Christchurch and Fiji...

I got onto my final journey on the kiwi bus which turned out to be quite an interesting journey. They put 2 buses on, one going to Christchurch and the other going straight through and on to the next place Kaikoura as with the recent devastating earthquake in Christchurch it was advised that we didn't stay there but as my flight was from Christchurch I didn't have much choice. After about 6 hours on the road we came to a stop as the bus about an hour behind us had broken down so our bus dropped us off at the side of the road and went back to get the passengers from the broken bus whilst we waited to get picked up from a tiny school bus. It was quite a squeeze getting all of us onto this bus each with our huge backpacks and suitcases which as they had no storage underneath we had to put on the seats taking up half the bus. After another hour on the road we were picked up by another big green kiwi bus and after another hour finally made it to Christchurch. There wasn't much to do there as the whole of the city centre is still closed off. It was really sad to see some of the destruction, the place was like a ghost town with crumbled down buildings on every corner. I got an early night as the next day was the start of my epic journey back home. I flew from Christchurch back to Auckland then eventually making it to Fiji later that night. On the bus from Nadi airport to my hostel for the night I got talking to a guy who as it turns out lives around the corner from me back home in Durham, we went to all the same schools and his brother and my brother were in the same year...once again, small world! I spent what little time I had in Fiji chilling out on the beach. I was meant to be spending nearly 2 weeks here but as I had run out of money and was quite honestly more than ready to come home I thought I would cut my trip short. After seeing a lot beaches on my travels I didn't feel like I really missed out on much and at least got to dip my toes in the warm sea one last time before heading home. I got a flight that evening to LA which took about 10 hours. After a grueling few hours trying to get through Americas customs and security just to get my connecting flight I was back on a plane, this time to London Heathrow. Feeling pretty happy to be back in the UK my journey still wasn't over as I got onto my last flight and the only flight of my whole trip to be delayed...typical...my flight home to Newcastle. I was thrilled to be back and so happy my 30 hour journey home was over and was made that much happier to be greeted at the airport by my parents and my boyfriend. Hugs all round then back home and sleep!