Landing at Christchurch at 00:45 in the morning, at only 5 degrees, felt like arriving back in England. I stayed at a airport hotel and having my own room with a huge double bed felt like pure luxury after 2months in hostel bunkbeds. The next day I had lunch at the airport, chicken
noodle soap (my new favourite) and got the bus into town. Christchurch looks surprisingly like England.

I then went straight to prison for 4nights. By this I mean the ex-Addington prison which is now the Jailhouse accommodation. The prison closed in 1991 and has been converted into amazing accommodation, with 26 tiny double/twin rooms (the old cells) and 2 dorms rooms. There is plenty of the prison's character with each room having the original heavy metal doors, bars in the windows and the original light switches, which read “TV / Cell Alarm / Lights”. The centre of the prison is still the communal area and there are 2 cells left as they were when the prison closed, cell 20 and the isolation cell. Great place to stay.


Christchurch is still recovering from the 2 earthquakes that hit in March 2010 and February 2011, the latter killing 181 people. Much of the central business district is cordoned off and many buildings are lined up for demolition before it can re-open. As you walk around the cordon it is sad viewing the destruction and thinking of the lost lives. I didn't realise till I got here but Christchurch still has regular aftershocks, with 10,167 since 4^th September 2010! There was a 3.8 aftershock on Wednesday morning at 10.40am and 94 over the last 30days. I didn't notice Wednesday's small quake but a
local lady said you'll notice them if your sitting down.

Despite much of the city being closed, there are still things to do and see in Christchurch. Here is what I got up to:

1. Had a run around south Hagley park.
2. Visited the Botantic Gardens and iSite center (visitor information)
   

   christchurch - flower bed near museum
3. Went to the museum. They had a interesting section on the earthquakes, including police photographs and the Cathedral spire which fell in Feb 2011.
4. Had a coffee in the re:Start shopping area (with free wifi). This is a small shopping area built out of container crates next to the only surviving department store. It is refreshing to see life continuing right next to the closed CDB. The container shops give the area a
   unique feel.   
   

   christchurch - re:Start
   

   Me in container coffee shop re:Start
5. Purchased some hiking clothes. My backpack full of shorts/vests won't do here
   and I have been feeling cold since I arrived. Coming from 30 degree
   Cairns has been a shock.

Near the end of the week I meet up with Colin, my friend from the UK. It has been a slight adjustment travelling with someone else again as I've got used to the ultimate freedom of travelling alone.