Rainy days CAN be wonderful

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE SO LOVED, CADBURY? - 

It was disappointing that we weren't granted access to the inner sanctum of the factory itself, nor were photographs permitted on our one hour tour of Cadbury World HQ, NZ. The museum manifests how chocolate came to be, back with the Mayans and Aztecs before it arrived in England in the 1650s as an aromatic drink firstly. 

Our purple-overalled, Oompa Loompa, Pedro from Brazil gave us the grand, guided looksy with our backstage pass to the premises and lavished us with bars of choc at each stop. Immediately upon entering the confines of the compound, chocolatey vapours envelop your sense of smell as we listened and learnt about how 100,000 litres of milk would have once lasted a week at the factory but now runs out in 10 minutes. HOLY COW!!

OTHER FUN FACTOIDS - 

• 1930 is when the first bar of Dairy Milk was made in New Zealand
• On the 4th floor of the factory, 1760 chocolates are made every minute
• 423,000 boxes of Favourites can be made each shift
• In 2014, the factory received 14.5 million kilos of sugar
• Chocolate wasn't always made with milk; Cadbury initiated the addition of a glass and a half of milk for every 200 grams. 

I .. MUST .. CHOCOLATE!!!! - 

My visit will not help with the worldwide perception that I'm obsessed with choc because this woman *is* a menace for the brown stuff. In the Sensory Lab, it was only a matter of minutes before I descended into the milk, white and dark liquid chocolate from the train and this alone makes it worth the trip. You can keep refilling the plastic shot container and add limitless toppings! 

During the tempering demo, where we were shown how milk choc is mixed and cooled under precise conditions on the slab to give it that glossy finish.. I wanted to shove my face in it!! Up the 5 storey purple silo, we yelled out 'WE WANT CHOCOLATE!' as Pedro pretended it was voice-activated. Lo and behold, a Willy Wonka-esque chocolate waterfall (the world's largest) free-flowed to which we aahed and oohed. This girl, meaning ME, drank her Coconut Rough hot chocolate and suddenly, her life had meaning. 

SEEKING SOLACE IN THE ARMS OF BARS OF CHOCCIE - 

On returning to my Backpackers, I received bad news on a dismal, dreary day but instead of getting teary or irritable, I sprang into action to resolve my dilemma. In all my years of travel, I've never encountered a journey cancellation but Intercity informed me that due to the road flooding, the bus was unable to pick me up so I would be stranded in Dunedin for a further 24 hours. The hotline was obviously experiencing a high volume of calls as I had to wait on hold for over half an hour to speak to an operator and rearrange my travel. *Pats self on back* for keeping my cool and only being mildly narky to the lady who has NO control over the elements and was doing her best to help me. 

In less than 20 mins from ending the call, I managed to sort rain-checking my Invercargill accommo for that night, beg the Backpackers to squeeze me in one more night and be booked onto the bus for the following day. SUPER STRESSFUL but I shouldn't grumble as it was a blessing in disguise as the roads are hazardous and it spared possible deaths and there's not much to do in Inver. Plus, how can you ever be sad when you have fantastic quantities of Cadbury to scoff?? I couldn't remain low key annoyed as instead of being home in Auckland, I was doing pleasant things in Dunedin.

NEVER LET IT BE SAID THAT RIANNE MONTIGUE IS AFRAID OF A WIDDLE SPLASH OF RAIN - 

Perused the Botanic Gardens which were beautiful somehow even in the rain before going onto the world's steepest street (according to Guinness World Records) known to man. How wild of me to climb Baldwin Street in slippery conditions! The steepness is so satanic that a water fountain awaits you at the top. Interestingly, the steepness was not intentional; the surveyor, Charles Kettle didn't take into account the terrain. Looking up from the bottom, it doesn't look too bad and it doesn't take long to walk up but the gradient of the slope is 1:2:86. For evey 2.86 metres travelled horizontally, the elevation rises by a metre. 

