thanks Hi Daniel. Thanks for accommodating a mom's request. Your pictures are true photos but the hostel and Paul in the kitchen are a mom's treasure. So delighted to get in on your adventures. Thinking fondly of you both, Carol
Wow!!! Daniel,
I have loved every blog entry and the photos are fantastic. Milford Sound also blew my mind - one of the most amazing places on the planet I have visited. We also thought the glow worms were fascinating. We stayed in many of the places you have been writing about, so it brings back many fond memories of our 2 months with the Kiwis. When we were at Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, it poured the entire time, and the glaciers were moving and unstable, so they didn't allow anyone to hike on them. I look forward to every one of your blogs - keep them coming! Love, Uncle Barry
Puzzling Dearest Danny,
I was reading Paul's blog while yours was being sent to me. I started at about 4:30 a.m. (We're you and Paul on the computer at 12:30 a.m.?) Not surprising! What are your sleeping hours and what time do you arise in the a.m.?
Your picture of chillin' lambs is so sweet. T
I've just read about "Puzzling World" on their website. I'm curious what an entire room of holograms feels like and whether there are life-sized holograms. I'll have to do further research regarding the comparison of Landsborough's puzzles and mazes and his knowledge of same as relative to the San Francisco Exploratorium, the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and the Leaning Tower of Pisa both at the the Morton Grove Illinois YMCA (or JCC) and the one in France. The water that flows down but looks up, seems a familiar science concept. Perhaps I saw something like it at one of the aforementioned museums. I gather that Landsborough's Puzzling World poses the questions but does not readily provide the answers, which is, obviously, quite thought-provoking and great to stimulate conversation.
The hunting habits of glow worms is fascinating. How lucky are you to be able to peer into such an amazing world, and aren't we all, to have the brilliance of the natural world and that of human engineering.
The log cabin hostel sounds cozy. Are you and Paul feeling cozy and comfortable? Being out in the midsts of the mists and the sounds, the lambs and the lupines, waterfalls and glaciers, mountains and valleys and all of the nature which you have been honored to be amongst, seems to me, would be a most comforting experience.
I love you. Mom
Hey Dan.......great pics. I've been looking forward to your travels to this area of the south island. We just saw a special focusing on the south island, and one comment by a traveler was that you "must experience it in person as pictures and words just don't do it justice, it's indescribable"........one of these days!
We just received the latest National Geographic and it includes an article about the albatross and mentioned some areas in New Zealand where they nest (as noted in your previous post). Such an amazing bird.......have you seen any flying? Hard to miss with up to an 11.5' wingspan! If you get a chance, read more about these grand birds......too many interesting details to note here.
Take care......love, Dad
Stunning view out back What time of day did you take those shots of the mountains out back? Where did your hostel lay in relation to the lake and mountains?
You may blow up "The view outside our back door in Te Anau" for me so I can have that on a wall.
Dad and I just watched part of an HD travel film about New Zealand. The deer farms have been part of what has replaced about one-third of the sheep farming over the past 20 years, due to declining profits in sheep farming.
Is this the hostel you cleaned as work for room/board? What were your jobs?
I can't wait to hear about your hikes?
Love you,
Mom
A load has been lifted from my mind, thanks for letting me know Kam. I just saw the d40 in a store for $1000 New Zealand. I don't know if that is good or bad compared to what you got. They actually did have a beer with a hint of chocolate and one with a hint of coffee. MMMM.
Just so you guys know, I just got my camera, so you can all stop worrying. I know that was definitely one of your top concerns. It's pretty sweet, although I think the lens focuses slowly sometimes (I settled for the standard 55mm lens because of money reasons, Paul - but I guess that really means that it operates as an 82.5mm lens apparently? didn't know that). Anyway, I'm so jealous of your chocolate+beer experience. Did they have chocolate beer? That would be disgusting. Katie and I just went on a kayaking trip today and we saw like a 100 sea lions and otters, they were really cool cuz they were all out in the water, not just laying around. Ok, paz (peace).
Photo boy Dan - Haven't been able to read your blog in a couple weeks and I'm now playing catch-up. Your photos keep getting better and better. The ones on this page, especially, and the last - the bull seaweed and the Marlborough Sound stream photos are excellent! It's great to get taken on a vicarious tour of a place I've never been to and have heard such great things about. Thanks for being such a great guide. Please get a tan, though. And soon. Or keep a shirt on in your self-portraits. Blinded by the white! I'd also just like to say that I'm remaining neutral on the embarrassingly bitter, spiteful seal debate. Grow up, people! Lucas thinks they're cute, and he loves anyone without opposable thumbs ... or with, for that matter.
Hi hey you looks like things are going great!!! I am a bit envious of your Chocolate and Beer tasting adventure!!!! lol that mix sounds awesome!
