The Dolphin Experience

Ian arrived back from his wee trip around the South Island on Friday evening and so we decided to go to the art centre cinema together. We were in the tiny cinema, which is more like someone's living room, kitted out with a big screen, a few couches and a stereo system, although it does have a kind of exclusive feel to it somehow. Anyway, we watched Gloomy Sunday, an enchanting film, which unfortunately I don't think has been screened in the UK (according to the wee man who runs the cinema the Gloomy Sunday music has been banned from public performance in Britain due to all the suicides associated with the melody). If you do get a chance to see it however, I would thoroughly recommend it since it is an intriguing and captivating film, despite it's somewhat morbid plot. The acting particularly impressed me and I thought it was beautifully shot.

After the film Ian went back to the flat to recuperate after all his action packed adventures around the South Island and I went on to my friend Reg's 21st (I used to live with Reg when I stayed at the Brocklehurst's place). Reg is a musician and so there were quite a few muso's at his party, many of whom took the stage; I loved the atmosphere of worship and ended up staying a lot longer than I had anticipated. I met a lovely South African girl who has just enrolled in diploma course at the jazz school here in Christchurch and we chatted away for a while; I was struck by how alive and free she seemed to be; quite refreshing really.

After finishing my BCNZ assignment on Saturday morning, as an extra special treat, Ian paid for both of us to go swimming with the hectare dolphins in Akaroa, which was a really amazing experience! The guys on the boat told us to make lots of noise and look enthusiastic in the water, so naturally we obliged (although Ian would emphatically deny any participation in this of course!) only to discover afterwards, that this requirement was more for the benefit of the instructors on the boat than the dolphins in the water!?! Anyway swimming alongside these beautiful creatures as they suddenly appeared out of the murky blue water made any humiliation worth while, they really were quite impressive.

After a poke of the famous Akaroa fish and chips, Ian and I were debating whether to return to Christchurch to watch the grand final of the rugby world cup or attempt to stay in Akaroa, when one of the dolphin instructors, called Ciaran, pitched up and offered us both a bed for the night for $5! Needless to say we jumped at the chance and had a great night at the local pub with Ciaran and all his flatmates and all these random English people (much to Ian's delight!).

We both returned to Christchurch on Sunday via the summit road so that Ian could enjoy the view over Lyttleton and Christchurch however it turned out to be more of a mission than a leisurely Sunday drive for poor Ian who was starving and in need of a coffee!! We had a cuppa at this funky cafe called "The Cup", which has a fantastic view over Christchurch before going home.

On Sunday afternoon Ian bought some presents to take back to London with him and I sorted out my life, or tried to anyway. Later on we went out for a goodbye drink to the Crown Plaza down town with my flatmate Marie, phew I tell ya I was more than ready to hit the sack by Sunday night! It was a full but very enjoyable weekend all said and done.