Days 61, 62 and 63

Day 61,

We got up early today to head up the coast to Kaikoura. We had a meeting about a job up in Kaikoura so we couldn't stay any more nights in Christchurch. We met the bus just after 8:00 and started our journey up the coast. It was a beautiful drive along the pacific ocean. We arrived in Kaikoura a little before lunch and checked into our hostel.

We had a bite to eat, then headed up to our meeting with the owners of a small hostel who needed a manager for a few months. It was a good meeting, but unfortunately the job didn't work out. The job market is tight and people really like to take advantage of backpackers, same with this position, so it is probably a good thing it didn't work.

After the meeting we went to the grocery store and made a little dinner. It was a nice dinner and we met up with a friend from Canada who we hadn't seen since our first few days in Auckland. It was great to catch up with her.

After dinner we took it easy and went to bed early because we have a big morning tomorrow!


Day 62,

So I bet you are wondering what our big morning is about. Well, we have become cleaners. We do cleaning at the hostel from 9:00 am to 11:00 am 6 days a week for free accomodation (well almost free, but we don't like to stay in dorm rooms, so we pay a little extra to get a double room). The work for the most part (except bathrooms) isn't too bad and it is kind of nice to have something to do everyday. We do anything from cleaning kitchens, to vacuuming, to changing sheets, to picking up garbage, to cleaning toilets. A nice way to get super cheap accomodation.

After the cleaning I (John) went straight to bed. I hadn't been feeling well since we got up and I started to feel really ill after cleaning. I was sick all day and through most of the night. I think I must have had some type of food-borne illness. Andrea made sure I had fluids and kept an eye on me. She made some soup for me for dinner. Other than taking care of me, I think she did a little reading most of the day.

Day 63,

I was feeling better, so we both did our second day of cleaning. After cleaning we got cleaned up and had some lunch. Then we decided we needed to get out of the hostel so we headed downtown (one street about two blocks long with about 10 store fronts on each side). We stopped in the internet cafe to do some internet stuff. Andrea stopped in a few places to ask about work (One place looks like it might have an opening when it reopens in a couple of weeks). Along the way to one of the restraunts she stopped on the beach and saw this...































It was a gorgeous evening with a little fresh snow on the mountains.




















































When Andrea got back to the internet cafe we headed back to the hostel to make some dinner and watch a little TV before heading to bed.