Once upon a time there was a girl....

Tongariro Crossing!

homeless-hannah — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:15:00 GMT

The Tongariro Crossing is widely regarded as the best one day walk in New Zealand, so I decided to give it a shot. Coincidentally, when I went to pay for the shuttle ticket at Reception the night before, the woman in front of me was also buying a ticket too. She remarked that it was a very early start...she wasn't wrong, the bus was going to pick us up at 5.40am!

Thankfully, my fellow dorm buddies were also getting up at that hellish time and so I managed to get about 6 hours sleep. But as is often the case when you know you have to be up early, you keep waking up and checking your watch! When I checked for the millionth time and it was 4.50am, I decided to get ready (in the dark) and make some breakfast as I clearly wasn’t getting back to sleep. Getting out of bed was somewhat tricky not only due to the unearthly hour but because someone appeared to have swapped my thighs for two big lumps of concrete - apparently the previous days underground caving adventure had been more grueling than it felt at the time!

Anyway - Peanut butter and jam sandwiches packed and I was ready to walk that mountain!

The bus stopped at various other hostels along the way, but within about 90 minutes we were at the start of the Crossing. The driver had given us instructions and maps, and warned us about the Devil's Staircase! He said you'd know why it was called that when you were half way up it! I was so very very glad I’d decided to buy new walking boots before I left the UK as I had a sneaking suspicion that they were going to come in very useful today!

The first section of the track was fairly easy and flat, and it took us just one hour to complete (exactly as out handy schedule indicated!) how hard can this be I though!

The scenery was fantastic, although it was a little cloudy to begin with. However, our spirits were dampened a little when we reached the infamous Devil's Staircase that the driver had warned us about! It certainly was tough on the old legs, and it did seem to be a never-ending climb you turn a corner thinking it’s the top and……. oh no yet more stairs!!!. I kept having small breathers under the pretence I wanted to take in the scenery which admittedly was stunning! It also meant the small group that I was walking with could all catch up!

After 45 minutes of fairly steep climbing, we reached the top and I treated myself to the first of my PB and J sandwiches...a well deserved reward ! We had apparently now completed the hardest section of the track! There was the option of doing a 3 hour side trip up one of the Mountains, but apparently that was extremely difficult and not recommended in the cloudy conditions we had today due to there not actually being a designated track to tack - so apparently its just every man for himself up that one!!

The next 2 hours involved walking through the Red Crater and along a VERY narrow ridge. At times I looked around me and it was just like being on the Moon (not that I've ever actually been there but I imagine it to look just the same!). Really eerie! This climb was actually one of the most tricky parts but mostly due to the gale force winds that had been waiting there for us! At times I really thought I might get blown clean off the side. In the end we ended up climbing over the rocks on our hands and knees in an attempt to make the wind blow over us!

Some of the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed here, and you could definitely tell. As we touched down on the summit the cloud lifted as if by magic and finally we could see back over the whole valley and I was overwhelmed by the enormousness of the mountains, it felt amazing to be right on top of it!

We passed the Emerald Lakes which were a stunning green colour (or Emerald even) and it was really tempting to just jump right in...but we resisted and instead cracked open the remaining PB and J sarnies and soaked up the sheer beauty of this forgotten land!

We were making really good time at this point and it was just a couple of hours until we reached the next hut.

It was nice having the group to chat to on the way round! It made the time pass quickly and made me forget about my aching thighs! By now they were really starting to ache from the previous days activities.

After stopping at the hut for about 15 minutes, we set off on the last leg of the walk which was all down hill! I found this section the most difficult, although the skies were remaining blue and so the views of the Blue Lake were great. The last hour was in a forest and we saw some really nice waterfalls, and it was good to hear the wildlife all around us after the complete silence in the craters!

After what felt like days of downhill walking the scenery finally changed and I was walking though a rainforest for about another hour it was really beautiful and we past some stunning waterfalls. Suddenly the car park appeared and I really don’t think I could have been happier at that moment! The sun was out so we sat on the grass and soaked up some sun before our lift arrived!

Next …. Onwards (or backwards) to Rotorua to start working!!!!

