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> Our guide for the day, Nijal in his BBQ bus picked us up at 7:30 a.m. Along with 7 others, we headed for Fjord Nat'l Park. It took us 7 hours since Nijal stopped often along the way so we wouldn't miss some fantastic views, waterfalls, Mirror Lake, and other short hikes where we spotted foxgloves, lupines and Mt Cook lilies--which are actually the largest buttercups in the world. While we were hiking a trail through a eire, deep & dark, moss covered woods, Nijal was cooking up a scrumptious lunch on his BBQ. We set out folding chairs next to a babbling, crystal turquoise blue stream..really never seen a stream this color...and devoured our lunch and the view. At Nijal's encouragement, we drank the icy cold water right from the stream. Back on bus, Nijal continued filling us in on info which made everything so much more interesting. Abundant rain is why the beech, lancewood & loblolly pine trees, ferns and shrubs (all native) are so thick and lush. Rog, of course, loved seeing the many geological features: sedimentary rock at 90degree, glacier till, moraines, glacial striation and massive rock slides. We were so awed by so many gorgeous views on the way...and then we loaded a boat and headed into the Milford Sound. You know the saying--you won't believe it until you see it! But it was more than seeing it. It was being in the middle. The 360 degree panoramic effect. The wind. The immenseness of the shear cliffs. The clarity of the deepest blue water. The fuzzy brown fur seals sprawled out on the boulders. The waterfalls making rainbows with their spray. When we reached the Tasmanian Sea, we turned around. The wind stopped and stillness took over. Incredible. Unforgettable.
> Back on the bus Nijal chatted on about all we asked about: Schools- 6-16 compulsory/ University costly, difficult to get into & through. Prime Minister Key-self made millionaire/donates salary to charity/NZers think he's selling off too much of NZ to foreigners. Tourism-growing leaps and bounds. Farms-mostly privately owned though many corporate owned/ dairy farmers hurting right now due to low prices/not enough sheep shearers & few young ones. Soon enough it was time to get dropped of in TeAnau right in front of The Lakeside Backpackers Hostel...home for the night.
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> Sent from my iPad
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Fiord Nat'l Park
Begin forwarded message:
From: Jane <janeboyce@live.com>
Date: January 31, 2016 at 3:35:59 AM EST
To: Bekah Boyce <bekah_boyce@hotmail.com>
Subject: Fiord Nat'l Park
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Update #9. McDonalds
> I'll admit it...we've been to McD quite a few time cause NZ have the best we've ever seen! Not only are many huge & glamorous ...some with kiosks where you place your order...the menu is amazing & abundant: hamburgers with guacamole, salsa, BBQ, bacon, beans & cheese choices; fries with guacamole & salsa; Georgie pies of meats, veg and/or eggs (like pot pie), deli sandwiches, tarts, cakes, cheesecakes, huge selection of muffins; specialty coffees & teas; slushy floats and my personal favorite: chocolate waffle cone filled with hot fudge sundae!! Really--I demand equality!!!
Update #8 Queenstown SNZ
> Guess I'll carry on...left Seb's after fixing our breakfast using eggs he'd just collected from his hens. Headed back to Queenstown using a day bus pass so after dropping our bags at Southern Laughter hostel...we bussed all around the area which couldn't be more spectacular! It's like a 4D effect with the dark, ragged peaks of The Remarkables in the background, the golden rounded mounds with lush pines creeping up them all surrounding the most crystal turquoise lake! (Imagine an immense Torch Lake cradled in this setting.). Crazy that just 150 years ago only a few Maori lived here...today almost 30,000 residence host an average of 5000 visitors a day!! 60% coming from China. This place is crawling with young kids 'cause it's also know as the center for dozens of ways to scare the crap out of ya! From the top of the huge mountains you can skydive, paraglide, zip line, canyon swing, ride a luge or gondola and of course, bungy jump. Then there's the lake where you can speed through the canyons, ride in a skidoo like machine that dives under water & then flies in the air, white water raft, and parasailing. Bike trails have jumps so you can fly there too! Or our choices: a relaxing, calm boat ride and a tour of Kiwi Birdlife Park (thanks Karen for a heads up on that one). Both informative and exciting to hear about the progress NZ is making to revive their native plants and animals. 40% of their animals are on the extinction list another 40% close to it. When the Maori came only 2 types of mammals lived here...both bats and a huge number of birds. Quickly the largest bird, the Moa was hunted to extinction as it had no fear of humans. When other mammals & plants were introduced, it wrecked havoc. Today NZ is spraying pine trees with canola oil to stop the spread and replanting native fauna so many birds have returned. Deer which quickly became overpopulated are actually being plucked up by helicopters & raised. Meat is sold to Germany and the velvet horns to China & used for medicinal purposes. (USA take note--it's big $$ here). Another problem solved: the opossum's fur is being made into hats, gloves & shoe liners. Many large areas are being eradicated of non-native mammals (rats, rabbits, stoats, etc). Most programs have been very successful...especially for the kiwi! The water quality of Lake Wakatipu is 99.9% pure...better than any bottled water...and 2nd only to a lake in Antartica. (Fact checking is encouraged as most of what we hear is from the tour guides, boat captains, bus drivers or locals!)
