28. Traveling by Sleeper Van (Part 4) Stories from Fellow Travelers

As I drove over the bridge into this city, I immediately felt that this place had a different atmosphere from the cities I had visited before. I might just be imagining it, but the large bridge spanning the river into the city reminded me of scenes I had seen in England, where bridges cross rivers in a similar manner. However, I have never been to England myself; it's just that the sight before me evoked images I had seen before.

          The roads in this city and the various buildings are beautifully decorated. There are small fountains at various intersections throughout the city. The atmosphere is much livelier and more colorful than in Hastings. I drove around the city for a while and started to feel like taking a shower. To be honest, with the relatively cool weather right now, not showering for a couple of days probably wouldn't make much difference since there's no sweat. But it's the feeling that taking a shower would make me feel more comfortable. I also really wanted to wash my hair.

          So, I tried stopping to ask a backpacker I saw by the roadside if it would be possible for me to just use the bathroom to take a shower without booking a room. But they weren't comfortable with this request. Then I tried asking at the I Site, which is a place where there are people providing information to tourists. The staff member I met was very kind. She called a backpacker she knew, and they agreed to the offer. She even pointed out the location of that accommodation on the map for me. When I got there and paid the owner five dollars for the shower, taking a warm shower after not showering for three days felt really good.

                    I started to get lazy and didn't want to drive to find a place to sleep anymore. I just wanted to stay still and use the internet. So, I decided to stay here and pay extra to the owner, who was very understanding. That night, I slept in the car, but I could still use the facilities in the dormitory, like the bathroom, kitchen, and internet. The only thing I wouldn't get was a bed. The price for this service was 50% cheaper than the full-service price with a bed. For example, if the price for staying in a dormitory room was $30, choosing to sleep in the car would only cost me 15. Honestly, I felt that this option was much more comfortable and private. It's a pity I realized this option only toward the end before my visa was about to expire; otherwise, I might have had more money left. But no matter what the experience was like, it has happened and is over now.

          The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed and at ease. I organized my belongings to set off on the journey once again. I cooked rice until the pot was full. I wonder if you still remember the rice cooker I mentioned before. It was still useful to this day. I charged my phone and power bank until they were full, and filled a container with water, which would be used for drinking and cooking.

I forgot to mention that during my stay here, I had the opportunity to meet a group of Sri Lankan teenagers who came here to learn cooking, hoping that one day they could use these skills to apply for residency. I also met a Canadian friend who enjoys kayaking and chose to sleep in his car as well. Another person I talked to was a Japanese man who used to work as a diving instructor. His goal was to travel around the NZ map. The next day, as I was about to continue my journey, he asked me where I was heading. I told him I was going south toward Palmerston North. He asked if it would be possible for him to hitch a ride with me to get off at a town along the way. Of course, I agreed.

I feel good and enjoy doing things like this already. It's also nice to have a travel buddy. Along the way, he shared his stories in NZ with me. He said there was a time he hitchhiked to another city, which was a common way for him to travel. But that time, he was unlucky because the driver drove off while he went to the bathroom, taking his suitcase, passport, and other important documents with him. I can't remember what he said happened next, but while he was waiting for something from the Japanese embassy, he did something cool like sitting and eating burgers at a McDonald's that was open 24 hours, sitting or maybe even sleeping in a sitting position all night to get through that night.

In the end, he was able to contact his family in Japan and received financial support from home to continue with his planned journey. I truly believe that if I were in that situation, I wouldn't know if I would still want to travel. Since he has hitchhiked many times before, I asked about the method he used, which is quite interesting. He said that it is normal for drivers to be speeding, so it takes a while for a car to slow down and stop. Therefore, his method is to place a sign indicating his destination along with his luggage about a hundred meters ahead of him. He then stands a distance away holding another sign. He said that this method gives the car enough time to decide and slow down to prepare to stop.

I can only admire the idea, but I've never really tried it. When I think about traveling in the South Island without a car and having to carry my bags around, I feel that having a car and personal space like this offers much more freedom and comfort. I feel it's a truly immersive way to travel, being able to go anywhere, stop for as long as you want, cook your own meals, or even sleep wherever you like. If I get the chance to have a visa like this again, I will definitely find a way to have this kind of travel freedom as soon as possible.

Eventually, my friend started to want to try the idea of sleeping in the car. After I assessed the space in the back of the car, it didn't seem like there would be any problem. That evening, I had Japanese-style pasta prepared by a guest. We parked overnight at a public park, though I can't remember where exactly, just that it was next to a community lake. Don't ask me if they allowed overnight parking; there were no signs indicating it, and no signs prohibiting it either. The overnight stay went smoothly.

Next morning, I dropped him off in the city, and when I found out he liked pasta, I gave him the whole box of pasta that was in my car because I rarely cook this dish. It seems I'm more familiar with instant noodles since they take less time to cook. In return, he gave me a towel because he knew I had forgotten my stuff at the backpacker's the other day.