After dropping Vince off at the airport last Saturday, I had planned on staying in Christchurch until the Queens of the Stone Age concert on Wednesday. So I was passing the time pretty uneventfully until then. On Tuesday the 22nd around 1PM I decided to get a falafel for lunch. I paid the falafel guy and was waiting in queueueue. Then the building started shaking, the power went out, and I ducked under a nearby table.
It was definitely the strongest earthquake I had felt, but I really didn't think it was gonna be that bad. The building I was in was fine for the most part and no one in it got hurt. To be honest, I was more annoyed by the earthquake than anything, I just wanted to get my falafel. As soon as the shaking stopped, someone yelled "everyone out" and we quickly left the building and fled towards the nearby park. It wasn't till I was outside that I started to get a sense for how damaging the earthquake really was. Many of the nearby buildings were in complete ruin. Everyone was kind of in shock. I saw some people who looked badly injured, but we were pushed towards the safety of the park.
There were a few strong aftershocks and a lot of panicked people trying to find loved ones. The city center was soon closed off and ambulances arrived. After a while, I started the long walk around the city center towards my hostel. I was able to take some pictures of the outskirts of the city but my camera ran out of batteries. Luckily for me, my hostel survived relatively unscathed. However, my board bag and clothes are stuck inside the hostel until the city center is reopened. My hostel is pretty close to Hotel Grand Chancellor, the tallest building in Christchurch, which is on the verge of collapsing. Until that building collapses (or someone makes it collapse) I probably won't be able to get my things, and I'm supposed to be here for about three more weeks.
But I'm not complaining!! I have been very lucky throughout the ordeal and have many things to be thankful for: 1) my life! 2) I happened to be wearing a backpack containing my computer, wallet, and passport and 3) a lot of people who care about me back home!
The first night after the quake I stayed with everyone who couldn't get into their hotel, hostel, or home in a giant tent. It was very nice to be sheltered as it had started to rain right after the earthquake. The next night I spent in a basketball gym. We were actually fed very well and I got to help at the Red Cross stations setting up food and makeshift beds. The scrapper in me was happy to get free food and a free place to sleep! I actually ate some meat for the first time in 4 years out of necessity and decided it was my "F-You" back to mother nature.
After two nights in desolated Christchurch, I headed south back to Dunedin to figure out some idea of what to do for the last month in NZ. One week after the quake, there is still no word on when they will allow people into the Christchurch city center, so my surf trip is on hold indefinitely. In the meantime, I might try a long hiking trip or maybe volunteer back in Christchurch. I'm jealous Vince got to see QOTSA and I didn't. I almost expected them to show up in Christchurch and play "The Sky is Falling" for all the refugees.
I won't be able to upload my earthquake photos till I can get my charger but here is a video someone shot with their iPhone of the area that I was in during the event:
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