Today is already our last day in New Zealand. Gus and I looked at each other at one point yesterday and said, "Where did this trip go?" It flew by, and I am actually not ready to leave. There is so much to see and do here, and it makes me miss living near big mountains, snow, and genuinely cold weather. The past few days we were in Queenstown, and our trip to Milford Sound was canceled because of the snow. It was nice to be in the same town for a couple of days, I did a lot of hiking, we went and saw Harry Potter 6 (disappointing), walking around, eating. I have a friend who told me I would lost weight in New Zealand... ha ha ha... not quite.
On Thursday we drove to Lake Ohau, near Queenstown and Mount Cook, and spent the night in a ski lodge. Had a delicious dinner, walked around the lake in the middle of the night to see all the brilliant stars, and (most importantly) I learned how to play blackjack.
Friday we drove closer to Mt Cook, the highest peak in all of NZ, and we were allowed to walk for about 2 hours to get closer for photos. It is an incredible peak, surrounded by white mountains, and I can't wait for you to all see photos. Last night we arrived back in Christchurch for the end of our trip. We opted for one last group dinner, and then, I went out to the casinos! Scott, our busdriver, taught me how to play, and I wanted to test my new knowledge. At one point, I swear, I was up $45!. But I quit when I lost that $45 and walked away with my original $40. I was the only person who broke even! Vegas here I come!
This morning Gus woke up with a nasty cough, and we went straight to the pharmacy for cold medicine. He thinks it might be swine flu... ha. Today is souvenire shopping, a couple last meals, and we head out tomorrow at noon... only to land back in LA the same day at 7:30 in the morning. I will be so cute Sunday! Can't wait to catch up with you all!
xo
Friday, July 24, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Queenstown
We've finally made it down to Queenstown and the past two days have been so amazing. On Saturday we left Christchurch in the morning and drove through scenes from Narnia to Flock Hill Sheep Station. This is a family owned farm, they own 36,000 acres and have 13,000 sheep. Some of the sheep are black face, the type we eat (or I guess you eat as I don't eat lamb) and the others were Merino... for their wool. This guy who gave us a tour is obviously a salesman, after his talk I immediately wanted to go out and buy loads of Merino wool clothes. We hung out at the lodge for the night, had a huge buffet dinner, and watched the All Blacks play Australia in a big rugby match. So fun! It's the most intense sport I've ever seen!
Then yesterday we drove to the Fox Hill Glacier and Gus, myself about about 20 other people from our group did a day hike up the glacier. It was so beautiful, and it is one of the only glaciers in the world that is surrounded by temperate rainforest. The hike up took about an hour and half, then we played around on the ice for about an hour. We basically ran back down because the sun was rapidly setting and it was pitch black when we made it to our bus.
Last night was a karaoke competition which was so fun to watch, and one of the guys from out tour won the whole thing with his rendition of Zoot Suit Riot! Tonight we are in Queenstown (for the next 36 hours) and are going to the Ice Bar (a sub zero bar) for vodka drinks out of ice glasses. Should be fun. Tomorrow I'm going on a huge hike without Gus, the last one tuckered him out, but then we'll meet back up for lunch, Kiwi viewing, Gondola riding, and luging in the afternoon!
Wednesday night we get to sleep on a boat out in the Milford Sound, Thursday is on a lake with outdoor hottubs, and Friday we are back in Christchurch for the end of our trip. Wow it's gone by so quickly. Still so many things to look forward to this week! Hopefully my hike goes well tomorrow, 400 M straight up the side of the mountain... butt blaster for sure!
Then yesterday we drove to the Fox Hill Glacier and Gus, myself about about 20 other people from our group did a day hike up the glacier. It was so beautiful, and it is one of the only glaciers in the world that is surrounded by temperate rainforest. The hike up took about an hour and half, then we played around on the ice for about an hour. We basically ran back down because the sun was rapidly setting and it was pitch black when we made it to our bus.
Last night was a karaoke competition which was so fun to watch, and one of the guys from out tour won the whole thing with his rendition of Zoot Suit Riot! Tonight we are in Queenstown (for the next 36 hours) and are going to the Ice Bar (a sub zero bar) for vodka drinks out of ice glasses. Should be fun. Tomorrow I'm going on a huge hike without Gus, the last one tuckered him out, but then we'll meet back up for lunch, Kiwi viewing, Gondola riding, and luging in the afternoon!
Wednesday night we get to sleep on a boat out in the Milford Sound, Thursday is on a lake with outdoor hottubs, and Friday we are back in Christchurch for the end of our trip. Wow it's gone by so quickly. Still so many things to look forward to this week! Hopefully my hike goes well tomorrow, 400 M straight up the side of the mountain... butt blaster for sure!