A psycho she-devil driver, who I guess lived on the street, continuously tried to run down tourists taking photos as she had zero patience. I threw a 20 cent piece downhill instead of a Jaffa and watched it roll. Not all reaches on the slope are so sharp and abrupt but there have still been many serious accidents and even deaths down this road. One being a 19 year old who died after rolling down in a wheelie bin while drunk. It was more of a mission to return to the ground on account of the raininess; I was fearful I'd take a tumble on my bum so took extra care with my footing but a young, rugby team ran up! 

WE COULD HAVE DONE WITH NOAH AND HIS ARK - 

The following day, many roads still had closures and because of that my bus was delayed but I was just glad it came at all, considering the State of Emergency thanks to the most foul weather along South Island's East coast. As we passed Dunedin airport, car parks had transformed to lakes and coaches were getting stuck in the rivers on the roads. 

All sunsets are a happy thing and a splendid one was gifted to us over rolling, pastoral hills on a beautiful late afternoon/early evening, smearing satsuma shades across the sky. I was thankful to get to Invercargill at all even though we arrived an hour late but we got there in one piece so I was celebrating that. Then I realised there were no taxis and I wasn't all to sure where I was but a kind couple were lovely enough to drop me right to the door of my Backpackers. I've never been so pleased to make it to a hostel, thanks to my Good Samaritans. I had a four bedroom female dorm all to myself which was a little lonely but at least I could hog all the pillows. 

I SEEM TO BE SUPER GOOD AT SEEKING OUT THE FINEST FOOD - 

In my first impressions of Inver, I realised the southern and westernmost city of NZ doesn't really wanna 'wow' you but I can stand all this refreshing, peace and quiet. After trowelling my substantial serving of Tom YUMmy soup down demonically, I decided not to stray too far after the waitress warned me that Invercargill is not the safest after dark. 

A Bora Bora tropical mocktail was beckoning at The Kiln, to chase down my coconut cream soup; it was exceedingly exotic and sweet. As it was half price dessert night, how could I pass that up? The apple, rhubarb and white chocolate crumble was not supremely white chocolatey so I was hard pressed to taste chocolate in the crenelle of ice cream but I had an exchange of love with the fruity crumble. 

I AM MORE AND MORE CONVINCED THAT INVERCARGILL IS MEH!- 

My morning jaunt around the city began with a tall, signature hot chocolate at the southernmost Starbucks in Ze World; an act I will never be able to repeat and won't really be missing out as I don't class Starbucks hot chocs as anything special. Referring to my map, I hit up all the sites of historical significance - The Civic Theatre, Otepuni Gardens, Troopers Memorial, the very fancy Victoria Railway Hotel and St Mary's Basilica. Me being me, I peeked inside but not another soul was there and that spooked me enormously, so I fled. 

You knoooooowww I got lost on the way to Stead Street Historic Wharf and had to get directions from a bathroom store in order to recalculate my route. It turns out what used to be a major port is now a wasteland that was declared unsafe to the public in 2016. The rain ceased and the clouds began to clear as I settled down for a picnic at New River Estuary. It's plain as day that nobody, bar me, comes to picnic here now as the water is murky and dirty. Google reliably informed that there was algae growth here in 2012 *yawn!*

NOURISHED MY SOUL - 

Queens Park is beloved to the city as it is likely to be the single, stunning spot in Invercargill. Through the birch trees, the ground was boggy but after the floods that was to be expected. The duck pond brought a little sunshine to my afternoon and the bold, sub-tropical plants blooming in an abundance of violets, pinks and blues, were wanting to be photographed inside the 19th Century glasshouse. 

The unique birdies housed in the park's aviary didn't want to interact with me in any way. Why'd you have to be like that, fluffsters?? Animals always help me be happy particularly porky pigs, darling deers, moo moo cows and rabbits within the Animal Reserve onsite. You were very impressive Queens Park, no wonder you were awarded a certificate of excellence by Trip Advisor 2 years back! 

HAVING FUN YET?. - 

Passed the stately, posh Southland Boys High School for toffs before discovering the Southland Museum and Gallery tucked away in the I-site. It has all the usual historic exhibits: Victorians, Roaring 40's and a vessel that simulates a shipwreck while you stand aboard. Unusually, there is also a Tuatarium containing over 100 'dinos' in an environment mimicking their natural habitat. It was the WW2 trenches virtual reality experience that peaked my curiosity as it recreated life as a digger in the trenches during the Battle of the Somme. The advanced technology made it feel all too life-like as you interact with the 'characters'; got a sense of the terror of explosions, darkness and disorientation - all for a gold coin donation. 

