Many travellers had forewarned me of how the South Island's largest city was one of boredom but I didn't find that to be the case at all. Christchurch itself is cutesy and has an artsy vibe; I shouldn't have been that pleasantly surprised but I hadn't researched this corner of Canterbury as extensively as my previous destinations. More than half the CBD is a a fenced off construction zone to either demolish earthquake destroyed buildings or to renovate and strengthen them. As a great deal of the roads are closed off, it is less straight forward to navigate. I can't even imagine what a toll this devastation has taken on the psyche, spirit and hearts of all those effected.
The earthquake of 2011 gave the Canterbury region more than they bargained for and the Cathedral was hit HARD with large-scale destruction to the Anglican church. The stinkiest part of the catastrophe is that a colossal amount was caused by the scaffolding put up after the quake which led to the front section of the building with large, stained glass windows caving in.
I love roaming around to visit the novelties such as the funkily coloured Re:start Mall, the temporary shopping centre is made almost entirely from shipping containers and serves as a symbol of 'post-quake Christchurch innovation.'
Communing with nature is magically beautiful to me, so I went off to Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens. Let me tell ya, Christchurch *is* worth knowing, particularly when the sun is all glowy from end to end of the gardens. The first trees were planted in 1860's and there's a healing element within the intercity haven.
I partook in the time honoured Cantabrian tradition of punting along the River Avon; it just has a way of making the passengers feel special. Of course, I was seated right at the front and nearly tipped over the boat when I stepped a foot onto the wood and had to be steadied. 2 little boys sat behind me were sweet enough but they kept photobombing me.
An attractive and cheery punter in Edwardian garbs propelled us onward, only I hadn't cottoned onto the fact that he was fair of face (as I was facing backwards to him) until nearly the end. He had to duck under the bridge and he did so HILARIOUSLY. It was truly restful to glide happily down the river in relaxation. I don't know if the ducks are stupid or slow but they took their time moving away from a head on collision with us! Life was but a dream as we were rowed merrily down the 'stream', past magnificently pretty weeping willow trees - aah, it was serene.
Pesky seagulls disturbed the quietude of my sandwich munching - RUDIES! One even went so far as to poop on the sleeve of my coat; I was not amused when I discovered its present to me later.
Some of my afternoon was spent at an animal rescue service SPCA - Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Only one dog remained on my visit and he looked all lonely in the kennel :( possibly pining over the pups who have found new owners to love them. The bunny hid whenever it saw someone coming towards it and was not ready to be happy at the prospect of being embraced.
I really wanted to adopt every last one of the cute, little kitties. Soft kitties, warm kitties, little balls of fur, purr, purr, purred at me for hugsies and I obliged. There were also many cats who have endured abuse or been injured and it was tough to say goodbye to these rescue animals. A pair of siblings in the same enclosure were scratching each others faces viciously but I was assured they were just play fighting. Several animals were adopted as I stopped by which warmed my cockles to witness - as documentation was signed and a family extended.
Met some new girlies in the dorm - Laura, Annick and I went to check out the Night Market for some sweet treats. The Egyptian, fried dough balls in honey syrup, sprinkled with cinnamon, chocolate sauce and a dollop of ice cream was a BEAUTIFUL dessert! OOohhh a hot choc with it woulda been niiiiiice!!!
Annick and I made a rookie error that evening at Red Rock Pool bar as she was teaching me how to pocket the billiard balls. We played pool until we were kicked off and had our knuckles rapped royally as the table had been booked but we naively hadn't know it cost money. The table seemed as if it was available as nobody was using it so we honed in. We were three quarters of the way through our 'on the house' game and I was horrified at the staff member's rage! How were we to know when there was no sign or list that we were aware of and the table was vacant? We're not charmans but we were extremely apologetic.
Thanks to the brilliant website Book Me NZ, I purchased half price tix to Antartica Centre. Started off by plunging my hand in ice water for 1 minute and 5 seconds purely to beat the previous person who lasted 60 seconds. How is it that a substance so glacial can BURN??
The Snow and Ice Experience with an Antarctic storm was like we were in an Eskimo's playground after dressing in our padded coats and overshoes. Wind machines and who knows what else blasted us with temps of minus 35 degrees celsius; this blew my breath out of my lungs but what a rush!!! My morning was made more magnificent moseying around in the fake snow.
