I’m in still in CHCH, and much more relaxed.
The last week has been much slower to the previous month - which was full of buses, trains, planes, and dancing. The first night here (and for each of the next 3) I slept over 12 hours! That much cabin time can be exhausting.
But I haven’t been idle. I did my newly realized tradition straight away: the garden and museum tour. I learned that Norwegians were the first at the geographic south pole! And I marvelled at the bonsai collection in the gardens. Christchurch has a more noticable Japanese and Korean influence (more so than in Auckland, Wellington, or Melbourne). There are many language schools, noticeboards everywhere with heaps of ads for tutors and classes. Even more restaurants, and a good share of gaming and computer clubs. I like it a lot, and would probably live here if I had to pick a city in NZ to live.
I’ve also been clocking in hours in front of books. The off season is truly off - very little travellers (the hostel is about 1/3 full). Each place is quiet and calm. So I made my over to the library and finally finished Memoirs of a Geisha. Today, I read Straightjacket Society - an insight into the groupism and bullying of the Japanese workplace.
Near the airport is the International Antarctic Centre, which is both a civilian and scientific hub. It has a large interactive museum with a simulated blizzard in Antarctica and other near-virtual-reality exhibits. The Centre also has a large complex of buildings that serve as the offices and mechanic shops for the NZ, USA, and ITL Antarctic programs. The scientists and workers come here for training and briefing; the cargo planes depart from here loaded with supplies. It was fascinating and I’m still motivated to find work overthere and become an “overwinter” - the term used for people that spend the winter in “The Ice”.
I sampled the swing dancing here, and the scene is quite nice. The teachers are American (as so many are abroad), and there’s a dance each week in a local pub. Many Colorado follows have dropped by over the past few months, and everyone here was asking about the Mercury Cafe! Surprisingly enough, I didn’t know any of the people that visited (but then I wasn’t really that social at the Merc).
Thursday, I leave for a circuit around the South Island. Picton, Abel Tasman Nat’l Park, the West Coast, the Glaciers, Queenstown, and the Deep South. Good ol’ Stray.