airport nightmares

Minor change in plans. Last night at about 10 we decided to buy a ticket to Christchurch. The northern island has a lot to offer but we were eager to get south to start our treks before our work begins. There were also the factors of the extremely pricey ferry, the vans are cheaper in Christchurch, and our time is limited. So now I am officially writing to you from the South Island of New Zealand!

To say our day of traveling was grueling would be an understatement. From the beginning it was one hassle after the next. Every airline we have flown on has a completely different baggage policy leaving us shuffling clothes, toiletries, and everything else you can imagine. Then once you get to security they weigh your carry-on for an exact cut off that we were obviously over in both size and weight. The security ordeal continued ending with me going through a total of three times and paying a whole dollar for a plastic baggy. To make everything worse, we had attended one more Kava ceremony to end Fiji and I woke up sick as a dog, nearly puking in the middle of the airport.

The plane ride added what we thought was the cherry on top. The Indian couple in front of us was dropping bombs the whole ride- at one point a woman sitting in front of them had to get up and ask the stewardess for a puke bag… imagine what it smelled like from behind!

We then spent two hours going through customs. Not only is NZ the hardest country in the world to immigrate to, they also have the most secure biohazard border. They literally go through EVERYTHING. Our noses also got an added treat of standing by a man bringing in seafood from China. We successfully passed- the trick: wash the bottom of all your shoes!

After a terminal transfer, more baggage issues, more security issues, and having to check a bag last minute, we arrived! A thirty-minute shuttle and we won’t have to see an airport for months!

Incase you hadn’t had enough of our bitching…

Little did we know that the earthquake damage is still in full effect. I don’t know how many of you remember but a year ago Christchurch was hit with 4 huge earthquakes and have experienced over 8,000 quakes since. Last night alone they had 3. The roads used to be flat and now they look like a squiggly line. Our hostel, the only undamaged one with any open beds, is located on the coast outside of town. It feels like a complete ghost town: empty streets, closed shops, deserted homes. I don’t know what progress they’ve made in the past year but it doesn’t seem like any.

Our hostel is packed and our room is the official drinking room. Should be a wild night since we have finally met some Americans- let the drinking games begin!

Tomorrow we hit the streets car shopping. More to come manana!