Kiwi Exp. - Christchurch to Kaikoura

The sombre memories of Christchurch drifted through the mind's eye as we drove along a cold damp East Coast to Kaikoura. We travelled on New Zealand's equivalent of the M1 but it looked more like an A road. Closing in on our destination the road squeezed between cliffs and the Pacific Ocean, turning with the curve of the coastline, going through tunnels when the cliffs refused to give way.

We passed a statue to Captain Charles Upham, a name neither of us recognised but learnt was New Zealand's most famous soldier and one of only three men to have ever won the Victoria Cross twice (highest military award for valour to British and Commomwealth forces). Captain Upham received these decorations during his service in the Second World War and reading about this and his general character highlighted what a remarkable individual he was. After the war and returning to New Zealand, NZ$10,000 was raised for him to buy a farm. Upham refused and used it as a scholarship fund to send ex-servicemen's sons to university. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/mili…)

A steady patter of rain coated Kaikoura as we arrived at our hostel. With most activity either called off or made prohibitive by the steady rain we chose instead to bask in the warmth of the hostel's lounge where blues played from the stereo and wood crackled in the burner. As we lounged Alex found Spotify was finally listing ACDC's albums so he was as happy as a pig in shit for the rest of the afternoon. Here is another playlist of music that has accompanied our journey back north so far (http://open.spotify.com/user/somebodyalreadyhas… - this could have been all ACDC had Alex made his discovery in Queenstown) -

Hozier - Jackie and Wilson
Rae Morris - Love Again
Youngblood Hawke - We Come Running
Kate Tempest - The Beigeness
Oh Wonder - Technicolour Beat
Youth Club - People
Eliza and the Bear - Friends
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Can't Keep Checking My Phone
Sunset Sons - Remember
Martin Luke Brown - NostaligiaRead more