Ding Dong and Ring Ring

 So I thought I'd follow tradition and start this blog off in the usual way...


It brings me great joy to relay what special folks the guests at Copper Beech are!  Yay!  Everything is pretty much the same as usual: People are still too overworked and abused to consider doing their dishes... problem solvers call my phone at 10:30pm crying that the toilet paper has run out in one of the nine bathrooms...  you know, REALLY SERIOUS STUFF.  People also love to ring the doorbell at night.  The best part is that they know that the back doors are open, but they are just too lazy to walk around the house to the back.  However, instead of the doorbell ringing in the hostel, it goes right to the manager's house and it plays an extremely loud and obnoxious song. To make matters worse, these intelligent folk think that if no one responds to the bell in 2.37 seconds that they should ring it again.  ...and again.  Let's get serious.  You can't expect someone to answer a doorbell in less than 5 seconds unless they live in a porta-potty.  I've taken to ignoring the doorbell now, and have concluded that they can grow a pair of legs and walk the 20 steps around to the back of the hostel.  In any case, I finally decided to put up a sign.

Much to my ever-growing amazement, it didn't help!  Guests still think that not having brand new ping pong paddles or that a possible stolen beer from a 32 pack is an emergency that needs to be dealt with at 11:00pm.  I guess house fires and heart attacks are over-rated.  This hostel is where the real drama is at.  I swear, I could make a successful reality show about the every-day occurrences at this place.  I would call it, "Mansion for Morons," or maybe "The Hostel for Helpless Hobos."

My personal favorite habit that people have recently taken to is punching holes in the drywall of "The Shed."  (The shed is a big hangout place in the back yard with ping pong tables, etc.)  Apparently we aren't offering the children enough in terms of fun, so smashing gaping holes into the wall is a great way to entertain one's self.

On to better things!


Recently we had a much needed day off, and we used the opportunity to head into the beautiful little city of Nelson.  Our aim was to purchase some new backpacks to replace the ones that had been stolen. (By a thief who probably boasts the same IQ as most of our guests!)  We ended up striking gold, and both left the city with shiny new packs.  I also was fortunate enough to find the exact same pair of hiking pants that I had bought in Canada.  I had been in love with them, often claiming that they were "The best pair of hiking pants I'd ever tried on."  Imagine my glee when I found them not only in my size, but ON SALE.

We then took the time to drive around the city a bit, singing along to the iPod and exploring the steep streets that make up the ocean-side city.  Overall, it's probably one of my favorite settlements in New Zealand.

 

Upon returning, we decided that it was time to address the issue of selling our beloved car, Kiwi.  As Blenheim is not exactly a prime location for selling cars, I wanted to list it as soon as possible to give us the needed time.  The first pair of callers probably took ten years off of our lives due stress-related dealings.  I won't go into it, as I've already ranted enough, but let's just say I'm glad that the deal fell through.  Another couple came around a few days later, and seemed quite interested.  They came back several times to look at the car and test drive it.  Finally one night they phoned and said that they had found a car better suited to them.  (This after they never showed up on a day that Jordan had taken off work at their request so they could take it to a shop with him) Sheesh.

I took to updating the ads I had posted online, and wrote, "We will drive to you!"

RING RING!  A young German man named Niklas phoned me during the day and told me that he was very interested in the car, but that he was in Christchurch, four hours away.  After emailing him several photos and proof of repair documents, we arranged to meet on Friday.  We were hopeful that he would be satisfied with the car in person, because as much as we loved the drive along the astounding coast to Christchurch, it would be a colossal waste of a day and drive if the sale fell through.  We decided to start the day off in honor of my family back home, because whenever we embark on a long drive we usually kick things off with a McMuffin from McDonalds.  The drive-thru menu proclaimed a new item however, and it seemed shameful not to try it, as it was something that would probably never be offered in Canada.  It was a Brekkie roll, and it boasted an artery-clogging assortment of bacon, cheese, egg, hashbrown, sausage and tomato relish on an English muffin.  It probably also had about 6 million calories, but it's one of those things that I'm trying not to feel too guilty about. 

