Debbie does...

Another night where I only got 3 hours sleep. I had to be ready to leave the hostel in Santiago at 5.40am. The shuttle picked me up, then we went through some dodgy part of Santiago to pick someone else up. The guy took forever to come out of his house. I was beginning to think that there actually wasn't anyone waiting, and we were about to be attacked by a group of thugs (lack of sleep, makes your imagination run wild!).

Even though I had checked in online, I had to wait over an hour in a queue to get my bags checked in. Then went to customs. I thought I had a departure tax to pay of 20,000 pesos. They never asked for it, so I bought some pressies in the shops they had.

My journey to Rio was two flights. Santiago to Montevideo, theN Montevideo to Rio. I had a hour between getting into Montevideo and leaving, or so I thought. I was panicking as the queue to get through security to my gate was taking ages. When I did get through I found out that my flight was delayed by an hour.

Finally got onto the plane at 2pm. Given the forms for immigration, and it's completely in Portuguese. Asked if they had an english copy (bloody tourist that I am!), no but they helped me fill it out.

Didn't take too long to get through Immigration. I had missed my transfer to the hostel because of the my flight being late, but I knew that I would be able to get it at 6pm. Couldn't see anyone from the company. Waited until just after 6 and decided to phone them. So I got my phone, it out, the battery was dead. So I thought I'll use one of the computers in the airport and get the details from my e-mail, but it cost 2 Rialto, I had no money on me. So, I went to a cash machine, but none of them would accept my cards. Asked several people for help, but no one spoke English. At this point I burst into tears (I'm sure I've said before, when I'm tired I'm girny!). A guy takes me to someone who can speak english, who points me to Information. Information phone the hostel, who say that they knew my flight was late and that I would be picked up at 7pm. This is the last shuttle to the hostel. I wait, I ask around, no shuttle people. I go back to the information desk, again in tears. They phone the hostel again, who phones the shuttle company. I Go back out and suddenly the guy is there. Got to the hostel around 8pm, 3 hours after I got in.

Got to bed and managed to get a full 8 hours sleep! It was amazing!

Decided to book a tour to see the main sites of Rio, as I still had to spend my leaving pressie money from my ex-Compadres to spend. So I was going to see Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf, the Sambadrome and a few other things. So, I had the day to chill around Ipanema. For the rest of the day all I had in my head was...

Had a look around the shops, had a problem trying to understand people and they had a problem trying to understand me. All I wanted was a disposable camera, because I had finished my last one, but they thought I wanted it developed. They never had any disposable cameras at all. Was so close to just buying a new digital camera, but Enrique who works at the hostel told me to wait until I was home because there was a 40% tax on electronics, which meant it would cost a lot more to buy a camera here then it would at home. Then I went for a walk around Ipanema beach and to Ponta Do Diabo for a view over Ipanema beach. It began to rain again (the rain had been on and off all day). So I went back to the hostel and spoke to some of the girls about their trips around South America. Definitely going to have to come back, once I've learned some Spanish and Portuguese.

I woke up at 5am on the 2nd of November, yet again I only got a few hours sleep. Went downstairs and found out that the tour had been cancelled, because the visibility at Christ the Redeemer was supposed to be awful. I was gutted. Enrique told me that the weather was supposed to be better the next day and did I want to do the tour on the 3rd. I wasn't going to be able to, because I would miss my transfer to the Airport. So, I started trying to come up with a plan. As I was doing this though I realised that the sun was out. Spoke to a Finnish couple who were staying at my hostel, so we decided to go and see Christ the Redeemer anyway. They let me borrow an extra camera they had. So I managed to get some photos.

It took us about an hour on the bus to get to the cable car entrance. We got our tickets up, got on the cable car and went off to see Christ. I was so excited, because this is something I've always wanted to do and the I have no idea where the tour company was looking because it was blue skies over Christ! It was so cool and I've got photos...

Christ the Redeemer

Christ the Redeemer

Thank you my ex-work Amigos!!!!!

We got back to Ipanema around 6pm, so we went to try some Brazilian food. I couldn't tell you what it was, but it was a mixture of Beef, Chicken, Pork, Rice, Salsa and Fries. I couldn't eat it all, the portion sizes here are similar to what you would get in America!

