Poison Pixie: September 2008 Archives

Hi Everyone,

Well, I am finally on the North Island.  I arrive in Wellington last week Wednesday and went to stay with an old friend from London (Alta and her family, Jannie, Hugo and Mila).  I was having so much fun there that I almost decided to skip the North Island entirely and stay there and then head straight to Auckland but I realised that would be silly. 

I did stay a little longer but since then have spent a night in Napier where I got to go wine tasting at the oldest wine farm in New Zealand.  Then we drove through Taupo where I got to go to Huka Falls and I am now in Rotorua.  Tonight I will be going to the Tamaki Mauri Cultural Show and tomorrow morning I will catch an InterCity bus to Auckland.

I will spend the next 3 nights in Auckland and Sunday I say farewell to New Zealand and Aloha to Hawaii!  A last minute impulsive change to my ticket instead of going straight to San Francisco.

Well, that's all for now!

Dx

Yesterday I went on the Elm Wildlife Tour where I got to stand next to big, smelly but cute Sea Lions and see the lovely yellow eyed Penguins.

I also incidentally got to be at one with nature... While the rest of my group went down to look at the seals I stayed at the top of the mountain and had to squat down behind some rocks and make a desperate wee.  Luckily I did not have anyone humans staring at me but I did have two curious lambs in front of me watching what I was doing!

NOT an experience I wish to repeat again but it certainly meant that it really was a WILDLIFE tour for me!

I have just arrived in Lake Tekapo!  Home to 250 people, a mini golf course, a pub and a chinese restaurant...  I suspect it's going to be a quiet night.

Bianca and I have already spotted a puzzle that we intend doing and the kettle is on.  The highlight however is that we got to stop at a Salmon Farm and I bought a lovely fresh salmon steak which I am going to make tonight with some salad!  YUM YUM YUM!

Tomorrow Christchurch, civilisation and heading north.

I went, I ski'd, I conquered!  Yes, I also fell on my arse... but I don't care!  I still did it!

This morning I awoke to fresh snow, the bus picked me up at 7.25am and we were told our ETA to Cardrona would be around 9.00am.  However as we progressed up the mountain the snow came down and our bus had to pull over to put snow chains on.  We slowly made our way up the alpine mountain pass until we eventually arrived at 9.45am.

I went to pick up my boots, ski's and poles and proceeded to the beginners class.  I had NO idea just how hard it was going to be but I progressed to the lifts (albeit the beginners lifts) and ski'd back down again a couple of times!

The snow was coming down fast and furiously and at times we had zero visibility (which in fact proved to be a blessing in disguise as it meant no-one actually got to see me make an arse of myself... except the instructor).  I have been told however that next time I go skiing I can go to the next level.  Uhm, thank you but I think once was enough!  There were 4 year olds skiing faster than me for heaven sake!!!!!

However I am pleased to inform all that I am back in Queenstown, in one piece, albeit with a throbbing ankle but so pleased that I did it!  And for those who STILL can't believe I did it... I will email you telly tubby proof because I can't upload photo's to the system when using YHA computers!

A twelve hour day of natural wonders has just come to an end!  It started when my alarm went off at 5.45am.  The first natural wonder I saw was myself in the mirror and it was NOT a pretty site! 

The bus proceed to pick us up at 6.55am and as we drove out of Queenstown and into the the mountains, the site that greated us was snow capped peaks and lazy clouds, still lying atop the mountains.  It was an absolutely amazing site. 

Two hours later this gave way to an alpine pass which took us through the valley of a thousand waterfalls and due to the recent heavy rainfall the name did not dissapoint!  There were waterfalls everywhere, from the merest trickle to thundering torrents of water.  Snow and beech trees were everywhere.  It was like a magical winter wonderland.

We stopped at The Chasm where I took an amazing video of the water streaming down through the rock formations and then we were off again and through Homers Tunnel heading down to Milford Sound.

We boarded the boat which took us around and we saw more amazing waterfalls and lots of beautiful nature.  The boat took us out to the mouth of Milford where it meets the sea and then back again.  It stopped just next to a huge waterfall where I got soaked but the spray from the waterfall was absolutely invigorating! 

Just as the boat was sailing back to the jetty, the mist came rolling in behind us, hiding everything.  It was perfect timing as we got to see Milford before it rolled in.

A few flakes of snow started to fall as we boarded the bus and then the heavens opened.  300 kilometres later we arrived in a very wet Queenstown.

I hopped out in town and picked up my ski gear (all mismatched... so you can just IMAGINE what I'm going to look like on the slopes tomorrow... like something a polar bear threw up!)

Watch this space for the outcome of my ski adventure!

That's all for now... Bye xxx

Helllllllooooooo Queenstown!

It's gay ski week here and you haven't seen so many pretty boys in all your LIFE!

I have had a great day!  Action packed although less action packed than it was intended to be!  I had agreed to go Skydiving today with one of the girls that I met on the bus.  Of course yesterday when I agreed to this madness it was pouring with rain and gale force winds were blowing.  This morning on the other hand.... it was a different story!  Not a cloud in the sky, not a breath of wind and sunshine in all it's glory!  I promptly almost threw up realising that this meant.... I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BLOODY SKYDIVE!

So the morning started with the first adrenaline rush activity... The Shotover Jet!  We booked it and headed into town where we were told that due to the river flooding and consequently their jetty all canyon trips were cancelled but to come back later.  An hour and a half later... we were speeding through canyons doing 360 degree turns, getting soaked and absolutely LOVING IT!

Next stop skydiving!  Pixie knee trembling, stomach churning, what the hell possessed me to say yes to this activity.  Thankfully the wind started blowing and the clouds rolled in!  The skydive was CANCELLED!  I'm not sure if it started raining or whether it was just the tears of thankfulness rolling down my cheeks and I don't care!  I get to live another day!

Now of course we didn't have an adrenaline pumping activity for the afternoon so off we went to the booking office and the next hour we were in a gondola (cable car to some of you) climbing up to the top of the peak.  Next stop... The Luge!  Little racecars that speed you around a track at the top of a mountain, U Turns and S bends and screaming and laughter and a lot of fun!  But we were sad when we had to come down the mountain again so while walking back into town we decided to do a little bungy trampolining and I can honestly hand on heart, head and arse say that after that wedgy like experience I will NEVER attempt to go bungy jumping!

I'm showered and dressed, sitting with the girls as we update blogs and email friends and then we're all heading into town for a little relaxation and a nice stiff drink!

Tomorrow... Milford Sound (if there are no landslides).  Thursday... Skiing.  Friday... comatose in bedroom!

Laters my little alligators