I've finally been motivated to sit down and start recording my trip so far (only because it's pouring buckets outside and I'm waiting to go for a hike!). I made 'er in to Christchurch Wednesday afternoon and set up a hostel...however, I was pretty bagged from the trip (22 hours), so my first night was spent tucked in bed. My flight from San Fran to Sydney had been delayed because there was no potable water on the flight ("but I thought all water was portable!" bah haha...oh Monty), so I missed my connector flight via Emirates. I had been looking forward to that plane, considering the United plane I was on to Sydney was a POS. It was an older plane, and when we hit turbulence at 5 am somewhere over the middle of the ocean, I almost feared for my life. First thing, no potable water, next thing you know, the plane's wings are falling off! Anyways, flying into New Zealand was absolutely brilliant. First thing I saw was the coastline, with beaches stretching as far as I could see. Then an amazing expanse of mountains poked through the clouds, with rolling valleys. That then melted into green farm land, and then the city of Christchurch.
When I got to Christchurch, one of the first people I met on the street while looking for a hostel turned out to be from Calgary...so I told him to bugger off, he was ruining the experience for me! But he did recommend one of the two hostels I was looking for, so he at least made himself useful ;)
On my first full day in Christchurch, I explored the city a bit, found myself at some botanical gardens. Then jumped on a bus and headed for the gondola, but instead of jumping on that, I hiked Bridle Path. I'm no experienced hiker or anything, so that was freakin' tough. Very steep, and within the first 10-15 minutes, I was gasping harder than I was after a 6 km run. When I reached the top of the mountain, to the north I could see the city, and the sea, and distant mountains...to the south, I could see a small, beautiful town called Lyttleton, and the harbor with huge ships. I trekked down the other side into Lyttleton (all the while cursing because I knew I was eventually going to have to come back up this way and it was steeper than the other side). Wandered around Lyttleton for a bit, and considered jumping on the bus back to Christchurch, but I made myself follow through to the end.
Lyttleton from the top of Bridle Path.
Christchurch from the top of Bridle Path.
Friday was a relaxing day (recovering from the day before!), and I booked myself on the Magic bus (a backpacker bus which I can jump off at any spot, spend as much time as I want there, then hop back on the next one that comes along). Saturday morning I began by taking a train ride from Christchurch to Greymouth, which is on the opposite coast. Very scenic, and we went through several different landscapes...I spent most of the time on the observation deck, and was very windblown and cold after passing through the mountains! A hostel shuttle picked me up from the train station, and soon after that, we were en route to the Panaikaki and the pancake rocks and blow holes. We stopped at this path which winded down to the sea, and the walk was absolutley beautiful...a rainforest so thick, that you couldn't leave the path if you wanted to because vegetation was coming at you from all directions and you'd get yourself in a tangled mess (sounds like I tried, doesn't it?). Then we ventured to the pancake rocks...these rocks were formed millions of years ago under the sea and are made of layers of ocean junk (micro-organisms or something...I'd be a great tour guide because I pay retain information, you'll notice haha). Anyways, they have caverns and tunnels, and the water gets sucked in, then shoots out like a geyser. Very cool...everything about the location is breathtaking, and photos can't do it justice. I've decided to hang around Greymouth for another day though...there is a hike I want to do this afternoon if the rain lets up. It's pretty slow here to upload pics, so there won't be as many up as I'd like...
From the train...getting into the interior of NZ
Greymouth...Jungle walk to the coast
I was Carolyn the Canadian from Calgary (aka Canada), according to the crew...they almost didn't let me jump because of my medical condition. They said they would have added American to it, but the Americans would find a way to sue them over it.
Because I make decisions first, then think about them after, I decided to do the fall backwards...which was rated five outta five underoos on the scary scale. 
