Polliday! + Loz

So here are some photos from a little trip to the South Island, most of the time in the delightful company of young Lauren, Kiwi mate from uni.

Highlights for me were seeing Loz's home town and the AMAZING house her dad has just built and a drive through the beautiful rolling hills of the Rangitiki region, only to be tricked into hurling myself along a zip-wire at the worryingly-titled 'Gravity Canyon', hmm - check out the blue telly-tubby shot for our amusing safety gear.

Both new to tramping and National Parks we picked New Zealand's smallest (the Abel Tasman park) and busiest (the coastal track) for our first proper hike. Despite lack of light-weight, hi-tech gear (our borrowed tent was nicknamed 'Das Mansion' by a bemused German couple), the wrong gas cylinder for our stove (much bribing with sweets of more sensible souls) and unhelpful weather (a thorough soaking on the last day), we still managed to complete the four-day route in our ridiculous schedule of two and a half, and we had even (unwittingly) done it in the hillier direction.

So with only a blister each apiece and a few nasty bites we returned to the lovely coastal town of Nelson very smug and enjoyed lots of eating and drinking, some gentle strolls and swimming in the river.

Then round the hills a bit to Picton and a boat trip out to a lodge on the Malrborough SOunds for a day of hammock swimming and admiring the art installations - 'is it art or is it just a drain?', oft repeated.

So whilst I was very pleased to see a bit of the South the best thing of all was the super company - so thank you Loz for your tent-carrying skills, organisation, patience, cheerfulness and, most of all, upmost generosity in sharing that Paua, mmm

kiwi christmas

so here's where had our Christmas dinner, in the back yard, lamb on the bbq and pavlova for pudding, mmm

hope everyone had a nice Yule in the snow and slush, it was very strange to be swimming in the sea but I appreciate it was a special experience

sorry the blog has been nothing for a while but I'm just going to put up lots of photos now

xxx

it's a drink apparently

whatever. silly name, funny sign, couldn't help myself

the yard

after being pimped with pummace-shell sculptures (sorry I have no idea how to spell that) made by Christmas house guests Pete and Rachel

spots rule

so I went on a little Polliday to Wellington and saw this super exhibition by 60s Japanese crazy lady artist Yayoi Kusama

you're not supposed to take photos but I didn't understand because I'm a foreigner and I have a silent camera so I took these sneaky shots for you to enjoy her super use of the spot

that's me taking the photo in the middle of all the fairy lights that were in a mirrored cube room with a water floor, I felt like a fairy

it was such a jolly exhibit, everyone came out smiling and with the beginnings of a headache

christmas card

apologies to evryone who got one of the paper versions of these, I obviuosly have far too much timeon my hands but had a lot of fun earlier this month making silly photos for a christmas card from me in NZ

really milking the christmas-in-the- summer thing but, hey, it's once

life off the road - update!

sorry it's been a while but suddenly the journey stopped and this staying-in-one-place thing has taken some adjustment!

so just a quick update on getting settled in here in sunny Napier:

Anna, AJ and the house are super, living together is something we're used too so just like old times! My new (and currently only) NZ friend, Rusty the dog, is a good pal and we go for daily walks, I feel very kiwi when we cruise around in the Ute

I have started work with a few waiting shifts at a restaurant and hopefully will have some more language/events stuff coming up soon

the weather is still pretty varied but lots of sunshine too, I haven't been in the sea yet but regular swimming in the lush lido on the seafront

I have eaten pies and barbeque, the fresh fruit is amazing and seafood is everywhere, mmm... Anna is another gourmet so we are cooking increasingly elaborate dinners, lucky AJ, and I have been put to work baking again so all is well

thinking of you all back home, thank you again for all the good thoughts along the way

Polly xxx

I'm here!

yes! finally! or maybe too soon but here I am down in sunny seaside Napier, home of the lovely Anna and AJ and my new home for a bit

AJ met me at the airport and we drove through the ridiculously beautiful landscape (photo is lake taupo, the volcano is 'mount doom' apparently) before arriving in the dark to a warm fire and homemade pizzas, mmm

just been enjoying unpacking and getting to know the neighbourhood and eating my first kiwi, see mugshot

my talent for gate-crashing national events continues and this weekend is topped off by Labour Monday, a national holiday and marker for the start of the summer season. so just enjoying the holidays and will crack on with life here as everyone goes back to work on Tues

am starting to digest the journey too, such a lot to think about, many happy memories and some regrets too but I had a brilliant time and was lovely to know that I could keep up with you all

will keep this up to date as life goes on here but for now just going to enjoy being in one place for a while

so here's to the journey, now I just need to think about getting back...

lots of love, 

Polly xxx

manly bay, grr

sydney today, landed 7am this morning and lost another 3 hours so nearly on kiwi time

the amusingly but not factually named Manly Bay is a 30 min ferry hop across the beautiful Sydney harbour, good views of the opera house and big old bridge from all directions

night-flight fatigue was catching up and an early heat wave led me and the masses to this beautiful spot for some posing in the waves (them) and some snoozing in the shade (me)

also had my first dip in the Pacific, woop, lovely to wallow again

sydney is gorgeous in an LA-beautiful-people-way, lots of interesting buildings too, bit san fran too I'd say, very nice and would happily pop back

last day here tomorrow, maybe a museum, def something to eat and celebrity-spotting at a branch of Bills and generally preparing for the last journey on Fri morning

sure it's gone quick but feels like I can't remember not being on the road, will be funny to stop

lots of love, 

Polxx

ozzie rules

ooh australia's nice! bright and fresh and full of spring. I have been given extra special treatment and been chauffered around Perth and surrounding, been up the big park in town and over to see my first and last glimpse of the Indian Ocean, I had a paddle, it felt right to be back near the salty stuff

then more importantly an amazing cake, they know their caffs over here

as warned, David got the camera so pictures of me for once

lovely to stop in a real home for a bit, back to hostels in Sydney before the final hop on Fri

