Back in Christchurch

So I was the only one in the tour that didn't plan anything for after the tour. But no worries everything worked out. I grabbed the last bed at the YHA for 2 nights. I just spent the last 45 minutes with one of the girls at the front desk trying to find a car in christchurch... she was my savor and found what I think is the last car in Christchurch and she also booked my ferry trip to the north island. So I'm back on track. I just didn't book any of the campsites yet. But I will see what happens when the time comes.
So I'm back in Christchurch. I went back to the Bog the irish bar and hung out in with the British couple I met. Jonny the bartender remembered me and I met some of the other workers, which I don't think one of them was a Kiwi.
Anyway...
Since the last time I wrote we went to Milford sound which was spectacular. We drove in when the weather was nice and clear so we could see in the mountains and the next day for our sea kayaking trip it was raining. The Fjordlands are truly the land of a 1000 waterfalls (during the ~250+ rainy days - and we thought it rained alot in Seattle). After Fjordland we went to Mt Cook national Park hiking. The southern Alps are wonderful. Actually that isn't the right word but I don't think there is a right word to describe the beauty of the South Alps. You can try to find the word...

The view from Key Summit, Fjordland

Fjordland, Milford Sound in the rain

The south Alps and tarn

Bob just for you Jamie

So that is it for now. I will be camping for the next 2 weeks and will try to get to a town to email. I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year. I only have about 12 hours to go.

Picture time

The waterfall cross during the Nelson Lakes hike

The view from the Angelus Hut.

Me and Karin enjoying a well deserved beer after the 3 day hike

So the pictures are taking forever to upload. This will be all for now.

The past couple of days have been nice. We had some new snow on the mountains and we went to Fjordland. Fjordland was beautiful and we were able to see it both in the sun and the rain. When it rains it is truely the shadowlands and the land of 1000 waterfalls. It was amazing and the sea kayaking was loads of fun.
I will write again when I can. I hope all is well with everyone.

Happy/Merry Christmas

So much has happened since the last time I wrote. It's Christmas and a free day for us here at Queenstown. Since the last time I wrote we have been driving down the west coast of NZ. We have kayaked in a brackish lagoon (very cool), we had a big Christmas feast with a sort of pink elephant exchange at this really nice small (pop. 33) town. We taken varies hikes to beautiful spots in NZ one was to Josef Franz (i think that is the name) glacier. This glacier is approximately 20 km long, a few km deep and the terminal face is at about 180 meters above sea level (~360 ft). The glacier was amazing. It had just had a huge cave in and blow out so the glacial ice was all over the river bed.
Now on to the more recent things that I can remember:
Yesterday we arrived in Queenstown and we were all able to do what ever activity we wanted. I went horseback riding in this beautiful braided river valley ( the dart valley). I rode bob who was the biggest horse I have ever rode in my live. His back was as high as my head.
This morning (Christmas morning) 7 of us plus our guides (2) went river boarding which is basically white water rafting on a body board. It was one of the most in tense experiences I have ever had. The rapids where crazy and would just suck you down.
Tomorrow we head farther south to bike and do a bit more hiking then we get to go to the beautiful Milford sound.

I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe and happy christmas and new year.

From Middle Earth

I don't have much time but I wanted to say hi to everyone. NZ is great. I've been in the forest and mountains for the past couple of days which has been wonderful. There are 3 people from Washington in my tour and one of them actually lives in West Seattle. What a small world.
I touched snow 2 days ago. That was the highlight of the hike well that and the beautiful scenery, faults, and glacial formations. I will post pics hopefully in a few days. Oh and I have a small sunburn. I thought I would rub it in a bite since it is nice and sunny here and most of you are still getting rain. Well have fun and I will have a drink for all of you.
Cheers

The journey begins...

Hello everyone-

Well I made it to New Zealand. It's much better temperature wise here. I'm in Christchurch, small very small city. Nothing exciting has happened as of yet. I did met a UK couple that actually live in Pennsylvania, how weird is that. Also I got to see the snow peaks outside my window of the plane. So nice to be where there are snow capped mountains again.
I leave for my tour tomorrow so I probably won't be on the net for about two weeks. I will keep you posted as I can.
Cheers to you all. Into the mountains I go.

Last day in Oz

no pictures today.

The musical was amazing. It was so funny. I even got to sing along with Eric Idle to Always look on the bright side of life, well actually the whole concert hall sang but who cares about them. It was great. Very funny musical but of course it's funny it's Eric Idle.

