well this place is even worse then last so no photos you have to see them later or when i update my flickr in the states.
The big freeze
So we woke up and it wasn’t raining so I decide what the hell I will go walk on the glacier. I went paid my money then got all suited up in the “waterproof” gear. I decided that I was going to wear my h=own boots because it was a 1.5 hour hike to get there and I wanted shoes that fit and my boots are waterproof anyways. So we all get into a bus and drive like the 5 min to get us closer before walking. We cross a couple little streams then go into a rain forest on the side of a cliff to get onto the beast. During the 1.5 hours in the forest it started to rain. Not like normal rain either. It might as well been a hurricane. Thank god we have our “waterproof” stuff on. It took all of 5 min for is waterproof stuff to fail and started getting us wet. Thank god at this point I had my own boots on because my feet were dry still. We then got on the big block of ice walked around and in about 10 min you get tired of being on the thing. It is like just what you think it is walking on ice. We took some pictures and then left the big block of ice. Now for the 1.5 hour walk back to camp. At this point I want to just be at the motel. I also realized this is the first thing on my whole trip that after getting to the point of interest that I hated it and really shouldn’t have done it. I deal with enough ice in my day to day life that I don’t really care about it. Well going back those little stream had turn into raging rivers. This is because the area really doesn’t have any top soil. All the trees and plants are stuck into the ground with roots that go right into the rock. There might be like 5 inches of soil in some spots from all the dyeing plants but that doesn’t hold that much water. So to cross these things you have to go like almost calf deep in water. WELLL at this point my boots are not waterproof if water can come in from the top. So I then 500 yards from the bus completely soak my boots and socks and most of my pants. I had put a dry set of clothing on the bus but I didn’t have another pair of boots. So we got back to the motel and I grab my thongs and put those on in 40 degree weather being my only pair of foot wear. We then got on the bus for a 6 hour trip to a sheep farm that the “Chronicles of Narnia” were filmed at.
BAH RAM YOU
We got to the sheep farm at night. We unpacked and lots of kids took showers. I figured I would take a shower after dinner and try to figure out how to dry my boots. There was this little space heater in the room. I took that put it on high and pointed it straight at my boots. We went to dinner and I hoped that the boots would be dryish when I got back. The dinner was great. Fresh lamb and veg from the farm. We all then sat around playing cards and talking. I got done with playing cards and went back to the room to see if my boots had dried. THEY HAD! Thank god. I went to sleep looking forward to walking around on the farm the next day.
The next day we woke up got food and then off into the farm. We learn the difference in the sheep they breed and the difference in the type of wool each one has. We then learned about sheep shearing and how they get all the sheep from the something like 3000 acre farm back to the barn. We then went out and watch some of the dogs to the job they do so well sheep wrangling. There was a group of sheep like half mile away and the guy gave the command to get them from the left. The dog rushed off and ran to the sheep then guided them all the way from the field to the barn where we were. It was really impressive that they can move a group of animals that far with just fear in a big open field. We then got to see some other commands for moving them in directions and other things. We then got to tackle the sheep into the shearing positions. I didn’t want to because the sheep had runny noses from it being cold and they were all dirty and didn’t have a change of clothing. Some people did try and most failed. The only on that “got” it was this guy that pretty much jump on top of the sheep and then put it into the sheep shearing position. We then got back on the bus and started our last leg home. On the way home we visited the city of Springfield home of the Simpsons. I don’t know if I have mentioned this but each town or city has some statue to represent them. This city had a big doughnut like from the movies O. The other notable ones are a sheep that was lost for 6 years and then was sheared and was the most watch television event in all of NZ. Another was a dog that was brought over with this guy that was in charge of stealing sheep from flocks for this guy. The guy also set fire to most of NZ and this then allowed a new form of plant to grow which now allows for sheep to be farmed. That day when we went back to Christchurch we planned to have a big night out and made the reservation for 30 of us at this place right next to the hostel. We then just went to the bar at the hostel and talked and said our god bye and exchanged information.
