It is funny how in the evening you can think you’re tired of traveling and done with it and then wake up the next morning and be full of energy again and think ‘let’s go on a new adventure!’. That was last night and this morning. I think it’s part of the journey, sometimes you’re just tired and want to be home and at other moments you embrace the adventure again and continue traveling.

I guess I needed some sleep, because this morning I wake up by my alarm clock at 7.30. Normally I’m awake before the alarm goes of, but I’m glad it’s still early. It’s a bright day again and I do a short drive to the first town to post the stories on my blog. There is a nice fireplace, so I also take the opportunity to read again. I’m not quite sure yet what I’ll do today. On one hand I want to stay in nature, on the other hand do I also need to do some work and have a shower, so it might be good to drive to Queenstown and stay there for a couple of days.

I decide to book a hostel in Queenstown for a week. Even if I don’t stay there for a full week it’s nice to have a place to stay with internet and a shower. I can use it as a base to work and travel from. At least it gives some peace of mind to know where I’ll be sleeping for a few days.

I drive to Queenstown, but make one small stop at Arrowstown, which used to be a gold miner town. It’s now a really touristic place with shops and restaurants, but still nice to see. Then I drive to the hostel I booked, but there is no parking place as they said online and I have to walk a long end to get there. When I finally arrive, the guy at the reception is very unfriendly and the room is much smaller than on the pictures, so I quickly decide that this is not the place I want to stay for a week. The guy says I still have to pay for the first night and I promise him a bad review in return.

For a moment I think about just leaving Queenstown and continue traveling, but then I make up my mind to give it one more chance. I go back online and find another hostel a bit out of the city centre. It’s called Hippo Lodge and is only about a five minute drive. A really friendly guy welcomes me and shows me around. It’s the exact opposite experience I just had and feel very welcome here. There is a living room with couches, a kitchen and the rooms are nice and clean. I decide to book a room in this house. I’m very happy that I found this place after all, this feels like a home where I could stay for a while.

Since I haven’t eaten so healthy lately, I decide to cook a good meal tonight. I go the grocery store and get all the ingredients for a nice spaghetti. I also get breakfast for about a week, since there is a fridge here and I’m probably staying for at least a couple of days. Last but not least, I also get myself some ice cream. I think it’s good to take good care of yourself from time to time and it also often helps with making some new friends.

Back at the hostel I cook myself some delicious Italian dinner and after that hang out with the other people here. There is an x-box in the living room, so I game for a while with some guys and then feel that I’m getting tired and go to my room. This hostel feels like a home with many international people in it and I’m glad I’m staying at one place for a while, taking a vacation of the vacation.