Gathering Steam
So today again was a bit of a non-event but to ensure that this didn't happen again I made sure I had something booked for tomorrow. So I booked sailing on the America Cup yachts for tomorrow, Dolphin safari for sun and the Sky Jump for Monday.
After that I took a wander round the town and found a pretty cool Market that I could hang out in and take a look at all the funky wares on sale.
I got back to the hostel and found I had an English speaking room-mate (finally). Don't get me wrong I don't mind guys who don't speak English, but when you share a room with three Korean guys it makes it real difficult to find someone to hang out with. So I got talking to a half-liverpool, half-irish lad by the name of Ray. Then we decided to hit the town. We had a couple of pints then hit up a sushi bar. Afterwards we hit an irish bar to sink a few more and have some toasties. Not forgetting Ray's awesomely funny hassling of the bar-maid when he told her she didn't come from cork because her accent sounded wrong! We then hit a kebab shop and managed (somehow) to get out without paying for our food. We hit another bar and a dance bar for a bit where we got a free shot. But a very drunk guy decided we were his friends so we made a sharp exit to escape the madness. Then it was back to the hostel to watch a really awful movie and laugh our asses off at it.

Planning
Elise and Fiona never showed this morning so by 10 I just headed out to get busy with the days business. I have found Auckland isn't like Japan/China in that wandering round on your own isn't going to turn up much entertainment. However, with a little planning there is a ton of things that you can do. So I set about finding out what I can do. I turned up LOTS of brouchures on adrenaline sports, cruises and tours. I have 7 days in Auckland which to be honest is probably a little too much, already getting antsy and want to move on. Planning to do some trekking so been looking up a lot of equipment stores for some bits and bobs and the DOC for some routes and walks. A boring day but frankly I've been feeling a little under the weather due to sleep lack so here's hoping I feel better after tonight... unless I end up going out drinking again.

...something a little more exciting finally
Looking over my last few blog entries I have decided the last few days of my stories of being on a plane/boat/whatever have probably made for a boring read. But fear not as business is about to pick about again.
I arrived in New Zealand like a thunderstorm and blew through customs like a typhoon. I arrived at my hostel and received my started pack and info on my NZ job search shenanigans. I dumped my stuff and my stomach told me I needed food.
I bought a giant foot long greasy subway sandwich and went to a near by park to eat it.
As soon as I took my first bite of this overflowing tirade of sauce and greasyness, I had a TV crew surround me, a camera pointed at me and a mic shoved in my face.
Usually I would make some effort to be a)witty and b)coherent but I was far too sleep deprived and still a little hungover. But hey, now thats two TV networks Im gonna appear on. Japan and New Zealand... altho I really wish I had a little more warning so I didnt look like a complete mess when I end up in front of these cameras!
Afterwards I hit the hostel and met a couple of girls from Somerset called Fiona and... eh... the blonde one. They were doing some travelling before Uni and we got talking about where we'd been etc and all the funny quirks of travelling. We hit an 'irish' pub and then a japanese bar so they could try Sake and Sashimi. I think I managed to sell Japan to them pretty well since they both seemed keen to go after I told them about it. Gonna meet with them tomorrow morning to visit the Sky tower and a couple of other places. (p.s. If you're reading this Elise don't worry... I do actually remember your name)

A close call and a lesson well learned
So I woke up not only hungover but late. My check in was at 9.15, the airport a good hour away and I woke up at 8.30... goddamn.
Turning into a whirlwind of packing and panicing. I hit the Bus at 8.45 and worried my way to the airport. I arrived at around 9.45 and hit the 'special' counter and managed to get checked in and through customs, immigration and every other damned obstacle in my way to get to my flight... early. HAHA!
The flight to Hong Kong was uneventful so I just slept. Then spent a few hours in the airport and then caught my next flight to New Zealand. I watched a couple of movies on the flight such as Ultraviolet, which needs to be seen drunk to be enjoyed and King Kong, which was mildly entertaining since it was a cut version.

A familiar face and a 'few' drinks
Spent most of the day trying to contact STA travel and sort out my hostel booking but to no avail. I just had to pay for another night. So i swiftly dispatched an email to STA in the hopes they will refund the cash i paid for my accomodation.
I then headed across to the University area to meet up with Claire and her friend Kate. Inspirationally I managed to get there without getting too lost.
I met Kate and Claire in their hotel room and we chatted for a bit. I was a little surprised about my reaction to seeing a familiar face in such an unusual setting. I just sort of accepted it and it seemed like another night out to me... maybe I'm getting desensitised or something.
We hit out to an open air pub which was really cheap and sat and had a few beers surrounded on all sides by stands selling food, beer and other goodies. Was quite lively and fun.
We then hit a korean pub (as far as I could tell) and got laid into some more beer there. Was nice seeing Claire and hearing about all her adventures and being able to jabber on about mine again. It was a fairly drunken night and after Claire had got back to her hotel I headed out to get a Taxi back to my hostel to get packed up for my flight the next day.

