John Mee – Some programmer in Sydney

Wednesday, August 14, 2002
Mee, again. Ha ha.

Hello from the backpacker trail. I made my way up to “Hanmar Springs”, two or three hours north west of Christchurch. Surprisingly enough the main attraction lots of this east of the mountains here is the hot springs. But before I got here there was a leisurely drive across flat green plains, with sheep, backed by brown winter swept hills, and snow peaked mountains. There are lots of swift running rivers which remind me that I must comment on the quality and taste of the water here. Clean, crisp, pure. Reminds me why I feel the need to mix so much cordial back in Sydney. The water there is really yuck in comparison.

Picked up a couple of european hitchhikers on the way up, just to make it a little more entertaining. They’ve been moving for 13 months and filled their role perfectly. Giving me all the ‘trail talk’ and providing the personal account of where to go, what to see, what to do. They’ll make their way home soon, via the US.

Hanmar is very quiet. The ski slope here didn’t bother to open all season. No snow. But the place is very tourist oriented. Lots of jet boating and bungy jumping etc on offer. Seems an odd spot to be plonked, but the hot springs explain that. After a $3.60 fish and chips I soaked up 2 hours worth of hot springs, and felt appropriately sleepy, spent, relaxed with that stupid grin on face, afterwards. Let an hour of telly wash over me, and off to bed.

All advice says.. go west young man. So I’ll do that today. Not entirely sure where to. So I’ll have to fill in those details tomorrow.
posted by John Mee at 11:48 AM