New Zealand

Hey Mimi (my grandmother for those who haven't had the pleasure of meeting her)- So mom said you were joining the technological times and getting a laptop/broadband to follow my trip as well as surf the web, etc. Yes, only 1 or 2 days left of this journal since the trip is wrapping up. But no worries - I'm trying to finance my way to Thailand for 3 weeks right after I graduate - so I'll likely have another journal to follow if that trip works out:) All good fun. Alexis

Today was a bit of a blur. I woke this morning in Wellington and went to Wellington's pride and joy - their museum Te Papa. Which is free!! I arrived early and was hoping to get a coffee somewhere in the area and low and behold they read my mind- their bookstore and cafe open an hr before the museum. Early birds rejoice!  The museum was fantastic- exhibits on volcanic activity and tectonic plates of New Zealand, birds and plants of New Zealand, maori culture, whales and whaling. Saw a blue whale exhibit showing the heart- the size of a VW bug -a small child could crawl into it!

then I drove in an overcast, drizzling rain for about 6 and a half hrs north. Charlotte - played your cd many many times! I have a few things up near Auckland that I want to do before flying out in 4 days time :( I'm not too sad b/c I'm just about broke.

And Mom I might need a driver on the 6th to take me in my jet-lagged state up to school to get fitted for cap and gown and pay for diploma etc. - don't trust myself driving on right without several days sleep.

This is my one day of "city" - I spent the late afternoon walking the city center. 


A cathedral marks the center of the city.. currenlt the festival of flowers is running so the city is awash with colorful, fragrant bouquets. 


Beautiful river runs through park and city proper - punting possible:)


You can take the trolley on a loop around the city and hear a little history about the place. 


But the most spectacular/remarkable part is the extensive botanical gardens in the corner of the city which must be miles square - just beautiful - above is a flower herb garden rimmed by neatly boxed/manicured shrub that ran for at least a football field in length. Old ladies were sitting on tiny stools drawing and painting from the arrangement. 


Labeled dahila. 


The whole rose garden was in full bloom. 

And Christchurch being as international as it is has diverse restaurants: Brett- I couldn't resist :


Borsh for dinner - It was really good.. Cheers!

Oh and:
On the outskirts of Christchurch by the airport is the International Antartic Center- Burr.... Saw a C-5 Galaxy plane being loaded for one of its last flights to anatartic- most scientists are coming home to avoid the winter there. 

I am in the small cluster of hotels and restaurants know as the Mt. Cook village at the base of Mt. Cook. I went on a lovely day hike -5 or so hrs. of sun-rain-sun-wind-wind and rain-sun (weather constantly changing). But I am my father's daughter and had a pack with: rainjacket, extra dry clothes, snickers, nuts, funge, apples, cheese, mittens, hat, etc. etc. Expedition style packing for short day hike! Thanks dad! Anyway -great hike, and also visted the Sir. Edmund Hillary museum and planetarium. Awesome- He was really well loved in New Zealand for his mountaineering - he climbed Mt Cook in preparation for his Everest and Antartic expeditions. He was first on Everest with Sherpa Tenzing -for which he became famous and was knighted. Love his spiritual comment on coming back to basecamp and asked how it went: "we knocked the bastard off."


The trail


Trial.. 


Trail..


First of a couple swing briges over water like below:




Not bad. 


This is a lake at the base of Mt. Cook (covered in cloud here).. in nice weather you can seakayak in this very very small lake- just for kicks -say you kayaked in a glacier lake. Dirty glacier is seen at the far back edge of lake. 


Yesterday I saw the summit of Mt. Cook from the air- but today this was the best shot I could get of the mountain. First summited in 1894. 


Memorial to all the lives lost mountaineering in this national park -lined with plaques and plaques on the other sides.


Liked this shot


End of the day Rainbow..

