Sorry it's taken me ages to write a blog, I've been on the move ever since arriving! Here's a rundown of what I've been up to since arriving. Dubai: Spent two nights in Dubai, which is the craziest city I've ever been to. It's huge - there are almost three separate cities there! The skyscrapers put New York to shame, they are everywhere and massive. We drove past the 188 storey building (tallest in the world) and had a few pictures outside the 7 storey hotel, which looks incredible. We spent the day walking around Dubai marina, went on "The Palm" man-made island (which is huge) and then spent a few hours in Wild Wadi water park outside the 7 star hotel. It was the first water park to have slide that jet you upwards! Finished the day by laying on the beach and watching the sun go down. Incredible city - would quite like to spend a few more days there! New Zealand: We flew into Christchurch and stayed there for a couple of nights. Reminds me of Oxford a bit. Made a few friends there and we all went out one night. Everyone is very friendly and you can just get talking to people on the street. Went on a kayak down the river, to the Arctic museum and sat in the Botanic gardens. We then got on the Kiwi Experience bus and headed to Kaikoura. Weather was sunny for both days. Stayed one night in Kaikoura. We booked to go and swin with wild dolphins but unfortunately once we were in the sea they wouldn't let us go in as the weather wasn't good enough (quite glad as the waves were massive). But we saw plenty of dolphins anyway. On the way back to hostels had some mussels on the beach. Met some more people and went out for a few drinks in the evening (to "The Whaler"). The next day we left for Nelson (stayed in a great hostel called "Fern Lodge"). Stopped off for some wine/spirit tasting and more mussels! We checked into our hostel in Nelson and they were doing some beer tasting, so joined in with that too. Ended up having a great night with everyone in the hostel. It was more like a hotel, very nice. The next morning got up at 7am for a walk (took about 4 hours) in Abel Tasman national park. Saw some amazing beaches and scenery (like you see on the paradise posters). We then camped on Barks Bay beach and kayaked back the following day to Kaiteriteri. Everyone had to kayak back in fancy dress, I was given a dress so looked a right idiot! It was a long trip - about 16km! My arms were in pain the following day. Left Nelson the next day to go to Westport. Not much happened there as everyone was tired from the kayaking. So just cooked some food and went to bed. The next day we left Westport to go to Lake Mahinapua. The trip is part of the kiwi experience and we stayed at a hostel that was run by an 84 year old man (Les). It was literally in the middle of nowhere. He was very funny though and I think the backpackers keep him going. He cooked everyone a steak meal (only 10 dollars, about 4 quid!) and that night was then legendardary "Poo Party", which was good fun and fancy dress (me, Steve and Tom dressed as hookers.... not very attractive ones!) Batman won the competition. Today we set off to Franz Josef. The town is really small and in the middle of the rainforest. Needless to say everyone was feeling a bit rough. Stopped off at a farm and saw a possum, deer and massive pig! A group of us had signed up to do a 12,000 ft sky dive over fox glacier but it got cancelled due to the weather. We're doing it in Wanaka instead now, probably on Sunday. We're also going to do the biggest "legal" bungy jump in world (135 feet) when we get to Queenstown - might need some dutch courage before that! Franz Josef is in the middle of a rainforest. The scenery here is incredible and we're going a full day glacier hike tomorrow, where you climb the glacier. We're staying here again tomorrow night before heading to Wanaka for a couple of nights. So I've been really busy ever since arriving, this is the first chance I've had to sit down for this long on the internet. Having a fantastic time though, looking forward to Queenstown. Weather was good for first few days but raining a bit today (but we are in a rainforest so it has to be expected!) Heading to the North island in a about a week and then to Oz in around one month. Going back to the hostel now - it's great and has a hot spa that you can get in when it's raining overlooking the mountains! It's a hard life!