Photos: Auckland and the northand

homeless-hannah — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:06:00 GMT

The first two weeks of the trip- starting in Auckland and heading up the east coast to Paihia and then onto Cape Reinga which is as far north as you can go!

Photos: Hong Kong 2010

homeless-hannah — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 14:48:00 GMT

Just a few piccies of my short time in Hong Kong

A whistle through Hong Kong

homeless-hannah — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 20:27:00 GMT

25th November 2010 -Day 1

So I booked it, sorted out my life back home, packed my rucksack and now here I am sat at Heathrow airport at 7.30 am preparing to fly to the other side of the world. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t even the slightest bit scared! My stomach is flipping between utter excitement and sheer terror at the thought of what I’m about to do! Not to mention the 13 hour flight!

So I arrived in Hong Kong at 6 am on 26^th November ( at least I think it’s the 26^th). The flight was uneventful but I did get to know a couple of fellow Bunac people In particular a girl from Scotland called Caroline and a girl from Chester called Sian.

So I’m feeling probably more tired and disorientated than I ever imagined possible clutching my rucksack in the arrivals hall of Hong Kong airport where I’m met with a VERY chirpy tour guide. She’s called L-E-Y-O-N-A , or so she spelt it for the 5^th time just incase anyone missed it! We are whisked off to our hotel - great - finally sleep was all I could think. Oh how mistaken I was, only time to dump our luggage and to be told our rooms wont be ready until 2.30 this afternoon so L-E-Y-O-N-A suggested we go sightseeing!

Off we went………….

I spent much of my day switching between yawning and gawping trying desperately to push aside the ever increasing fog of tiredness. Hong Kong was like nothing id ever experienced and not at all what I had expected. We were staying in Kowloon which is across the harbor from Hong Kong City. The views over the harbor were fantastic never had I seen so many and such large skyscrapers squashed into such small spaces.

Kowloon itself was very western and as usual you had starbucks and McDonalds on every corner interspersed with very expensive designer shops. However what struck me most of all was the very high level of English that was spoken, I’m not entirely sure what id expected though! I barely got opportunity to practice my basic Cantonese id practiced on the plane!!!

Later that day (I think it was still the same day) we decided to visit Lantau island to see the big Buddha, little did I realise this meant I death defying cable car ride up vertical mountain sides!!!

This island is said to be held sacred amongst Chinese people however I couldn’t escape the feeling that I was in some elaborate theme park. It was very touristy and I felt a lack of authenticity to it, anyhow our search for the big Buddha continued!

Eventually we found him (not that he was hard to miss) the only thing separating us from the man himself was the mere matter of 294 steps! For which ill add you had to pay 20 Hong Kong dollars!!!

The views from the top back over Hong Kong well made up for the steps- the free ice cream may also have helped.

I decided not to sleep in the afternoon in an absurd attempt to self correct my body clock - oh how wrong I was! At 1 am I was still wide awake and walking through Kowloon’s still bustling shopping streets. I couldn’t possibly tell you what I saw or did as im fairly convinced I was a walking western zombie!

Day 2

Breakfast at 9 am - who’s stupid idea was that. Anyway I was up now and it was time to explore the city with slightly fresher eyes! The girls and I set off in search of the infamous jade markets. What a delight it was when we found it, so many tiny stalls crammed into a warehouse just outside of the main shopping district. Every stallholder wanted to sell you their ‘special special’ jade. Before I knew what was happening I was having bracelets , rings and necklaces draped all around me. I settled for a simple thumb ring.

I decided to walk back a different route as I was determined to find out what this area was really like for the people who lived here (no mean feat in 3 days I know) so far I felt all id seen was the tourist side of the town and McDonalds! Anyway I ended up inadvertently wandering into their red-light district which funnily enough doubled as their fruit, veg and meat market by day! There were things for sale that I’d never even seen before and things I wish never to see again like dried snake skins - perfect for broth so the signs said needless to say I gave it a miss!

The afternoon was spent on ( and off!) a bus visiting the Hong Kong highlights. I knew this trip was not going to help my already niggling feeling that I was missing the best the Hong Kong and Kowloon had to offer but I was also still pretty tired!

The day was rounded off by a slightly dodgy Chinese meal where I spent much of the time unsure of what exactly I ;was eating despite avid reassurance of ‘no meat lady no meat’! hmmmmm im not so sure!

