Queenstown - bizarre place

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Been a while since my last entry, mainly because I couldn't figure out what my password was. Doh!

I've spent the last week in Deco's Backpacker's hostel, and I just found a less temporary place to live. A couple guides are moving out of their room and need someone to rent their space for the month they are away. The house is in a spot called Sunshine bay, which is about a 30 min. walk from town. A bit of a schlep, but nothing I can't handle. Luckily there is a carpool that swings buy in the mornings for work. It will be nice to get out of the constant noise of the Deco's, what with the dance party radio station on full blast from about 9am - 11pm every day, and the free tea and coffee leaving me in a caffeine induced stupor.

I've just been issue my working holiday visa along and am completely checked off on my NZ guiding license. Just need to wait for the busy season to kick off and I'm in business!

The weather was perfect today, took a walk around the Fernhill loop, a three hour march up in the hills. I gained a good amount of elevation in the process, probably topping out around 1,000 meters (3300 feet fer us 'mericans).

Queenstown is a bizarre place. It has taken me a while to come to some sort of conclusion about it, and I have finally started to figure it out. The town is completely and utterly devoid of culture! The permanent population hovers around 12,000 people, but the tourist population at any given time can reach about 15,000. The main town is nothing but bars and shopping outlets. It's as if the entire town exists to serve one function, to empty the wallets of its visitors. Weird place.

Send more soon!

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Photos

Queenstown
A good view of downtown and the mountain range beyond, known as the Remarkables. This photo was taken from the Gondola, a good 45 min. walk from my hostel.

Lake Wakatipu
Part of the lake, along with some gorgeous peak that I don't know the name of, one of many!

Me and the lake
A nice walk around Queenstown Gardens, home to some colorful pigeons, a frisbee golf course, a skateboard park, some flowers, and a million dollar view. Crazy hair not part of the gardens, I brought that myself

Bumble's Backpackers
My first home, a good place but kinda drafty.

Deco's Backpackers
My second home, cheaper, warmer, better view, free tea, helluva walk from the town.

View from Fernhill
Yup. Just another breathtaking view from Queenstown. This is from the outskirts, a quiet place called Fernhill. A passing storm created the rainbow, a double rainbow at one stage.