Hello Everyone. I am now in Matueka where I am awaiting the chariot to my next adventure. Translation: the orchard keeper that I'll be picking apples for will be picking me up in awhile to take me to the orchard. I start picking this afternoon. Accommodation... sharing a room with a 25 year old guy... Swiss I think. Pay is low, hours are long, work is hard, accommodations are minimal or less, facilities shared, meals are cook your own food. I have groceries for a couple of days. Left most of my luggage and stuff at the backpackers to get when I return to Nelson. That is the transport hub of this area so I have to go through there to get somewhere else.
This has been a fun and intersting week. On Monday night I went to the cinema to see 'Monster'. A brilliantly done film about a Floriday highway hooker, her life and the killing spree that ended it. She is still considered the only female serial killer in the U.S. and she was executed in Florida in 1999 after murdering dozens of johns for their cars and money. It started off with a self-defense killing when a john had beaten her, tied her up and was planning a brutal rape. She was able to free herself enough to grab her gun and shoot. It is, however, a brutal movie... as real life can often be for some people... so remember that before going to see it. One of my roommates (the Aussie) from the backpackers' was also going in to see it so we went together. It was nice to have someone to critique the movie with on the way home.
Tuesday, I caught the 8:30 am bus and went up to the Abel Tasman Park for a trek. The bus dropped us at the beach in Matueka where we were dighied out to a tour boat. The boat toured up the shoreline stopping to visit a couple of interesting sites. We saw "Slip Apple Rock" (yes it looks like an apple slit in half - photos to come later), an island where the Blue Fairy Penguins live (but we weren't close enough to much more than little dark dots moving around on the beach) and we stopped at a couple of spots to drop off and pick up passengers. We stopped briefly in Anchorage, a pretty little harbour completely protected from winds and waves. Not quite a 'hurricane hole' but close. Then we pulled into Torrent Bay where I got off with a couple of other solo lady travellers. We had to remove shoes and socks to wade ashore in the icy cold water. BRRR!!
This is where my 4.5 hour trek back to Marahau began. There English girls said her goodbyes and hit the trail ahead of us. Then Stephanie (German 33 yr. old) and I started off together. We were able to find a pace that was comfortable for both but I think she found it hard to keep up with me on the uphill climbs. I've done more of this sort of thing than she has. She is also 5cm shorter than me so my stride is longer (Cathy can appreciate this :-)).
It was a marvellous trek. Not a difficult track with well graded, easy climbs and only a few wet or muddy spots. There are foot bridges over all the stream gorges and there are lots of them. Bablling brooks, waterfalls, streams and ponds were everywhere. The forest is lush and damp with the most interesting mix of vegetation I've ever seen. Huge palm trees are everywhere along with monster ferns, mosses of every type, molds, lichens and spores that are every sort, colour, shape and texture you can imagine. Velvety molds coat the roots of dying trees and plants in dripping fingers of black, maroon, sienna, burnt umber, deep golds and charcoal grey. There are the scents of eucalyptus, cedar and pine, rotting undergrowths and mushrooms. BUT no bugs, few birds and, as far as I could tell, no wildlife in the daytime. It was strange to not hear the sounds of scurrying rodents and screaching, twittering birds. Very odd.
Must run... more later.
Well the Easter weekend was a bad time to get here. All the orchards and growers shut down for the holidays. So no one would consider hiring with only one day to go before a 4 day shut down. Worse though is the fact that everything here was shut down for Good Friday & Easter Sunday and almost everything was closed on Saturday and Monday. This meant there was next to nothing to do. BORING!
