So, I have been living with earthquakes for almost a week now, it is not fun in the slightest. Of course the Kiwis have been living with this for months, but as a newbie I have already fallen out with them. Broken sleep, massive damage, weird heartracing. bursts of fear. Well it is a very difficult thing to describe to someone who has not experienced it, but think of bad turbulence, that will lead to stuff coming down and the earth opening up.
Well other than the standard earth fuck on a daily basis, things have begun to return to the norm as best as is possible here at my cousins. I mean the streets are still fucked and so are many houses and buildings, oh and many buildings are about ready to come down in the central city of Christchurch, which the military now has control of. But you know other than that and the lack of power, water and sewerage across the city things are getting back to normal. Anyway I have hung out with the family some and gone for a few drives.
We visited a place called Hamner which was some hot springs, the place has been somewhat comercialised, but even so it was nice and relaxing and we had free passes, so that was good, plus it was a good way to get a hot shower. Also we went to a little sea-side village called Akkara yesterday, it was a nice view and I will get my photos up at some point. There was not much there, but nice none the less.
However something that I have definitely noticed is that there is nothing in New Zealand. When you discount the earthquakes you notice that there are very few people here and they do a very bad job of filling the country. Between each major town or city you are liable only to come across a few houses in the middle of no-where or a one horse town. They say that they like it that way, but it's geartily inefficient. Yes the scenery is beautiful and I am glad such places of natural beauty still exist, but it's a damn pain to get from A to B. Maybe that's why so many of them are mad bikers, I am yet to experience this, but I am led to believe it is on the agenda for the week. This pain maybe made worse by travelling around in a car that has comically been dubbed the siesta, since it usually sends all but the driver to sleep on almost any journey, especially something over 15 minutes.
Well that's my report for now. I'll try get some pictures up soon. Both regarding this post and the one prior to this.
Monday, 28 February 2011
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Day Two
Although I have spoken roughtly about what happened the day of the earthquake there is no way I can show or explain to you how terrifying it was and still is.
Today we went looking for supplies, we found some petrol, although I think the city will be dry by tonight since the access routes for the tankers has been cut off, so it may take a while. We also found a supermarket that had been pretty well stocked out, but we had to queue up to get in and certain things were rationed. It took us most of the day to do just that, so after that we got the supplies we wandered over to the rest of the family to check in and for me to say hi. We didn't stay long but enough time for me to see some new faces.
The aftershocks in general have been fewer today, but still some big ones and some sudden ones. I don't know whether I will be able to sleep much tonight, but I will give it a go, we are still all sleeping in the living room, whether it's safer I don't know, but we feel better this way. I could do with some sleep really, by body and mind are generally running on empty, but if need be I think I can keep going for a bit longer.
I'm sure I have not answered all that you wish to know, but if you want deep details about the disaster watch the news and don't ask me, I am freaked out as it is I do not need it thrown in my face as I do my best just to focus on the things closest to me.
Well I shall bid you all goodnight and I shall try to get in touch with people more directly as and when I can, but that is dependent upon power, amount of sleep and what needs to be done during the day.
Today we went looking for supplies, we found some petrol, although I think the city will be dry by tonight since the access routes for the tankers has been cut off, so it may take a while. We also found a supermarket that had been pretty well stocked out, but we had to queue up to get in and certain things were rationed. It took us most of the day to do just that, so after that we got the supplies we wandered over to the rest of the family to check in and for me to say hi. We didn't stay long but enough time for me to see some new faces.
The aftershocks in general have been fewer today, but still some big ones and some sudden ones. I don't know whether I will be able to sleep much tonight, but I will give it a go, we are still all sleeping in the living room, whether it's safer I don't know, but we feel better this way. I could do with some sleep really, by body and mind are generally running on empty, but if need be I think I can keep going for a bit longer.
I'm sure I have not answered all that you wish to know, but if you want deep details about the disaster watch the news and don't ask me, I am freaked out as it is I do not need it thrown in my face as I do my best just to focus on the things closest to me.
