In the Jailhouse Now

Victoria Market: best market ever!

All three cities I stayed in in Australia – Perth, Adelaide, and Melbourne – were absolutely beautiful.  Walking around gorgeous botanical gardens (there was always a California section because of the similar climate), chatting with the nicest and weirdest types on train rides across the southern desert and seeing the occasional wild kangaroos from the diner car, bike-riding to beaches.  I really can’t complain! 

There was evidence of climate change everywhere I went – and it was all I saw in the newspapers and heard about from Aussies I talked to.  Massive salt build-ups due to deforestation.  Heavy rain in the North.  Drought in the South.  Inconsistent weather patterns, like over 50 days just this year over 90F in the Southwest.  Shortages of fresh water.  Only in the States is it ok to not believe that global warming exists.

Cottlesloe Beach

Time has been elusive these last 2 weeks.  I’ve compensated twice for daylight savings time and for 3 different time zones.  I’m now 19 hours ahead of California and, at least for a few weeks, will be consistently.

 

I got to the front counter of Air New Zealand at the Melbourne Airport this morning, when the lady at the counter stated bluntly that I couldn’t get on the flight.  When I asked why, she replied that I need to have an onward ticket.  I don’t know why NZ’s so picky about this.  In my desperation, I showed her the working-holiday visa I decided to get a few days ago (so that maybe I could volunteer on organic farms); after talking with her manager, she told me I could go ahead.

Now I’m on my third island-country (4^th if you count my one-day stint in Ile-de-France, haha), and, by the view of snow-capped mountains from the airplane, I can tell that New Zealand is going to rival the other two.  I’m truly excited for my month in the country of Whale Rider and Lord of the Rings, in what advertises to be something like a playground for grown-ups. 

And to start things off on the right foot, I’m staying in what used to be a jailhouse.

I’m planning to spend 2 nights on my bunk in Christchurch – more than enough since city center is blocked off post-earthquake – and then head out to my circular tour around the island.