We passed through the beautiful little dwelling of  Kaikoura, a town that is perched on the edge of the ocean, and backs on to some spectacular mountains.  After a quick stretch and break we hopped back into our soon-to-be-sold car to continue on.

We arrived in Christchurch intact, and met up with Niklas around noon, and he seemed to like the car right off the start.  His friends eventually joined him, and after looking under the hood, one of them proclaimed, "This is a really good car."  I don't know if the guy actually knew what he was talking about or not, but either way I was secretly cheering him on in his admiration of the car.  The afternoon ended well when he drove away with Kiwi, and we stuffed wads of cash into our pockets.  This called for a celebration that involved sushi.

After stuffing our faces, we decided to check out some of the outdoors stores, only to find that they were located in the centre of town.  This is a problem why?  Well, let's just say that the centre of town is now more recognizable as a pile of rubble than as a once bustling shopping hub.  It's extremely frustrating to drive or walk around the city, because the earthquake has caused such an extraordinary amount of damage.  Construction fences line most of the streets, and once grand buildings are being prepped for demolition.  We did manage to find one store however, and in that store I found the same toiletry bag that I had purchased for hiking in Canada! (Pictured above with the bag and pants)  It, like everything else had been stolen, so I decided that since it was also on sale that I needed to snatch it up.  So far I seem to be having good luck with finding replica items to replace the gear I lost!


One area of the city that was quite beautiful was called Centre Mall.  There are tons of adorable little shops that are set up inside storage containers.  Love the idea!

  

The bus ride home was long and we arrived back in boring Blenheim around 9:15pm, but I was happy knowing that Kiwi had been sold to a guy who would put her to good use.

The next item on my growing to-do list is to find out where to get vaccinated for my coming travels.  I'm not thrilled at the prospect of how much it is going to cost, (as I've heard horror stories from many of the guests here) but it has to be done.  I plan on booking my flights this weekend, and I'm eager to do some research that will lead me to explore many adventures on this exotic leg of the journey. 


New Zealand Fact of the Day:

Sandals are called "Jandals," and Pickles are called "Gerkins."

Eye on the Prize

Prepare yourselves for the most exciting post ever!!!

(It's really too bad we haven't devised a way of detecting sarcasm over the internet)

Due to the ever constant natter of my darling mother, I will be gracing you - my devoted, loyal and ever-loving readers with what will inevitably be a National-Geographic-material blog.

Nothing much has changed since my last update, except that there is now a tentative date for leaving the town of Boredom. ... I mean Blenheim.  The plan is to continue on to Southeast Asia, and then into central China.  After  exploring some of the Chinese culture and a few of their beautiful sights, the journey will continue on to Nepal, where hopefully I will get the chance to hike to the Everest Base Camp.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that the Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek will be the hike to top all hikes that I've had the great pleasure to experience.  Apparently it's not only ripe with gorgeous sights, but also filled with cultural experiences and opportunities.  On top of that, it's my understanding that the trek can take anywhere from 10-14 days to complete.  The distances covered per day aren't completely grueling in length, but rather in the gain of altitude.  In fact it is highly recommended that hikers rest for several days at specific points along the trail in order for their bodies to adjust to the extreme altitudes.  Altitude sickness is a very real and very dangerous threat to those who are looking to make it to the EBC and beyond.

Essentially a hiker's body will react to the lower amounts of oxygen (due to lower air pressure) that are found in high altitude settings.  As with every ailment, people respond differently to stresses on the body.  Some experience fatigue or dizziness, nosebleeds or rapid pulses, while others can develop edema, which can progress very rapidly and is often fatal.  Hence the extreme importance in swallowing your pride and sticking to the recommendations of acclimatizing at the various stops along the track.

 So after my interest in the EBC was sparked, I started to think to myself, "Well I've hiked some pretty high mountains and I've always been fine.  How high is really high?"

One of the highest mountains in Canada is Mt. Robson.  It's summit sits at an impressive 3954 metres (12,972 feet) above sea level.  Mt Assiniboine (obviously this one is for my Dad) boasts an altitude of 3618 metres. (11,870 feet)  Both are incredible, and can be quite dangerous because well, let's face it, they're both big ass mountains.

