Oh, this is my final day in New Zealand. I catch my plane later today from Christchurch airport, and now I felt compelled to blog about this moment. I have had a fantastic time travelling through a lot of both the North and recently the South Island of New Zealand. I have done lots alone, with friends and strangers but all has been far beyond my expectations! Big kudos to Joe, Mark, Aurile and Loic who invited me to join them on a post-vineyard tour of Abel Tasman National Park (where we went on a three day kayak expedition). We did lots and had a great time across the northern coast, Nelson Lakes and West Coast. Aurile and Loic are French and it was cool learning tons of swear words, new card games and lots more from them. They had the same attitude and spirit for coming to New Zealand as I did. I think it takes particular people to choose to uproot and desire the even experienced a small earthquake
Yesterday's journey across the Southern Alps through Arthur's Pass on the train was one of the top highlights of any travelling I have done. Glacial ice water rivers flowed by dairy farms, steep mountains and plains. There was so much to see I would have to travel it again to fully appreciate it. I would love to return to New Zealand one day as I have not touched the bottom half of the South Island.
For now, I leave with memories of Christchurch. I am now having breakfast metres from the 'red zone' area. This has been totally wrecked by last year's September earthquake and this year's one in February and security and Army personnel roam the checkpoints that were the busy streets. The physical damage is shocking at first - particularly to the old buildings and churches. The Crowne Plaza hotel still has curtains flapping out of empty windows, the Arts Centre has scaffolding and structural support and now only has one exhibition operating out of a shipping container on the street. There is still evidence of liquefaction where you walk. The tram lines are vacant and you can easily believe the statistics that I heard out here that half of the population has left and not (yet) returned.
Despite all that I have seen in a short amount of time, there is a sense and atmosphere that 'the city will get back on its feet' as I just heard someone say. I believe it will, and with the hardened culture of the South Island's populace there is no reason why it will not be overcome. I wish it good luck!
Yesterday's journey across the Southern Alps through Arthur's Pass on the train was one of the top highlights of any travelling I have done. Glacial ice water rivers flowed by dairy farms, steep mountains and plains. There was so much to see I would have to travel it again to fully appreciate it. I would love to return to New Zealand one day as I have not touched the bottom half of the South Island.
For now, I leave with memories of Christchurch. I am now having breakfast metres from the 'red zone' area. This has been totally wrecked by last year's September earthquake and this year's one in February and security and Army personnel roam the checkpoints that were the busy streets. The physical damage is shocking at first - particularly to the old buildings and churches. The Crowne Plaza hotel still has curtains flapping out of empty windows, the Arts Centre has scaffolding and structural support and now only has one exhibition operating out of a shipping container on the street. There is still evidence of liquefaction where you walk. The tram lines are vacant and you can easily believe the statistics that I heard out here that half of the population has left and not (yet) returned.
Despite all that I have seen in a short amount of time, there is a sense and atmosphere that 'the city will get back on its feet' as I just heard someone say. I believe it will, and with the hardened culture of the South Island's populace there is no reason why it will not be overcome. I wish it good luck!