Day 3

My final day in Hong Kong and the spent the morning wondering exactly who had very unhelpfully exploded my rucksack all over the hotel room!

Rucksack neatly re-ordered and packed I decided to head out and continue my search for authenticity!! Eventually I found myself in another of the locals markets only this one had many more oddities than the last and up until this day I had been blissfully unaware of exactly what a whole, skinned, dried pigeon looked like!

Later t was off for a fun filled afternoon of bus tripping!!! By this point jet lag had hit me big time and like a sulky child I tagged along on the culture trip- I know it sounds moany and actually the place would have been really iterating had thay allowed us more than 10 minutes in each place or maybe explained a little about where it was they were dropping us. I gathered from some leaflets I found that it was a monestry and nunnery that is still running and one of the oldest in central Hong Kong.

After some more cultural highlights on this whistle stop tour we were dropped back at the jade market, unfortunately for me the only solution to my tiredness was a comfy chair in starbucks! Aaaahhhhhh caramel macchiato!!!

Next Stop ----- AUCKLAND!!!!

rubble rubble and yet more rubble!

homeless-hannah — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 03:15:00 GMT

woke up aound 2.30 today very odd feeling! but headed straight out to explore delhi. leaving the hotel i was faced with what can only be described as a the aftermath of a war zone. its hard to comprehend that this was where people lived and not just a set for rich westeners to visit.

the street children were the most shocking.... and persistant. before i knew it i had a stream behind me somewhat like the pied piper! its hard to turn away and keep walking but youd never escape if you giveto them.

out onto the 'main' road (slightly wider dirt track) and i was faced with which bloody way do i go as apparently they have no street signs. oh and did i mention it was 40 degrees!

half an hour later im on track for Connaught Place in the centre of delhi, supposedly the shopping/eating district. figured itd be a good place to start!

i was a littl disappointed by it but then i also dot know what i was expecting. there was a huge aray of british and american sports shops and the occaisional place to eat all veru juxtaposed (spelt!!!) with the poverty of people starving at the road side selling scraps of cloth and metal.

found some food eventually as i hadnt eaten since frankfurt so for my first taste of indian food i had.. ....Chinese! it was the oly place we could find and understand. was good food though!

in the middle of Connaught Place there is a very odd garden/ ampitheater which has security and metal detectors to get in ther wasnt much to see as all the fountains were turned off but it gave you pretty views of the outer circles of Conaught Place.

headed back to the hotel to recoup and rest. Such lovely staff popped up to us every 20 minutes to check we were ok or just to chat!!

had dinner in the hotel bar called Sams bar - how could we not!

Tomorrow is another day!

Delhi - Belly!!

homeless-hannah — Sun, 8 Aug 2010 03:07:00 GMT

Wow what can i say, we survived the journey to arrive in New Delhi airport about midnight, colectd our luggage changed some money - simple we thought! og how wrong we were, turned the corner into arivals louge to be faced with what looked like the whole population of india starig back at us! Now to find some way ofgetting to our hotel. there is a great little service where you can pre pay for you taxi to save you getting ripped off by rickshaw drivers who will take you to another hotel where they get commission. i can feel im going to have to get very good at saying no!

helpful man at pre pay booth directed us to the exit and said look for the black or yellow taxis - off we went! Well all i could see were bloody white taxis! anyhoo evetually found a taxi of a colour i think was black and hopped in. very precarous 40 minute drive later having dodged cows, bikes, rickshaws and people all wandering the streets at 2am, taximan pulls to a stop next to a pile of rubble in a pitch black allyway and says 'go no further road closed' shit we thought! so there we were dumped in this alleyway at 2am having been told our hotel was 'justdown there' and 'speak to no one!' i cant describe what was going through my head. long story short we founf our hotel after negotiating mounds of yet more rubble and sleeping people. had to bang loudly tpo be let in!

odd little place the pics i post soon will explain why! time for a sleep!

2 Sleeps!!

homeless-hannah — Thu, 5 Aug 2010 12:18:00 GMT

The countdown started weeks ago but finally i've only got two sleeps to go! I've successfully driven my family, friends and everyone at work mad with constant chat about India lets just hope it live up to my hype!!!