The five hour train journey to Christchurch was far, far more entertaining than the 12 hours on the North Island, helped by the fact that it was not 12 hours long and I had started on the beer. Oh, and the air conditioning broke (much apologising from staff but I loved it; aircon is evil). The scenery was far more varied; there were huge vinyards, some salt flats, much of it was along the coast so got to see cliffs and beaches as well as some fur seals basking on rocks. Needless to say, as this is New Zealand so in addition there were fields of sheep and random mountains coming out of nowhere to surprise you.
Sat opposite me was a young Canadian chap who was somehow immune to the "leave me alone" aura I usually ooze from every pore and started yapping on about stuff. He was a typical backpacker, didn't have any plans or a timetable and didn't even know where he was going to get off. When he suggested it might be the first stop, Blenheim, I encouraged this and told him it sounded like a fun place as I wanted to use his seat to rest my luggage and for him to go away. He got off, took one look at the place and got back on, so I had to make conversation on and off for the next hour to Kaikoura which he decided was more him. To be fair, Kaikoura looked amazing from what I saw; mountains on one side, beaches the other, the seals, plus I tooks some great shots out the window.
Arrived in Christchurch about 7pm and the place has a different feel from the other major cities in NZ so far; it is definitely younger and more cosmopolitan. I even passed a group of Hari Krishnas outside the cathedral followed by some Japanese folks dressed like manga characters. Hotel is also very modern and funky but is severly let down by slow internet. 30kbs download speeds just don't cut it when I still have so much to grab. Have decided to stay in for the rest of the night after eating dinner in the city; nice big flatscreen TV in the room to amuse me. Also, am not quite mustering up the enthusiasm for yet another day on trains tomorrow: 8am - 6pm, but with a 3 hour stop by a lake in the middle. If I hadn't already paid I would probably sack it off.
The five hour train journey to Christchurch was far, far more entertaining than the 12 hours on the North Island, helped by the fact that it was not 12 hours long and I had started on the beer. Oh, and the air conditioning broke (much apologising from staff but I loved it; aircon is evil). The scenery was far more varied; there were huge vinyards, some salt flats, much of it was along the coast so got to see cliffs and beaches as well as some fur seals basking on rocks. Needless to say, as this is New Zealand so in addition there were fields of sheep and random mountains coming out of nowhere to surprise you.
Sat opposite me was a young Canadian chap who was somehow immune to the "leave me alone" aura I usually ooze from every pore and started yapping on about stuff. He was a typical backpacker, didn't have any plans or a timetable and didn't even know where he was going to get off. When he suggested it might be the first stop, Blenheim, I encouraged this and told him it sounded like a fun place as I wanted to use his seat to rest my luggage and for him to go away. He got off, took one look at the place and got back on, so I had to make conversation on and off for the next hour to Kaikoura which he decided was more him. To be fair, Kaikoura looked amazing from what I saw; mountains on one side, beaches the other, the seals, plus I tooks some great shots out the window.
Arrived in Christchurch about 7pm and the place has a different feel from the other major cities in NZ so far; it is definitely younger and more cosmopolitan. I even passed a group of Hari Krishnas outside the cathedral followed by some Japanese folks dressed like manga characters. Hotel is also very modern and funky but is severly let down by slow internet. 30kbs download speeds just don't cut it when I still have so much to grab. Have decided to stay in for the rest of the night after eating dinner in the city; nice big flatscreen TV in the room to amuse me. Also, am not quite mustering up the enthusiasm for yet another day on trains tomorrow: 8am - 6pm, but with a 3 hour stop by a lake in the middle. If I hadn't already paid I would probably sack it off.
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