> Last night we went for a stroll in Queenstown's botanical park which was quite lovely...and we were treated to a medley of Shakespearian plays with snippets being performed throughout the park. Us lucky blokes!! Tonight we're catching up on writing...obviously...trying to plan a bit ahead...and gazing at the views & soon the night skies at 45 degrees S latitude...half way between the equator and the S pole!
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> Sent from my iPad
> Last night we went for a stroll in Queenstown's botanical park which was quite lovely...and we were treated to a medley of Shakespearian plays with snippets being performed throughout the park. Us lucky blokes!! Tonight we're catching up on writing...obviously...trying to plan a bit ahead...and gazing at the views & soon the night skies at 45 degrees S latitude...half way between the equator and the S pole!
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> Sent from my iPad
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Update #7 Arrowtown, SNZ
Time to move on so said goodbye to Beryl...who told us of all her guest, only one other couple seemed so calm & relaxed & it bit her abit at ease. We headed back to Auckland for a quick night stay near the airport, jumped on an early flight to Queenstown, SNZ then bussed to Arrowtown. We spent the afternoon exploring this old gold rush town where they'd preserved most of the original buildings and today they are filled with places to eat or fancy clothing, art & jewelry stores. Their museum was amazingly authentic ...right down to an outhouse with a guy sitting inside and flies buzzing all around. When you opened the door, he shouted "Hey Matey...can't ya give a guys some privacy??" We also walked through the remains of the Chinese settlement where hundreds of these hard working Chinese came hoping to get rich. Most died poor. The gold rush only lasted a few years but fortunately, the town figured out how to find "gold" other ways...tourist! Reminded me of Traverse City in the summer. Star Wars was showing at the tiny cinema where you could bring your own wine & order a cheese platter. Since we'd hope to see it, we went. Movie was great...popcorn not. Next morning, we were off biking a trail along the Arrow river. Up, down, over long suspension bridges, past spectacular scenery, gigantic cliffs & gorges, waterfalls, deer & Swiss goat farms, grapes vineyards and the famous Kawarau Bridge where we only watched crazy people buggy jump the 120 feet bouncing just barely above the river. We were both glad neither of us were THAT crazy! After 12 or so km, we plopped down at a creamery and ate our fill of fresh made cheese and bread & fruit...and Diet Coke and a flat white coffee (Rog's favorite drink here). Then we headed back...now with the sun brightly lighting up the countless hues of greens. Tired? Yup! Ready to hit the sack--we're staying with Seb who after work biked 28 km with 500m grade. Show off!!
Update #6 History Lesson
A short history lesson: NZ is a baby as it has only been inhabited by people for 1000 years! Maori came first...from Polynesian area & 400 years later Captain Hook & the Dutch arrived. Here North points to the equator and south winds bring cold weather. Gardens are gorgeous on the North island as it doesn't freeze...so a little effort last all year!! South Island is much colder & they get snow. Homes are very modest with huge windows and extremely expensive...$550,000 is considered "affordable" but few are available. Lots of foreigners are buying homes for investment which is driving the market up. Many homes are sold at auctions which also drives prices up. Price of dining out is at least 2x as much as USA. Luckily, Rog & I often share a meal and it's plenty and also the US dollar is strong here....$1 NZ = $1.40 US. NZ are friendly and proud of their beautiful country...and rightly so!
PS I stand to be corrected on a previous update: Jurassic Park was filmed in Hawaii.
PS I stand to be corrected on a previous update: Jurassic Park was filmed in Hawaii.
Update #5 Farming...by Rog
This place is a beautiful spot with friendly people that all seem to enjoy telling us about their country.
As one said, "We are a bit removed from many of the troubles of the world!"
The grassy fields bordered by neat fences or hedgerows seem to go on and on. Cows and sheep appear to all be healthy and clean as they are rotated to fresh pastures often. We see very little farm equipment and even the milking sheds are hard to find. No big red barns. Our bus driver told us average number of dairy cows per farmer is around 250 but he knew one who milked 2200!! With all of the animals it seems that there might be many flies or other bugs, but the pests are few.
Doors and windows are left wide open to allow the breeze through-with no worries that flies or mosquitoes might invade the house. Even with lights on at night the screenless windows can be open...amazing. Beryl, our Bnb hostess in Rotorua, was shocked to hear that we sometimes get many mosquito bites in a day. She got one once and didn't like it at all.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Maori warrior
Sent from my iPad
It's not your Dad...it's a Maori warrior known for scary away enemies just by doing their war dance and their looks! Dad can do a pretty good interpretation...just needs the tattoos.
Sent from my iPad
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