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Published: February 21st 2009
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Paul Corfield
Maori Warrior!! I´m only joking Mum, that´s not me on the main photo . . I haven´t turned into a Maori Warrior!
After the excitement of Queenstown decided to chill out and do some normal sight seeing . . went on a night cruise through Milford Sound on the west coast - beautiful fiord national park area and as it has 10 metres of rainfall a year the mountains have an abundance of waterfalls, it seems as though everywhere you look you see a new waterfall flowing from 100s of metres above. It rained quite a bit and with the mist rolling down the hills, calmness of the water and sound of the waterfalls it gave the place an eerie feeling during the night. Boat was an old steam ship with about 30 people on board . . spent the evening chatting to a couple from Australia and roomed with a Japanese snoring backpacker . . not much sleep on the night cruise but enjoyed it, pictures don´t really do it justice - one of them things you have to see.
Left Queenstown the day after I got back from Milford Sound and headed up to Franz Josef Glacier area .
. weather has turned a bit bad the last few days with lots of rain and this put a stop to me going up the glacier in a helicopter - gutted. Roomed with a couple of funny girls from Slovakia and Czech, built like eastern European weigh-lifters from the 70´s but a good laugh and they hated the synchronised snorers just as much as me . . these people are following me - ear plugs and pillows pushed up against each ear couldn´t block the sound out from these fella´s! Weather stopped me going to Abel Tasman National Park and Nelson on the North coast. . loads of people said don´t go if it´s raining so gave it a miss and headed over to Kaikora for some whale spotting. Stayed in a great backpackers called the Albatross and had a good few drinks with a lad from Manchester - I know, you meet all sorts on these trips! Due to strong winds couldn´t go out on the ships to do whale spotting - again disapointed but you win some, you lose some, I´m sure I´ll get to do glaciers and whale spotting on another part of this trip.
Caught
a flight from Blenheim across Cook strait to the capital city Wellington, on the North Island . . flew over on a very small 10 man aeroplane, it was fun flying a few thousand feet above the sea, very wobbly flight though as it was quite a windy day . . got talking to a guy from Wellington on the flight and he gave me a lift from the airport with his missus and they drove me round a bit of Wellington showing me the main sites. Had a couple of bevs in the evening and looks like another great city . . knackered after all the travelling though and booked onto the Tranz Scenic train up to Auckland at 7am so had an early Friday night. Enjoyed the 12 hour train journey, well the first six hours and then I was like I need to get off this train! Good way to see the North Island though and the guy in the ticket office sorted me with the best seat - right at the front so I could stretch out - the crew gave commentary along the way and the line was celebrating a 100 years that day so
there was a few stop offs with free food and old steam train displays . .
Got to Auckland and met Sam and his wife Jodie (Tane´s friends) . . they were celebrating meeting a scouser so had a few people round at their house and we had a few beers and pizza. Had the best nights sleep for a long time with being in a normal bed and not sharing with four other people . . next day went with Sam and Jodie for a picnic and to play volleyball . . Sam and his friends are semi-professional and anyone whose side I was on got beat by at least 10 points . . the guys said I have what it takes though. Got a quick tour of Auckland and went up Mt Eden, where cows roam around in the crater! Had a few drinks in the evening with Sam and Jodie. . great people and it was a pleasure meeting them. Auckland looks great and they have a good lifestyle being so close to the beach and sea . . .
Headed up to Paihia to chill out and see the famous bay of islands. First
night went to a Maori show and it was excellent. Set in the in the location of where they signed the Treaty of Waitangi in started off with a warrior dance and presentation of gifts from three Maori warriors in the main garden. . three english guys had to accept the gifts and the warriors were right in their faces doing the screams, bouncing up and down and pulling the faces, bit intense! Show was set in the sacred Maori Whare Runanga building with an old guy telling his granddaughter the story of the first arrival and how the Maori people first lived here, and mainly how they used to entertain each other . . was good to see the dancing and singing and hear how they are still arguing over the treaty . . even today. Had a day on a yacht touring the bay of islands the next day. . all 144 of them! Pulled up into a cove and swam to the beach . . like paradise . .except for the sand flies! Great day sailing and relaxing talking to the crew . . they sail all round the pacific and live their life on the sea
and they love it . . . can see why. Spent the evening in the charming town of Russell, watched the sun set and had an early night . .
Have covered a lot of miles in New Zealand - by coach, by plane and by train. Have loved the mountains, fiord´s, lakes, rivers, rain forests, hills, friendliness of the people, friendliness of the dolphins and overall beauty of the place . . probably the most beautiful place I´ve been, will definitely be back one day . .
Spent my last night in Auckland with Sam, Jodie and a couple of their friends - the girls were very drunk and it was funny night to end my time in NZ. Flew across the pacific to Santiago, Chile, from Auckland on 19th Feb at 5pm . . after an 11 hour flight arrived in Santiago 19th Feb at 2pm . . after a long journey it´s always funny getting somewhere before the time you left the other place. . . thoughts of being held against the wall and having a fat cigar stubbed out on my bare chest didn´t materialise at Chile border control. . very friendly lady wanted
to practise her English on me. Getting a taxi was fun with 50 people screaming for you to get theirs in very fast Spanish. . hostel I´m in is cool. Will update next week . .
Adios!
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Fatboy
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my name
glad you found a toilet with my name on it!!!