So Saturday was a gorgeous, sunny yet windy day so I went on a beer, wine and distillary tour of the nelson area with JJ's Tours. Was picked up by the giude Tony at 12:20, we stopped at 2 other places to pick up 5 other people and off we went. First stop was Mac's brewery where we samples 7 different brews and got a long talk about natural beer making. We stopped at 4 vinyards and 2 distillers. There were 5 or 6 samples at each vinyard and 3 or 4 at each distiller. At one stop we went into the cafe for a couple of platters. There was a variety of cheeses, to-die-for dips (minced garlic, beetroot chutney and another chutney), bread, grapes, cold meats (the only thing left on the platters when we finished), vege, olices, etc. HmmHmm. There was also a 2-man band playing old standards. All terribly civilized. The stops at the distillers were my most tempting stops where I bought samples to go. The liquers I got for desert shooters: New Zealand Cream (like Irish Cream but only 14%), Butterscotch Cream, Butterscotch Schnapps, Chocomumu and Sambuca. All in small 6 ounce plastic bottles except the NZ Cream. And a shooter glass. Got back to the backpackers at about 5:40. Quite sleepy and only slightly tipsy, amazingly enough. Had a quiet evening in watching a movie on tape... something too dumb for me to remember the title.
Sunday was quiet so I went trekking. First to the Maitai River Valley track then back to the backpackers for lunch. Then up to the Grampian track. What a climb!! Made it almost to the top but was totally pooped by the time I got to the lookout which is about a 1800 ft. climb. Did three major climbs up about a 50% grade twice and about 40% once. Geez that's hard. Could really feel the glutes throbbing when I got up top. Not to mention the hip flexors (sp?) and thighs. Going down was hard on the knees but I made it down quickly taking a different track from the junction at the "Geodetic Survey" marker before I did any long lasting damage. By then I was wiped. Returned to the backpackers, napped then made and ate supper. Sat watching another movie in the lounge but was in bed and dead to the world by 9:45.
Sunday got a roommate that is there for a few days. She is from S. Korea. A very nice girl of 22. Then Monday, the room filled up to a total of 6 single women travels all travelling solo! All from different countries... Canada, Australia, S. Korea, Africa (England & NZ originally), U.S. (Washington, DC), Netherlands.
Last night I went to a movie again. This time an excellent, yet disturbing, movie... Monster. If you can take the idea that this is a true story of the brutality of a hookers life on the highways of Florida go see it. Very well done and excellent acting. The Aussie girl was there waiting to go in when I came out from buying my ticket so we sat together. It was great to have someone to talk the movie over with on the way home. Everyone in the dorm went to bed and asleep within a stretch of 30 minutes. Amazing. And we all got along well too. All got up within about a 30 minute stretch in the morning too. Even more amazing. 4 of us are still in the room tonight.
Today I visited the World of Wearable Art and Collectable Cars Museum. Had to bus it there and back. What a fabulous place. I cannot describe the place so you'll have to check out the website (http://www.worldofwearableart.com/) for details. But I could have spent all day in the place checking out the details of the construction of the pieces. Totally fantastical, fantasy wearables. Loved it lots.
Tonight I plan to go to the Trafalgar Centre for a public session with the Art of Life teachers. I am looking forward to this. Moira, one of my roomies, is there this afternoon to meet the Guru himself. She did the first course in Zimbabwe last year. Only students were invited to that session because the Guru was there to meet students.
Must run now. Getting hungry and it is getting late. Send news of what is happening in your life.
I am in a pricey internet spot so this is an excerpt from a message to Tom:
"Got back into town after a 2 hour trek up to "The Centre of New Zealand" summit. Took my time going up. It took me 20 minutes to climb to the 1800 ft. point. Great place to see the Nelson area from. Took a less direct route down and a couple of side trips for photos
"Having a great 24 hours though. Was talking to Suzanne (girl at hostel in Warkworth) yesterday at lunch about how much I enjoyed the courses and would like to do the Advanced but for the money situation. She said "...go talk to Paul. He's good at finding a way around these things...". So I did. Before I left the school at 3:00, Paul offered me a job, in writing. He needs someone to be Manager at the backpackers' for 5 weeks starting 14 June when Tim goes on vacation. As Tim was driving me to the bus and we talked about it. Lots to think about there.