Took a ride on a Haggalund, a genuine Antarctic all terrain vehicle; I was sat in shotgun position and we wore ear pieces as we rounded the course of obstacles. Over tyres, steep ramps, jumped a gap and barrelled down a muddy slope - it was exceptional but relentlessly bumpy as we envisioned that we were out in the great, white desert.
Huskies huggles from the sweet wee pooches with handsome, fluffy faces! I think I'll miss them most of all! The ones we met, all belonged to the same owner who told us they compete in sled dog racing. Their master forbade us from staring into their eyes or stroking their heads; there's a very good chance one could have killed me. A lady startled a dear treasure who had been abused by its previous owner, as she extended her selfie stick. I'm still pining away after them :(
PPPPPPPPPICK UP A PENGUIN -
I had to be almost held back from hopping over to snuggle the blue, bootyshaking baby - Little Blue Penguins. Uno pinguino survived a shark attack :( and is now doing so well - bless its tender heart.
During my 4D Extreme Theatre: Ice Voyage through Antarctica - I was drenched with water, blasted with cool air and all other standard experience effects. ALL the 'snow' bubbles fell directly onto me, even those in my row noted how I had been pelted upon the most. Antarctica is prettilous - and this *should* be a word.
NO EMOTIONAL DISPLAYS IN THE MUSEUM, RIANNE!! -
Visited Quake City to learn about the heartbreaking aftermath of the Feb 2011 quakes. I saw lots of artefacts pulled from the wreckage and heard many stories of heroism and complete devastation. It's inspirational how the city has united in tragedy and adversity.. and how so many now live for the NOW for tomorrow is never promised.
Then for some Art Gallery weirdness with some nightmarish works of 'art' that fuelled my theory that anyone of ANY age can produce anything and declare it as art and all for art's sake. Let's just report that there wasn't much inside that I gave the slow clap to and I was done and dusted within 20 minutes.
........ -
No words can adequately express how wonderfully poignant and heartbreaking to extreme this tribute of 185 empty white chair is. Each chair is unique in its style and appearance to represent a single chair for each of the different lives taken during the catastrophe. It serves as a temporary memorial within the heart of the city where the unbelievable loss is forever ingrained in the memory of all of Christchurch. I paid my respects at the gaping hole in the city where the CTV building once was - this is where 115 of the 185 died, many of whom were Japanese ESL students :( The golden sun set reverently overhead and it genuinely moved my soul.
Rollickin Good Dessert Cafe with Annick, Laura and Regina for the authentic tasting Black forest gelato has RUINED me for all ice cream flavours FOREVS. It's my actual belief that is the best bar none and I am excited to get to know it better still in the future.
PLAYING SHENANIGANS -
On a gelato frenzy, we danced on the dance o'mat - powered by a washing machine .. Don't think I haven't noticed that I'm not rhythmically blessed but that didn't stop me pulling out my ballet and zombie moves on the dance floor! Then we went to the park to play at night time, like big kids laughing freely. It would seem that all the adults do this as it was packed as security patrolled. I whizzed across the playground adventurously on the Flying Fox and almost became stuck climbing the 'rocks' but we made much monkey mischief.
I AM MASTER OF THE FREEBIE -
We went along on the free 2 and a half walking tour of the city in which we came to under the premise of it not costing a cent but as the volunteers give up their spare time, they do appeal for tips. We mostly visited sites I'd already seen but I wasn't aware of the history behind them. To glance at the Base insulators in the Art Gallery car park was fascinating - these minimise earthquake damage to buildings. The flexible bearings should restrict the movement during a quake and these are made of a lead plug, rubber and steel.
After which, Laura came to collect me for a play date of walkies and talkies on New Brighton Beach - shooting the breeze in the breezy sunshine as we walked the stretch of golden shore and down the pier. A vicious seagull threw a shell smack in Laura's face which shocked both of us!! I'm still SO mad at that seagull!!!!!
I'M ALWAYS UP FOR A DANGEROUSLY, DELICIOUS DESSERT AND AN INTRIGUING MOVIE -
The magic sunset on the horizon behind was soon replaced by an incoming, ominous mist, very hellish in appearance and fast approaching as though to engulf anyone in its all consuming path.. which may sound awesome but I was scared. The hours had whiled away and we went on the search for sustenance which we found in Pier Side Cafe. I cannot rate this cafe highly enough as the 'light' meal specials were more on the heavy side and wildly satisfying.