So, I got back to the hostel and packed up for coming home!!!!

Another 8 hours sleep, again bliss! I got up, had breakfast and finished getting everything together. I moved everything downstairs then went and sat at Ipanema beach for a couple of hours. They sun started to disapper around 1pm, so I went back to the hostel. There wasn't really enough time to go and do anything else. Have been trying to check in so that I can get an aisle seat, but for some reason BA won't let me! I am going to be raging if I have to sit in a middle seat again. I am hoping though that not a lot of people fly between Rio and London.

I am very excited to get home now. It's only really hit me the last few days. I can't wait to get a cuddle from the gentleman in my life...

Bailey Bob

Maybe just little bit excited to see Meine Familie. I will be fed up of them by Sunday and they'll be fed up of me by Saturday!

Note to family

Please make sure that I can get in for a shower once I'm home, it's become of ritual of mine to have shower after a flight.
Please make sure you've ordered the Butteries, have the Rose Wine in the fridge, cleaned my wine glass that can hold a bottle of wine and have the biggest bag of tatties known to man!

Think that's all.

This is going to be short blog, because Jet Lag hit me hard in Santiago.

The Friday 28/10/2011 started in Auckland. Catching up on bits and pieces, making sure all my liquids were out of my hand luggage and making my way to the airport for my 5.30pm. When I did get there, they couldn't find me on the flight. Slight panic, but it turned out I was there, just that the guy had been looking for me in the wrong place. Then find out that all the aisle seats are taken, and all the window seats are taken. So I'm stuck with a bloody middle seat.

When we do get to board the plane, I find that the Chilean woman I will be sitting next to for the next 11.5 hours has her legs on my seat. I automatically take this as a sign that I'm not going to enjoy this flight. She sat with her legs apart for the whole journey, so her right leg was constantly in my seat space! Just as we had taken off, she took off her seat belt and stood up. Her daughters, who were on the aisle and window seat, shouted at her, in Spanish so I'm guessing, to sit back down.

I'm not really a nervous flyer, but during this flight any sort of turbulence the South American kids on the plane would scream or make 'Whoa' noises. Was really looking forward to getting off it. Think I got about 2 hours sleep in total on the flight. When it was time to get off, realised that when I put my shoes back on that my feet had swollen up. This caused a great deal of pain when I walked in them and now my feet are covered in blisters. Also, had to wait for my space stealer to get all her hand luggage down. She had 2 suitcases, a duvet in a bag, jackets galore and a 2 handbags. SERIOUSLY, how on earth was she allowed that on as hand luggage!

I came to a decision on this flight. After this trip, if I am flying more than 5 hours anywhere, I'm going business class! I don't care how much money I have to pay, it will be totally worth it!

Arrived in Santiago at 11.30am on Friday 28/10/2011. Took an hour to get through customs, but they let me in! Caught a shuttle to my hostel in Bellavista, Santiago. When I got there the Hostel girl was really friendly. She told me that I couldn't pay for my hostel on my card and had to get cash out, but to chill for a bit then go out. There was a cash machine next door in the supermarket, but it wouldn't accept the only card I had money on. So, the girls looked up where I could find an ATM that would accept my card. There was a Santander in the middle of town. So off I went with my swollen , sare feet. Hobbled along to Santander to find that the ATM was inside and it was shut! Headed back and they told me not to worry, try again the next day. Managed to keep myself awake until 8pm. Woke up again around 2am and stayed awake until 6.30m, before sleeping again until noon.

Managed to get some money out of the cash machine the next day from another card, thanks to my mum and making her panic. Text 'Mum I need you to move money onto my card'. Fell asleep and woke up to 2 texts, a voicemail and an e-mail all from my mum panicking because she didn't know what was going on. My bad!

My feet were still really sore and I was half dead for the rest of the day, so didn't venture out to far. Had a look around Bellavista.

Another shite nights sleep. Went to bed at 11pm, woke up at 2am. Stayed up to 7am, my alarm went off at 8. Nae a happy bunny. I decided to get up and go do a walking tour of Santiago. I walked down towards the Plaza, where the tour started. There was at least 100 police officers there. Decided to get away from their pretty sharpish. On the way back to the hostel I realised that the streets were now all closed off by the police.

