New Zealand #15: Christchurch
Jul. 21st, 2009 12:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
canadian_turtleMood: 
|| Stressed
Tune : Watching Flight of the Conchords
(kinda rushing this update as I am leaving tomorrow for the US and still have a lot to do, so it won't be very detailed....)
July 17: Today was going to be my last proper day in New Zealand (time flew by so fast!) and my only one in Christchurch. When I went out in the morning it was dark outside and raining, not really an inviting day to a lot of touristy things... Luckily for me it cleared up fairly soon though. One of my first missions was finally going to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The cinema was not near the city centre but I eventually found it and secured my ticket for that night \o/
The touristy things I did in the city that day included seeing the Bridge of Remembrance, the Chalice (awesome statue, see pictures below), the Cathedral, Art Gallery and Arts Centre, the museum and finally the Botanic Gardens. Because it's school holidays right now they had this really neat exhibition (I guess that's what I should call it?) in the botanic gardens where they had fake plants covered in objects that symbolised their names. There was for instance a branch covered in marshmallows, which was supposed to be a marshmallow tree. I thought that was pretty neat.
In the evening I went to see Harry Potter and I thought it was just ok. The last few books are not my favourites so it's to be expected the movies are not either (too dark/bleak for me, I like all the fun happy magical stuff). Still cried at you-know-what-though 'specially when all the little lights went up, that was awesomely done.
Christchurch has lots of cute old trams
A Doctor of Timeand Space
Bridge of Remembrance
The Chalice
Inside the Cathedral
This car is so awesome xD
The Art Gallery
Cool statue at the Institute of Dyslexia, the letters from the book went all the way around the garden (made by Richard Taylor from Weta!)
The Arts Centre
This made think of Night at the Museum xD
In the botanic gardens
Mouse trap plant
Marshmallow tree
July 18: Today was my flight back to Sydney. Because of the thick fog around Christchurch none of the planes could land and all the morning ones were delayed and/or cancelled. I was one of the "lucky" ones with only a 2.5 hour delay as my plane made a detour to Wellington for some more petrol and by the time it was done the fog had cleared away. Other than that the trip was pretty uneventful and I spent most of it gazing out of the window (at the amazing New Zealand snowcapped mountains as seen from above!) and sleeping...
At Sydney airport
July 19 - 21: I have been back in Sydney since, staying at Gen's and (mentally) preparing myself for the trip to the US. San Diego Comic Con stuff is all arranged and fine, still planning LA. And when I get back from the States I have a 15 hour wait at the airport before I leave for Tokyo (for 4 days) which I also have to arrange while in Sydney.
I went to the city yesterday to close my bank account, send stuff home etc. as well and it was weird wandering around there knowing it would be the last time in a likely very long time I'd be there :( I lived in Sydney for about 8 months so I know the place well and I really loved working/living there; I will miss it. I made sure to pick up some of the food I got to know and love there as well for lunch/snack, as I don't know when I'll have the opportunity again (I got a milk tea, Indian spiced Potato and a Chinese sausage bun, nom nom nom).
Alright, now I am off to book my accommodation for Tokyo, eee!
More pictures can be found HERE.
|| StressedTune : Watching Flight of the Conchords
(kinda rushing this update as I am leaving tomorrow for the US and still have a lot to do, so it won't be very detailed....)
July 17: Today was going to be my last proper day in New Zealand (time flew by so fast!) and my only one in Christchurch. When I went out in the morning it was dark outside and raining, not really an inviting day to a lot of touristy things... Luckily for me it cleared up fairly soon though. One of my first missions was finally going to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The cinema was not near the city centre but I eventually found it and secured my ticket for that night \o/
The touristy things I did in the city that day included seeing the Bridge of Remembrance, the Chalice (awesome statue, see pictures below), the Cathedral, Art Gallery and Arts Centre, the museum and finally the Botanic Gardens. Because it's school holidays right now they had this really neat exhibition (I guess that's what I should call it?) in the botanic gardens where they had fake plants covered in objects that symbolised their names. There was for instance a branch covered in marshmallows, which was supposed to be a marshmallow tree. I thought that was pretty neat.
In the evening I went to see Harry Potter and I thought it was just ok. The last few books are not my favourites so it's to be expected the movies are not either (too dark/bleak for me, I like all the fun happy magical stuff). Still cried at you-know-what-though 'specially when all the little lights went up, that was awesomely done.