Friday, July 17, 2009
On to the Alps
Today we are heading inland to the Flock Hill Sheep Station in the New Zealand mountains to spend the night at a rustic lodge. Apparently we watch a sheep demonstration first, and then get to play with sheep all afternoon?! It has started to get significantly colder as we are farther south... and will continue to head south from now on.
Yesterday we arrived in Christchurch after driving for a better portion of the day. We stopped for lunch and a hike in a town called Kaikora, and there we were able to get up close and personal with Seals. One German girl in our group was nearly bitten by one, that is how close were we able to get, but luckily it stopped charging her after she tripped over backwards and landed in a huge pile of seaweed. The hike was beautiful, all along a peninsula looking out over the ocean. Gus will be uploading photos one we've reached the states.
Tomorrow we will be hiking the Fox Hills Glacier (well at least I will - Gus is undecided), then heading in to Queenstown on Monday. We picked up 10 new passengers this morning, but haven't met them yet. We have a full bus for the next 4 days (36 people) then lose some in Queenstown, and are left with 26 for the return to Christchurch. I like both of our guides a lot though, they are funny, and tease Gus and I alot -- apparently I can be quite bossy! ha ha ha. I've never heard that one before. All is well here, and we're looking forward to continuing our adventures down south!
Yesterday we arrived in Christchurch after driving for a better portion of the day. We stopped for lunch and a hike in a town called Kaikora, and there we were able to get up close and personal with Seals. One German girl in our group was nearly bitten by one, that is how close were we able to get, but luckily it stopped charging her after she tripped over backwards and landed in a huge pile of seaweed. The hike was beautiful, all along a peninsula looking out over the ocean. Gus will be uploading photos one we've reached the states.
Tomorrow we will be hiking the Fox Hills Glacier (well at least I will - Gus is undecided), then heading in to Queenstown on Monday. We picked up 10 new passengers this morning, but haven't met them yet. We have a full bus for the next 4 days (36 people) then lose some in Queenstown, and are left with 26 for the return to Christchurch. I like both of our guides a lot though, they are funny, and tease Gus and I alot -- apparently I can be quite bossy! ha ha ha. I've never heard that one before. All is well here, and we're looking forward to continuing our adventures down south!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Skydiving?!
Well we went skydiving today with Abel Tasman Skydiving. It was such an intense experience, and we both thought it was so incredible. We showed up (with two other Canadians from our group) at about 2 o'clock. They showed us a video of lots of people diving and parachuting down to the ground. It definitely worked to help get me pumped up, and I was a little nervous, but in all honesty, mostly excited.
Afterwards we walked into the back room, met our tandem leaders (mine was a 130lb. man named Chris) and met our videographers. They helped us sort our suits, gloves, and little leather hats and we had a quick chat about "what would be happening when we launched out of the plane" and then we boarded. Gus and I got to go together, well at least up in the plane at the same time, and within 15 minutes they were opening the door telling us it was time to go. Gus went before me, and it all went by so quickly. Next thing I knew I was hanging over the edge of the plane waving to the cameraman and the camera attached to the wing (I think I smiled) and then 1, 2, 3... Chris rocked us out of the plane into a somersault and we were sailing through the air. I think it took me about 4 seconds to realize what was happening, and we flew through a cloud. It was SO SO incredible. Floating through the sky like a weightless feather, not plummeting to the earth like I was expecting.
Quite suddenly Chris pulled the chute, and we slowed down from 120mph to about 40 or so. We could talk, and he was explaining all the amazing sights I could see. The ground approached rapidly, legs up, and we landed with a huge bump (dirt clods flew in the air) and Gus was standing there with a big grin on his face waiting to greet me! "Colleen, that was so incredible, the most amazing thing I've ever done. Can we go again? I could go about 100 more times!"
What a day!
Afterwards we walked into the back room, met our tandem leaders (mine was a 130lb. man named Chris) and met our videographers. They helped us sort our suits, gloves, and little leather hats and we had a quick chat about "what would be happening when we launched out of the plane" and then we boarded. Gus and I got to go together, well at least up in the plane at the same time, and within 15 minutes they were opening the door telling us it was time to go. Gus went before me, and it all went by so quickly. Next thing I knew I was hanging over the edge of the plane waving to the cameraman and the camera attached to the wing (I think I smiled) and then 1, 2, 3... Chris rocked us out of the plane into a somersault and we were sailing through the air. I think it took me about 4 seconds to realize what was happening, and we flew through a cloud. It was SO SO incredible. Floating through the sky like a weightless feather, not plummeting to the earth like I was expecting.
