Currently holed up at the old Plaza. This time in Christchurch.
It was the only hotel the taxi driver could understand.
Category: travel
Entry
Have landed in New Zealand, Christchurch. Flew over with Virgin Blue.
Bought a camera in duty-free.
It’s a Canon Eos 350D. An entry level SLR.
Paid ?528 for the camera, battery, case and 2gb memory. Slightly cheaper than you’d find in the high street in the UK.
If you want to go to Pixmania you can get it cheaper, but you get all the manuals in French.
Here’s a picture.
I’ll be taking the more detailed shots with this one. I’ve found the flash on portables to be really poor under normal conditions.
I’ve still got the pentax optio s5i from Tykeblog south America.
Bought it in Costa Rica, when I got sand in my old one in Rio de Janerio.
I can put this in my pocket and walk around for random, round-town shots.
So. I’m all set.
Welcome 2007
So this is the year that it all happens.
Can’t get any worse.
After visiting China and Russia last year and Touring north and south America the year before, things are finally looking up.
In 2007, I’ll have a home of my own and a taste of something like a future.
Visited
Restaurant called Courgette on Kerri’s advisement.
Had scallops and cornfed fillet of beef for mains
A few glasses of wine to swill it all down.
Beef was good.
Service was good. No shit.
Experience was a good one.
Lodging at the Crown Plaza – Canberra
I am lodging at the Crown Plaza, Canberra.
Been here for a couple of days. The weather is a lot better here.
Mostly sunny, the odd shower. Wonder what it’s like in the UK.
Parliament
Spent a concerned few hours touring the administrative tracts of the old and new parliament buildings which are housed here.
Australia is very like Brazil in that the colonials took a hand in developing the countries infrastructure.
Canberra is built on a giant lake. Amongst some hills.
It was a one-pub town before the damming of the river.
The aussies built Canberra so it wasn’t possible to attack it from the air. Having calculated the exact flight ranges of aeroplanes at the time and factoring in sea defenses. It was a military decision.
Went out and sampled the finer features of Canberra’s nightlife last night. Took a few good Aussie beers.
Also little ‘scooners’ which they sometimes use.
The one with the micro-brewery called Wig & Pen Tavern is the best. There were many others. The experience was a good one.