Yesterday in the blue mountains was very nice as well. It reminded me of Seattle it was gray and raining. Sound familiar. So I didn't get to see the 3 sisters rock formation and most of the wonderful valleys were in the clouds but it was very nice to get out of the city for a change.
I'm ready for NZ and the mountains. Clean air and snow on the peaks. Ahhh NZ here I come.

I'm heading to the aquarium today and maybe a movie. Need to get to bed early have to fly out at 8:30 am tomorrow.

Lost in the jungle

So I just spent the last hour looking for a shop to buy a nice shirt (reason why coming up). I entered in through a store and got sucked in to the maze that is the underground shopping malls here in Sydney. When I finally found an exit I was so turned around that I started off in the wrong direction to get back to my hostel. And I never got a nice shirt.


Ok for the reason I wanted a nice shirt... wait for it... wait for it...











I'm going to be seeing Eric Idle in Not the Messiah at the Sydney Opera House!!! I'm so excited. Eric Idle live in a spoof play based on The life of Brian movie. I can't believe it. And it is the last night for the show. I will be sitting in the main theatre hall of the opera house and will be seeing Eric Idle live. I just can't say it enough. (Oh and by the way there is no dress code so I really don't need a nice shirt.)


Well anyway. Here's some photos I took today.

Does this really need a title

Since when does Harry Potter live in Sydney?

I will let you all know how wonderful the show is tomorrow. Have a wonderful night everyone. heehee I'm going to see eric Idle at the Opera House. heeheehee

Other pics

Santa in the rainforest

This one is for Nicole - kangaroos hangin' in Brisbane

Happy Christmas Everyone!!

(At Alden and Nigel's place)

Sydney!!!

So I finally made it to Sydney... and guess what it is cool and gray just like Seattle. It's very nice. It was wonderful staying with Alden and Nigel and just hanging and having my own room now I'm back to a 6 bedded room. Oh well the woes of traveling.

So some random things that have happened to me in the past month:
A opossum tried to get in my tent on Kangaroo Island - scared me half to death
Was licked by a wallaby - I must have tasted like salt
Cuddled with a koala
touched a 50 yr old clam - last blog the clam is about center slightly to the right in the picture
Saw a bus take off someones bumper in Brisbane
Had multiple kangaroos jump next to my car while I was driving and then jumped out in front of me.


I think that may be it at the moment. I'm should there are others but I can't think of them. Well now for the time you all have been waiting for... here are some pics.

Cairnes from above - that is for you Mark H

The great barrier reef

Can't figure out how to rotate- no title necessary

An elephant I thought I was in Australia - is this an Australia Elephant - No - they are filming a Bollywood movie close by in Melbourne

Back in Melbourne

I'm back in Melbourne and it's nice and confortable, no sweating here. I will be off to Sydney tomorrow.

Alden and Nigel are wonderful and are taking great care of me. Nothing to exciting has happened in the past couple of days just relaxing and eating home cooked food.

Until I get the rest of my digital pictures downloaded on to CD here are a few great barrier reef

underwater pictures. The pictures are a little murky from the coral releasing their spores but hopefully you can see the wonderfulness that is the great barrier reef. Enjoy.

see the fish

see the 50 yr old clam

Did I say hot

It is sweltering here in Cairnes. All you have to do is walk about 50 yards and you are sweating. Well I do say goodbye to the reef and rain forest today. Off to Brisbane where in should be cooler. I have the underwater pictures being developed as I write this so next time I will have some pictures of the underwater world, I hope.
Went to Kuranda yesterday. Kuranda is a village up in the mountains of the rain forest. I got to hold a Koala and see some fascinating birds and butterflies and took a skyrail over the forest canopy. Very beautiful.
It was nice to see everything here but Cairnes is too touristy for me. Next time I think I will stay in Port Douglas farther north.
I hope everyone is doing well. I will post again hopefully in Brisbane.

Cairns what can I say but it's hot!!!

So it is Monday and I'm trying to beat the heat by staying in any place that has AC. It is so hot here. Well I guess what do I expect for a rainforest and in the tropics.





I arrived on Saturday and booked my first trip for Sunday. I went snokeling and did an introductory dive out on the great barrier reef. It was amazing. So now I need to get my diving certificate. I saw abunch 0f fish and coral of course and 2 sharks. The diving was really great because I was able to almost touch the fish. I even saw the real nemo.





Today I'm just doing laundry and hanging out, its an off day for me. Tomorrow I'm taking a tour into the rainforest to see the beauty that it holds. Then on Wednesday off to Brisbane for a few hopefully cooler days.





Since I don't have the reef pictures yet I hope these will do.

Koala up close and personal at the Victoria wildlife santurary

At the Melbourne Botanic Gardens