Blogs from South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 1168

In the southern town of Invercargil we visited the wierdest museum I have ever seen. It has under one roof: the town information center, some art stuff, living lizards (in glass cages, don't worry) and some exhibition about the islands under the 45 degrees line with stories about ship wreckage and castaways... one museum. And there was more I just don't remember. Is this the effect of the deep south?? We are still having great weather, haven't seen rain in days, and down here at the south, next to the sea it's so great. You see so much blue sky from one horizon to the other side horizon. Some clouds hang in the air but it doesn't seem realistic at all. Fantastic. We stayed in the smallest backpacker, in a place called Waikawa. On the other ... read more

Hello everyone! This is my life, honest and uncut…pretty dramatic, ay?! :-) For anyone who just stumbled upon this travel journal: I’m Sascha, I’m from Cologne, Germany and I’m currently studying in Christchurch, NZ. I decided to use this travel journal as a way of letting my family and friends be part of my exciting life and tantalising adventures that I have here! Since most of them are back in Germany I’ll be writing mostly in German…at least at first. Later, if I find the time, I might add translations to my journal entries. You can still enjoy the great pictures from the beautiful New Zealand scenery, if you like, though ;-) Soooo, jetzt aber mal auf Deutsch!!! Haaaallloooooo alle, herzlich willkommen auf der tollsten, informativsten, lustigsten Online Reiseberichtsseite der Welt, die die spannenden, aufregenden und ... read more

Dearest Friends and Family, I would like to talk about one thing today -- FEAR. Yesterday I experienced this powerful sensation in its truest, rawest form. Nothing compared to this. Not public speaking or thinking a dark thief is breaking into my apartment or finals come close. Not even the dreaded piano recitals of my youth hope to touch this sort of fear. I went for a canyon swing. The "Shotover Canyon Swing" in Queenstown, adventure capital of the world, perhaps. A swing? you think. That's kid's stuff! That's what they do at the Hilton on the "Ultimate Rush." Weeee! No. no, no, no. People say this beat the fear factor of skydiving and bungee jumping combined. The victims jump from a cliff mountain platform 109m/360ft above the Shotover River, then freefall 60m/200ft into the ... read more

Dear friends and family, Destination from Nelson: Franz Joseph Glacier Ahoy ya'll! New Zealand truly is a land of contrasts and variety. The day after leaving the sunny land of Nelson/Marlborough, I found myself climbing ICE! Yes, I hopped on the Magic Bus and headed down the West Coast, more of God's country. The Southern Alps run down the backbone of the South Island defining and isolating the West Coast. It's a narrow, rugged strip of land barely more than 20 miles wide all the way down, filled with wild rivers, lush temperate rainforest and crystal lakes. It's enough to make an old woman blush and a young girl squeal! Our Magic driver Pop Star was in a surly mood that day, allowing us poor, wretched passengers only a short time to view the stunning ... read more

This was a real fun day! First of all, no driving :-) I needed a rest from that... In the morning we went to a museum in Wanaka called Puzzling World. It has a great exhibition of illusions, a maze, and mind cracking games room. We were actually first to arrive to the museum and we had the illusions rooms all to ourselves. I attach pictures from the giant and the dwarf room, illusion used in Lord of the Rings movie. See me and Shiri exchange our heights :-) One room presented holograms, one room had 168 faces on the walls, and they all seemed to follow you when you walk. The illusion is so real, it was amazing, although after I understood the trick it didn't work anymore :-( The last room is built slanted, ... read more