Your pictures are beautiful, I like the one with green hills to the ocean with sheep!!!! Never seen terrain like that before! it is amazing :)
Oh on a side note based on some eailier posted comments:
I think it is awesome and do encourage more topless photographs of you!! ;P''' lol
Hope the wind dies down for you guys....
Have a good day*** Talk to you later ^_^~*
~lisa
D40x The D40x is an excellent cam, Kam. I think you'll be very pleased, and won't miss the few features that are diff from the D80. Karen has the D40 (less megs) and has been very happy with it. What lense did you go with? I love the 18-200 VR, but it's a bit pricey and adds a fair amount of weight. Karen has the 18-70 and is happy with it, but I think she would like a bit more zoom.......seeya
Kamisan Sweet buy. What the heck is a secondary status window? I'm trying to get more topless girls gone wild pictures, but when I say it's for my own personal project they walk away disturbed. Should I just say it's for girls gone wild? I think that would work better.
? so i just bought anew camera. it's a nikon d40x, and it'll be here on thursday. it's a step down from your dad's d80, but i couldn't shill out an extra 400 hundo for that one, hopefully i won't kick myself in the ass later for that decision. it's a 10.2 megapixel and i'm already super familiar with all the controls so i'm looking forward to getting it. unfortunately it doesn't have secondary status window, which may piss me off a lot, but we'll see. so what's with all these macro shots? are you trying to make all the small people in the world feel even smaller? you would. i want more girls gone wild in churches pictures. that's where the real action is at.
Nice Yeah, no more topless shots unless it includes you guys in a whole group of randy hostelers. Ok, maybe that will be more of a Barcelona kind of thing. At least you had the presence of mind to put your pants on for the shot. Seals aren't lazy, it just that, lacking opposable thumbs, they can't find work. NZ looks and sounds amazing. Go man go!
Love
Uncle Phil
sexy being broughtith. Hi sir, I'm happy to see you are on your magical journey that you never told me you finally left for. Let me just say, I wish I could walk a mile in your shoes. Or perhaps, many miles. Have fun guys! Best wishes.
There's the smile Now I see the smile! And, sexy? Woo-woo (spelling?)!
Great photos, dear Danny. Now, I recall the resemblance of seal and Sarah. I don't see lazy, smarty-pants, I see dog-tired from all of the play and swimming and being in that great game of life! That look is probably seen on both Paul and your face as you sleep in your bunk beds each night. May you have that same contented, full-life feeling each night of your life as you fulfill your dreams and then create new ones.
Love you.
P.S. You have a hard-copy graduation diploma from UC Santa Cruz! Congrats, again!
Greetings sexy men! Beautiful locale. Can't wait to journey there myself one day.......hopefully with you as a guide! I'll try to keep up with a workout routine as it appears one of the best ways to explore is afoot.
I feel I must come to the "lazy seals" defense. I imagine you looking the same way if you had to spend hours hunting for your sustenance instead of sauntering into the grocery for your food ;-)
Any WOOFING opportunities ahead?
Looking forward to your next submission.......love, Dad
Jasmine His Julia. Jasmine is great, too, but I am glad to hear lilacs weren't involved. The latter has such a short season to enliven us with their fragrance, the more reason to appreciate them, I guess.
Thank you, Julia and Gordon, for being so gracious with our boys.
Karen (Mom)
Legs By redwood tree trunks did you mean your legs are like those? Speaking of legs, was your part of the Queen Charlotte trail a loop or did you have to hike back the same way you went out? Also, how many miles in total is the Queen Charlotte trail?
Danny, HELLO! I am surprised you haven't said, "Mom, why haven't you weighed in on my spelling mistakes?" or, "Mom, I am proud of you for not critiquing my every step of writing."
I am interested in your streams of consciousness. You can edit down the road, if you like. I am interested in hearing your voice in your blog EVERYDAY (if possible). You have a wonderful, melodic voice that causes us to smile and envision where you are and feel you are here speaking to us.
I love you.
Mom
converts! We've decided to join your religion and check in from time to time for enlightenment! Sounds like you guys are having a great time. We really enjoyed having you to stay. Sorry about the computer, Paul. Daniel,tell your Mom it was jasmine and not lilac,which is also my favourite flower. Have fun. Julia and Gordon
This is the official blog by me, Daniel Neal. All others claiming to be Daniel Neal are frauds and should be prosecuted in a court of law immediately! I will be travelling around Earth for the next 5 months from October 16th, 2007 to March 11th, 2008, with my friends Kamberly and Pauliwog (not exactly their real names). We will be travelling to Middle Earth for 2 months, aka New Zealand, which is actually closer to Antarctica than I was expecting so I will need to pack some warmer clothes. Australia for 2 weeks, where my aunt and uncle brought back one of the funnies... full info
carol
non-member comment
thanks
Hi Daniel. Thanks for accommodating a mom's request. Your pictures are true photos but the hostel and Paul in the kitchen are a mom's treasure. So delighted to get in on your adventures. Thinking fondly of you both, Carol