17.02.2005

So my first impression of New Zealand - more fun than you can shake a stick at and the scenery is spectacular - absolutely amazing.

Spent last Friday in airports and Planes making my way from Tasmania to New Zealand via Australia, very boring day but also the day i gave up smoking - again!!! Spent couple of days in Christchurch which is really beautiful and has a lovely atmosphere, generally hung around went on a few nice walks and ate lots of nice food!!!

Then picked up the car and drove to Queenstown which was very scary as having not driven for the grand total of 11 months i managed to bunny hop the car for most of the way!! Was a rather eventful arrival in Queenstown as Mark reversed the car (at great speed) into a wall - narrowly missing Lynsey!! So first thing the next morning we had to spend a few hours at the garage as discovered that the brakes were practically non-existent so ALL pads had to be replaced - don't you just love hire car companies!!

Then for the first Adrenalin rush of the day - Bungy jumping off a bridge 43 metres down to the water. Now to say that i was scared would be a mild understatement. Had to wait at the top for almost an hour watching people plummet to the water till it was my turn. Sitting on a platform watching someone tie your ankles together and attach a piece of elastic to them is SO much fun. Began shuffling towards the edge wondering not only why on earth i was doing this but also why i paid good money to do it?!!! As i looked down to the boat at the bottom that would hook me down i could see my entire life flash before my eyes but then i remembered Marks final words as i began to climb up the bridge "Imagine Declan Donnelly is in the boat and is holding a chocolate sundae" well shallow as i am, that i did. And to my own shock as he shouted 3,2,1, Bungy - i jumped!! Well jumped may be a bit too generous was more like a "oh ok i'm leaning, i'm stumbling - i'm off!!!"

Now when people tell you that it is the most amazing thing ever - don't under any circumstances believe them. Yeah ok was all good and woo hoo i jumped off a bridge - pat on the back for me but it's not all it's cracked up to be. It felt like my ankles were going to detach from the rest of my body, my stomach was coming out through my mouth, and due to the bouncing back up 3 times i ended up having no idea which way i was facing. Yeah Bungy woo hoo!!!! So thanking god i had made it back to safe ground i ate a fry up and chocolate sundae to celebrate (as you do) and then we went on a Jet boat ride along the Shotover River which was great fun. 360 degree spins, nearly crashing in to rocks, getting completely soaked - excellent. The day was nicely rounded off with a game of Crazy Golf before dinner - and i got a hole in one - how much better can life get i ask myself?!!!!!

And so on to the next day and more madness - hang gliding from 2 and a half thousand feet. Yet again standing at the top of something looking down i was wondering what exactly had happened to the girl that was always content with watching Eastenders and eating chocolate. As i was standing day dreaming about the gorgeous instructor i was going to be attached to - a man of about 60 and certainly not the best looking grandad i have ever seen appeared out of the distance and said "Charlotte you will be flying with me" - just my luck!!

Well before i knew it i was attached to little more than a paper airplane and was running (yes running) off a cliff edge...and we were away. Is the most amazing sensation, and i even got to take the controls at one point and swung us around in a circle!! Was amazing, so calm and beautiful, then it was time to land and as i skidded to a halt on my nicely padded tummy i couldn't help but smile. So to celebrate and what better way than another game of crazy golf!! After losing we then headed up the mountain on the gondola and raced around the track of the luge. Bombing down little tracks on a type of sledge with wheels.

In the evening - to round off our day - we went to a bar called Minus 5 and that's because that's exactly what it is. A bar in a freezer. You have to put on big jackets and boots then you step in to the freezer which has ice chairs and tables, get your cocktail in a glass made of ice and freeze your bits off for half an hour till you have to leave otherwise face certain death!! Excellent.

And then to today. For some god knows reason i had signed up for a 3 and a half quad biking tour around Lord of the Rings land. Got there and was more scared than a very scared thing when i saw the mountain we were to be driving up. Putting on the protective gear of boots, trousers, jacket, gloves, helmet, goggles the lot i was really beginning to judge my sanity (or lack of it). As a girl who likes manicures, waxing and facials i didn't think that quad biking would really be my thing. 3 hours we spent going up hills, through massive puddles, leaning this way, moving that way (yeah baby i was shaking that arse like there was no tomorrow) i can inform you that it was without a doubt the most fun i have ever had with my clothes on!!! It rocks and i can't wait to do it again. Was excellent as was a new company we went through so was only the 3 of us with 2 instructors. Seriously i cant believe how great it was was, skidding around corners sitting on the edge of my bike happy as a in s*it. Absolutely amazing!!!!

So there we are - week one of New Zealand and i am beginning to wonder who exactly i am, never imagined myself doing any of this stuff but it really has been amazing fun. Off to Te Anau tomorrow and going to Milford Sound. LOTS more crazy things planned so watch this space...........

Hope you are all really well, looking forward to boring you all with my pictures really soon. Heaps of love Ceej xxxxxxx