"When I got to Auckland I checked into the Queen Street Backpackers and went to the Internet Depot next door where I had my certificates scanned and sent the file off to all the crew agencies I know of. Had to post it to a couple of crewing website resumes too. The guy at the Internet Depot smiled and said "no charge" to me after telling 2 guys who were buddying up to him for freebies that is was $1 per page for scanning as he did a few pages for them. For me he actually manipulated the scans so all three would be on one page in a single file and sent it to my computer so I could send it. He's a nice young fellow who always smiles widely when I walk in and says a big hello like a dear old freind had just walked in. I spend way too much time in the Internet Depot in Auckland :-D Got next to zero sleep last night.
"The flights to Nelson (South Island) were uneventful. The first from Auckland to Wellington took about 1 1/2 hours in a plane that seats about 80. There was a rain and wind storm blowing so we had a rough landing and the pilot deserved a round of applause for not bouncing at all. The second from Wellington to Nelson was about 30 minutes in a plane that seats about 16-18 and had the curtain to the cockpit open so we could see the pilots.
"When I got to Nelson I waited patiently at the airport shuttle stop and was blessed by the Nelson Bays Shuttle. A nice young woman (late 40s, heehee) driver who took me to a beautiful new backpackers. I am in a dorm of 6 bunks alone... so far... for $20/night. It is a beautiful old Victorian that has been extended and totally renovated. All gorgeous new bathrooms, showers, etc. All the beds, linens and towels are brand spanking new too. Very comfy. Modern kitchen, SkyTV in the lounge, laundry on each floor, everything. The owner there is helping me get a job that comes with a "fast visa" that I could start on Friday morning probably. It is a job in a sorting shed. The growers prefer to hire women for the shed because they have a better eye for the different grades of apples, etc. or so I've been told. Things are moving along fast all of a sudden. Fingers crossed. If I get this job and can keep it going until the June job starts... well I could be here living, earning money and getting my STCW Advanced certification too.
"Oh Yeah, the hostel manager job comes with free accommodation, food, supplies and all the amenities. I would get the apartment that Tim and his wife and baby have been living in. And the school would pay my tuition for the Advanced course out of the weekly salary. I would still get some of it for pocket money. The Advanced course is 5 day Fire Fighting, 5 days Sea Survival, 5 days First Aid, launch handling, radio operator and one other course I don't remember. Paul is working out the details. I will have to take the training before June 14th.
"Anyway it is all alot for my poor exhausted brain to process so I am now off to a movie at the cinema around the corner and up Trafalgar Road. Don't know what I'll see. It depends on what is playing at this time. There are about 20 films playing in a 5 screen 'complex'. It will be popcorn for supper. I had a very healthy, filling late lunch at 1:30. I look forward to the relaxation and hope to follow it with a good night's sleep."
End of excerpt.
The movie I saw was "Lost in Translation" which was good but I felt the critical praise it is receiving is WAY over the top. Bill Murray just is not believable in the role. Why would a gorgeous young married woman bother with the likes of a man who was not even good looking in his youth and is downright unattractive in his mid-life crisis? I am waiting for the movies with unattractive, chubby middle-aged women who have gorgeous, sexy young guys falling in love with them. These guys like Bill Murray, Jack Nicholson and Walter Matthau being paired up with Helen Hunt, Jodie Foster and the like is just crazy. OK, enough ranting for now.
Today it is dreary and raining so my plans to go on a couple of local treks up the hillsides is off. The tracks would be running with rain today and slippery. Now I am off to see the Backpacker's owner about the work he has lined up. I have also just received a message from another grower that I have been in touch with over the last couple of weeks but he seems to skirt around the issue of the work visa. I will phone him at home tonight to talk about it when my rates are lower on the mobile.
