this morning and took the bus to Franz Josef, the glacier town, where I’ll spend one night before traveling on northwards. It’ll take me another two days of traveling to reach Wellington, but I don’t mind, as the landscape is truly stunning and we even take photo breaks! 🙂

Yesterday turned out to be lovely, btw – first I walked up Mt. Iron and took in the beautiful panorama, then I chilled out at the lakeside and even went for a refreshing swim. The evening I hung out with the guys from my dorm, talked, played cards and went to enjoy the beautiful Southern nightsky once more. Now I’m in the hostel in Franz Josef and will be picked up by a shuttle to take me to the glacier, so I can at least look at it, although I don’t have the time for a tour.

But the best experience of the whole day? I’d forgotten my rainjacket in Wanaka and had texted one of the guys from Wellington to take it along for me – and then, on a toilet/photo break from the bus, I ran into this very group of guys, traveling by car! So now I have my jacket again, isn’t that something? *g*

Last night was a lot of fun – I ended up watching a lovely fireworks display with a whole bunch of people from the backpackers. It really couldn’t have been better (except that there was no champagne, as you’re not allowed to drink in public over the holidays) and I’m very happy I ended up staying in Wanaka!

Now I think I’ll go for a little hike around the area. I hope all of you will have a good start into 2008 as well!