When I awoke about three hours later, I was partially surprised I was in bed, as I didn't quite remember getting into it. I also felt close to the worst I have ever felt in my life. I was positive I was still drunk; the room was still spinning and blurry, and I could barely muster up any energy. All the while, John was up and about, getting ready for the day. He was very gracious about the little mess in the sink in the morning. He popped down to the main building for breakfast as I slowly managed to get myself moving and pack up my luggage. I never got down to breakfast. I actually was afraid that if I ate anything, it would just come back up, like the seafood dinner I had the night before. I asked John to make sure I would somehow get on the coach that morning, and so he did, coming back upstairs to encourage me to get moving, making sure nothing was left behind (other than the mess in the wastebasket and sink).

By the time I was on the coach, word had already spread about the night before, not only to those in our group, but to the other Contiki group staying at the hotel as well. We only had a short drive into the centre of Christchurch where we were given a bit of free time to wander around the city. I really did not have the urge to explore the city. For most of the time, I retreated to a cafe for a cup of tea. Joining me was Chad, David and Eric, who wasn't looking too cheerful himself this morning either. At least I let a lot of my pain all out, literally, but he was still carrying whatever he had the night before with him. Sinead met up with us for a while before we headed back to meet the coach. We said our goodbyes to all those who were leaving us. Stuart advised me that if I was to enjoy the rest of the trip, including all the activities that were forthcoming in the South Island, that I should take it easy and not do to myself what I did the night before. He really didn't need to tell me that ... I learned my lesson the hard way!

Back on the coach though, I was practically comatose for most of the time. Michael, who sat beside me from that morning pretty much onwards everyday until the end of the tour, mentioned that he could still smell the alcohol in my breath. He would occasionally offer some of his snacks to me to at least help keep me going. Gavin noted my physical state and urged me to "Don't go there, James! Come back back to us!"

We did make a stop in the small town of Hokitika, where I managed to get some food into me. I felt a bit better and just followed Indrani around to the various jade and souvenir shops. All I wanted to do was just get back on the coach and pass out. And when we did, that's exactly what happened.

By the time we arrived in Fox Glacier, I felt much better. The accommodations at the Fox Glacier Hotel were interesting to say the least. The majority of us were in two single story dormitory like buildings. None of the rooms were equipped with a toilet or shower, however there was a sink. John and I didn't even have a mirror in our room. The toilets and showers were in separate rooms, one for the women and one for the men, down the hallway, with three showers and two toilets each. Of note was there were no locks on any of the doors or stalls.

We all met for a buffet dinner in the hotel restaurant. By this time, I had regained most of my appetite, but stuck with the water to wash it down. I did promise John I would behave myself tonight ... after all, there was only a sink in our room! We then had a couple of hours until Gavin invited us to meet in the lobby to see the "Glow Witch Project". He didn't elaborate, but most of us had figured that it was probably to see glowworms. Many of us sat around in one of the large meeting rooms, as Michael strummed his guitar he had bought in Wellington. Despite I had vowed no alcohol for the night, many didn't believe me, and Sinead even tried to, unsuccessfully, force some wine into my mouth.