I have been shopping for needed items and books. The bookshop keepers have told me that they get lots of Canadian titles/authors but American are hander to get. So, everywhere you go there are Carol Shields books and lots of them. She is a favourite here in NZ. I have managed to find an interesting store here in Nelson... all you over 40s out there in Ottawa especially may recall ToyWorld? Well ToyWorld is alive and well and prospering in Nelson and in fact, I am told, all over NZ. It is apparently an Australian based company. But it is definately the same store. I could tell by the logo and sign. Took a pic to post for all to see. Photos will be up on the blog gallery soon but there are more to come.
Must run now. Cheers to all!
Hello from the booming metropolis of Opua (Maouri for "place when sea and fresh water meet") where I am looking for a sailing vessel. The job hunt for a super yacht to work on is not going well, so I am now looking for a sailing trip. A good long crossing would be a good one. I need the crossing experience and there are several boats heading to Fiji and Australia from here. Opua is the checking-out port for cruisers heading out to sea.
Just had a meeting with a fellow heading to Brisbane at the end of the month. Spoke to another yesterday but he needs someone willing to stay with the boat for the long term. So we agreed that it was not a good fit.
(Julie, that was Thomas)
Will be going out to see Brian's boat at 2pm today. One way or the other I will be on a boat before I have to leave the country. It seems that Opua is the place to be by May 1 as the big rally to head north departs here then and all throughout the month of May. I should be able to get a ride then. But not paying jobs, unfortunately.
I'm running short on time here so will have to cut it short. More tomorrow when I am back in Warkworth for my First Aid training on Monday and Tuesday.
I am glad I left Auckland. I am a much happier me. The area around Warkworth is gorgeous and I will try to get photos after school some evening this week.
I am at the end of my first very busy week at the Mahurangi Technical Institute where I am taking my STCW95 training. Here are the highlights:
Monday Day 1 - Sea Survival: this was interesting. It was mostly class room theory but we did go out back where we inflated a survival raft in the back lot, set off several different types of handheld flares (hot and stinky things) behind the fire fighting 'shed' ... orange smoke, red flame, white flame, red smoke, impact, snap top, buoyant smoke... all sorts. Pew... they stink, they are hot and they are bright. We got to see all the survival equipment and supplies.
Tuesday Day 2 - Sea Survival: we were on a boat all day, actually on a partially enclosed barge, which is our practical class for Sea Survival and I survived quite well. We had to don life jackets and swim one at a time to the survival boat (lifeboat), flip it over to the upright position then climb in, jump out and swim against the current, wind and tide back to the boat where we were thrown a life ring to be hawled in. No ladders to climb into the survival craft or back onto the barge. Also had to don an exposure suit and do a swim around the boat. It is a huge, oversized 7mm neoprene one piece suit in a lovely shade of brilliant orange-red for easy visibility in even the worst weather conditions. Once in it completely, only the eyes show. Hard to breath in but once in the water it is quite cozey. Of course the smaller one (for us gals and a couple of the guys) had a leak in each hand so it slowly filled up with water. However, it was easy to just float in, which is what it is really meant for. Swimming is difficult because it is so stiff and oversized. It was pointed out to us that we may, in a real emergency, have to climb into the survival craft while wearing it. Gawd!!! I could barely climb into the raft as it was (remember, no ladder) so to have to do that in a suit... well that is where the team work comes in handy. We were told that we all did very well and passed that portion of the course.
While I did email that night there was a young fellow who lives in the hostel playing a piano... VERY WELL. There is an upright in the corner of the garage that serves as common room, laundry room and internet depot. It is a treat to listen to a live performance. He was playing again last night too. His repertoire is mostly jazz, blues and show tunes from the 1930s to current movie themes. He also plays lots of pop/rock from the 70s, 80s and 90s. I am surrounded by kids I could have given birth to and they all act it... giggling teenage girls whispered gossip and boys playing at the mating rituals and showing off their ability to consume large quantities of alcohol. You know the stuff I mean... a bit over the top for me (now that I'm not one of them... teeheehee) but they are young and I must have patience.