When I got back to the hostel, I decided to lie down for a wee bit, I had passed a tourist bus stop, so thought I could do that in the afternoon. Woke up at 4pm. When I did get up I heard sirens blaring outside on the streets. Turned out there was a student protest going on. Quite glad I got away from it all. Did mean though I saw hardly anything of Santiago.

Got some photos on my disposable camera to prove I was there though.

There is only one word to describe how I am feeling today...gutted! I have fallen head over heels for New Zealand and I really don't want to leave. If I had thought about it, I should of got a working visa for here and stayed longer. Well, I'll just have to come back.

Woke up on the 24th still feeling like complete and utter shite! My thoughts at this time was that I had the dreaded 2 day hangover. I went to find Sophia, but she had already gone out for the day. So I went to my bed for a bit longer. When I finally did get out of my bed, I went and sat with Jamie and Mitch. They were in the hotpool trying to get rid of their hangovers. I didn't join. Went for a walk to get some cash out. Paihia was dead. Almost everything was shut for the Labour Day Holiday. When I got back Sophia was back, she had got a lift to Keri Keri and had been there for the day. We decided to meet at the bar at 9-10pm to have a few pre-birthday drinks. She was going out for dinner, so I would meet her later. Decided to go and get a Pizza, as I couldn't be bothered to cook and this was one of the few places that was open. Got to the Pizza place, asked for my pizza and they asked for ID. I didn't have any on me, as I was only going to buy a pizza. They refused to sell it to me, even though I was going to take it away. So, I went back and cooked some Pasta! Met Tom in the bar, we watched the IRB Awards for a bit, then headed to bed. It was half 9 and Sophia hadn't turned up. She came and found me at 10, and we headed back down to the bar. There was only 5 other people there. Brian from the room next to Sophia joined us. They decided to get some karoke on the go. I went up first and sang the Smash Mouth classic (I know, The Monkees sang it first), I'm a beleiver

Got a free pint of cider for singing, or for what I call singing. Brian sang Ring of Fire.

They decided to shut the bar early because it was so quiet. Sophia had a present for me and wouldn't give it to me until midnight. So we sat outside her room until 12. Then she came out with a chocolate cake, a gingerbread woman and a card. She said that everyone had to have a cake on their birthday and the gingerbread woman is because she told me (while drunk!) that I was Strawberry Blonde, to which I replied 'I'm not a f**king ginger!". She saw the gingerbread woman the next day and it made her think of me. We ate most of the cake between the three of us and headed to bed.

The 25th of October, MY BIRTHDAY!!!!! Had to catch a bus at 8.15, so up early. Felt really ill, actually thought I was going to be sick. This was when I realised it wasn't a three day hangover, I was actually ill. As soon as I got on the bus I feel asleep. Woke up about 20 minutes from Auckland. Got into the hostel and went to bed. Not really how you want to spend your birthday! Finally got up about 4pm. Went for a wonder around Auckland. Sophia phoned at 7pm to say she had arrived in Auckland (she was booked with a different bus company), so she came up to my hostel. We went to the bar next door as I had 2 drinks vouchers to use for 4 free drinks. I think we actually managed to get 8 free drinks in the end. Headed back to bed at 11pm.

Managed to get 12 hours sleep and felt a lot better when I woke up. My body was beginning to forgive me. Decided to have an off day. So watched some of the new episodes of How I Met Your Mother and half started to pack my bag for Friday.

Another 12 hours sleep and fully recovered on the 26th. Spent a lot of time talking to Melissa who was sleeping in the bunk above me. She had been in Thailand for the last 6 weeks, so I was asking her about the flooding and what she had been up to there. She hadn't been out in Auckland, so I showed the near by sights. Went down Queens Street, onto the Wharf, then we went to the Sky Tower. We headed in to check how much it cost to go up. I only $10 do my name at that moment, so couldn't go up. She said she wanted to go up in the dark, so we headed back up the escalators. Just as we were about to reach the top, I realised that my Jandle was stuck. Tried to get it out but it was completely stuck. Got my foot out before we reached the very top, and tried to pull it out. Two guy who worked in the tower managed to pull it out, but the top of my Jangle was gone. Gutted! Had to chuck them out when i got back to the hostel.

