this weekend we got a bus to kaikoura at 4 on the saturday which i got to just in time after work. we followed the caost and passed over some hills to get there. stopping at a very small town on the way. (considered buying an icecream but didn't ) kaikoura is breathtaking. snow capped mountains and sea. its the northern end of the southern alps you see. went for a walk along the beach colecting stones with holes in them and watched the sunset. stayed at a very small hostel which was very carribean esq and had a hottub and which was cosy and freindly and generally very nice. also didn't sleep in a bunk bed for the first time since waitomo. (months ago)

next day (the 4th): this morning we got up and went to the dolphion enxounter center where we were handed all sorts of gear and told to suit up. we had 2 peice wetsiuts and flippers and balaclaver type wetsiiut hood and snorkles and gloves and sock things. we looked amazing. after watching a video about what we were going to do etc. and how to atract the dolphins to take an intrest in you, (we had to sing to them and dive down into the water and make eye contact and look dolphin shaped) we pilled onto a bus and taken to the boats. beautiful ride out to where the dolphins had last been spotted and sudelnly we were beiing aksed to get ready and go and sit on the back of the baot (where ther were steps leading to the water) we all sat and a horn sounded signalling us to get off. so we all hopped into the south pacific in very floaty wetsoiuts which basically acted like bouacy aids. and thre they were, swimming around us, hundreds of sleak grey dusky dolphins. about the size of a seal i guess. they're amazing creatures, very frindly and lively and inquisitive and they glide through the water perfecctly. couldn't quite believe that i was doing this, but was amazing! loved it. anyway they swam on their way and we got back on the boat and followd them. jumped off a further 2 times. when looked down could just see blue water with shafts of ligh going on ednlessly. tried hard not to think of what might be down there besides dolphin. after we had dreid off and changed, the boat followed the dolphins still and we got hotchocolate and ginger biscuits. our giude told us about them and they played in the bow wake as we took photos. they're here because not too far off the caost is a large canyon and lots of food and the like is around beacuse of that (including eth giant squid and the newly found colossal squid) wales and dolphins live here most of the time. took many photos, go see emmas online!!! (she is emmasnzadventure) that afternoon we went for a walk along the coast then got teh coach back to christchurch.