My Birthday in Grey, Grey Westport
Nelson -> Westport, 28th November 2001.
Today was a special day...it was my 19th birthday! The other's had
been really sweet and bought me cards and a couple of presents.
Firstly, Nat gave me a small lemon slice and explained that she
wanted to get a big gooey cake, but I'd seen her buying it and told
her off for breaking her diet so she had to put it back! She'd also
bought a few other things including a great Lord of Rings Film book
and a whoopee cushion...yeay! Hours of future amusement!
Unfortunately, the bus left really early today, so by 7am we were
standing sleepily by the front of the hostel. However, by 7:15am
there was still no sign of the bus, very unusual for the Kiwi
Experience. We wandered up to the end of the road to be greeted by
an angry, red-faced driver striding towards us. He had an extended
shout at us for being late. We were too tired to argue so we meekly
took our seats.
After scooting around town to pick up the other backpackers we
headed off for the long ride to Westport. The journey was quite
uneventful and the passengers were all completely lethargic. The
driver would shout, "Put your hands up if you want to do activity
A?". There would be no movement. Just the quiet breeze as a
tumbleweed blows by. He'd then shout, "Put your hands up if you want
to do activity B?". Still no movement. The rain and the early start
had combined to sap everyone's energy.
 After
a few stops where, of course, no one could be bothered to do
anything, we pulled up in an overcast Westport. The hostel we'd been
taken to was called Basil's, and was very comfortable and homey.
After claiming a room, Nat and I decided to take a wander around the
small town, so armed with our waterproofs we head off. On the way we
found a kid's playground so we ran through the mud to play with the
swings and monkey bars. After beating Nat at a game of giant Noughts
and Crosses we continued on our walk.
The lake sounded worth seeing, so we hiked over to it.
Unfortunately, it wasn't worth seeing. So, a little disappointed, we
continued onwards and came across a small Chinese take-away hidden
in a corner of the maze-like streets. Feeling hungry, we wandered
inside, but no on was around. We could just make out huge piles of
chopped carrots and onions in the back room, then suddenly a small,
pale Chinese man appeared and started chatting in Chinese. Nat and I
just looked at each other. We couldn't understand him and he
couldn't understand us. Luckily a short, blonde girl appeared and
took our order in English. After a short wait, we took our food and
went outside to find a place to eat.
As it was still raining, everywhere was damp, so we tore a plastic
bag in half and used them to sit on a small, wooden bench by an
empty green park. We cracked open the small plastic tray and dug
into the 'special' fried rice with our plastic forks. We sat there
quietly chewing on the special, mysterious pieces in our rice and
looked quietly around. The clouds were low and cry, the drizzle
falling percussion-like on the wooden bench and taut rain jackets.
No one else was around, the grey and green town was sleepy and
deserted. Parked cars sat, waiting for a driver. Grass fields stood,
waiting for children to play games. The town was resting.
After disposing of most of the interesting Chinese rice dish, we
returned to the hostel. We meet Em and Stinge in our room and find
out that some people from the coach were going out for the night,
but judging by what we'd just seen of the town, we decided our money
was best kept in our pockets for now.
As we're chatting away, a girl came into our room, obviously here
for the 5th, unused bed. She asked to check if the bed is empty. I
looked over at the pack of noodles lying on the bed and said,
"Sorry, it's being used by our friend, Mr Pack of Noodles!" She
looked at me strangely, so I quickly moved the noodles and explained
that I was joking before she called for the men in white coats.
After she'd settled in, she joined us for cards and a chat, showing
us a few new games to widen our repertoire. Playing cards and
chatting and/or drinking is a very good way to meet other
travellers, so the more games you know, the better!
Getting ready for bed, I left the room to brush my teeth. When I
returned I was bopped in the face by something light and
plastic...the others had bought balloons and blown them all up for
my birthday! Yeay! Birthday's are never complete without balloons!!
So after playing with the balloons for ages, I gathered a whole load
of them up and fell asleep with them in my arms...ahh, to be a child
again :o)
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