There was free Pizza in the bar at 7.30pm, so we decided to go down and get some. Kim, who was also in our room joined us. We only managed to get a slice each, so we headed to Dominos and got a pizza to share. Went back to our room, ate it and then packed, as we were all leaving Auckland the next day.

And that people is my time in Auckland. Don't fly until 5.10pm tonight, so just waiting to catch the bus to the airport and check in. Arrive in Santiago at 12.40pm on Friday the 28th of October. I am actually away to go back in time, MENTAL!

Here's a little song for you about me and New Zealand.

New Zealand....You have been Sweet As!

Yet another photoless blog. I feel like a complete and utter idiot with my disposable camera, looking through the lense and hoping to god that it has worked. Going to have to wait until I'm home to develop them.

On the 16th I had a day free to do anything. First a skype call home, then decided to head to the main part of Paihia and check it out. There wasn't too much to see. A lot of cafes and overly expensive gift shops. So I headed back to the hostel and watched the telly for a couple of hours. Headed out to the bar around 8pm and got a seat to watch the All Blacks against Australia. Still had some of drinks vouchers to use, so used them throughout the game. Can't tell you how excited everyone was that New Zealand beat the Aussies. I've never seen a country so happy to have beaten someone! Headed to bed straight after the game because I knew I was getting on a boat the next day. Me + Alcohol + Boats = :/

Another early start, had to be at the Wharf to catch my boat at 8.45am. I was off to see the Hole in the Rock. There was hardly anyone on the tour which was quite nice. We were told just as we left that there might be a chance we wouldn't get out to the rock, because the weather was supposed to be awful, but they would do their best to get out. So for a while we went around some of the islands in the Bay of Islands. Saw some Bottle Nose Dolphins. Then we did manage to venture out to the Hole in the Rock. The Hole in the Rock is, well, a hole in a rock! There is a hole in the rock due to the ocean eroding it over thousands of years. One day the hole will disappear, because the rest of the rock will just crumble away, but they showed us where the next one will be, in like a thousand years!

On the way back to Paihia we were offered the chance to go to Russell, with a complementary ticket back to Paihia. Decided to check it out. It was cute little township, but that was about it. There were people dressed like they lived in Walnut Grove, doing skits about prohibition. It was all very strange, so bad it was actually funny.

Headed back to Paihia and just managed to miss the rain. Met Faye who had just arrived. We went to the bar and had a few drinks. Taught a few new phrases, like 'The rain is dinging on!' and 'Yeah, I'll have a scouff of your drink!'

Slept until 10am the next morning. Spoke to Faye until she left at 3pm. The rain stopped and started all day. Decided to stay in for the rest of the day. Also decided to stay in Paihia longer. So relaxed here. Now heading to Auckland on my birthday.

Woke up on the 19th and it was still raining. Me and Sophia, a girl who was in my dorm room, decided to head to Countdown and get some food. We waited until the rain had stopped. We managed to avoid the rain on the way there, but got caught out with it on the way back to the hostel. I was wearing my Jandles (a much better word than Flip Flops and Thongs!), so my feet were freezing when I got back. Went out for a walk later on, when the rain stopped again.

The next day, the sun was out! It was so warm. Me and Sophia sat outside most of the day. She got burnt within 30 minutes. Decided later on the day to get some alcohol. Popped into the off license and found a litre bottle of Smirnoff Vodka for $29.99. I had been missing vodka, so bought myself an early birthday pressie. Being the classy bird that I am, I got some diet coke, took a scouff out of the bottle, then topped it up with vodka. Some of the staff from the hostel were drinking outside, so we went and joined them. At 8pm we ended up in bar, where for some reason I started drinking rum and coke. Also Jagerbombs! I was completely and utterly drunk! Started speaking to Mark from Glasgow. He had also been to Glasgow Uni, and he had done Maths for a year before becoming a Vet. Started talking about the legend that is Dr Whitelaw. Then I met Kate, from Wales. Think I managed to escape from the bar around 12pm.