To put this into perspective, the base camp of Everest sits at a jaw-dropping 5364 metres.  It's mind-blowing to imagine the starting point for a trek can begin at an altitude of 17,598 feet.

(Just for your information, the actual peak of Everest looms around 8848 metres.)

Anyway, apparently over 50% of people will become ill with symptoms of altitude sickness if they ascend rapidly from sea level to 3500m without proper acclimatization. Which is why again, the need for rest and recoup is strictly stressed and enforced on any hikers who wish to pay for a guided tour.

Now it's apparent that all of you are freaking out after this blurb, because if I were to bite the dust up there on that little ol' mountain, there would be only one thing on your minds:

"Now whose blog am I going to read?"

Fear not loyal followers, the trek to EBC is really not all that dangerous.  Like any challenging hike it must be entered into with respect for the mountain and for the weather.  Luckily I possess the necessary respect (most of the time) and I value my life too highly to risk terrible conditions to hike a mountain that will always be hangin' around. 


Now back to the present.


Boring Blenheim.  Woooo.


I shouldn't complain as much as I do.  Winter here is still proving to be quite balmy.  In fact the other day I was walking around in a t-shirt and sandals at 10pm.  It sure isn't like the cursed season in Canada.

The surrounding beauty of this little city is quite eye-opening as well.  Rows upon rows of grape plantations dot the hills that gently roll around the valley, and it's no surprise to learn that the Marlborough  wine region makes up 62% of New Zealand's total vineyards.  The most widely renown wine here is the Sauvignon Blanc, followed by Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Apparently the contrast between our warmer days and cooler nights help to extend the ripening period of the grape vines, which produces flavors that one would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the world.

Some of the more notable vineyards in the area are Saint Clair Estate Winery, Cloudy Bay Vineyards, Brancott Estate, Hunters Wines, Marisco Vineyards, and Tohu.  It would be interesting to see if anyone back home has any luck finding some of these wine labels.

I should include a word of warning:  Exercise caution before you go tra-la-la-ing down the wine aisle, heedlessly tossing in bottles of these NZ delights.  Many of them will break your bank so quickly that you'll end up eating your breakfast cereal with a fork to save money on milk.

While the Wineries are beautiful to behold, and their products are perfect for a mellow evening, they are something entirely else when you become employed within one.  Let me tell you, it is the perfect blend of hell and torturous monotony packed into one endless row of grapevines.There are currently several different jobs that are taking place within the vineyards at this point in the season.

Stripping - Getting rid of the excess vines on the plant, as to allow for 2 or 3 main vines to fruit over the summer season.

Pruning/Trimming - deciding which main vines to leave after the plant has been stripped, and ensuring that the vines left are clear of small shoots and branches.

Wrapping/Tying - Taking the remaining vines and gently wrapping them around horizontally strung wires.  The vines are then secured to the wires using twist ties.  (Really advanced technology!)

  
Post harvest - pre-stripping

                Post wrapping and tying










Now the thought of being outside in the fresh air all day does have it perks, and it can seem really appealing to those who are in dire need of some cash, but imagine rows upon rows of seemingly endless plants. Envision yourself finally finishing one of those infinite rows, just about to congratulate yourself on your fine and efficient work, only to discover that there are about 2000 more rows to go!  Don't get me wrong - some people thrive in that environment, but I'm the first to admit that I wasn't very good at wrapping and tying.  In fact, I've inherited some very memorable blister scars after my vineyard experiences!

My life as a babysitter and personal slave service is yet unchanged, but in my free time I've managed to cook a few more items that were pleasing to the palate - each of them being surprisingly easy to concoct.

Shish-Kebabs (WITHOUT mushrooms.... fungi is nasty) glazed in an olive oil, garlic and teriaki sauce, with garlic mashed potatoes.


















Egg white, onion and salmon omeletts have become my staple lunch meal.  I am unabashedly obsessed.  Plus they are incredibly healthy for you.

Coconut Prawns with a honey apricot dipping sauce.  Amazingly easy to make, with scrumptious results!




















Stuffed Cheese and Steak Peppers.  Looks disgusting... tastes like a warm comfy evening.



















Alas, it's come to the time where I should probably put an end to this entry, as some of the local hostel livestock has begun to file through the doors.  It will only be a short matter of time before people start to spill into the office, pleading for my guidance to assist them through some very serious and life-altering situations.



