Saturday is one of my favorite days here in Dunedin.  It's not just because it's the weekend, but it is also when the Farmer's Market is held.  And two Saturdays ago in particular was extra special, because it was also the Cadbury Chocolate Carnival.  Almost everything around me was edible, and there was so much chocolately goodness!  

 
Aotearoa (ow-tee-ah-row-ah) is the Māori name for New Zealand.  It roughly translates into "the land of the long white cloud."  Just outside of Dunedin is a hilly forest area, called the Silverpeaks.  One of the peaks is Mt. Cargill, and another one is Flagstaff, which I accomplished this weekend.  It was another flat tramp, but only three of us went.  The beginning was quite similar to the Mt. Cargill adventure: we walked there and sort-of got lost and asked for directions.  But, on the way, there were wonderful views of the city, a cute house with a hobbit-hole-like shed, and weirdly shaped bushes.  Eventually, we reached the trailhead and started up on Pineapple Track (the coolest name for a trail).  
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The two terrain types on the Pineapple Track.

 
In a scarfie world!  What's a scarfie you ask?  Why, it's a student at the University of Otago in Dunedin (known for the scarves they wore that were originally blue/gold and are now random but worn by everyone to stay warm).  I've had classes for a week and a half now, and I am ready to talk about campus and my papers (classes).

Campus is beautiful.  It is also huge.  I mean, the main campus is pretty condensed, but as you reach the edges of the central area the buildings start to trail off into the city...and keep going!  So, I am constantly finding new places to explore (and get lost around), study in, and keep warm.  
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The Centre for Innovation with the reflection of St. David Lecture Theatres.

 
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The view about 30 minutes from the peak.
Have you ever gotten the urge to just get up now  and do something?  Well, Saturday night, the international flatmates did.  We wanted to go tramping (hiking) now.  Unfortunately, it was about 9 pm.  So, after some hurried research on the internet and in our travel books we found a tramp: Bethunes Gully to Mount Cargill track.  We sort-of found a bus schedule to take us close.  Then we went to sleep.

Well, after Olympic Power Walking and a little scrambling, we just manage to catch the bus...and then watch as it rides us through the streets we just sprinted through.  With that, we were plenty warmed-up for the walk and determined to get away from the bus.  The nice driver told us our stop and how to get to the track, and after a little confusion, we found it.  So next time you want to go on a tramp, really know what you are doing to avoid being lost.

 
I went exploring in town and found three major churches/cathedrals: The First Church of Otago, St. Paul's Cathedral, and Knox Church.  Churches are one of my favorite places to visit.  I am not religious anymore, so churches, to me, are architecture.  They are beautiful pieces of artwork that you cannot just look at, but must enter and experience.  
If you are going to read this post without any knowledge of the architectural language of churches and cathedrals, here is a slideshow describing some basics and some of the specific details I will talk about.  The floor plan is the most important. 

 
PictureOur train. I was a middle car.
This was one of the most stunning trips I have ever gone on.  But, before I get to the nature bits, let me start of by saying: I love trains.  They are my favorite form of transport.  They seem to be one of the few moving objects that I do not instantly get sleepy on.  They are so old fashioned, yet high-tech.  At home, I love taking the train into the city.  In France, I loved taking the RER and the TGV.  And now, I got to take the Taieri Gorge Railway Trip.  The train went from the Dunedin train station to Pukerangi, then back again.  It was a 2 hour ride each way, but it all went far too fast.

The trip started out with the conductor saying something along the lines of, "please, no heads out the windows and keeps your arms inside."  Hahaha!  No one listened to that.  Heck, he didn't even listen to his own instructions because the ad in the local pamphlet had the conductor hanging his whole head and torso out the window!  He then went on to explain other rules, introduce other workers, and welcome all of us on board.  

 
This post doesn't have any photos, but it has the best recipe ever: Crêpes.  
Ingredients:
  • 250 g flour
  • 4 eggs
  • dash of salt
  • 1/2 L milk
  • Splash of rum (optional, to give it some taste)

Some people add sugar and oil to the batter...but Emilie doesn't.  She's French, so trust her.  Also, you will be adding plenty of sugar later, so it really isn't necessary.  

 
PictureHow did I not know these existed?
So, here at the University of Otago I live in a Uniflat, which is where many international students stay.  Our flat is a big one floor apartment with 6 big bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small laundry room, a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen.  The rooms are much bigger than I expected!  The ceilings are pretty high, which means all the heat rises, so it's pretty cold.  Plus, it's winter and the flats aren't heated.  Usually, it is about 40 outside (5 in celcius) and about 30 (0 in celcius) inside.  It takes some getting used to (especially when you can see your breath) but there are a few essentials that make the cold bearable: fingerless gloves, slippers, a throw blanket, and a hot water bottle.  Add some warm meals, great conversation, and hot tea, and you have a cozy little abode that quickly warms up.  


 
My first adventure!  Granted, it was only about a 10 minute drive away from the center of the city...but it was gorgeous!  It's a big sight-seeing spot.  You can see most of Dunedin from up there.  

It was our first adventure as a flat.  We still are missing one flatmate, but the car only seats 5, so it worked out perfectly.  This was a great first place to go.  It helped us get oriented and see an overhead landscape view of our new city.  
 
I am a time traveler!  No, it was not because I hitched a ride in the TARDIS.  It was because I left for my first flight in America around 5:30 pm, and arrived in New Zealand two days later at 5:30 pm.  The total hours I spent traveling though, was 29—not 48.  

The best time travel moment was when I took the 12 hour flight to New Zealand.  I left just as it was getting dark…and when I arrived, it was still dark for about another 2 hours.  That’s 14 hours of darkness.  According to the map, we literally were flying with the night.
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Around 6:00 AM in Auckland, just after arrival.
Anyways, let me give you a few tips and tricks about travelling with some of my stories in between.  

*Warning* This is a long post.