Well I shall bid you all goodnight and I shall try to get in touch with people more directly as and when I can, but that is dependent upon power, amount of sleep and what needs to be done during the day.
Earthquake
Right well as I am sure you are all well aware of by now I am alive and alright as well as my family. I have not updated people properly because I did not have power until late last night and I am generally physically and emotionally exhausted. So instead, I will be provide you with the story of the last two days, best I can. If you have further questions you may have to wait for me to feel more rested before I can cope.
Right well, I guess I may as well start at the begining. I went to a mall with Martin and Tania (my cousins) and we were in the food court, the place was packed because it was lunch time, so we took a seat out of the way of the crowds. I had only been sat down a couple of minutes and Martin was just about to sit down and the quake hit. For the first few seconds no-body moved thinking that it was just another aftershock, but it certainly wasn't. So I sat there confused, I swear that I thought that I was just on a plane and it was turbulance, but I realised quickly I was on the ground. Tania quickly pulled me to the ground and we all hid under a very small table, stuff may well have come down from the roof but I did not notice. We saw many people dash out of the mall, but we decided to wait until it wasn't quite so crowded. Martin said we should take our food with us as well as our bags and such, so we did.
So although we did not know it at the time the earthquake hit 6.3 on the ricter scale, although that is not as big as the first one that was September of last year, which was a 7.1. However this one was closer to the surface and closer to the city, so there was much more damage and many more fatalities, plus it was during the day, so people were not in their beds.
Anyway we stood outside the building with many others. We realised quite quickly that we would not be able to get back to the car since it was in the parking structure so we would have to walk back to the house and do our best to find their kids, since they were in school at the time. When outside a fairly big aftershock hit and unfortunately Martin dropped his Pepsi... but we feared a local truck toppling, so we moved on.
As we moved into the town, so that we could get across it to the otherside we started to see the true devestation that the quake had wreaked. The roads were fucked, silt and water and mud was spewing up out of the road throughout the city and many buildings had either come down totally or were on their way down. We have plenty of photos that I can share with you later, on but for now I'm sure you can find such things on the news and the web. As we walked we felt some of the bigger aftershocks and just hung to anyone close to hand. The roads were filled with cars and people all trying to get out.
The walk back to Martin and Tania's house was about 10km, Martin ran ahead to see what he could do and grab the second car and see if he could grab the kids, so I stayed back with Tania, who unfortunately had crappy shoes, not fit for walking in. But we walked regardless. For the most part we had no problems with the walk, but it was fucking scary and there were many buildings to avoid as they stood unstable.
We got all the way back to withing just a few blocks from the house and we came across roads that were totally flooded, we had to walk through water up to knee high. Then we finally made it back to the house and came across the chaos within. It was not as bad as it could have been by far, there was stuff on the floor, smashed and what not and furniture had crashed down, but we got it cleared up in a couple of hours. We consolidated our resources and moved all the bedding to the living room and stayed together. Luckily Martin had stored 40 litres of water in his garrage. The power was out as well so we settled in for the night together.
The aftershocks continued throughout the night and so I got very little sleep. At about 3am we heard a man shouting outside. Then we realised that the power was back on. I was able to let some people know I was okay at this point. Shortly after we all settled in for sleep again. I did get to sleep eventually, but whenever one of the bigger aftershocks hit I would wake up as would Martin, Tania did not sleep throughout the night.
Right well, I guess I may as well start at the begining. I went to a mall with Martin and Tania (my cousins) and we were in the food court, the place was packed because it was lunch time, so we took a seat out of the way of the crowds. I had only been sat down a couple of minutes and Martin was just about to sit down and the quake hit. For the first few seconds no-body moved thinking that it was just another aftershock, but it certainly wasn't. So I sat there confused, I swear that I thought that I was just on a plane and it was turbulance, but I realised quickly I was on the ground. Tania quickly pulled me to the ground and we all hid under a very small table, stuff may well have come down from the roof but I did not notice. We saw many people dash out of the mall, but we decided to wait until it wasn't quite so crowded. Martin said we should take our food with us as well as our bags and such, so we did.
