Chapter 21: Dunedin

31/12/2019

Today I will explore Dunedin. A short hike throughout the city shows me that there is not a lot to do. A nice octagon square is the main event area, where a stage for new years evening has been build. Surrounded by bars, this will most likely be the place for me start 2020. Before starting the countdown, I go for an evening stroll towards the train station. This beautiful building shows there is some good architecture in New Zealand. Apparently I am not the only one, since a group of French people is chatting in front of the train station.

Well luckily my French is splendid so I introduce myself and start some conversations in French. The whole group is spending their night on the local camper car park next to the train station. They come from all over France and are here for all different kind of reasons. They clearly had no clue that Dunedin was not the place to be on New Years Eve but hey, we can’t all be partying in Queenstown or Wanaka.

After some small talk we head towards the main square where there would be a fireworks display. Still afraid of loud bangs, I brought my custom earplugs to avoid getting my PTSD like symptoms running wild at the start of 2020. The whole town is gathering at the octagon square while time closes in on 2019. I would have expected a countdown but not in Dunedin. No 10 – 9 – 8 – 7 – 6 – 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1- Happy new year. At 00.00 and 10 sec there was just a bang, the first firework had gone off. I startled, damn, just the thing I tried to

avoid. That’s the disadvantage of being a tall dude, your head will always be in the clouds, ready to absorb all the sound waves blasted towards you. The latter ones were less loud so those went oke. Everyone was surprised that New Year finally happened, and all the people are sending out there whishes towards the world. That’s the advantage of being in New Zealand, you will be the first one to enter 2020!

Afterwards it’s queuing up in order to get into a bar. Here DJ’s play commercial music while all the young and old kiwi’s are getting wasted. The music was good (not as good as how my little brother would do it, but hey I might be a little biased) and the party continues until 3.00 pm in the night. Than it all stops. Every bar closes its doors and all the drunk and tipsy people are send out into the world. After an evening of speaking French this is a bummer but hey, it is what it is. I say goodbye to the French speaking squad and go since I still

have a looooong walk to my hostel. And a 10:00 am check-out time.

Happy New Year everyone,

Hopefully you all get a nice and healthy 2020,

That warm and loving people may surround you,

Don’t take it for granted; appreciate it, one day it might not be there anymore.

Learn new things, get challenged,

Don’t break,

Start the New Year with some new music,

For me, that is Bear’s Den (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGXBR1wR-mo),

Enjoy,

See you guys in 2020,

Steven

01/01/2020

Helloooooo 2020,

Today is the start of my positive year! Leave 2019 behind, continue living without Tine while I learn to live with the Tinnitus, insomnia and tremors. Waking up is hard though, I should have planned better and spend the day after New Years eve in the same city. Nevertheless, I can’t change it now. At 10.04 am I bring part 1 of all my luggage to the car. When trying to go back into the student lodges, my batch entrance blinked red. Hmm, strange, maybe 2020 introduce new colors in the entrance panels? I try again. Biep biep and again the color turns red. OMG, my entrance batch seems to be deactivated at 10.00 am sharp.

There is nobody at the reception since these people only arrive at

2.00 pm in the afternoon to welcome new guests. Just a phone number on the door in case of emergencies. The problem is that I left my phone and computer in my room because who the fuck thinks they will not be able to enter the entrance door of the building any longer. What a way to start the year, yeeeeeeeeeeeey 2020, you are awesome.

The other guest already left way before 10.00 pm so I had little options. I grab the only Chinese dude I could find in front of the building and ask him to call the security number. He was clearly on his way out so it will probably be my only chance. I get into contact with the security and they try to call housekeeping but without luck. Nothing else to do than waiting for the one security dude with the key that open all doors. The Chinese dude has to go, I stay behind and hope for the best.

I wait outside and sit inside a strange sepia color environment. Everything is yellow and the smell of burned charcoal is in the air. It is only afterwards that I learn that the smoke of the Australian forest fires has crossed the 2000 km Tasman Sea and is now present on the Northern Island. It is a strange feeling to see how the effect of the fire is spreading all over the world. Here, I am, in 2020, stuck in an apocalyptic world.

Exactly one hour later the security guy shows up and opens up my room. Apparently, I am not the only one, since it happens often during the summer holiday season. They should have at least warned me about the batch being deactivated, than I would have packed everything into Sparky #04 in one go. Well I make it outside the student accommodation and slightly hungry I check out the local eggs benedict and grab myself a flat white coffee! Keeping those caffeine levels low is important for the tinnitus and the insomnia yet I

need something to get me out of the new years sleepiness! Since 2020 did not start out that great yet I decide it is time to change. As a good old-fashioned atheist I make my way to the large church on the octagon square. Nothing better to change your luck than praying too God so I light up my 2-dollar candle and make my wish for 2020. May all your wishes come through this year guys!

One more thing to do in Dunedin before going up North. In the haze of the forest fires I make way to the Baldwin street, the steepest street in the world. I can’t say it in numbers, but the street is indeed, … steep. The people that live here certainly need to have excellent car brakes because you need to be able to stop at the end of the road. After running up and down the Baldwin street I continue my road trip. A small detour for some boulders on the East coast beach, which are not that spectacular but hey, as a tourist you tend to follow mister Loney Planet highlights. The color of the sky remains

apocalyptic and driving in the rain only makes it feel more like a cheap Hollywood movie. After 2 hours I make my way to Otematata, my first 1 star hostel in New Zealand. In theme with the current weather conditions, this hostel looks and feels rather outdated. The bar/restaurant next door is packed with people however so the food should be considered good. Or it might just be the only thing left here in the middle of nowhere! Nevertheless, a bed is a bed and it is time to sleep off those golden skies and new years resolution.

Enjoy yet respect the nature,

Steven