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New Zealand - South Island
Written on: Thursday December 20th, 2007
A journal entry from: Round the world
20th December - A final few photos of the South Island, a lovely one of Conrad and his Grandpa Ross and all the family in Picton. It was great to meet them all! Happy Christmas everyone. We will start an NZ North Island file sometime soon.... :)
Hi everybody! As New Zealand is so gorgeous and we have two months here, we're going to upload the photos whenever we get the chance to save us having to spend a week in an internet cafe at the end!! :)
We started off in the Jailhouse hostel in Christchurch which was absolutely brilliant. We managed to escape after two days and hired a spaceship to get us out of there! Our spaceship is called Buzz and he's brilliant - don't worry we haven't gone crazy - see the pictures! So far we have worked our way down to Dunedin (on the East coast) driving both inland and along the coast, it has been a beautiful drive. We have found some great places to camp along the way as well.
One highlight has to be today when we went to Shag Point (no rude comments) and we saw several fur seals, one of whom was just below a rock we were standing on - we gave each other a bit of a shock, Philippa ran in one direction and he ran in the other! Shortly after that, Conrad saw another spaceship driving the other way which he was very excited about... we also saw another one in Dunedin who we swapped DVD's with!!
Hope you enjoy the photos, keep checking back for updates ... as and when we can! Miss you all loads and can't believe that it's nearly Christmas, doesn't feel like it here - there are Christmas trees everywhere but the sun is shining - what's that about?!!
10th Dec - we are in Queenstown today, not planning to stay here too long!! However, we have been to some truly beautiful places including Jacks Bay, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound (incredible). Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed taking them! :) Conrad says don't forget to leave comments, especially Lord Paylor please.
From Reb and Brenda on Dec 6th, 2007
Have you seen the New Zealand christmas tree yet? Its called the Pōhutukawa and is covered in wonderful small red blossoms this time of the year, hence the name. Enjoy your journey Major Toms!!
From Mum/Julie + Aunt/Kina on Dec 8th, 2007
We are sitting in rainy Stockholm (Kina says 'as if England were any better! Hm!') and looking at your lovely sunny photos! Of course we're not jealous!! Mum came to Stockholm without a coat! Kina came to the rescue and it's her coat that's wet now not Mum's! We talked until 3 this morning, then we got up and had breakfast until 2 and went for a walk through the forest and past a lake to the refuge where we took Philippa when she was 2. She refused to walk and was quite heavy, but we didn't havae her to carry today! Now we feel virtuous because of the exercise so we are going to stuff our faces tonight in an Ethiopian restaurant (using our hands not boring cutlery of course) with Cicki and Classe. Happy landings! Keep the photos coming .... lots of love from both of us xxx
From Ad on Dec 11th, 2007
Hi Guys! Love the Rock Fall Zone pic... and Flip, you make a great jail bird! Some really stunning pics guys, keep em coming. Woke up to -4 today and sat in the car for 10 minutes waiting for it to defrost... I hate you! ;o)
From Ed Phelps on Dec 11th, 2007
Why on earth did i go to uni!
From Mum/Julie on Dec 12th, 2007
Love the shelduck picture and the little penguin. The colours of some of the rainforest and the rock formations are amazing. If we're not here when you get back, we shall be driving a spaceship (or should that be flying?) in NZ! Keep 'em coming! Loads of love Mum/Julie
From Laura H on Dec 13th, 2007
Hey you two,hope your both well, looks like you are having an amazing time the pics are amazing and new zealand looks stunning!i am soooooooooo jealous!.Take care.xx
From Mike Galvin (Skinny) on Dec 14th, 2007
Dude you should have stopped into see me im in christchurch, looks like ur having fun catch ya in auckland
From Chris on Dec 14th, 2007
Loving the captions on the pictures, here you go phil my first comment are you happy now? does my love score go up now from zero? i am really jealous it looks amazing love yaxxx
From Uncle Nick on Dec 16th, 2007
Hi Philippa and Konrad. I gather you're meeting up with Konrad's grandfather. Have fun - it looks as if you are. Cheers Nick
From Laura on Dec 16th, 2007
Hi honeys!! New Zealand looks amazing- it's now on my list of places i'd love to go but will never get to!! You've got some awesome pics. Lovin' the witty captions too. Poker nights just aint the same without you- I actually have to concentrate!! Seasons greetings and big hugs xx
From grandad and sharon on Dec 17th, 2007
hi guys, we just loved having you here and hope you both have a wonderful trip, we will check in every now and then to see how you are doing, I know you will enjoy the north island and your friends and family. lots of lovexxxxx
From Alison Bragg on Dec 18th, 2007
It looks like you're having a great time! Have a lovely Christmas, enjoy x
From Auntie Mary on Dec 18th, 2007
You've got 515 photos on your blog now (no I didn't count them all - it says so on the home page): thank heavens for digital cameras, or you'd have run out of film several times over by now! Seriously, they are great pictures and I am enjoying reading about your travels. If I'd known you were going to Christchurch I would have sent you to the local archives to look up my crazy ancestor Revd Ebenezer Bailey-Churchill who was a curate at the cathedral in the mid 1850s. He is the black sheep of the family and quite fascinating. Lots of love - have a great Christmas!
From sharon and grandpa on Dec 21st, 2007
Hi guys, just love the photo's, grandpa is very grandpa is very proud of the shot with you con, I have copied them into my file so we can all see them, I like the family one also just a shame not everyone has their eyes open, also I see you philippa in the window behind us all... so you are in it as well. take care and travel safe lots of love from sharon and grandpaxoxoxoxox
From Ad on Dec 23rd, 2007
Wow, New Zealand... why would anyone live anywhere else!? Have a great Christmas guys! See you in 2008 :o)
From jamie and stuart on Dec 25th, 2007
hey you lovely people, cool photos hope your having a fabuous time, missing you loads, have a fabulous christmas and a happy new year, love jamie, stuart, pat paul laura steve and sam xxxx
From Laura & Mark on Dec 27th, 2007
Merry Christmas!! xx
From Mum/Granny on Dec 28th, 2007
Seen all your pictures, glad you're having such a wonderful time. Thanks for your card and calendar, we love it. Lots of love Granny and Grandad xx
From Tyla Kirk on Jan 5th, 2008
hi guys i just wanted to say hi and ask you how your trips going. Con mum says hi and also says keep smiling(i don't know why but any way. I wish i could go around the world like you two lucky things but i think i would have to save up for a very long time especially on 30 euros a month. I wish you guys were here cause i'm really missing the both of you espesially around christmas but i bet your having a brilliant time on your own!!!!!!. LOTS of love mum, jus and me xxxxxx
From Laura & Mark on Jan 6th, 2008
Happy New Year! Oh what a year it's gonna be xx