Quite suddenly Chris pulled the chute, and we slowed down from 120mph to about 40 or so. We could talk, and he was explaining all the amazing sights I could see. The ground approached rapidly, legs up, and we landed with a huge bump (dirt clods flew in the air) and Gus was standing there with a big grin on his face waiting to greet me! "Colleen, that was so incredible, the most amazing thing I've ever done. Can we go again? I could go about 100 more times!"
What a day!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
So much in so little time
Wow since the last time I wrote Gus and I have experienced a much more positive New Zealand. We finally left the Auckland region, picked up 20 new people, and headed straight to a Maori homestay for the night. Connections Travel Company is the only company in NZ that offers a traditional Maori experience, everything else is super commericial and kind of a gimmick. This was us entering a private families Mahre (church) and becoming part of their family. We had to go through this entire ritual, that including singing, prayers, and a f0rmal greeting where we touched noses with the men who were welcoming us. They spoke for about an hour about what it means to them to be Maori in NZ and it is a very interesting culture that is complicated, and to be honest, a bit angry and seemingly violent. They talked about all the tattooing that they have done to themselves and I think we all walked away wanting one.
The most impressive part of the evening was a Haka - a call to battle - that Maori men do to scare off the enemy. Women aren't allowed because they are too sacred. Nik and Sean (our guides) invited the men in our group to participate in learning a Haka, and then performing it for the entire group. They take Hakas very seriously, it is not a joke, no laughing, smiling etc. Gus participated!!!! And it was awesome, very intense, and it involved body slapping, grunts, stomping feet and the commonly seen eye bulge and tongue sticking out! The whole group cheered and cheered.
We left the following morning and drove to Rotorua, and geyser/thermal town. There were many options for activities in Rotorua, but Gus and I chose to do the white water rafting. Now please remember that the outside temp was probably around 50, and the water was colder. The thrill of this river was a 21 ft. waterfall drop, a class V experience, and something that I have never done. I didn't really know what to expect, but it was crazy. By far the gnarliest white water I've ever seen. When we came to the waterfall we stopped before going off, and we told to hold on where we ducked into the raft, grabbed ropes, and dropped off the edge. Oh and I'm sorry I forgot to mention, I had to go in the front with Gus. (Due to all our experience?!) It was insane, I screamed the whole way I think, and our boat was completely submerged at the bottom. We lost our friend Sean out the back (the Scottsman), and he was trapped under water by the power of the waterfall for 20 seconds. Honestly I have not been so worried about whether or not someone was still alive in my life. Gus was scared too. He was fine, ultimately, a bumped nose and a mild headache...
Today we are in Wellington for the night, and head to Nelson tomorrow. We will ride a 3 hour ferry from the North island to the South island. Then, on Thursday, we are going skydiving. I signed up for a 13,000 ft drop (tandem of course) and Gus is going as well. There are only 6 people going out of our group of 30! Already nervous and it's two days away. Until then we are saying good-bye to a chunk of our group tonight, get to sleep in tomorrow, and then hit the road again.
Hope everyone is well! xoxo
The most impressive part of the evening was a Haka - a call to battle - that Maori men do to scare off the enemy. Women aren't allowed because they are too sacred. Nik and Sean (our guides) invited the men in our group to participate in learning a Haka, and then performing it for the entire group. They take Hakas very seriously, it is not a joke, no laughing, smiling etc. Gus participated!!!! And it was awesome, very intense, and it involved body slapping, grunts, stomping feet and the commonly seen eye bulge and tongue sticking out! The whole group cheered and cheered.
We left the following morning and drove to Rotorua, and geyser/thermal town. There were many options for activities in Rotorua, but Gus and I chose to do the white water rafting. Now please remember that the outside temp was probably around 50, and the water was colder. The thrill of this river was a 21 ft. waterfall drop, a class V experience, and something that I have never done. I didn't really know what to expect, but it was crazy. By far the gnarliest white water I've ever seen. When we came to the waterfall we stopped before going off, and we told to hold on where we ducked into the raft, grabbed ropes, and dropped off the edge. Oh and I'm sorry I forgot to mention, I had to go in the front with Gus. (Due to all our experience?!) It was insane, I screamed the whole way I think, and our boat was completely submerged at the bottom. We lost our friend Sean out the back (the Scottsman), and he was trapped under water by the power of the waterfall for 20 seconds. Honestly I have not been so worried about whether or not someone was still alive in my life. Gus was scared too. He was fine, ultimately, a bumped nose and a mild headache...
Today we are in Wellington for the night, and head to Nelson tomorrow. We will ride a 3 hour ferry from the North island to the South island. Then, on Thursday, we are going skydiving. I signed up for a 13,000 ft drop (tandem of course) and Gus is going as well. There are only 6 people going out of our group of 30! Already nervous and it's two days away. Until then we are saying good-bye to a chunk of our group tonight, get to sleep in tomorrow, and then hit the road again.