Polxx

perth

australia already! flew into Perth last night and met by the lovely David and Helen Ryder who are putting me up for a couple of days, providing washing facilities, showing me around a bit and generally being lovely

David is also insisting we take a photo of me somewhere significant as the blog is lacking mugshots, apologies in adavnce then for me grimacing in front of the Indian Ocean or something.

Blissfully quiet and cool after Asia, more of this to come I guess.

Flight to Sydney Tues night, had to rule out the train on this one for costs/time, next time...

Polly xxx

identity crisis

so just an hour and a bit on a plane (boo, first one) and it's singapore already

v confused, it's hotter than ever (the nearest bit of land the whole trip to equator) and so steamy the trees are growing ferns half way up. the streets are spotlessly clean and suddenly everyone is using the crossings again

all seems very clinical after Vietnam, I miss the grime. so I look for the dirtiest, most dingy looking locals caff for some food and get fried rice and sweet and sour fish, super-confusing, I miss the one-dish nations, maybe communism to thank for that

international again although I'm still stared at, not sure what language to speak, english obviously. so it feels like I've gone West again before I got to grips with East. but mainly I've gone South, that explains the hot bit

but that doesn't mean I'm not loving it! check out the picture of  my groovy pod-like hostel and the main street in Little India, I've managed once again to crash a significant festival and tonight is the eve of Deepvali, the one with all the lights. 

oh, and have touched base with local contact,  captain haddock william horne who is taking me out on bender tomorrow night, wish me luck

PollyGone and Got on a Plane and Went Too Quicky and Got Really Confused xxx

Hotel Continental, saigon

made it, another monster 2-day on train snaking down the whole coast to steamy southern belle, Saigon (HoChiMinh City to the pc)

a bit of luxury for one night at the Continental, last of Saigon's old hotels to escape proper modernisation - it's luxe but old school and lots of amusing 70s-kitsch

loving the slippers as you can see

PollyGone And Had Her First Bath in a Long Time xxx

florist Vietnam-style

Hanoi now, it's all about the style here. elegant and crazy place, quadrophoenia-meets-naples-in-asia-on-acid

so many mopeds, I love the space-invader game every time you cross the road

the first time the journey went from going east to going south and it don't half show - hotter, brighter, louder, altogether more spicy thanks

noodle soups for breakfast, iced coffee with condensed milk (thank the frenchies for that) and the local tipple, bia ha noi - mocrobrewed fresh, yeasty beer, on evry corner, mmm...

think we're caught up now so maybe a last one before two-day train to Saigon tomorrow, yes, I'll try not to miss it...

PollyGone To Look Around Hanoi and Loved It xxx

The day we missed the train

Had to happen sooner or later, and it did. Big time.  Booked on the 16.04 from Beijing to Hanoi that, as every Chinese train does without exception, left bang on time as we sat gridlocked in the Beijing traffic.

Why? Don’t know, just happens sometimes, you forget to always be worried, start being a tourist instead of a traveller and suddenly one’s gone without you, doh.

That’s the thing, you know you’re going to do it at some point you just never know when and what it will mean.

So what did it cost? A bit in money, lost the value of the original ticket, grr. But not much in time, managed to get on a local train to Nanning (last big town in South China), pick up another one to Pingxiang, last spot before the border, taxi to the border and then the pace of the journey slowed to a walk as you literally walk under the Friendship Arch into Vietnam (via some customs and jolly form-filling). The picture here is the border post, pretty nice as they go I guess.

Then (look away now parents) comedy moments in wild-west nowhere towns in northern Vietnam before finally getting to Long San and the little bus to Hanoi, getting dropped in the teeming old town only 8 hours later than original planned arrival at the station.

So it wasn't too bad as fugg-ups go, wasn't the first and sure won't be the last.

PollyGone And Missed the Train, Silly Her xxx

beijing bicycle

a little bit from my first evening, took a turn with the bike and accindetally ended up pedalling across tianamen square, that's the shiny bit

the wobbly bit at the end is when I moved the camera, not when I fell off. which I didn't.

Beijing bit, 5th-8th October xxx

beijing bycy

restaurant cars

russia, the red one and Mongolia, the blue one

had the worst cup of coffee in my life in the first and the most amazing views of the gobi dessert as I ate in the second on the last-but-one day before beijing

trans-siberian bit xxx

tick after tock

siberia, one minute, from the train, could have been anytime in the first 3 days, after that we got hills again, woop

russian train, 29th sept - 2nd oct

rail ways

after the essay on moscow, am going to spare you all and just put up some photos for the big train across russia bit

so here's the first, all domestic bliss and coal fires, it gets loaded on at each station and is used to fire the heating

the samovar is the hot water dispenser at the end of each carriage, unlimited tea and I of course expanded my culinary repertoire with samovar-porridge and even fondue, kept me busy at least

trans-siberian, russian bit xx

journey: 29th sept - 5th oct