Alpha Beta Gaga

New Zealand, Queenstown Part 2...

With the light rains that accompanied the Shotover jet, came the start of a storm system that would not leave Queenstown during the week we were there. As a result, high winds basically screwed up chances of riding the Wednesday, as much as some of us tried to get out there.

Tuesday night however, was Simons birthday and a very large session was had by all. After some dinner at home, we headed out to Dux de Lux and joined in the trivia night; of which chances of winning were slim sue to many of the questions being very much of a Kiwi nature. Lots of pool, beers and high jinks led everyone to a late night.

On a Wednesday where many were hungover, I did however get a few runs in before we called it a day and went for another legendary FergBurger - my wish/prediction of nailing 4 of these in a week was very much on target.

With Thursay, some of the snow that had fallen over night was finally rideable, and something other than fish-market slush could be felt under board. A few of us went to Coronet Peak once again, and I'd have to rate this as the best day so far. Conditions were still quite windy, but the lifts were mostly open, and there were plenty of fresh lines to be had. To this day I don't recall ever being the guy that got to cut the first tracks in the powder down below the main lift... but I managed it today; and it rocked!

With some awesome riding in the last few days, Lauren and I also managed to get in a nice meal together at a restaurant I'd re-visit in a heartbeat; The Botswana Butchery. Lamb shoulders from the next village, sublime cocktails.

With one of the resorts closed due to high wind on our final day, we figured it was natures way of telling us to do something different... I'd heard from various people about the prospect of doing a Lord of the Rings horseback tour... but due to the last minute nature of this, we had to settle for a regular horse tour. However, it was pretty damn cool! After meeting our steeds for the afternoon, we trotted out of a picturesque farm and on through the rolling hills of Queenstown. Lots of wildlife including deer (which I would later eat in a juicy FergBerger). My horse decided to push my un-ease by going for a wash in a pond; with me of course thinking I would go over his nose and in the drink... thank goodness, that didn't happen, it wasn't exactly warm weather.

With a final nights drinking with everybody, it was soon time for our departure from Queenstown, back to Christchurch and then homeward to Sydney. Great holiday.

Oh!

Queenstown, Otago,
New Zealand

So after no significant amounts of Annual Leave since July 2008, a year had been a long time to wait for my next overseas jaunt. Surprisingly it was only with a week or two to go that I really started getting excited, and feeling those feelings that I was feeling when I first started writing to this blog.

I left work on Friday night feeling more pumped than a hyperactive 6 year old. I'd already done my packing the night previous so all was left was to go grab some dinner with Benny who had just celebrated his birthday; a few of us met up at Thai Riffic in the Spot, wined, dined and then stuffed our faces with Cold Rock ice cream. Then it was just a single sleep, and we were headed for Sydney Kingsford international terminal. I love going to the International terminal; especially when the end result is somewhere I've never discovered.

We were soon through all the usual security stuff and jumping on board our Air New Zealand flight direct to Queenstown.

A few short hours later, we were flying over snow capped mountains and dipping down over a beautiful lake, glistening in the midday sun. We jumped out, and I have to say, I don't think I've ever been so impressed by a country, from the airport! It was cool, I could see the snow on the mountains and I was in holiday mode. It was just a shame the Europcar counter was so under-powered, we had to wait an hour to get the car sorted out, but alas we were soon on the way and getting ourselves settled in to the house we'd rented out for the week, overlooking lake Wakatipu.

That night, we met up with the majority of the other guys on the trip - around 20 all up, at Pog Mahones pub.

The following day it was time to get back on my snowboard, also for the first time in a year; the venue, Coronet Peak. The sun was shining, everyone had sunscreen on through fear of instant melanoma it was so strong. Surprisingly the snow was better than I anticipated, but obviously a fair way from awesome. It was however a very good day for everyone to regain the legs, and learn some new skills where appropriate. Day 2 followed right on from Day 1, except this time we headed up to the Remarkeables. This place seemed to have a much better feel than Coronet to me; it was higher and as such the snow quality was a little better too. By this point a few of us were really starting to hammer it down the pisted runs - awesome fun in the sun!

Tuesday came, and so did the rain clouds - the precipitation totally smashed what little snow quality there was and I immediately boycotted any riding in such wet conditions; I did it once before and had no fun! Lauren and I instead headed out to Arrowtown to mellow out and enjoy the best of the day, as dry as we could.

Later on we picked up Shae and Oren, and in a fit of spontanaeity, we jumped on the Shotover Jet Boat ride. 750BHP engines pump several hundred litres of water PER SECOND. This thing seriously shifts. It can also make it thru water around 15cms deep as it basically skims the surface. The skilled drivers take you so close to the rocky walls of the ravines, that if you put your hand out, you could touch them. After that exhileration, they dump you into 360 spins causing waves to smash up the sides of the boat... only negative was the rain that felt more like hail against the face at top speed!