Somebody/ies had put bubble bath or washing up liquid in the fountain to foam it up; it was a shower of froth! Bubbles were overflowing and blowing all over the lawn - such silliness! By this point, the temperate had dropped and my thermal gloves were required for the first time since I came to South Island. Maybe it's historically unpopular but Invercargill is pretty chill with some sights to see (i.e. the elaborate, 42.6 metre tall Water Tower) and I wouldn't have believed that 24 hours beforehand. It mightn't have been a grand, Invercargillian adventure or a fairy tale town but that's okay.. I embraced it for what it was. 

I'm jealous of the time I had in South Island

GREEN IS EVERYWHERE SEEN - 

Back in July, I took an impromptu trip to South Island primarily to attend the annual Cadbury festival in the university city of Dunedin. I hadn't anticipated such naturally, stunning scenery of rolling hills, immensely, emerald forests and tree after tree. It was 5 degrees Celsius but Jack Frost was NOT nipping at my nose -- WHERE IS THE SNOW?? I was promised the fluffy stuff!! 

Dunedin Railway Station is one of the sights that was first on my list and it happens to be one of NZ's most photographed buildings. Google says it is classical, Flemish Renaissance and Neo-Gothic in style; it is grandiose and has been compared to a gingerbread house. Poking out from afar, was the Cadbury Factory's iconic, purple-coloured silo. I wish I had me one of them filled to the top with all my most favourites in the Cadbury range, with Galaxy and Lindor truffles thrown in for good measure. 

MY BELLY IS EASILY LED ASTRAY WITH GREASY GOODS - 

It was late in the day and I had somehow skipped lunch.. the thunderous rumblings in my tum and hangriness was a clear indicator that I ought to be fed. Had a couple of side dishes to satiate myself from Stuart St Mac's Brew Bar and the only reason I mention it is as it was there that I appeased my appetite with the *GREATEST* onion rings I've ever had in life!! 

I raged internally at having a top bunk bed at my backpackers -- as it's not about chucking a toddler tanty, you understand. Dunedin had already won my heart and mind within hours of arrival and that's not even taking into account the onion rings. 

CADBURY HAS BEEN IMPACTFUL TO MY LIFE TO THE CORE - 

Here's how I spent my 2nd day in Dunedin: attending The Chocolate High Tea that wasn't a high tea but a Kids Teddy Bears Picnic instead at Larnach Castle on the Otago Peninsula. It's the only 'castle' in the country but more of a 'Scottish baronial' mansion built in the 1870's. This event was a little too heavy on the teddy front for my liking. It was held in the Ballroom which was built for William Larnach's favourite daughter, Kate on her 21st birthday. It is said that she haunts the ballroom after dying in her twenties. 

Crackling fires had no guards which I felt was dangerous with numerous tots and toddlers toddling to and fro; a scorching, white ember flicked at me! As they played games like Pass the Parcel, I watched on like a chump and did not expect to have any fun but it was sweet to see the kids rejoice at the lollies they unwrapped. It was strange to be there as a child-less visitor and I was worried that may have weirded out the guests but I really had only booked a ticket as the website had said it was a chocolate high tea. 

A cutesie wutesie teddy choc-wrapped, fashion parade followed and then came the morning tea buffet where they over-promised and under-delivered as there was not one mug of hot choc!! This was not at all what it said on the 'tin' or was I a tad presumptuous? Teddy cupcakes, a teddy bear iced, chocolate cake and all other sorts of sugary goodness but it was the light and airy, chocolate mousse that suddenly made the world feel much more pleasant. While egg and spoon races were occurring, I explored the 7 acre Gardens of Significance; the exceptionally impressive views of Otago Peninsula amazed. 

