Outnumbered

Today was going to be a big day as we travelled from Punakaiki to Franz Josef. Our small bus group trebled as we picked up 14 people at Greymouth. Fresh faces are always a good thing when travelling.

My excitement soon turned to angst as some rude Americans took to the bus. Instead of introducing themselves they grilled me about New Zealand but not in a friendly way. I felt like I was on trial. Question after question, interspersed with ignorant observations. They sneered at me when I told them I was doing a full day hike in Fox rather than the Franz Josef heli-hike. It was at that point that I tried my very best to avoid them. I’ve met so many lovely Americans so my negativity isn’t aimed towards the country, just those awful people!

Each person on the bus introduced themselves and I could see there were some interesting people on the bus. The hostel that we stayed at had a bar/restaurant which provided the perfect opportunity to get to know people.

Being lazy, I decided to eat out. I didn’t have anything interesting to eat and the food at the bar looked delicious. A group of us sat down next to two guys who turned out to be Franz Josef guides. They said that the heli-hike the next day would definitely not happen. I wasn’t sure if the weather would affect my hike but I was worried.

Outside and within the dorm areas people from the Kiwi and Contiki bus were partying hard yet the bar was rather laid back. The music was mellow enough to carry a conversation at a normal volume. Everyone was eating, drinking and having a good time.

Tia bought everyone a shot of peach vodka. It was meant to be a synchronised downing by the Stray lot but it didn’t quite happen to the dismay of Kerry. The wine had gone straight to her head, enough for her to shout a few choice expletives at the Americans. Damn, I wish they had heard her. I was happy I did as I was in hysterics.

My intentions for the evening were to get to know the people on the bus. It was somewhat interrupted by the intentions of everyone else from the bus. The girls pounced on the guys and they loved it. I laughed from the side-lines.

Although I didn’t want to tread on anyone’s toes or interrupt someone’s game plan, I was bored. I managed to get in on a game of pool but only managed to get a fluent conversation from one friendly American guy. The rest seemed to be in a trance and all I could get was a one or two word response. This bus did not look promising. I guess I could have joined in but my hair is an untameable frizzy mess since my hair straighteners failed on me in Brisbane and I was wearing my glasses. I looked like a frumpier version of the Princess Diaries…before the makeover. So hair flicking and eye flutters were out of the question. I drank some more and called it a night. I needed to get some rest before my hike the next day.