Day Tripper

New Zealand... again.

February 2nd 2007

6am. My alarm wakes me up at the now customary time, and after a shower, I throw the last few things I need into my snowboard bag. After a beans on toast, I set off for the bus-stop for a jam packed excursion.

Sydney is about 22degrees this morning, grey and gloomy, so I’m not too worried about leaving this time.

8.30am. Check-in at Sydney airport. I see my bags get carted off to the oversized baggage man and I make my way through to the gate, and start to anticipate what is almost a novelty since I haven’t done it in just over 3months. My passport gets stamped as “Departed Sydney 02 Feb 2007”, a few pages previous, a page has a stamp saying “Arrived Perth 02 Feb 2006” and a few pages prior to that one, a big sticky label informing the details of my work visa “Valid from 12 months from first day of arrival”. Time to leave.

10.10am. Back in the luxury of an Emirates flight, I’m watching Pirates of the Caribbean 2 as the planes tail tilts back as we lift off the Australian tarmac. Pretty soon, I’m being fed whilst cruising of the Tasman sea toward Auckland.

4pm. I pick up a shiny newish Silver Ford Focus from Hertz, and I’m in full voice as I drive through the rush hour traffic toward the Central Business District in the “City of Sails”.

5.50pm. Re-united with Nick and Lucy, who hang back from their trip North to catch up and have a bite to eat at a pub near their place. Great catching up, and over way too soon, the two of them were soon on their way and headed off to check in to my hostel.

8pm. I’m a backpacker again; despite having no backpack, and checking in with merely a towel and toothbrush.

8.35pm. Lift of Destiny. Unsure of what to do with myself this evening, I hit both up & down buttons on the elevator. If a descending lift showed first, then I’d walk the city and maybe find a bar to chill with a beer. If ascending, I’d check out the ACB roof bar where a “wild party” had been advertised.

8.36pm. Ding. Upwards. I met a Norwegian girl in the lift who was meeting up with a large group of Scandinavian friends and my night was set. Free punch meant everyone was having a great time despite some pretty dodge music. The English in the house were ecstatic after finally beating the Aussies in a one-day cricket match. The music was really terrible. I’m taught some great phrases in Spanish by a guy from Chile.

February 3rd 2007

1.35am (approximately). Head hits pillow.

8.30am. Dude in room turns light on thus waking everyone up. Kinda handy as an early start was needed regardless. I shower and check out and head for my wheels a little excited at the thought of what I’m about to do.

9.45am. I drive over my 3rd famous bridge in a year, as I head North of Auckland.

9.57am. I can only remember one of the Spanish phrases from the previous night.

10.10am. My throat is saw from ‘yelling’ too much to my music as I pull up in the car park at SnowPlanet. I check in and get geared up.

10.30am. I cut my first lines of snow since the Dubai dome, which had raised the bar in terms of indoor domes I’ve visited. Auckland SnowPlanet it pretty good however, it’s slightly longer than what I’m used to in England, and the snow quality if pretty good. The best thing however was the terrain park. I nice big kicker with a good quality landing zone meant I was busy all day. Later on I hit the straight rails and also had an attempt at a kinked one, a little cautious to avoid injury in a foreign country.

11.55am. An early lunch, I recommend the Bacon and Egg Quiche.

2.05pm. The sound system plays The Verves Bittersweet Symphony. I love this place.

2.34pm. Oops, I realise the time and leave sharpish. The car is loaded up and I have to head back to Auckland airport already. Regardless I’m well happy after getting the better part of 4 hours back on snow. I set off toward the airport.

3.14pm. I’m lost.

3.25pm. Back on track.

3.50pm. I arrive at the airport, drop the car off and repack my snowboard bag.

4.10pm. Queued up for the pleasure of paying $25 departure tax.

4.20pm. Standing in line to check-in. Flight due to take-off in 40minutes with about 20minutes of people in front of me waiting…

4.24pm. An angel calls out and asks if anyone heading to Sydney is still checking in. I get fast-tracked to the front.

4.26pm. Unable to check in, I overlooked pre-paying my tourist visa for Australia.

4.28pm. In another queue across the check-in hall, awaiting a woman to complete the necessary administration associated with the required visa.

4.47pm. Back at the Emirates desk and I'm finally given a boarding pass and an escort through customs and x-ray control.

4.58pm. Sat down at last as the plane taxi’s from the terminal.

6pm. After nearly 2movies, a great monkfish meal and 2 white wines, we touch down in Sydney and I’m home…