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Published: January 31st 2008
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Queenstown
We hiked up this mountain!!!!!! You should have smelt the sweat!!!!!!ha ha Hey home.
wow what a cool week we've had. We've been white water rafting, seen huge glaciers, picture perfect lakes, swam in clear, fresh water rivers and had a week of clear blue skys. Its been unreal.
Firstly was Queenstown. We stayed here for 3 days and had a real cool time. The town had a really laid back vibe, with lots of bars, eateries, youngsters and great scenery. We chilled out on the first day, and just walked around the town and sunbathed in the afternoon. In the evening we had some awesome fajhitas (not quite as good as the internationally reknowned johnny cocks specials) then we went out on the beer. we caught some live music, but they were a bit poor, nothing compared to the vibes, ha ha. On sunday, we needed a hangover cure (especially as some guys on the campsite started blasting dance music at 6.15am, but that only lasted for 10minutes, as a lot of people got out of their tents/vans ready to kick them in). So off we went and booked up to do white water rafting in the afternoon. We had to get the coach from town at 1, and travel
Street theatre
What a show. this guy was so funny. sexist, sizest, racist, but in good taste. for 45 minutes up through the mountains to get to the place where we would launch the rafts. It was the scariest coach ride of our lives. The dirt track went down through an old mining field, and the track was so narrow, and there was a sheer/virtical 500metre drop down one side, with no barriers at all. the "experienced" bus driver drove like a maniac, and everyone was soooooo scared. Soph was nearly sick, it was bad. So when we arrived to do the rafting, we weren't scared of that at all. There where about 7 rafts altogether, and 7 people on each raft, including an instructor. We spent 2 hours going down the river over various rapids, some of which were very scary and we were thrown all over the place. We also stopped of on a small beach area so we could all jump into the river from the rocks etc. We were always slashing the other boats etc, and it was a really good laugh. Or guide was good fun, so at one point he was at the front with me and soph (we were the front two which was well cool) so i though it
Lake matheson
IT was worth the early morning!!!!! would be funny to push him in!!!! Thinking about it, it wasn't the most clever thing to do.(pushing the guide into the river, when he's the only one who knows what he's doing). But he laughed and climbed back in. It was then his turn to get me, so about ten minutes later, when i was least expecting it, he bounched from the back of the boat and rugby tacked me off the rafted. All good fun. I took the water proof camera on the raft, so when i get that developed there should be some cool shots on there.
That night we went down for a walk into town, and ended up watching some street theatre. This guy did a two hour show, Which involved some fire juggling etc, but the entertaining part of the show was his hummor. He took the mick out of everyone who walked past, and he was so sarcastic and embarrassed the hell out of them, and the whole audeince was in fits of laughter. Then after the shown a get a tap on the shoulder. I instantly though, oh no not again, and yes it was, someone from plymouth. A guy called
Waterfalls
This was on the walk to the glacior face. Fresh water flowing down from the ice and snow high above rowen, who was an apprentice from work. It was amazing to see someone from home agian. We all stood and chatted for a couple hours, and it was well nice. I know the guys in work will love that, lainey, lurch, dug, jungle, josh etc. Its a small world. The scariest thing about this meeting was what i had felt that day. In the morning me and soph were in bed talking, and i said "sophs i have a real feeling that im going to see someone i know soon. Not someone from travelling, but someone from home". Then that evening i meet someone. That its spooky hey. Really wierd!!!!!!!!!!!!! The next day we chilled and walked up the mountain instead of taking the gondola up. We were well tired and sweaty by the time we reached the top. So we took the gondola back down, but instead of paying the 5 pounds each we just ran on and before the guy could ask to see our tickets,he doors closed and we were off down the hill. Class.
Anyway, we then travelled up to Fox Glacier. this was unreal. so weird that there is just ice there, and it
glacier valley
This whole valley was once filled with ice from the ice age. It still retreats or progresses up to 4 metres a day. is soooo massive. we walked to the face of it and took it all in. The glaciers still remain from the ice age, and they were so beautiful, and daunting. we were thinking of doing a walk on there, but when we got to franz josef glacier down the road we decided that as we could get so close and we saw what we wanted to see, we decided not to do the day walk on there. it was nice there, as i say great weather and just remarkable views. We even got up at 6.15 one day (well i did) soph stayed in the bed in the back of the van, as a lake near by was said to have a lovely reflection of mount cook (highest peak in austrailasia) in the still morning. i drove to the Matheson lake, where the water was so still and clear that the reflection is perfect on the water. It was such a nice morning and as you can see the shot was good. i sat and watched the sun rise above the mountains, it was really cool. shame soph was still in bed, but she liked the pics. on the way
Glacier
Although the bottom looks like rock, its just dirty ice. The photo does no justice to this breath taking, monster ice structure. back to the van, the low rising sun, gave me plently of good photo opportunities, (hence the tree shot). i like this photography lark. It was overall really good around this part and we loved it. We then spent a night at the Frans glacier, which was similar to fox glacier. On the walk to the terminal face, there were lovely waterfalls, and fast flowing rivers coming out of the glacier.
we then drove off after two days there and have ended up here. (i have no idea how to spell it) but we are right north west and it is where all the golden beaches are, so we fancy a bit of relaxing and are off to the beach today. we did have a nice drive here, and we stopped at a few places along the way to break up the 6 hour journey. firstly it was a place called "pancake rocks". all the rocks lay like pancakes, as you can see, and the sea pumps up through blow holes, and spirts up into the air. It was really nice here, very very hot. we had a spot of lunch and headed off. Our next stop being an
Glacier reflections
What a beautiful photo. Snow capped mountains, glariers and clear blue skys. Awesome. old Gold mining place. There was a long swing bridge (NZs longest) and soph was so scared to cross. It was hard not to laugh at her, and i resisted the temptation to jump and shake the bridge. it was so hot and beautiful on the other side, and we went down to the river and a small beach. the water was so clear and we had to get in. as you can see i am in the boxers, and soph went in in underware and top. we had a nice swim, in a nice closed off area and it cooled us right down. We could jump off the rocks and everything, it was so clear and deep. It was so nice there really picturesc. as you can see from all the pics, we have been having a teal brill time, and are gutted we are at the end nearlyof the NZ holiday. But we are looking forward to OZ and the next set of adventures.
Well as i said we're off to the beach, a mere 28 degrees today. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Love you all, mart and soph xxxxxxx
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dad cocks
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sun seekers
Hi martin sophie just read the latest blogg no need to rub it in the tempature here is 4degrees.Today friday 1st feb the first drop's of snow yes snow.The rafting experience sound's fantastic{would like to have a go} mum and helen said ho no thanks.The pictures are brilliant and you are getting a proper david bailey.ha ha.did you cook the fahietas martin you need to practice a bit more.Can'nt wait for you to treat us with your cooking skill's when you get home!!!!!!!!!!take care love as allways mum and dad cocks