It was a good deal to have a chicken wrap, salad, chips and aioli with chocolate brownie and cream for afters. Wasn't it decadent? And all for a measly $20!! I wanted to hug the chef!!! Back at Urbanz, I caught the showing of Passengers with my room mates - starring Chris Pratt with his cheeky face, buff bod and manly heroism .. oh and J-Law was the female lead. Jim and Aurora wake up 90 years sooner than they should from their experimental hibernation state on the starship Avalon. Naturally, their love blooms and I won't reveal exactly what happens throughout their life altering journey, only that I take issue with the ending.
THE CITY'S ART SPEAKS TO THE WORLD-
For my final day in Christchurch, I ventured round parts of the city that I hadn't already stopped by to see the graffiti art. I bumped into Regina and tagged along with her to photograph full, wall murals adorning buildings as gap fillers where parts of the city were lost and destroyed - these are worth a walking tour in their own right.
The Commons is on the site of The former Crowne Plaza hotel, which was demolished in 2012 and it's a vibrant community space. Sound Gardens is a project to create music with makeshift instruments to combat the sounds of construction and demolition.
SO MUCH OF WHAT WE SAW WAS SO STRANGE -
Canterbury Museum was next on the to do list. Fred and Myrtle had their infamous Paua shell house living room donated and they looked like an adorable, old, married couple. The kiwiana contained in the decor is borderline tacky even with the iridescent shells polished up to perfection. On another level of the museum, I sat on a Penny Farthing and stood in awe at many of the items exhibited.
Air NZ Virtual Reality was visually extraordinary but VR isn't for everyone as its an assault on the senses. It's madness to the mind that you can look in all directions and *see* with clarity and high def as though you are flying on the futuristic plane. It was ultra cool to get a glimpse of the future and how walls on airplanes will be transparent to feel as though you're floating through clouds. Could even change the 'background' displayed at the touch of a button.
WE GET TO MEET THE ONE AND ONLY JONNY LOVE?!! -
After spending ages walking in circles after dark with Regina and Laura to find somewhere to stuff our faces - when the city is virtually comatose on a Monday night.. we gained entry to Rockstar Pizza and drink parlour. Trust us to be seated at the table with a pink, neon light 'bad girls club' overhead!! It is here where we gorged on the most humongous 40 centimetre Ozzy Pizza of my lifetime (all dough-based meals are named after rockers) My weirdly large pizza was topped with pepper, eggplant, courgette, garlic, olives, orange, fennel and artichoke; it was a full on vegetarian TRIUMPH. I don't think much if any of Christchurch's pizza wasn't in my tum!!
We became Jonny Love, the live singer's groupies - hooping and whooping in a spirited style to mask the silence from the largely, vacant premises. He sang so many songs I love and even covered The Beatles at my request - I think we made his night and he (AND the pizza) made mine too! Is this what Christchurchers do? What a cracker of a way to conclude my stay in Christchurch :)
I had to be almost held back from hopping over to snuggle the blue, bootyshaking baby - Little Blue Penguins. Uno pinguino survived a shark attack :( and is now doing so well - bless its tender heart.
During my 4D Extreme Theatre: Ice Voyage through Antarctica - I was drenched with water, blasted with cool air and all other standard experience effects. ALL the 'snow' bubbles fell directly onto me, even those in my row noted how I had been pelted upon the most. Antarctica is prettilous - and this *should* be a word.
Visited Quake City to learn about the heartbreaking aftermath of the Feb 2011 quakes. I saw lots of artefacts pulled from the wreckage and heard many stories of heroism and complete devastation. It's inspirational how the city has united in tragedy and adversity.. and how so many now live for the NOW for tomorrow is never promised.
Then for some Art Gallery weirdness with some nightmarish works of 'art' that fuelled my theory that anyone of ANY age can produce anything and declare it as art and all for art's sake. Let's just report that there wasn't much inside that I gave the slow clap to and I was done and dusted within 20 minutes.
No words can adequately express how wonderfully poignant and heartbreaking to extreme this tribute of 185 empty white chair is. Each chair is unique in its style and appearance to represent a single chair for each of the different lives taken during the catastrophe. It serves as a temporary memorial within the heart of the city where the unbelievable loss is forever ingrained in the memory of all of Christchurch. I paid my respects at the gaping hole in the city where the CTV building once was - this is where 115 of the 185 died, many of whom were Japanese ESL students :( The golden sun set reverently overhead and it genuinely moved my soul.