Christchurch has lots of cute old trams
A Doctor of Time
Bridge of Remembrance
The Chalice
Inside the Cathedral
This car is so awesome xD
The Art Gallery
Cool statue at the Institute of Dyslexia, the letters from the book went all the way around the garden (made by Richard Taylor from Weta!)
The Arts Centre
This made think of Night at the Museum xD
In the botanic gardens
Mouse trap plant
Marshmallow tree
July 18: Today was my flight back to Sydney. Because of the thick fog around Christchurch none of the planes could land and all the morning ones were delayed and/or cancelled. I was one of the "lucky" ones with only a 2.5 hour delay as my plane made a detour to Wellington for some more petrol and by the time it was done the fog had cleared away. Other than that the trip was pretty uneventful and I spent most of it gazing out of the window (at the amazing New Zealand snowcapped mountains as seen from above!) and sleeping...
At Sydney airport
July 19 - 21: I have been back in Sydney since, staying at Gen's and (mentally) preparing myself for the trip to the US. San Diego Comic Con stuff is all arranged and fine, still planning LA. And when I get back from the States I have a 15 hour wait at the airport before I leave for Tokyo (for 4 days) which I also have to arrange while in Sydney.
I went to the city yesterday to close my bank account, send stuff home etc. as well and it was weird wandering around there knowing it would be the last time in a likely very long time I'd be there :( I lived in Sydney for about 8 months so I know the place well and I really loved working/living there; I will miss it. I made sure to pick up some of the food I got to know and love there as well for lunch/snack, as I don't know when I'll have the opportunity again (I got a milk tea, Indian spiced Potato and a Chinese sausage bun, nom nom nom).
Alright, now I am off to book my accommodation for Tokyo, eee!
More pictures can be found HERE.
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Date: 2009-07-21 02:17 am (UTC)I'm SO insanely jealous that you're going to Comic Con...I hope you have tons of fun! It's awesome that you get to travel all over the world like that--you're very lucky :)
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Date: 2009-07-21 03:56 am (UTC)Lucky or crazy? There's a fine line
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Date: 2009-07-21 04:19 am (UTC)But it's that line that makes it all right in the end :) haha.
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Date: 2009-07-21 03:38 am (UTC)Great pics! That car is awesome! And what building had the flags outside it? Yay Canadian flag! :D
Have a safe trip to LA & a great time there! I'll wave to you from the San Fran airport on Friday ;)
*hugs*
<3
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Date: 2009-07-21 03:59 am (UTC)Those flags are inside the cathedral actually!
Thanks <3 Ohhh are you flying via San Fran? Do you have a stopover there or are you just passing through?
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Date: 2009-07-21 04:03 am (UTC)I'm flying via Sydney & San Fran - transferring from Qantas to Air Canada in San Fran, so I have 5 hours there on Friday. I have 5 days there on my way back :D
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Date: 2009-07-21 04:05 am (UTC)Canada and England are my favourite countries :) I have never been to Scotland or Ireland but when I will I can see them becoming swift favourites as well.
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Date: 2009-07-21 05:05 am (UTC)Those snow-capped mountains are gorgeous! XD And I love the WETA statue of the girl with the book - can I have it in my yard? :$
Hard to believe it's all over... and I wish it had have been longer cause this summer is the time everyone's planning to come out now (Nickelback in November, Greenday in December, the list goes on) but I guess you were meant to be here now - even if it was for the Quinto factor, right? ;) Wish I had a more appropriate last day celebration for you than spending it in the airport LOL oh well.
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Date: 2009-07-21 07:33 am (UTC)I wanted to have the statue too!!
Don't remind me of everything I am missing out on :( You know I'll still be in Sydney for another 15 hours, we can spent it talking at the airport. Or not, I know you like your sleep :P
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Date: 2009-07-21 10:33 am (UTC)ok THANK YOU for asking! I was going wtf was in my food that I am hallucinating!!
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Date: 2009-07-21 10:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 11:02 am (UTC)but only after she has met The Doctorno subject
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Date: 2009-07-21 05:59 am (UTC)Time Doctor!
pretty sculptures!
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Date: 2009-07-21 05:33 pm (UTC)Have such a great time at Comic Con. I'm super jealous!
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Date: 2009-07-21 05:44 pm (UTC)Thank you <3
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