Free ride and full price.
After disembarking from the ferry I was treated to a taxi ride to the train station, my train ticket and my dinner by my Swiss friend, Ted, which was damned nice of him if you ask me.
However it wasn't all roses once I arrived at my hostel since STA had sent me the wrong conformation sheet and I had to pay the 60 yuan (4 quid) for my first night until I could get it sorted. But hey... I was still up on the money front so i wasn't going to complain.

Motion sickness and a hangover
Either of those on their own I can handle... but both at once! You gotta be kidding me!!!
I felt ok by the evening and was shown a research presentation by Ted on the effects of Green Tea on muscular Dystrophy. It was very interesting although some of the chemical terms went right over my head.
Afterwards we dropped into the kareoke bar and listened to some good singing and some really awful singing as well. Was a good night.

On the boat
Caught my Ferry with no hassle at the port. I met some nice folk on the boat this time which means I will actually have people to talk to! Joseph, a Bostonian who has been teaching English for the last 4 years in Japan, J, another English teacher from austrailia who had been there for 1 year, Ted, a proffessor of pharmicology at the University of Geneva and a lovely Japanese couple named Michi and Yoichiro who had just gotten engaged. We drank and swapped some stories.

Aftermath and Kobe.
After Fuji I settled down and ate a LOT of greasy food to help my body settle back to normal... and goddamn it felt good!
Joss then got his results through from his Uni to say he'd got a 1st class honours so we sank some whiskey to celebrate.
The next day I headed out to Kobe. I dumped my stuff in my Hostel and then took a look round the city.
I had my last Japanese meal: Katsu-don. Pork cutlet over rice which had become a favourite of mine.
I am gonna miss Japan, But I'll be back... Fuji awaits.

Mt Fuji
Woke up easily and met Joss in the lobby of our hostel with my pack all ready to go.
We stopped off at a local supermarket and stocked up on food and water, then made our way to the train station. It took around 3 hours to get to Fujiyoshida, the village at the base of the mountain and by then I was pretty excited about things.
We started on the trail at 4 oclock hoping to reach Station 5 within 5 hours. We passed the shrine at the foot of the mountain where pilgrims use to pray for a safe journey.
We set a decent pace through the thick forest along the beaten track. We swapped stories and talked nonsense. The going wasn't too tough and our spirits were pretty high. We made good time and had reached 5th station by 8.30 so we were ahead of schedule. We had some food and put on some warmer clothes.
We then made a mistake. We ended up going up the descending trail which is mainly a thick gravel track. Every step we took we slid back a quarter step so the going was really tough. By this point we were starting to feel the altitude a lot more. We were both pretty breathless and I had a slight headache. We reached 7th station and I gratefully tucked into some food. I needed all the energy I could get. By this point it was around 10.30 and we took an hours break to eat and drink and let our stomach settle.
We pushed on into the night with my headlamp to guide us. We stoppe frequently as my altitude sickness was getting worse. My head was pounding and I was breathless almost constantly. We reached 8th station sometime after midnight and pressed on. Halfway between 8th and real 8th station my headlamp stopped working so we were forced to stop at a mountain hut. Our plan to reach the summit for sunrise was over. We bedded down in a mountain hut but got little to no sleep. We 'awoke' feeling worse than we did before. We pressed on and real 8th station but unfortunately that was it for me. The lack of sleep, physical exertion and altitude had me nausous and dizzy. I had no choice but to turn back.
I wished Joss luck, handed him my walking stick and headed back down to the hut we stopped in.
I got 2 hours proper sleep and woke up feeling 100% better. Joss arrived back and looked terrible.
"You okay?" I asked "Did you make it?"
He smiled "Just"
I was beyond pleased.
We made our way back down to 5th station and caught out bus back to the train station.
I was a little disapointed in that after the two hours sleep I am sure I would've made it to the top... but I didnt have time since we were on a tight schedule.
I learned a lot on Mt. Fuji. My own physical limitations for one and how I overestimate myself these days. I learned about planning ahead on such trips as this and to do more research on the subject. I also learned a lot about my climbing partner, Joss. It was a big experience regardless of whether I made it or not and I'm glad I could share it with him.
On a last note: When Joss came back down from the top he handed me a stone.
"I dont know if you're into that kinda thing but it's from the top." he told me.
I eventually understood. I have to go and put it back now at some point. In other words I will definately make it up Mt. Fuji.