Rollickin Good Dessert Cafe with Annick, Laura and Regina for the authentic tasting Black forest gelato has RUINED me for all ice cream flavours FOREVS. It's my actual belief that is the best bar none and I am excited to get to know it better still in the future.
On a gelato frenzy, we danced on the dance o'mat - powered by a washing machine .. Don't think I haven't noticed that I'm not rhythmically blessed but that didn't stop me pulling out my ballet and zombie moves on the dance floor! Then we went to the park to play at night time, like big kids laughing freely. It would seem that all the adults do this as it was packed as security patrolled. I whizzed across the playground adventurously on the Flying Fox and almost became stuck climbing the 'rocks' but we made much monkey mischief.
We went along on the free 2 and a half walking tour of the city in which we came to under the premise of it not costing a cent but as the volunteers give up their spare time, they do appeal for tips. We mostly visited sites I'd already seen but I wasn't aware of the history behind them. To glance at the Base insulators in the Art Gallery car park was fascinating - these minimise earthquake damage to buildings. The flexible bearings should restrict the movement during a quake and these are made of a lead plug, rubber and steel.
After which, Laura came to collect me for a play date of walkies and talkies on New Brighton Beach - shooting the breeze in the breezy sunshine as we walked the stretch of golden shore and down the pier. A vicious seagull threw a shell smack in Laura's face which shocked both of us!! I'm still SO mad at that seagull!!!!!
The magic sunset on the horizon behind was soon replaced by an incoming, ominous mist, very hellish in appearance and fast approaching as though to engulf anyone in its all consuming path.. which may sound awesome but I was scared. The hours had whiled away and we went on the search for sustenance which we found in Pier Side Cafe. I cannot rate this cafe highly enough as the 'light' meal specials were more on the heavy side and wildly satisfying.
It was a good deal to have a chicken wrap, salad, chips and aioli with chocolate brownie and cream for afters. Wasn't it decadent? And all for a measly $20!! I wanted to hug the chef!!! Back at Urbanz, I caught the showing of Passengers with my room mates - starring Chris Pratt with his cheeky face, buff bod and manly heroism .. oh and J-Law was the female lead. Jim and Aurora wake up 90 years sooner than they should from their experimental hibernation state on the starship Avalon. Naturally, their love blooms and I won't reveal exactly what happens throughout their life altering journey, only that I take issue with the ending.
For my final day in Christchurch, I ventured round parts of the city that I hadn't already stopped by to see the graffiti art. I bumped into Regina and tagged along with her to photograph full, wall murals adorning buildings as gap fillers where parts of the city were lost and destroyed - these are worth a walking tour in their own right.
The Commons is on the site of The former Crowne Plaza hotel, which was demolished in 2012 and it's a vibrant community space. Sound Gardens is a project to create music with makeshift instruments to combat the sounds of construction and demolition.
Canterbury Museum was next on the to do list. Fred and Myrtle had their infamous Paua shell house living room donated and they looked like an adorable, old, married couple. The kiwiana contained in the decor is borderline tacky even with the iridescent shells polished up to perfection. On another level of the museum, I sat on a Penny Farthing and stood in awe at many of the items exhibited.
Air NZ Virtual Reality was visually extraordinary but VR isn't for everyone as its an assault on the senses. It's madness to the mind that you can look in all directions and *see* with clarity and high def as though you are flying on the futuristic plane. It was ultra cool to get a glimpse of the future and how walls on airplanes will be transparent to feel as though you're floating through clouds. Could even change the 'background' displayed at the touch of a button.
After spending ages walking in circles after dark with Regina and Laura to find somewhere to stuff our faces - when the city is virtually comatose on a Monday night.. we gained entry to Rockstar Pizza and drink parlour. Trust us to be seated at the table with a pink, neon light 'bad girls club' overhead!! It is here where we gorged on the most humongous 40 centimetre Ozzy Pizza of my lifetime (all dough-based meals are named after rockers) My weirdly large pizza was topped with pepper, eggplant, courgette, garlic, olives, orange, fennel and artichoke; it was a full on vegetarian TRIUMPH. I don't think much if any of Christchurch's pizza wasn't in my tum!!
We became Jonny Love, the live singer's groupies - hooping and whooping in a spirited style to mask the silence from the largely, vacant premises. He sang so many songs I love and even covered The Beatles at my request - I think we made his night and he (AND the pizza) made mine too! Is this what Christchurchers do? What a cracker of a way to conclude my stay in Christchurch :)
