It was with a very heavy heart that I finally left Nelson today, and Joe, Rob and Diane, not to mention my lovely hostel. I’m surprised at how much I loved Nelson, I am usually either an out-and-out city girl with appreciation of proper country, but small towns have usually left me cold, but Nelson has a great vibe. There are prettier cities in NZ, more cultured ones and more interesting ones, but it will be Nelson that I remember for having the most fun in.
Anyway I took another sickeningly beautiful bus ride to Picton, through the vineyards and mountains of the Blenheim region to the port. I know the ferry crossing was gorgeous but I was too busy pouting about leaving Nelson. When I arrived at Wellington it too left me cold (both spiritually and physically… they don’t call it ’windy Wellington’ for nothing). After a month without traffic, crowds or buildings over two-storeys high, I felt a bit freaked out - a feeling not soothed by the fact that my downtown hostel resembled a large mental asylum. The only saving grace was a TV in my cell, ehem, room, plus takeaway made for at least a gentle ease back into city life.
Thursday 29th October
Ok so Wellington has grown on me. I had a splendid day today, first heading to the W’ton art gallery to see the Yayoi Kusama exhibition. I had heard about it when I was still in Christchurch so was very excited to see it. For those who don’t know, Kusama is a Japanese artist in her 80s, she has been an avent garde painter and sculpture since the 1960s and her main theme is dots. It was all very weird and wonderful, with some fantastic large-scale installations. My favourite was this little tiny mirrored room where you walked in and they closed the door, you stood on a platform surrounded by water on all sides the ceiling was hung with lots and lots of hanging coloured fairy lights and the walls and ceiling were made of infinite mirrors… the result was quite spectacular.
I then headed to the much revered Cuba area of Wellington, a few boho streets of bars, cafes, record shops and vintage clothes shops. After an hour browsing the record shops (looking for Soul Motive releases of course… I found 002!) I hit the clothes shops and bought a fabulous knitted top for only $4.50. So all in all, I found a more positive take on Welly today, only took a Japanese madwoman and a few bargains!
Friday 30th October
I hooked up with Caroline this evening, my friend who lives here, but who used to live in Bristol. It was nice to have a girly catch up and then we went out for dinner and drinks with some of her friends who she works in the zoo with, and her lovely boyfriend Andy. Was nice to meet everyone and catch a slice of Welly nightlife.
Saturday 31st October
Was given a proper treat today. I went to the zoo and met Caroline for a special guided tour and her friend Dion let me go in and feed the tamarind monkeys with him! I now, obviously want a pet one. I tried to coax one into my handbag but he was having none of it. Also got to pet a possum, a hedgehog and a giraffe.
I was invited to a Halloween party by the lovely zoo people this evening. It was at a bowling club, and when I say bowling club, I mean like lawn bowls… they love their lawn bowls here, my dad would love it! We got very jolly on some very cheap plonk and I found my way back to the hostel quite late, with pumpkin deelyboppers askew. Win.
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