So 7 years after first seeing brillant photos of New Zealand gliding on Pete's wall I finally get a first hand look - &7  years wait was worth it. New goal is to someday return with time and funds to work my way to solo, but that may take another 7 years... So gliding is very popular in England, but not so much in the states -though may be possible when I move to Utah. I'm in Omarama and took a fabulous 2 hr flight. Clear skys, using lift from the mountains -great view. Gliding culture is also top notch- welcoming people, good community, nice little gliding club and cafe. Here are the pics (lots this time): 

I went up to Milford Sound in a luxurious coach-cruise-coach - b/c it is suppose to be stunning - and I wanted to compare to Doubtful. Overall, nothing beats being at kayak level on a sound.. but at Milford today it was raining and since these rocks are just granite with little to no topsoil the rain just runs off in spectacular waterfalls -everywhere.. Fabulous. So enjoyed being on the sound in 40 knot winds and whitepeaked waves around. 

Yes, just after the boat captain reminded everone to be careful, I turned toward the heavy door to the boat's back deck to an Austrain woman yelling at her husband "my finger! my finger!" - she had slammed and very just about severed her thumb in the door - half way down distal phalanges (sp?) - ie between nail and first knuckle - yes training went into effect - I got her to apply direct pressure with towels, got her seated and calm, got ice, and staff got the boat medic -who since there were basic supplies only.. steristripped it in place and applied a tight bandage. Boat was on its way back in but increased speed - she was 2 hrs by car to medical care and likely 4 to hand surgeon.. After I got her situated I sat down and realized I'm definately not a trauma surgeon:) No desire to stich!! And no didn't get picture of severed finger despite my pretending to be photojournalist.

 
On the way to Milford.. 


Rain water running off granite faces.. 


Again.. 


See a theme..

So the trip was 3 beautiful days of kayaking in Doubtful sound -one of the most beautiful and isolated sounds in Fiordland. We cancelled day 4 b/c of the forecast of rain adn 40 knot winds heading into the sound. The first afternoon of kayaking we actually had 15 knot winds and 2 foot swells that we were paddling/battle-ing into and that was tough going so 40 knot winds doesn't sound like fun. The Fiordland is rock that was pushed up from the ocean floor and over 2 million years was worn away by glaciers -hence called Fiord (just like in Norway). The current ecosystem is finely balanced moss/trees with minimal topsoil on huge rock faces. Very cool b/c see areas where tree has gottn too heavy and peeled away top carpet layer of roots and moss from rock like rolling up carpet and leaving bare rock. ALso see areas of rockslides. The trees and flora depend on constant or nearly constant rain to survive. The rain runs down to the sea in many stunning waterfalls - the runoff brings tannins from moss and such and forms a freshwater/tannin rich layer that settles above salt water and in times of heavy rainfall can be many meters thick. This blocking of light by way of tannin accumulation creates a unique underater enviornment that lets creatures usually found in deeper darker ocean floor to live near the surface. 

So really this is one of the most stunning places to kayak -only downside is not the world's best place to camp -beaches and forest are home to the biting sandflies.. even 100% deet does little to stop these bugs. I am currently blogging at 3 am b/c can't sleep due to itching my 50 or so bites and my dorm mates hate me b/c top bunk squeks when you move.. so here I am. But truely trip worth every minute of itchy hell. 

Hey everyone- I need to keep this entry short b/c I have a 4 am wake-up tomorrow (Yes, this is crazy for vacation but oh well). I am in Te Anu down in the Fiordlands. I head out on a 3 or 4 day kayak camping trip -length depends on how the rain and wind treat us -right now it is beautiful but forecast doesn't look good. Anyway I'm responsible for my own food and I have to sort all that out before bed tonight. No interent in campsites -so mom don't worry if you don't hear from me for a few days. 
Woke up this morning in Queenstown - adventure capital of New Zealand - great little city perched on lake. Walking around the city center last night was great- little shops, restaurants with patio seating, street preformers, boats.. really nice little place. So I found white water again this morning, but this time no raft.. group and guides hit 5 km stretch with class 2 and 3 rapids with wetsuits and boogie boards - so awesome. No pics though -sorry fam..  
Anyway- I'll post on the 23rd or 24th again :)