Examples of these dire-end of the world-unsolvable-dilemmas:

Guest: "I would like to stay at your hostel, but I see that it says on the board that you are full."
Courtney: "Well, that's probably because we are full."
Guest: "But I want to stay here tonight."
Courtney: "One second.  I need to find my magic wand so that I can magically create open beds for you."

or

Courtney: "Just so you know, we only accept cash."
Guest: "Why?"
Courtney: "I'm not sure, it's just the way the owners want to run the hostel."
Guest: "So if I want to pay my rent on a weekly basis, I have to come to you each week on the same day and pay in person with cash?"
Courtney: "Yup, the same way you'd have to come to me each week on the same day to pay in person with a debit or credit card."


 or

(Phone Rings)

Courtney: "Copper Beech Backpackers, Courtney speaking." 
Guest: "Hello."
Courtney: "...Hello."
Guest: "Hello."
Courtney: ".....Hello."
Guest: "Hello."
Courtney: "Telepathy not included with Manager."

New Zealand Fact of the Day: 

North Americans only THINK they know how to use Roundabouts

Sun, Sushi, and Cows

Well I've endured about all the harassment I can stand concerning the writing of a new blog post.  Here it is!

Apologies for not posting sooner- but life has been pretty dull as of late, especially in comparison to my earlier New Zealand adventures.

First things first - I mentioned that I got a job at a hostel.  I still work at that hostel, and have not yet managed to get fired.  I may yet though, as I find myself constantly tempted to bang cooking pots over people's heads, or to lock them out of the building.  I guess I'll have to settle for using the vacuum to suck up their personal belongings.

...What?  You would too if you were constantly trying to vacuum around loads of garbage, gear, smelly clothing and rancid shoes.

As you've probably guessed, I'm feeling a bit of strain when it comes to the guests here.  It seems that because of their long-term stay status at the hostel, they feel it is their right to leave a huge mess in their wake.  Dirty dishes are the WORST part of the mess, and they are ever constant in the kitchen.  Below is a photo I took of the security cameras in my house that shows the kitchen counter.  So annoying.

One (MESSY) French guy even said to me, "You get paid to do my dishes."



...If I had a dish cloth in my hand I would have strangled him with it.



No bud.  I DON'T get paid to do your dishes.  I get paid to oversee the running of the hostel, and to make sure that people are adhering to the rules set for them.  I also get paid to do the basic cleaning of the place, including the 8 bathrooms, kitchen, common areas, etc.  This includes vacuuming, dusting, tidying, doing the laundry, garbage, recycling and changing the beds.  I also am required to pick up people from transport terminals, and to find jobs for guests through our many local contractors.

Notice how I didn't include babysitting in my list of paid duties?  In spite of this, it's a large part of my job, but the good part is that this position isn't forever.  The day I drive away from this place will be a joyous one, as I will never have to plug my nose as I change a pungent set of bed sheets or vacuum up a colony of fingernails again.  I keep telling myself this and it helps me to see into the future where more adventures await! 

Aside from a few of the people, the hostel itself is actually quite nice.  It's an old one-level house, and all of the rooms within the building are themed with the name of a country.  In fact, the largest dorm we have is the Canada room.  (It can also be the smelliest. Yuck.)

 
The hostel is in a little city called Blenheim, and as far as being stuck in the New Zealand winter is concerned, it's a pretty swell place to be.  Most of the country has received tons of snow already, with the ski hills set to open this Saturday.  Over here in little ol' Blenheim though we have yet to see the stuff.  In fact, this city rarely sees snow, in spite of the fact that the next town over has had rolling power outages and loads of the white fluffy stuff.  I almost laughed yesterday while watching the news, as the top story in NZ was the arrival of the snow!  They were showing images of schools being shut down everywhere, along with roads being closed and cars stuck in their driveways.  It's a hard image to conjure as I sit here typing with the sun shining in the window.  In fact it's so bright out that I had to close the curtain in order to see the computer monitor!






The town itself is a flat agricultural area, but the mountains aren't too distant.  It is surrounded by some very Kamloops-like hills, which provide a nice scenic contrast to the flat lands.  Close by, there is an active farm park known as Wither Hills.

