It's autumn here!

Christchurch is probably the most beautiful city I have visited yet on this trip. The beauty is unparelled. I spent the day in the Botanical gardens with Nick today... clibing trees, and taking photos. Helped Nick buy a camera the other day - he's loving it. When you see some of the photos we've taken in the last couple of days, you'll shit. I swear. I've never seen anyhting like what I've seen today. The gardens had a really nice miniture bonsai section, fern and tropical greenhouse garderns, orchid terrarium with venus fly traps, pitcher plants and a whole variety of orchids (oh my god that was beautiful) Really beautiful duck ponds, giant gum and redwood trees... just all around wonderful place. I'd live here just to have gardens like that close to my home. Nick and I went to the rose gardens... spent over an hour meditating and literally "smelling the roses". I've never experianced anything quite like that... each type of rose smelled distinctly different.. we tried to find names for what each one reminded us of... we were running about, splitting up, shouting across the garden "come check out this one man -it smells like lemon-thai!" or hairgel, or old lady's perfume or sandalwood... or whatever it was... and we were giving out reccomendation of our favorites to the other garden patrons... we got alot of smiles today.. from random people. was really fun. Afterward we got some $5 thai food and helped Nick buy a tent...
Now yesterday was a bloody cool day.
I hooked up my celphone yesterday (BTW, my new phone number is +64 02102375175) got some sushi and hit up the local art gallery. I think my favorite artist would have to be Kees Bruin. If I could paint... I'd paint like that. He's a local and that link only brings you to a couple of his works. I have never seen that kind of realism in oils before... they looked like photos.. and we're a very intriging mix of fantasy and reality. stunning....
after the gallery wnr out and scope out some shops for a few things, grabbed a bite and hit the climing wall at the YMCA where Iam staying. 13 meter wall, $19NZ to rent a harness and shoes and climb all evening. I climbed until my hands could no longer hold onto anything. (they are starting to respond a little better today, I couldn't even open a beercan or dial a phone yesterday) I bloody loved every bit of it. Cimbed some crazy routes and pushed myself way past what I thought I was capable of. Where was I all of this time? I'm a lifer for now on. ordered a pizza with the guys at the center and climbed until it arrived. was a very welcome pizza by the time it got there.
Went back to Nicks hostel - watched "Almost Famous" I actually really like that movie and haven't seen it in a long time... and it sparked a really meaningful conversation about life beteen Nick and I afterward... not as spiritul as the one the evening before, but it very quickly turned that way when we met a lady named Joy. 66 years old, came out for some fresh air... overheard our talks and joined in with a very strong presence. She was a healer. very, very kind woman whom we talked to for the next 2 hours at least. Her an I resonated very strongly. We exchanged energies, she gifted me with healing energies.. Nick was following very cloesly on, loving every minute of it... I've got Joy's contacts in Cairns, Australia and we had a great hug before we parted ways. lovely lady... Nick has been so inspired by all that has happened to us in the last couple of days he has signed up for a vipassana retreat here in about a week... and we're goin hitchhiking for a bit, so it looks like. Very interesting to both of us how receptive he is to all of this. gets him very excited... people have been coming up to us and giving us hugs and all of the lot. things are getting interesting.. must be doing somehting right.
well besides all of that, planning my escape from the city for tomarrow or at the latest, the next day. not even sure where I am going yet... maybe Dunedin area? that direction, I think...
It gets pretty cool here at night. It's 13c outside right now and it's only 8:30pm... I'd say 18-20 degrees during the day, 10-12 degrees during the night is about accurate for where I am right now.
Money is going to be a bit of an issue here pretty quick unless I really restrain myself... either that or spend my super-special-savings I was keeping for a eurotrip... or just max out my credi card.... we'll see how it works out.
I'll write again soon and try to find a way to get some photos online... it's a matter of finding a comouter that has photo software and decent enough prices so that it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg... but belive me, I've got some gorgeous shots.. swamp cypress, gold leaved in a duck pond at sunset and the like. never seen this variety of beauty before... and again, you have to witness it for itself...photos are just shadows. albeit, pretty shadows.
ok. love you guys and I'll keep you all posted.
this trip is back on the go.