West Coast Round 2

Simon and I decided to go our separate ways after Wanaka. I traveled with my new fabulous friend, Ramona, back to Queenstown. We managed to get ourselves a private room in a nice hostel for a week and a half at a dorm room price. Queenstown hadn't lost it magic. The town was exploding with Winterfestival festivities and new friends to be made. The Winterfestival kicked off with a concert and fireworks, free hot chocolate, and more twenty-somethings than I've ever seen in one place in my life. I played lots of pool,

went skiing with the 23rd best pool player in England,

slack lined (unsuccessfully) on the lakefront,

met up with a girl I waitressed with in Waiheke,

and learned how to baton twirl with fire.

A highlight of the Winterfestival is when Queenstowners cross-dress and compete in the annual Drag Race (ha, get it?). Next is the Undie 500, in which nearly naked men swim and run in front of the whole town.

Queenstown was the only place since Waiheke that I've felt at home. I couldn't walk down the street without running into a friend, and I knew my way around. What's better was that I had the best roommate in the world (despite the fact that her stuff covered every square inch of the floor). Ramona and I stayed up until 7am some nights laughing and talking.

We even made sushi one day that turned out surprisingly delicious.

We went out every night and found something nice to do every day...you really can't get sick of Queenstown.

I finally caught a bus to Christchurch, because I knew if I didn't leave soon I'd never leave. The drive is absolutely stunning, way better than Christchurch itself.

Along the way...

Christchurch, still struggling to rebuild after a series of devastating earthquakes...

I got out of there as soon as possible, hopping on a train across the south island to Greymouth.

If you remember, Greymouth was as far as I had gotten on my last attempt to travel the west coast before turning around. The hostel was still fabulous, the town still crappy. I made friends with some awesome backpackers, and in honor of Saturday Night, we tried out the Greymouth nightlife. Most people who know the town would laugh at the words "Greymouth" and "nightlife" being placed next to each other...and for good reason. There exists one pub and one club in the entire place, both filled with horny men and sleazy drunken teenage girls. Both DJs seemed generationally confused, switching from "These Boots are Made for Walking" to "Low" to "Country Road." I was definitely happy I hadn't changed out of my comfy pants for the night out.

I managed to convince one of that group, Erik from Sweden, to drive with me to Nelson. We arrived last night in the dark, but I had a good feeling about this place from the beginning. I've booked the hostel for a week and we made lots of plans for the upcoming days. Unlike in Queenstown, I feel like a tourist here and I'm excited to get to know a new town.