Woke up several times during the night. When ever I turned over I felt like I had motion sickness. Once I was up and out of bed I started to feel better. The sun was out again, sat outside for a bit, but the heat wasn't helping my hangover! Went to the pub to watch the the 3rd place decider between Wales and Australia. Only managed to watch the first half because the smell of alcohol made me feel sick. Me and Sofia headed to our beds at 10pm.

I had to check out of my room at 10am and move to another one, because the room was fully booked when I asked if I could extend my stay. Dumped my bags in the room, and headed down to the beach and sat down there for a few hours. When I headed back me and Sophia decided we would have a few drinks. I wasn't planning to drink too much. So once I had drank some more of our vodka, we headed out to the Pipi Bar. I took 50cents out with me, my plan was that if I had no money I couldn't drink anymore, WRONG! We left the hostel bar and headed to another one, where the police were standing. Sophia started talking to them and asked if she could wear one of their hats, then said she was only asking because she was drunk! The manager at the bar wouldn't let us in, because Sophia had told the police she was drunk. So we moved onto the next bar. The police were there now. They just laughed when Sophia told them she wasn't allowed in. We quickly ended up back at the Pipi bar, because that last one was dead. I told everyone I was going to bed, I had no more money and was going. Just as I was heading out, I bumped into Katie, who dragged me back in and bought me a drink. Then I bumped into Mark again, and I ended up with another Jagerbomb. Spent the rest of the night speaking to Mark and his pals. Finally got to my bed at 2.30am.

Woke up actually thinking I was going to die the next day. This was where I had an epiphany, me and vodka are through! I've changed it slightly now, will only drink vodka if it is in a cocktail! Decided to get some lunch with Tom and Andy from the hostel, but once I had eaten I thought I was going to be sick. So went back to bed for a few hours. Me and Tom headed to the bar at 6pm to get our seat for the game, we wanted the good ones! There was a BBQ on, so we had some food, which sat better than the last time and I managed to get a Pint down me. Once it was time for the game, the bar was packed! One or two French supporters, but everyone was gunning for the All Blacks. Everyone was on tender hooks during the game, but the AB's did it, just! No team has deserved it more. As it was a holiday Monday the next day (great planning by the RWC to get the final on Labour day weekend!), everyone was up for a night out. I headed to my bed at 11.30, I felt like death again.

I only have 4 and half days left in beautiful New Zealand, and I am absolutely gutted. I've got a plan though, if the SNP manage to brain wash people into voting for Independence, I'm going to apply for residency here!

Today's blog will have no photos in it, because my camera may of have been dropped into the Tasmin sea!!! :/

Of course it wasn't my fault, my strap broke. If I could take a picture to show you the broken strap I would, but...

The photos are still on the memory chip, phew, but the lens on my camera is goosed and sometimes it switches on for 10 seconds then the next time it doesn't. Took it to a camera shop today and was told it would cost $80 to send it away and it might not come back sorted. So, I've bought myself a disposable camera for now. Which honestly isn't going to last long. 27 photos!!! I take that in an hour some days!

So...

I had a few hours in Tauranga before I had to catch the bus to Hamilton. I just sat outside and enjoyed the sun. Working on the tan before coming home. Got into Hamilton around half 5, walked up to the hostel and got the directions to the nearest supermarket as I had no food at all. On the way to Pak 'n' Save though I passed a Subway and decided to just have a Meatball Marinara instead. Got back to the hostel, was hoping to catch South Africa v Australia, but a girl in my hostel had a House dvd on. Caught the last 10 minutes of it because the hostel dude had it on at reception. Was hoping South Africa would win, can't stand Quade Cooper! Close one, but the bloody Ozzys won it. Went back downstairs to the lounge area, and the house dvd was off! Got the TV on to watch New Zealand v Argentina. It was closer than I thought it would be, but the All Blacks won! First game of the weekend I had predicted the winner right.

I had the whole dorm to myself that night, so when I got up to skype home I only had to set my alarm for 15 minutes before, switch on my computer and stay in bed! When I did finally get out of my bed, I actually did go to Pac 'n' Save and got some food for the week. Pasta, Beans and Cheese the meal for the week (Honestly Ali meal for the gods!). I got back to the hostel, watched Neighbours and then went to find Riff Raff.