In town there is a restaurant/bar/cinema which is the only real evening entertainment in town except for a bunch of pubs. I have not had time for evening activities because of the reading workload I have every night but would like to check it out before I leave. Sunday night will be my last chance. I will get some photos of the villiage (population ~2500) to post to the blog. There is also an Arts and Crafts College here so it has a "University Town" feel to it but on a very small scale.
Wednesday Day 3 - Fire Fighting: I had 90 pages to read before bed Tuesday night in order to be prepared. I was only 78 pages prepared. Kept falling asleep and finally gave in around 12:30am. There was some morning theory and practice with tape on our breathing aparatus visors. We were wearing the SCBAs we learned to don for that fire exercise. They are referred to simply as a BA. We had to run around the building while wearing them, do push-ups in them, climb under a picnic table in them (no lifting the table) and lift heavy objects in them. Then in the afternoon we got into the fire and smoke chamber to put out fires and rescue a 60 Kg dummy, Fred, from a smoke filled 'boat'. Again, this is a team work excercise so I thought I should not have to lift that dummy alone. Wrong... had to drag him out on my own during the first exercise. The first is for 2 people to enter the burning compartments, find the fire and extinquish it.
The SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Aparatus) is a full face mask attached to an air cylinder on a metal backpack. Alot like wearing a SCUBA set.
Thursday Day 4 - Fire Fighting: There were three exercises in all Thursday. The first was for a 4 person team to enter the burning compartments, 2 people find the fire and extinquish it followed by the other 2 who search for the body (Fred) and rescue it. The second was the same but with a change of partners. And the third was similar but while the first 2 team members are exiting and my partner and I were rescuing Fred another fire starts in the companionway (surprise!) which needs to be extinquished by the other team while we waited in the small cabin where the body was.
The entry and exit is through a hatch in the roof with a ladder-like stairway (just like the cargo ships have). We were pretty filthy when we were done... covered in soot. Thank heavens for the coveralls, helmets, boots and breathing aparatus.
Well I passed my Fire Fighting with flying colours. After class I was talking with the tutor, who is a veteran (25 years) fire fighter with the city of Auckland. When it came out that I was 50 he looked positively shocked and said he was impressed by my agility and stamina. :-)) BIG smile. Big pride! He really seemed genuine about it too. It put a big smile on my face that lasted right through the dental work an hour afterwards.
Yes, got the broken tooth fixed today right after class. I was really wiped.
Today, Friday Day 5 - PSSR: Personal Safety and Social Responsibility. A short day... this course is all about behaviour onboard, responsibilities for safety at every level. The right to safety and security on the job and likely senerios that could be encountered on an ocean voyage. Much of it is geared towards huge ships (merchant mariners) but can be applied, with modifications, to any size ship/boat.
Each evening I had reading assignments and the Fire Fighting course includes a 134 page manual that needs erading. Something to put me to sleep tonight. I only have about 20 pages to go. Then the PSSR manual needs to be read but it is only 17 or 18 pages. We only skimmed through it in class today.
Tomorrow, Saturday, I will bus up to Opua to see 2 maybe 3 sailing yachts that are looking for crew. Non-paying but if the deal is good and I don't find a job I'll just go for a few weeks to Fiji or Australia or wherever for the trip and to get out of NZ long enough to get back in on a new visitors' visa... sort of like what lots of boaties do in South Africa to avoid the immigration office hastles. I have booked a room in a small B&B in Opua that has no name but the lady who owns it sounded very nice on the phone. I got her name from the Visitors' Info office in Warkworth.
Then I'm back on Sunday afternoon and I will have time to take photos of this area before I leave. Maybe I can catch a movie in town at the Millstream Bar & Grill.
First Aid classes start on Monday morning for 2 days. I will write all about that later.