Emma's Adventures

The hottest week in Christchurch this week, with an average of 30degrees every day :) Visited Taylors Mistake with a few friends from work and a couple of flatmates to enjoy the beach.  Went cycling to some nice cycle tracks around Christchurch which was great. Also enjoyed lots of summer beverages including a house party in a mansion house with 16 rooms! It was massive :) lots of tequila, wine and party games :) 

Eriko our last Japanese flatmate leaves the house next week so again we will have a spot for a lucky girl/guy to enjoy 464 Manchester Street. :)  Still trying to get a long weekend out of work to go to the Caitlins/ Dunedin/Invarcargill areas.

Mapped out some of my trip through Malaysia and have decided i will take most of my trip by train through the country as it seems the safest and quickest method of seeing all the good places around. I will try to do some couchsurfing around the area as well as stay at some backpackers :) 

Still working hard at the hotel with the international flower festival starting at the beginning of March we will be full full full, so the shifts will keep coming for the next few weeks :)

Hello All,

Finished the amazing novel known as Shantaram a few days ago and it was fab fab fab!!  Makes me even more excited to go to India than i already was and that was difficult.

Have found the 7th flatmate in the form of Meredith a local from Christchurch who is studying teaching at a local university. It would seem the dynamics in our house are getting better, went out for a few beers together on Saturday night which was refreshing to have the bulk of the house out together :)

Went to see a local rugby game this week Crusaders v Highlanders! Was good to see another game of rugby and to experience the local tradiitions such as horses coming on to the pitch before the game as mascots, random!!!

Paid more money to my travel agents  for some more of my travel in Asia so nearly completed with the travel expenses for my 3 month vacation. Yipeee

Have been out for coffee with a variety of differentcouch surfers this week which has been fun to meet with new people, not hosting people for the moment as one of my flatmates is a little grouchy about people staying over so giving him a break for the next couple of days at least.

Visisted Willowbank on a freebie trip which was cool, got to see the Hakka traditional Maori dance being performed along with watching the native Kiwi bird do its thing! They are soooooo cute but they make a really funny sound :) But definately worth a watch if you ever get the opportunity.

reckon the kiwi summer is nearly over :( bring on Asia :)

This week i feel all i have been doing is eating!! :) Probably one of the busiest weeks i have had in NZ since i arrived. Went to the biggest BBQ i have ever seen, in honour of John one of the chefs at the George who is leaving us!! :( We had every type of meat you can imagine with prawns, green lip mussels, every type of salad you could wish for. Just simply amazing!!

Sampled some of the local music at a festival known as Sounday here in Christchurch located in Hagley Park!! Some great acts performed including the Phoneix Foundation well worth a listen :)  Enjoyed a picnic consisting of brie, crakcers, tomato and advocado perfect!!!

Also had the opportunity to stay the George my place of work, 5* city centre hotel. Got a free nights stay with dinner in Pescatore our fine dining restaurant, got my flatmate Christian to join me at dinner where we eat 5 courses of delicious food i ate: Salmon Salad to start, followed by venison carpaccio, red snapper, raspberry souffle, followed by valhrona choc fondant an absolute delight really yummy thanks to Tom :)
also had brekkie the following morning consisting of a hearty serve of porridge and an omelette with the lot!! 

Found what i believe to be the best wee cafe in Christchurch so far which is C1 expresso awesome brekkie and good value tea at least 4 cups from the pot!! woop woop.  A girl at work Janafer formerly from NYC created  an awesome website which uncovers some of christchurches underground/alternative scene you should check it out. http://www.localvanguard.com/

Enjoyed the International Buskers festival in Christchurch this week where i went to two nights of stand up comedy and numerous street performances!! Christchurch was buzzing with travellers this week from all over the globe here to enjoy the busker shows. A really nice vibe around the city which i really loved.

Got some free cinema tickets from work so went to see Sherlock Holmes and Avator over the last few days, both good movies and would recommend either to watch on a rainy day.

Flat BBQ again this week probably Thursday or Friday this week which will be nice, we are still however waiting on the 7th housemate to move in, would appear that the room may be a little expensive for some people so the room remains vacant.

p.s reading an awesome book at the moment, a recommendation before i head to India! Shantaram is the title and i would highly suggest this for a read an outstanding story of a wanted man from Australia on the run, a story about his experiences of freedom in  Bombay, India described as a masterpiece a thing of exceptional beauty totally agree