Update #13 Off to Noy Zylan by Rog

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> 'Allo all U.S.ers,
> Off to Noy Zylan wi' me gal....jus' a trampin' 'roun the trees and bushes like scorched rabbits we are! Seein' some great sights! Enjoyin' how they pronounce me name-Ro' jur. Almost as good as India where they called me Rah' jah and treated me like a king!
> We have come across a few idioms that reveal a bit of the humor and joy of life that we have experienced here.
> Describing a notable rugby player..."he walks like a washing machine".
> Talking about some who had passed away..." 'e got on the big ship!"
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> Many older people seem to be driving bus or taxi...it seems that they are finding it difficult to replace drivers with younger people because the job requires a life style that most young people do not want. Long hours, poor or unhealthy food choices,little opportunity to pursue activities like hiking, tramping, hunting, fishing,biking,etc.
> Ahh! The South Island, or Mainland as those that live here like to say, is a bit cooler and much lower in population so those that live here feel somewhat superior to their countrymen to the North (even though they are inferior on the globe). Hunting and fishing is pretty big here along with lots of extreme sports. Oh, and the speech here is easier for us to understand.
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> Sent from my iPad

Update #12 Locked Out

> We decided to eat in tonight so we picked up some sandwiches, chips, apples, a Diet Coke and a rather large highly rated beer. You can guess who drank what. We ate in the living room of our suite which had 3 private bedrooms surrounding it. After a bit, Rog went into our bedroom to read & I stayed in the living room to write. Two girls from Jerusalem and a boy from Chile & an Australian girl who I assume was his girlfriend, soon joined me as they were in the other 2 bedrooms. The Ausie went to bed early. The rest of us sat around swapping stories and learning a bit about each other. The girls told me how they loved Israel and felt very safe there & had a deep feeling of connection with all their countrymen. The Chile guy was studying English here. Quite a bit later, we said good night. Our bedroom door was locked so I knocked...no answer...only loud snores...I knocked harder...no answer...I called "ROGER"...no answer. The Ausie came out of her room wearing not much and saying she could hear loud snoring...I said I'd offer her earplugs but they were locked in the room. I went out on our balcony and tapped on the window...then pounded....harder. No answer. I walked to the check-in desk. Closed for the night. I came back and one of the girls beat on the door while I pounded on the window...until a guest down stairs shouted, "Hey Matey, keep the noise down!" We tried all the others' keys. No luck. It was late so the girls gave me their extra blanket and I tried to make myself comfortable on the small couch in the living room where I could hear Roger snoring through the wall between us. A few hours later, a confused Roger opened the door. He owes me.

Update #11 TeAnau Glowworm Cave

Why TeAnau...Glowworm cave. The word TeAnau in Maori means cave with rushing waters. Though kept secret for many years as it the Maori believed the cave held the eyes of their deceased, the name encouraged a British explorer to search until he found it...and of course it soon turned into a tourist attraction. We don't usually gravitate toward tourist attractions unless they involve nature. And this one was cool. A catamaran took us across the gigantic Lake TeAnau to the cave opening. Ducking low, we entered...more dark and damp with each step...and surprisingly noisier as water rushed by us. We climbed metal stairs lit up by tiny lamps passing waterfalls that were carving unique sculptured rock formations and whirlpools. On the top of one of the falls, we climbed into a small boat. No more lights. Just pitch black. We glided into a silent grotto and barely above us were the glowworms. Picture thousands of fire flies constantly lit up. Like a clear night sky with bright iridescent green stars. Extraordinary! Back at the info center, we learned what we were really seeing was glow larvae begging for food and under each were dozens of long sticky strings just waiting to catch an insect. Isn't nature amazingly cunning!!!
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> Sent from my iPad