So although we did not know it at the time the earthquake hit 6.3 on the ricter scale, although that is not as big as the first one that was September of last year, which was a 7.1. However this one was closer to the surface and closer to the city, so there was much more damage and many more fatalities, plus it was during the day, so people were not in their beds.
Anyway we stood outside the building with many others. We realised quite quickly that we would not be able to get back to the car since it was in the parking structure so we would have to walk back to the house and do our best to find their kids, since they were in school at the time. When outside a fairly big aftershock hit and unfortunately Martin dropped his Pepsi... but we feared a local truck toppling, so we moved on.
As we moved into the town, so that we could get across it to the otherside we started to see the true devestation that the quake had wreaked. The roads were fucked, silt and water and mud was spewing up out of the road throughout the city and many buildings had either come down totally or were on their way down. We have plenty of photos that I can share with you later, on but for now I'm sure you can find such things on the news and the web. As we walked we felt some of the bigger aftershocks and just hung to anyone close to hand. The roads were filled with cars and people all trying to get out.
The walk back to Martin and Tania's house was about 10km, Martin ran ahead to see what he could do and grab the second car and see if he could grab the kids, so I stayed back with Tania, who unfortunately had crappy shoes, not fit for walking in. But we walked regardless. For the most part we had no problems with the walk, but it was fucking scary and there were many buildings to avoid as they stood unstable.
We got all the way back to withing just a few blocks from the house and we came across roads that were totally flooded, we had to walk through water up to knee high. Then we finally made it back to the house and came across the chaos within. It was not as bad as it could have been by far, there was stuff on the floor, smashed and what not and furniture had crashed down, but we got it cleared up in a couple of hours. We consolidated our resources and moved all the bedding to the living room and stayed together. Luckily Martin had stored 40 litres of water in his garrage. The power was out as well so we settled in for the night together.
The aftershocks continued throughout the night and so I got very little sleep. At about 3am we heard a man shouting outside. Then we realised that the power was back on. I was able to let some people know I was okay at this point. Shortly after we all settled in for sleep again. I did get to sleep eventually, but whenever one of the bigger aftershocks hit I would wake up as would Martin, Tania did not sleep throughout the night.
Saturday, 19 February 2011
Second Airport - Narita (Tokyo, Japan)
Well I made it Japan, but really, it's not that far. Next i have to take the fucking huge trip to NZ, almost 11hrs! This is the part of the journey I am least looking forward to. I will most likely not get a chance to log in at Aukland, since the change over time is minimal and I have to go through customs. So I think this will be the last blog on my trip until I actually arrive at my cousin's house.
Not much to say about Japan, I mean of course I'm not really in Japan, since I am rather confined, but regardless the airport is pretty damn big and there's some good shops here. However things are immensely expensive as I had been led to believe, so I think I will stop spending money.
One thing that has really pissed me off though is that I left my book in Busan airport, fuck! I don't have another on me and there's nothing I can get in English at this airport, so it appears that I may be stuck without a book on the long plane, fucking hell. Gah, gonna take another look at the book store. Well that's me, for any that read this frequently, you can see I am quite well as things stand. Later.
Not much to say about Japan, I mean of course I'm not really in Japan, since I am rather confined, but regardless the airport is pretty damn big and there's some good shops here. However things are immensely expensive as I had been led to believe, so I think I will stop spending money.
One thing that has really pissed me off though is that I left my book in Busan airport, fuck! I don't have another on me and there's nothing I can get in English at this airport, so it appears that I may be stuck without a book on the long plane, fucking hell. Gah, gonna take another look at the book store. Well that's me, for any that read this frequently, you can see I am quite well as things stand. Later.
