Sheltering from the rain & how I got here.....

So, cup of tea found. Including free refills!

I was really worried about the long haul flight to get here. Turns out, Night Nurse is my new best friend! Got on the plane at Heathrow, watched 'The Immortals', had my food (Singapore Airlines - you have the best in flight meals!), and then slept ti
ll breakfast. Off the plane for an hour at Changi Airport in Singapore and then back on to the next flight. Changi Airport was like a little oasis of calm. I don't know if this was because of the time of day or not, but it seemed so large and cavernous. Classical music was piped out as people wandered round whispering. Or maybe it was the night nurse. The news reporters don't hold back though. As we stood waiting to board the train, the rather graphic footage of a local murder was enough to almost put you off your next in flight meal. Almost.

So the next flight went fairly quickly too. However, always remember to lock the toilet door on the plane and never mistake mouthwash for handwash. Mmmm minty.

Once at Christchurch, and through security (so glad I scrubbed my walking boots clean!), I found the shuttle bus waiting for me. Quick journey through the suburbs, with streets with Welsh names including Bryndwr drive and Idris Road, and I was at Bella Vista motel. Nice little place, but a good 20 minute walk into town. As I started my walk into town, I began to see the damage done to the city. The whole of the centre is out of action. It was rather sobering to see how much damage had been done. It looks war torn, with the red area closed off with wire fences and empty streets with ruined buildings filled with rubble and repair vehicles. Some places have flowers tied to the rails. It looks like a film set for a plague or zombie movie.

However, the edge of the city centre has reimagined itself and the shops have reopened in converted shipping crates. In one little coffee shop I got talking to Emily, who was helping her dad with the butterfly exhibition at the local museum. She said the last time she had been to Christchurch it had been bustling. Now it was so quiet.