There is a statue where the Embassy Theatre, the home of Hamilton's ‘Late Night Double Feature Picture Show’ and the barber shop where the man, myth,legend and presenter of the Crystal Maze (god I miss that show!), Richard O'Brien came up with the idea behind the greatest musical on earth (if you don't beleive me go and see it in the theatre!). As I was walking down the road to see him I listened to the Rocky Horror music on my Ipod.

Here is where I would put my photo up of me with Riff Raff!

There really isn't much to do in Hamilton, so I was trying to pace myself, one thing a day for the 3 days I was there. So I headed back to the hostel and watched whatever came on the telly.

Next day I had a very long lie, didn't get up until 11.30. Decided to check out the museum. The museum was so dull. I can't explain how much I am fed up of museums now. I don't want to step foot in another museum for a long time, it has no entered the list at number 3.

Things I don't want to visit for a long, long time.

1. The place more boring than a toliet (Autosave)
2. Pagodas
3. Museums
4. Temples

On the 12th of October I waited for the rain to die down and went for a walk down by the river. Boredom was seriously setting in!

I was catching the bus to Paihia at 3.15pm. It was absolutely pissing it down the next day in Hamilton, but I managed to persuade the hostel dude to let me stay in the hostel until I had to leave. The bus arrived late in Hamilton, the bus was stopping in Auckland then heading up to Paihai. The traffic into Auckland was awful. When we finally did get there we only had 10 minutes before we were leaving again. So quick toilet stop and off again. We were supposed to arrive in Paihia at 9.20pm, but it was nearer 10pm before we got there. The bus driver stopped right in front of the hostel. Once I checked in, I just headed straight to bed. Travelling all day is knackering!

When I woke up on the 14th it was a gloriously warm day. I had to get my washing done first because I was running out of clothes. I also had decided to chuck some tops out that weren't worth keeping. Seriously need to do some shopping when I'm home. Once I had got that all sorted, I booked two tours. One to Cape Reinga and another to see the Hole in the Rock in the Bay of Islands. Then I went for a walk down the beach on Paihia, and had a look around the little town. Found a pub on the waterfront and grabbed myself a cold refreshing Cider! By the time I got back to the hostel the sun was dying down so chilled out for the rest of the day.

Early start of 6.30 on the 15th. I was going up to the most northerly point in New Zealand, Cape Reinga. We visited Puketi Kauri Forest to see some massive trees. Then we drove for a few hours to Cape Reinga. This is where the Tasmin Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. I had wondered how you could tell where they meet, but it's quite obvious when you see it. The Tasmin Sea had a green colour to it and the Pacific Ocean is blue. I have photos to prove it!

We stopped for a lunch break at Taputaputa Bay, then headed onto the 90 Mile Beach. 90 mile beach is in fact only 68 miles long, but it was called 90 miles before they measured it and felt it had a better ring to it than 68 Mile Beach. The bus drove on the sand for a good chunk of the beach. It was strange. We stopped to get some photos. Spike, our bus driver, was so funny. He was looking for people who were already there and taking photos and kept stopping the bus so that it would be in the photo. He did it 4 times, we all thought it was hilarious, the people taking the photos didn't. So we got off the bus and headed on towards the Tasmin Sea. I got a few pictures of the water, and my feet in the Tasmin Sea. A couple asked if I would take a photo for them. Just as I was away to switch my camera off, the strap broke and my camera fell into the water. Managed to get it before the tide took it. Got the battery and the memory card out and tried to dry them. Got back onto the bus. Spike told me that my camera was f**ked! I tried drying it out, and switching it on. The lens wouldn't come out, but it showed me that my photos were still there. So, I might leave it for a wee bit and try it again. Having had previous experience of electronic things being dropped in water (wasn't me again!) I'm hoping it might start working again.

On the way back to Paihia we went for some Fush and Chups (that's how they say it and sometimes spell it!). We were told that this would be the best chipper we had ever had. NOT! The chips were oven chips, not proper chips. Frank could do a better job in Alford and that's saying something!

Got back to the hostel around 6pm. Caught up with what the girls had been up to in my dorm room, then we headed to the pub to watch Wales v France. I was supporting Wales. Gutted they didn't win. Also on the Warburton red carding, I've seen people get away with worse. If he had to be carded, a yellow would of done!