Hope everyone is well! xoxo
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Worst weather ever!
Yesterday Gus and I walked in a near hurricane... soaked to the bone, winds howling at 70 mph, lights flickering on and off... I seriously thought the windows were going to burst open, or the roof would come off! We were on the North Shore of the northern island and spent two nights there getting to know our group. Luckily 1/2 of them are getting off today and we're picking up new people. I was less than impressed by their attitudes, and energy. We have met some really nice people, 3 girls from Kentucky, 2 from England, and a nice Scottish guy.
We went to Russel yesterday and watched a Birdman Competition where people run off a dock into the ocean while dressed in ridiculous outfits. I saw a man hatch himself out of an egg and jump into the choppy sea. Also a "Jamaican Bobsled" team ran off! Wild. We were soaked and spent most of the day indoors trying to dry off.
Tonight we head to a Maori homestay where we all camp in a big building together. Gus is nervous about people hating him tomorrow because of his loud snoring! I'll let you know how it goes. Otherwise things are good here, still getting along really well, and looking forward to more adventures down the road. I think I've talked myself into skydiving!!!!!
We went to Russel yesterday and watched a Birdman Competition where people run off a dock into the ocean while dressed in ridiculous outfits. I saw a man hatch himself out of an egg and jump into the choppy sea. Also a "Jamaican Bobsled" team ran off! Wild. We were soaked and spent most of the day indoors trying to dry off.
Tonight we head to a Maori homestay where we all camp in a big building together. Gus is nervous about people hating him tomorrow because of his loud snoring! I'll let you know how it goes. Otherwise things are good here, still getting along really well, and looking forward to more adventures down the road. I think I've talked myself into skydiving!!!!!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Tour finally starts
Gus and I have absolutely seen all that Auckland has to offer. Well that's not entirely true, but we are definitely ready to hit the road, meet our tour group and get started traveling around New Zealand. Our time clocks are a bit better regulated now, we stayed up until 10:30 last night!
We've seen some pretty interesting places here in Auckland. We took a day trip to Rangitoto island and hiked a 600 year old volcanic cone. Gus said that I made him sprint to the top, and truuth be told it was a pretty fast hike up. Then we took the ferry to Davenport and had lunch and walked around a bit there. I can't say enough how friendly and nice everyone is here... much like Boise, not like Los Angeles. We found a pub called Northern Steamship Brewery and they had a large selection of home brewed beer on tap. Gus discovered the Apple Mac cider, and if they weren't $8 a glass he could have easily had 10!
The food here is good, I've discovered porridge which is a lot like oatmeal, but they smoosh banana in it and put in lots of brown sugar! Lunch and dinner can be a hodgepodge of items, but we've eaten a lot of Asian food, and obviously fish and chips too.
It's pretty cold, I went for a run yesterday outside and could see my breath the entire time. This is an active city, and we have walked and walked around. We also went to Kelly Tarlton's Underwater Adventure yesterday to see penguins, stingrays and sharks. It was a pretty unique experience as they let you ride in a miniature snowcat through the King Penguin exhibit. Also the stingrays were by far the largest I've ever seen!
At 1:00 we meet up with our group, pile in the van, and head up north to Paoiri (sp?) and then to a Maori villiage. Yay!
Can't wait to report more when we have more to say!
Colleen
We've seen some pretty interesting places here in Auckland. We took a day trip to Rangitoto island and hiked a 600 year old volcanic cone. Gus said that I made him sprint to the top, and truuth be told it was a pretty fast hike up. Then we took the ferry to Davenport and had lunch and walked around a bit there. I can't say enough how friendly and nice everyone is here... much like Boise, not like Los Angeles. We found a pub called Northern Steamship Brewery and they had a large selection of home brewed beer on tap. Gus discovered the Apple Mac cider, and if they weren't $8 a glass he could have easily had 10!
The food here is good, I've discovered porridge which is a lot like oatmeal, but they smoosh banana in it and put in lots of brown sugar! Lunch and dinner can be a hodgepodge of items, but we've eaten a lot of Asian food, and obviously fish and chips too.
It's pretty cold, I went for a run yesterday outside and could see my breath the entire time. This is an active city, and we have walked and walked around. We also went to Kelly Tarlton's Underwater Adventure yesterday to see penguins, stingrays and sharks. It was a pretty unique experience as they let you ride in a miniature snowcat through the King Penguin exhibit. Also the stingrays were by far the largest I've ever seen!
At 1:00 we meet up with our group, pile in the van, and head up north to Paoiri (sp?) and then to a Maori villiage. Yay!
Can't wait to report more when we have more to say!
Colleen
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