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Published: March 9th 2009
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Milford Sound
Eerie, romantic or something else altogther? Fortunately for the Sounds in Fiordland, there's plenty of rain to like, something in the vicinity of 7-9 meters annually, about a third of which seemed to fall while we lolled about for a few days in the area.
However, extreme rain in this neck of the woods isn't the grim reaper for holiday goers that it would be in other tourist hot spots. The large volumes of water create hundreds of waterfalls that only appear after/during such downpours and the low hanging clouds clinging to the mountains also provide an aura that some might describe as eerie, others romantic. The trade off for this eerie/romantic ambience is that most outdoor activities are put on hold. Plus, the dim, grey light makes for some tough photographic conditions. So don't come back complaining my images are heavy on pseudo atmosphere and light on quality.
Visually though, Fiordland is a stunner, perhaps more so in this extreme weather. The sight of Milford Sound's vertical mountain faces plummetting into that Fiord could just about inspire me to turn all prosaic, but I'll spare you the nausea.
So, 12 days into NZ and we hadn't remotely tapped into the buzz of any city life. I
Milford Sound
Tour boat dwarfed by an angry waterfall guess NZ is that kind of place, but with the weather seemingly set in for a while, we thought we may as well test the waters of something a little more urbane. Tacking across Southland and over to the east coast, we slid into Dunedin. The name alone inspires images of bonny wee Scotland and much of the "historic" architecture is apparently a clone of all things Scot. Made me feel like rekindling the bloodlines by slipping on a kilt and unfurling the bagpipes for a rousing version of "Flower of Scotland".
3 other words could be used to describe Dunedin - cold, windy and wet. This could be a mighty dismal place weather-wise mid year.
Then there was Dunedin's campground. NZ's campgrounds/holiday parks/ trailor parks are inhabited by an extremely eclectic group of transients. Penny "struck up" a conversation with one of these characters in the communal kitchen. How do I describe this bloke? I guess he was like a Kiwi version of Clark Griswald's cousin, that bloke played by Randy Quade, although perhaps more "laconic", one word, monosyllabic phrases being his forte.
"Where ya from?"
"Sydney."
"Husband?"
"Yes, that chap over there."
"Work?"
"Yes, he's a fireman."
A
Milford Sound
Frigate on the Sound. poetic pause indicating to Penny that perhaps it was her turn for an inquiry or 2.
"So where are you from?"
"Invercargil."
"Do you work down there?"
"Meatworks."
"And what do you do at the meatworks?"
"Kill lambs."
At this point Penny could really have used my intervention as I figured on about 50 smartarse retorts for that little number. I couldn't believe the best Penny could come up with was:
"Does that involve shift work?"
WHAT WERE YOU THINKING DARLING?
Anyway, as it turns out the fella does work night shift. Apparently lambs don't particularly mind what time of the day they are necked.
Prior to signing off, allow me to twig your memories back to the previous blog and that wee incident at the Fox Glacier toilet. Now allow me to quote the great man, C. Montgomery Burns: "Revenge is a dish best served cold." When Penny exited the Milford Pub's "powder room," she was oblivious to the 1 meter length of double soft Sorbent toilet paper gently dangling from the nether nether regions of her derriere, like the tail of a Madagascan lemur floating in the wind. I COULD have informed her but preferred to let her
Milford Sound
Between rain storms wander around for an hour or so in full public view until the faux pas was revealed for herself. I couldn't help but think that the Gods were smiling down on me for my appreciation of the well balanced justice that only karma can provide.
Until next time.
More images at:
www.colvinyeates.zenfolio.com
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