YAY ME!! - 

I'd been longing to tick off curling (also known as chess on ice) from my Bucket list since my Canada holiday (where I could only watch on in Ottawa as the clubs are so elite and exclusive) so I signed up to a session of Cadbury Curly Wurly curling at Dunedin Ice Arena. Before we got round to sliding the heavy granite stones across the ice towards the circle target - the groups were fuelled on Curly Wurly bars courtesy of Cadbury. I didn't exactly dazzle at getting my stone closest to the centre of the house until my very last shot which was somehow in the innermost, centre circle after our coach whom was acting as sweeper, used his broom to decrease the friction (this slows the stone down and causes it to curl less). This secured my Blue team the win and I hope this won't come as arrogant as the rest o' the time, I was rhubarb as my Dad would say! I hasten to add that on my last turn, I used the delivery stick which enabled a more powerful release. 

Brrrrr, it was a chilly willy, nilly vanilly night being geographically closer to Antarctica and have its biting iciness sweep across one of the most Southern regions on earth. And where was I during an NZ midwinter? On a street bench in the dark of night with a cup of Kapiti's Anzac coconut cookie from Rob Roy's dairy before my dinner of grossly underportioned lemon chicken .. and I won't lose a minute's sleep over it either. I want to convey that I liked it a great deal. That was a nice day I had; so it was!! 

 Penguins are paramount in these parts

THIS DEGREE OF PRECIPITATION IS HIGHLY IRREGULAR - 

I don't recall authorising it to rain so intensely but it was caused by a destructive storm which meant that in the course of  day, a MONTH'S load had bucketed down from the sky and it was hideous. A state of emergency was called in various areas of South Island, Dunedin being one of them where widespread flooding from the torrential rain was so severe that it became the wettest July day ever recorded in Dunedin. On account of this weather battering Otago, the annual Jaffa Race was postponed for a couple of months (thousands of choc-orange sweeties are chucked/rolled down the world's steepest street for great causes) .. and I'd been excited to see the sea of orange. 

My morning was largely a write off as it was too treacherous to walk in those conditions but I set out for lunch and that didn't completely suck as my preferred fast food of choice, Nandos - popped up at the precise moment it was needed. Bless that cheeky piece of poultry! 

PACKING EVERY MINUTE WITH FUN ACTIVITIES, AS I DO - 

I rapidly scanned the artefacts and 'natural science specimens' housed at the Otago Museum which boasts the largest collection of moa remains. Some bits were as exciting as a stale piece of bread but I was there first and foremost for the Sense-ational Chocolate Science show put on by a South American exuding so much scientific wisdom. The audience ooohed at the chocolate cloud formation when he mixed something or other with another gas/substance and we all inhaled Dairy Milk scents.

Next came the hydrogen balloon explosion where he combined oxygen with hydrogen to ignite a flaming ball which caused a child in the crowd to cry when the rubber bag burst vigorously. His use of liquid nitrogen to create chocolate ice cream out of Cadbury drinking chocolate, water, sugar and cream was not so wowing to me as I see it on the reg as an avid Masterchef AU viewer. It was cool for those who are more easily flabbergasted. 

I GENUINELY AND EXCEEDINGLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT I'D DO WITHOUT HOT CHOCOLATE IN MY WORLD - 

The howling wind and skin-numbing downpour busted the umbrella I'd only purchased the night before!!!!!!! Still, I couldn't let something so minor keep me from Cadbury Cafe's, Turkish delight speciality hot choccie. It was more froth than choc but it made me all toasty in those moments. My medical condition of Chocolatitis is incurable!! 

Before braving the ongoing torrents on a wet and wild eve to get to the cinema to see Despicable Me 3, I sheltered from the storm a-brewing in the witch of weather's cauldron at my hostel. The Minions bring out the kid and me and put a grin 'buv my chin while the 80's throwbacks reminded me, an eighties child, just how ridiculous that era was - in the best sense of the word. The soundtrack had all humming along as the cheeky minions conspired to entice Gru to return to his shady dealings after he's sacked from the Anti-Villain League. The legendary Julie Andrews was vastly underused as Gru and Dru's mother but I'm still LOL-ing at the Minions blowing raspberries as a collective and breaking out of jail on flying toilets. Illumination Entertainment smashed it again as it's currently the 4th highest grossing animated film of all time.