First Airport - Busan
Right so I've found this free internet pount, a bit awkward, I have to stand all the time, but it's alright. Anyway I thought I'd just hammer out a couple things I'd seen already. First of all I same a guy riding the baggae belt, that was strange because he just went past in a side-ways manner, very slowly. Secondly i came across a German, he was being told that his bag would be checkedm, but he could not understand, so he did the standard Western thing in another country. He shouted very slowly that they must speak German or English, which I have to say is a pretty bigask, since most people in Korea, even in the airports are not all that well versed in English let alone German.
Well it's not much yet I suppose, but this airport is rather small, but I think by the time I am done today I will have plenty more to say...you know, once I've recovered.
Oh also for anyone that wants to know the taxi ride from Myeongnyun-dong to Gimhae airport takes much less than 30 mins and only cost me 13500 won, which is damn good. Then again this was early morning, so the roads were clear, but even so, good going by Mr. Taxi man.
Right got a little while to wait before my first flight, so maybe a flash game or two and then go wait at my gate.
Well it's not much yet I suppose, but this airport is rather small, but I think by the time I am done today I will have plenty more to say...you know, once I've recovered.
Oh also for anyone that wants to know the taxi ride from Myeongnyun-dong to Gimhae airport takes much less than 30 mins and only cost me 13500 won, which is damn good. Then again this was early morning, so the roads were clear, but even so, good going by Mr. Taxi man.
Right got a little while to wait before my first flight, so maybe a flash game or two and then go wait at my gate.
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
Umbrellas and Co-operation
There are two things that I have noticed over the time I have been here and I've finally decided to make a post on them.
First everybody has an umbrella in Korea, it's really strange to see, being from England. We get a lot of rain at home and yet many of us do not use umbrellas for whatever reason. I my self do not use them because generally they just keep your head dry and I happen to like rain, so they are very little use to me.
Secondly Koreans seem to co-operate fairly well, now this may be less true for the adults, but most of my examples are based upon observing the kids. For instance in the rain if someone for some reason does not have an umbrella, the kids with one will offer the other side of theirs to anyone without. Another example would be that when there was snow on the ground just the other day the kids were having snowball fights, but once it was done with some of the kids shook hands to agree that the fight and argument was over with. It's interesting watching things like this, I guess because in the UK things are more distant.
The kids at this school may in general be fairly bad with their English for whatever reason, but they do impress me in other walks of life. I cannot communicate with them well, but their kindly actions to one another do speak volumes.
First everybody has an umbrella in Korea, it's really strange to see, being from England. We get a lot of rain at home and yet many of us do not use umbrellas for whatever reason. I my self do not use them because generally they just keep your head dry and I happen to like rain, so they are very little use to me.
Secondly Koreans seem to co-operate fairly well, now this may be less true for the adults, but most of my examples are based upon observing the kids. For instance in the rain if someone for some reason does not have an umbrella, the kids with one will offer the other side of theirs to anyone without. Another example would be that when there was snow on the ground just the other day the kids were having snowball fights, but once it was done with some of the kids shook hands to agree that the fight and argument was over with. It's interesting watching things like this, I guess because in the UK things are more distant.
The kids at this school may in general be fairly bad with their English for whatever reason, but they do impress me in other walks of life. I cannot communicate with them well, but their kindly actions to one another do speak volumes.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
French versus Korean
I have been listening to Jacques Brel of late and I have come to the realisation that I have a much better understanding of French than I do of Korean, this is of course no use to me in my current situation. I mean I do not have a great grasp on French by any means, I probably have about as much control over the French language as a baby begging for a cookie. I'm sure Pierre can attest to this. However it is depressing that were iI in France I would at least be able to get by on what I know, people may regard me as a dunce, but we could just about talk in French to one another. However here in Korea, it's so different, the structure, the script, sounds, all of it. I am really getting stuck in places, it sucks.
Oh well, I thought I'd just share that with you.
Oh well, I thought I'd just share that with you.
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