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Published: August 19th 2007
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As some of you might already know, after exactly 6 months of traveling I have found myself settled in wee Glenorchy, New Zealand. It is a little bit of paradise (although the actual village Paradise is another 25kms up the road) and I am very pleased to be able to call Glenorchy home for this next chapter of my travels.
I am working for a horse trekking company called Dart Stables (www.dartstables.com), guiding trails and caring fo some lovely gentlemen (the horses!). I have fallen for a shaggy part-clydesdale named Bryan who reminds me a bit of Bud (probably the large belly and gentle eyes) and it is quite fun to spoil him. My fellow workers are also quite fun and the team of us cowgirls (do they use the term cowgirls for English riders?) with the help of two boys make up the Dart staff. I am the only American (not always a bad thing) the rest of the team being a mix of Kiwis and English. We have been having great fun throwing back after work, the highlight of our partying being the Glenorchy Mid-Winter Ball. We all got dolled up and joined the town for some heavy
At the GY Lagoon
This is basically my back yard/playground/office. Not bad eh? drinking dressed-up as a gala event. And that was only my first weekend in town! Since I wasn't backpacking with any ball gowns (can't imagine why not?) I had to make an emergency run to the nearest semi-city, Queenstown, with one of my co-workers to get a skirt, shoes and earrings. But all worked out and we had fun shedding our muddy work clothes for a touch of glamor, if only for a night.
This brings me to describe my new home of Glenorchy. To say it is small town would be a huge understatement! There are only around 250 people living here. But the town is quite charming with a great pub and a world-class cafe where I spend most of my time and money. Glenorchy is situated at the had of Lake Wakatipu, a 45 minute drive from Queenstown (the action-adventure capitol of the world) and surrounded 360 degrees by mountains. Absolutely breath-taking! Every morning I wake up and wonder if I will ever get bored of the views, which I highly doubt. The clouds and sunlight create an ever-changing spectacle of mountain scenes and I never fail to stop and take it all in.
I
The View from Paradise
The overlook at Paradise looking down to the Dart River (Isengard) am renting a room from a 5th generation Glenorchy-ite who, I was told, always has venison in the freezer. Well, I have yet to eat any of this alleged deer meat, but I have had fun cleaning and organizing the house for him with my other roomate Billie, a girl from England. The two of us try to keep Dick in line and make the house homey, which honestly hasn't taken much time (you all know how I love to organize and decorate.) So it's been a great project when I am not at work. And Dick loves the female company, although I dont think he loves when I have my chatty friends over for dinner! My other two roomates are a cat named Cat (Dick couldn't be bothered giving the feline a name, but I love it. It's so "Breakfast at Tiffany's") and Jesse, an old scavenging dog who will bring back various dead wildlife and then leave the remains scattered around the front yard. My first time at the house I was a little put off by the bones, feathers and entrails, but now it just adds to the charm of the place. Everything I need is within
Working at Dart Stables
Here's me up at the overlook at Paradise riding a slow pokey horse Cort. walking distance of my new home, except for the supermarket which is in Queenstown and my friends, family and Sweedish sailor of course! I think that this goes without saying, but if anyone finds their way to Glenorchy (OK, let's be honest, anywhere else in New Zealand would be more likely) you have a place to stay and a free guide to the area (did I mention I guide "Lord of The Rings" trails pointing out various movie sites?). Not to mention the discounts that I get since I am a "local" now. Think of all the skydiving, jetboating, bungy jumping, scenic flights, hiking, helicopter drops, and of course horse trekking you could do if you visit me!
I hope you are all enjoying the warm summer weather in the northern hemisphere -- if you are in the sourthern like me, well it'll be spring soon! Keep in touch although I might be far away.
Miss and love you all!
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Joan M. Millar
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Glorious Glenorchy!
Hi Steph, Glenorchy does look like a postcard! Thanks for sharing your recent news and photos. That is paradise....I'm saving my pennies. Miss and love you! Mum