20050614 So … much … pain!

In recovery today, taking a day off from the mountain. Everything hurts right now, particularly my upper back and my ass. Had a great last 2 days snowboarding on the mountain, nailed the turns somewhat, I can do them pretty good but I’m still falling and had a nasty one yesterday just before I went back, mountain patrol came over to check on me. Think ive figured out what I’m doing wrong so should know what not to do tomorrow. Moved to a different hostel today, Deco’s, nice enough and it’ll do until I move into my house on Sunday. From now on I’ll be trying to keep a more detailed account of what’s happening cos I think I’m forgetting stuff.

20050611 Queenstown my new home & Snowboarding Day 1

Another new experience, my new love, today I did my 1st day of snowboarding ever. Absolutely loved the whole day, including the numerous falls and a few absolute wipeouts, but as it goes in some situations no pain, no gain. After an hour on the beginner slope I was moving the board around pretty nicely, so i was told to move onto the next slope up, took me a while to get used to the chair lifts (though at the very end of the day found a nice way of sitting on the board and sliding off). By the end of the day I think we had done about 10-15 runs and I now am getting the hang of carving and turning. Tomorrow after few more runs on the same slope were heading up to the top of the mountain, its freakin crazily steep and I may not survive, but I still cant wait. My speedy progress would not be only for the help of my new german instructor and friend, Annalena, she was so cool telling me how to start and how I was going wrong and waiting for me and everything. Tomorrow herself, myself, Andy (girl from the UK I met a week ago, sorta got the whole Avril Lavigne thing goin on) and her friend Kim (I think) are heading up together.
In the last 4 days Ive been meeting a lot of cool people, more so than previous, and partying quite a bit too. Met two girls from Bristol, Claire and Helen, and had lots of fun chillin, having dinner (introduced me to the world of free backpacker bar meals), watching movies(introduced Helen to Rules of Attraction, Ferris Bueller and that clip with the star wars nerds) and going out with them. Myself and Helen got on really well, we ended up heading out one night, just the 2 of us and it was really interesting and cool listening to her life story summed up in one nights conversation and you cannot beat $2 (€1.10) a pint for beer. Yet again another gap year student, I believe she payed for the trip herself but was quite impressed with her step father driving a Ferrari 550 Baracheta, though its a bit extreme putting a dehumidifier in the garage! They left for Christchurch yesterday, rushing to get in more scenery before hitting Fiji. Last night had another party with Andy, Annalena and others from the hostel I met at Frasers bar during the rugby (BTW watching the Lions tour here is really cool and great atmosphere during and after the games), headed onto Winnie Bagoes (server of the $2 pints) and it got a bit crazy with girls dancing on tables, etc. The winter tourist season doesnt start for another 2 weeks at least, and I cant imagine how absolutely crazy partys are going to be then, cannot wait my friends! I think thats the longest post yet, Ill have pics of the skiing, the parties and all the fun up as soon as possible.

20050608-10 World Bar & Winnie Bagoes Gallery

20050605 A few days in

Well not much has happened over the last few days, been looking for somewhere suitable to stay for the winter and been sorta just settling in. Still staying at the same hostel, the people are quite boring, don’t really know how to take care of themselves and have been doing my own thing since I got here. It’s a huge contrast to fiji, most if not all of the backpackers here are scruffy, unfit looking people with absolutely no care for how they dress or eat. The majority of them seem to live on noodles and bread and have seen myself falling into there ill diet, I actually bought bread the other day! but I’ve put a stop to it. Hit the gym today, was great to get training again, it’s the best gym layout I’ve ever seen and will join for the four months if I can find the time or the money. The interior is like a luxury hotel with all the equipment one should ever need. Apparently there’s a better one somewhere else in town, which I’ll check out next. Real happy the way my body has held up since I left home, have lost a stone but seems to be mainly fat. Don’t really have a plan for this week except get job and flat and hit the gym again, still waiting for the slopes to open up.

20050601-03 Christchurch – Queenstown & Remarkable Mountains Gallery

20050601 Christchurch to Queenstown

Missed my ride to Queenstown due to spending so much time ordering my winter gear so had to get a coach this morning, was quite pleasant though. Queenstown is a really nice place, quite small but atmospheric. Staying at a nice hostel called Bunji Backpackers, it’s got a hot spa and pretty close to the town centre. On the job search for the next few days, just gonna get a bar job or something to allow me board during the day, work by night, probably will be here 4 instead of 3 months due to a slight cash flow glitch.