THE FLIGHT FROM HELL
So I get to the airport and check in and everything goes fine for my flight within NZ before Fiji. Somehow they guy didn’t put me as check in. So when the flight was late the next flight had no idea I was on the flight and put me on standby. Well also because it was late and that they couldn’t check my bags to Fiji I had to get them. I had to get my bag walk to the international terminal which is like a mile away all and check in get through customs and security in all of an hour. This was really fun. I did check in fine and then the lady at the desk called someone over to make sure my bags got on the plane with me. I then went to customs. Some worker decides to spot check my bag to see what it weights. Well of course my carry on is over because that is where all the weight I couldn’t have in my bag is. So it is 11.5 kilos instead of 7. She then calls the desk to tell them I am coming and that I might be charged for the extra weight. That pissed me of because it wasn’t even the airline doing it; it was customs by no means is it the governments job to make sure my bag is of weight for the airplane I am on. So I get in line ready to shoot up the place cause that just wasted a bunch of my time. Then some stupid lady decided she didn’t want to carry her bag through the queue. So she just drops her bag at the front of the queue and goes back to the back of the line and waits. Well if you HAVE EVER been in an airport you know that you can’t leave your bag unattended LET ALONE AT CUSTOMS! So someone figure out that bag inst anyone in the front of the line and no one claims it. She is so far back in the line doing god knows what that she doesn’t see it happening. They were about to shut down customs and call in a bomb robot because of her. This now has wasted even more of my time. The line starts moving and then I make it through customs. Next security, well once again I run into some one that has never been to the airport somehow. This family in front of me all have laptop which you have to remove from your bag and liquids buried in the bags. So after they figure out how to go through security then set the metal detector off. At this point and really am about to shoot the place up just to get to my flight. One set it off with a belt. Now you would think if your son sets of the thing with his belt if you had one on also you would remove yours also. NO that would be too easy let’s set the thing off again when you go through. Then don’t remove you watch that is metal either. AND heaven forbid if your husband sets it off from his watch you don’t take yours off either so you get the joy of setting the thing off also. After all that I go straight through no problems because I don’t suck at life and can follow directions. I am now RUNNING with my bags to get to the gate. They had just started boarding the old people and what not. I couldn’t find Dan and I thought he might have been on the plane. So I went up to the front desk like I was told by the custom agent that screwed me over on my bag. They lady said she didn’t know what that lady was talking about and ripped my ticket and told me to get on the plane. I boarded only to find out that it was me 3 old people and a family. I had also gotten the exit row which was the first good thing to happen that day. Well it was in till these two morbidly obese people sat next to me. At this point the only thing I could do was not snap at everyone that talked to me. I made it to the point in the flight where I could use my IPod and put my iPod on and went to sleep. I woke up for some food and then went back to sleep. I then exit the plane to find Dan was on the thing and stuck between to really old people that couldn’t move on their own from strokes. I had seen them on my way in Dan got to sit next to them. So Dan had to wait in till everyone in the plane had left pretty much to get out. I was so glad that whole thing was over!
Fiji
Well there inst much to say about this place other then it is a 3rd world country in till you get to the other island resorts. Dan and I woke up the next morning and boarded a boat to get to our little island resort 2.5 hours away from the big island. We then met one of our friends from NZ and sat with him on the boat. When we go to the place we had to say goodbye and then got on our little boat to get to the island. This was a really nice place in the terms of what these little islands had to offer. It had a meal choice which most islands didn’t have. It also had nice dorms and better shower and bathroom facilities. Now after saying that, you still didn’t have flush toilets or warm water for showers. You slept under mosquito nets and there was no enclosed shelter. There was good food, beautiful beach and water plus cold drinks. Dan and I for the most part just sat and sun bathed. We met up with this group of UK people and hung out with them during our stay. Most of the time we just slept on the beach sun bathing and eating and playing cards at night. Dan had at this point burned himself again. I needed a lower SPF then 30 to tan but oh well. I did get a little color but not much. After the 3 days on the island we left back to the main island. Where we meet some other people that checked in at the same time we did. We sat and talked then I took my first hot shower in 3 days. After living on an island like that a hot shower and a flush toilet seems to be the greatest thing on earth. Dan had to get the 5am shuttle to the airport and I’m stuck at this place till 7pm so we will see what I end up doing.
SOOOO
You probably picked up that I have learned a lot during this little adventure of mine. I have to thank Harley Davidson for funding a good part of this trip through the job they had given to me. I have to thanks everyone that has experience any or this entire trip with me. Also I would like to thank anyone that has read this whole thing actually even parts of it. I am really looking forward to seeing you all in the coming weeks. If you are reading this make sure you come to the return/ bday ( and my dad Howard ) party at my parent’s house on the 15th of aug I would love to talk to you about my trip and to see you again.
Now for the moral of the story, at first I thought OZ was going to be the best country I had ever or will ever go to. I learned that is not the case. If anything it has made me realizes that I may not like that way America is heading or how it works but it is mine. I feel a new joy to say I am from the state. If anything I now realize why so many people try to become Americans. It is the land of chance and the ability to be what you want. If you have the motivation and the will power you will make it. I have found out that the rest of the world’s healthcare is just as shitty as ours just in different ways. Sure you don’t pay for it. But in OZ if you make over 35k you get taxed to hell for being on it. They force you to use private health care by taxing you. Also seeing anyone other than a normal doctor is a hell of a line to get into. Also I will never complain about the taste of water as long as I can drink it. Granted NZ and OZ have drinking water but even some of the places don’t. Thailand doesn’t at all. The whole city of Bangkok is run of bottled water. Fiji some places do have drinkable water some do not. Lots of these places are run of rain water. If they don’t have the rain they don’t get to drink water. I will always be grateful for hot water and a warm safe place to sleep. Flushing toilet a thing I didn’t have when in remote areas or camping is a real thing in some of the world and should never be taken for granted. I will also never complain of clothing prices, cell phone or internet prices. I’m really truly grateful to experience what I have and all the people I have met.
Thanks for reading
-Charles Hansen





