Around the World I

Day 20 - Wed 30 Apr 2003

Christchurch is a very nice place, very laid back - I think I only saw one person rushing somewhere - maybe it's different at the height of summer, with all the tourists (but somehow I doubt that). I'm going to dump my luggage behind reception at the hotel, and have one final wander around. Bought a bottle of vanilla coke by accident - close to the foulest thing I've ever drunk - worse than Dr. Peppers! Rang Singapore Air to confirm my flights, and just as well - the times have changed, but with no great effects on my plans.

Christchurch airport is a busy place with local flights taking off left, right and centre. I'm here 2hrs early, but that got me an aisle seat at the front..

I've just read a passage in "On the Road" where Kerowac describes waking up and not knowing who he was - I've had that feeling on this trip, maybe you are where you are? Without a location you're no-one. The book promises to be a good one, the part about the ride on the back of a flat bed truck had me laughing out loud.

The flight to Auckland wasn't bad - I chatted the whole way to a French lady who had been to Christchurch on business - we were on the ground before I knew it! Had to wait ages to get a bus into town, and started chatting to a Radiologist who was in town for a conference, she only looked 18, but was 27 with two kids! Got to the backpackers, which has a slightly warn look to it, and a smell of nicotine. My room is small, but it does have a wash basin, a far cry from my room last night, but it is NZ$30 cheaper!

The bad news, is that Lisa isn't going to be able to meet me here after all - so I've got 3 days here, and I'm unsure if I'm going to be able to fill the time!

In Auckland you have an English/American culture transplanted to another land, everything is the same, but different. After the alieness of Japan, this seems like a tacky copy - or am I getting too cynical in my travels?

The weirdest thing I've seen in Auckland is the 'writing multithreaded java' book in the bookcase in the backpackers - why would anyone be travelling with that book? I can see why they left it behind!

NextView my route around the world here