Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-alt:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} @font-face {font-family:"@MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -->

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}

What a palver trying to get myself on a tour bus was!!Got up at sparrow's first cough, after having interrupted sleep for most of the night.Did I forget to mention that the club at the hostel seemed to be right next door to the room?Cue really loud music until the wee small hours, and really crap dance music too!!AAAAAAggh!!The Swede that was in the wrong room also booked himself into my room, so I had them coming back in at whatever time it was again.However, they were quite good at being quiet and didn't turn on the light, just kept the door open a bit so they could see what they were doing.Thought that was quite considerate myself, so I returned the favour in the morning.However, they both seemed quite comatose again, so I probably could have set off an alarm in there and they wouldn't have noticed!!

So, turn up at the bus stop and wait patiently for the bus.There were a lot of people there too!Get on the bus and the driver says that I should have booked (though I was told by reception that I didn't need to) and that he can't guarantee me a place on the bus back to Auckland as it's already full!!Oh dear.My voucher is good for either the Bay of Islands trip, or a sightseeing tour of Auckland.He says for me to try that trip as he's seen the other bus going round the city so they must be running.So, I trundle myself back into the hostel to call them.I get a really hacked off sounding oriental woman on the phone and go through a right palaver trying to book the tour!!She makes me feel as though I'm asking her to stop the world turning, rather than booking myself on a small tour!!She does help me in the end, and so I get on a large bus (with only 12 other people on it....) to go around the city.I wasn't that keen to be honest, but it was something to do, I wouldn't have to use my legs that much, and I had also paid for it!!

It turned out to be a really funny tour in the end as we had this old tour guide dude called Don, who should have retired as he is almost 70, but the company wanted to keep him on.He was really great - very funny and informative and just a real character.We went around the Sky Tower, the Harbour, over the bridge and back again, and to Mission Bay (nice beach and views).

There were four Kiwis on the tour from Wellington, two Ozzies, a family from Chile, and then me!!

Went on a little ferry ride to Devonport afterwards as Don had said it had some nice walks there, as well as a beach.It was really nice and I cream crackered myself out by doing the heritage walk around the place.Seeing lots of really pretty houses, some extinct volcanoes, and a few shops.I rewareded myself with two scoops of gelato in a cone - pistachio, and chocolate.Mmmmmmmmmm.Really nice gelato and even though the flavours might sound a bit odd together, it was scrummy!!

After that, I wandered down to the hostel, but stopped in a souvenier shop along the way and the really nice girl at the counter told me about the Chinese New Year celebrations that were happening in a park around the corner.I said I was really, really tired from walking around all afternoon but she said that it was really nice as they had loads of food, some entertainment, and there were lots of lanterns that got lit up at night.

I did want to go, but felt so tired that I wasn't sure.However, after looking it up on the internet, I decided to shuffle up there and see what was going on.I could always come back if I got too weary after all, as it wasn't that far away.

I'm glad I did go as it was a really nice festival.There were absolutely thousands of people there, but the lanterns were ever so pretty, and the food was really nice too!!I was tempted to buy a few things, but I resisted - yay!!Mostly because I knew I wouldn't be able to fit them in my suitcase really.I did want a cute parasol, but where on earth would I fit that and I'd have to lug it around with me for the rest of the month!!Also, I'm sure I could shuffle off to Chinatown at home and get myself one from there next New Year!

I also bumped into the girl from the souvenier shop, completely by accident.She recognised the canvas bag that I carry around with me, which was observant of her!

Some of the lanterns were absolutely hilarious as well - they had some sheep and sheepdogs (NZ has about 40 million sheep, compared to about 1.4 million residents), lots of fruit, and some great masks and dragons.

I have to say that if I stay in another Base hostel, then I'm definitely going to stay in the Sanctuary.It's so much nicer and is only a couple more $ per night.There's even a mirror in the room, which I know doesn't sound a lot, but it just made me really happy for some reason.See what tiredness does for me?I'm happy to see the bags under my eyes in a mirror in the room.Gees.

When I got into the room, there were two other girls in there already asleep and it was only 9:30pm!!Luckily we had a room with windows so I didn't have to turn on the light as the streets outside were still lit up and so the room wasn't too dark.

Anyways, off to New Plymouth tomorrow and am looking forward to it especially as I've booked my own room in the place I'm staying!!Yay!I need to sort out all the gubbins that I have in my suitcase.....and book my accommodation in Hamilton and the other places I'm going to.It looks like I might have to stay somewhere expensive in Hamilton as there isn't that much choice.However, it's only for 1 night, so I guess I can cope.There are a few last minute hotel booking websites though, so I'll have to give those a try.