Wellington - Ferrie to Picton - Kaikoura - Christchurch

Ok so here is some photos from the last couple of days. It is going really fast now as I am doing only a day here and a day there in different places. I spent 2 days in Wellington, one night! I then took the Ferrie to Picton, I nearly missed the ferrie! I took a photo of the view from the ferrie, so that is my evening shot! By the way you will have to look at my photos bottom to top as that is how I put them on so that is how I am thinking sorry, I should do it the other way round. The top pic is actually my most recent one. So anyway, I took the ferrie to Picton and that was 'smashin' as it felt like I was really 'travelling' again, felt like going to another country travelling to the south island of New Zealand. I got to Picton in the evening, gabbed with 'jonny' the woman who runs the hostel and asked her if I should stay another night and have a look around, on hearing I only had 2 weeks she said 'get moving girl!' and so the next morning I got the bus to 'Kaikoura'after taking only one picture in Picton (after the ferrie shot and before the window shot!). I had to take a pic from my room window there it is absolutely gorgeous (I have mostly been staying in YHA's as opposed to general backpackers). And so the YHA in Kaikoura has a wonderful view of sea and mountains, some of them snow capped, how beautiful. I went for a walk my first night there and met an Indian guy going the same way so we chatted and ended up doing the peninsula walk together which took about 2.5 hours, but beautiful. Took a pic of a seal on the way, just hangin out and restin on the rocks. Also on the way saw some boys cycling off the pier, had to take a pic of that...the youth worker in me! They were asking for 50cents which is about ten pence for one of their friends to cycle of the pier, they sold themselves too cheap, I gave them a dollar! I took a couple of pics, if you look close you will see him just jumping in the air, mad boy! I shouldn't have encouraged him I know! It was a lovely walk, a lovely evening, and lovely company. I also met a really nice person on ferrie on 3 hour journey over, Jess from Canada, she works for Greenpeace. We had a good old gab and became fast friends from only a few moments of chattin to each other. Thats what I like about travelling! I left Kaikoura the next day, but had to spend the morning first of all out whale sighting! It was a fun journey although I have been feeling a bit nauseaus recently, motion sickness I think. Moving on buses, ferries, boats, etc, its all getting to me! But anyway, the whales were gorgeous and I got a pic of 3 of their tales and thats not easy job so enjoy the pics. Yeah I know I am a great photographer, you don't have to tell me! ha ha. And so I got to Christchurch yesterday and it is very 'English' my photo after the last 'whale tail' will show you that. I have more pics to take tomorrow but today I spent mostly hiking up in the Cavendish Mountain, I took a 'gondala' up, a cable car in the air, it was beautiful. I love walking in the mountains, I think I need to do more of that at home. I also got a bit darking walking round some rocks, but scared myself to death as the drop was enormous and it wasn't the normal path I should have taken, but the rocks were so 'pretty' - it was a temptation too great for me, but hopefully I will learn my lesson for next time coz I don't think I am insured for that!!!

Anyways, all is good here. The weather on the east coast of NZ is pretty warm at the moment and so thats good but the further I travel especially over to the west its going to get darn cold. They have the glaciers over there. Its all good! Oh yeah and I must say I have came to a lovely hostel by the botanic gardens in Christchurch and met up with a couple I met in Auckland, they are lovely and great to have a chat with. I especially know Laurel from our 'gabs' and she is a wealth of knowledge, her husband is dutch and she is Canadian and they are just the friendliest couple. I am going to meet up with them again tonight for a chat. Again, thats the great thing about travelling, meeting up with the friends you have made.

Love to all.

Sylvia