 



 It is a area that provides a network of trails up into the yellowed hills, and the paths range from easy walks to sweat-inducing treks.  I've visited the area several times, and I have to say that while it's no mountain range, it's a welcome break from the level sidewalks of the city.  There is plenty of livestock to encounter while trudging up along the ridges, and one can behold some beautiful views of the ocean or far-off snow-capped mountains.






 I treasure the times I get to go walking through Wither Hills, as it provides me with some alone and quiet time.  Time in which I really get to appreciate the world around me, and marvel in the beauty that can be found in all types of landscapes.

Because it is a working farm area, walkers usually find themselves amidst herds of immovable cattle.  At one point, I ended up trudging through some impressive piles of cow dung, all the while cringing under the unblinking stare of the stand-offish creatures.

 Along the last half of one of my walks, I could see two lone cattle grazing further up the path.  I thought that maybe they would be friendly, and would accept some proffered grass from my hand.








Wrong.  The first cow  barely acknowledged my
presence.  Still pulling at the ground, he stared at me with a big red-rimmed eye, which lolled around lazily in his head.

I moved on to the second and more cute cow of the two, hoping to make a somewhat smelly friend.  In spite of looking more sweet than his white friend, this black beast looked at me as if I were the tastiest piece of grass on the planet.  His stare and stance almost convinced me that had he more than a cow's brain, he would have been contemplating charging and eating me. 

Much of the farm park is filled with benches that are perched along especially scenic parts of the path.  Many of these benches are adorned with plaques that speak of the lives of those who are no longer with us.



















After I finish the mountains of cleaning that I do each day, I often try to occupy myself by learning to cook or bake new food items.  It's tough to really get fancy, as food is expensive here, and it would just cost too much to always be purchasing new ingredients.

I have made several items though, and so far I've mostly enjoyed success in the way they've turned out.  I do need to get a bit more cozy with the use of spices though, as I'm finding some of the cooking to be a bit bland.

I can't remember everything I've made, but below are some of the items I've recently cooked or baked. (with the words "cooked" and "baked" being completely subjective)  As is evident, I am not a pro photographer, so some items don't really look edible or at all appetizing in the pictures.



Mixed Berry and Apple Crumble... YUM


Smoked Chicken, Kumara and Corn Chowder Soup... again YUM


Scottish Flapjacks.  The picture doesn't do them justice, but they are a tasty filling little treat.  Great for lunches and snacks.









Zingy Lemon Crunch and Vanilla Semifreddo - a chilled treat perfect for eating near the warm fire











 Southern Style Frittata - a casserole type dish consisting of potatoes, eggs, and lots of veggies











 Dessert Crepes - making the crepe shells was easy enough, and I filled these ones with chocolate, bananas, brown sugar and cinnamon

 Sirloin and Spinach Salad - just my own creation. Sirloin with asparagus, yellow peppers and tomatoes over a bed of spinach, topped with balsamic vinegar










 Pear and Ginger Cake with Maple Glaze - too bad the custard I was making to go with it refused to thicken properly!












I even attempted to make sushi the other night!  It was actually quite an enjoyable experience, and even though my rolls looked a bit like they had been created by a sushi chef who had lead weights for fingers, they tasted quite good.  It was a rare treat, as the sushi here in NZ is never fresh and just can't compare to back home.  Being a Vancouverite, I consider old and expensive sushi the worst kind of crime, and if I had my way, the sushi makers here would be jailed and forced to watch endless boring videos of how sushi SHOULD be prepared!

 

 I've decided that I will be working in some vineyards starting on Monday.  I will be wrapping and tying old plants.  Thus far I'm not exactly certain what it entails, but I believe it has something to do with wrapping old vine remains around the plant stem.  It will be a welcome break from managing the hostel every day, and a chance for me to get outside more and see some of the countryside!


New Zealand Fact of the Day:

New Zealand is known as a "Plastic Nation."  Almost all transactions are made with a card.  The debit card system here is called EFTPOS, so when I ask to pay by "Debit" they look at me like I'm speaking in an alien language.  Apparently NZ was one of the first nations to use this system.