Kaikoura photo

Just thought I'd take this opportunity to post a neat photo I took in Kaikoura. There's something appealing about this picture to me, either in the colours or the texture of the clouds or something.

I have been procrastinating WAY too much today though, so I need to go do some lesson planning. Back to the real world tomorrow! But, as dad said in his letter, I'm in the "final 4" (weeks) at HVHS. Amazing. Time flies, doesn't it?!

Home, sweet home!

Sorry for the lapse in blogging. Since my last update I saw Christchurch (although a very limited visit in terms of getting a feel for the city), and Kaikoura, a beautiful seaside town on the east coast. After Kaikoura we headed back up to Picton, where we stayed overnight with Trish and Kurt (Trish is Fiona's mom's sister). We went out to the Irish pub for a drink last night and saw a guy playing his guitar and singing, in a sort of a mellow folkish style.... definitely enjoyable. Then today as we were just getting settled into our seats on the ferry, I saw the same guy setting up for a performance in the Fo'c'sle Bar/Lounge! I was surprised, but went to round up Fish so we could get some good seats for performance #2. After the show he came to visit with us, and now he's going to text us tonight so that we can all go out in Wellington. Fun stuff!

What a great holiday this has been. It was also really nice to get home too, and into the open arms of Mr. Sam Hall, who has been without any female company in the house - except the rats, of course - for an incredible 2 weeks! While his time alone was quiet and probably quite enjoyable (leaving the toilet seat up, etc.), he was glad to see us again. Of course, the sentiment was reciprocated. We missed our Sammy! I also came home to a HUGE stack of mail, including a care package and postcards from mom and dad, a letter from Scott (including a bunch of pictures of his new band and choir rooms at his new job!), a letter from Andrew (one of my co-workers from IMC), 2 packages from the U of S Dept. of Music (3 CDs each of Wind Orchestra and Jazz Band), and my new airline tickets to Australia and Vancouver. YEEHAW!!! It was just like Christmas, opening so many packages!!!

Tomorrow morning we're going to head over to Richard and Kirsten's place at 8am for breakfast and rugby..... GO ALL BLACKS!!!!! It will be great to catch up with those 2 as well... it feels like we've been gone so long!

I took SO many amazing pictures this trip, and I will get around to posting a few of them soon enough (and yes, photo challenge pics too!).... but for now I'm exhausted, and I'm going to borrow Fi's car to go visit some friends that I haven't seen since I left. Jude, Julia, Aidyn, etc. are awaiting my presence!!!!!

Cheers, from a tired but content little kiwi traveler!!!

Canyon Swing Eve = better than Christmas?

First, I have to give a shoutout to all of you who responded to the last post. It was awesome to read all of the comments and to get all of your input!!!! So the Canyon Swing was by far the most popular choice, which is fantastic because that was the one that I was leaning toward anyway. It has now been booked and paid for, and at 4:30-5ish tomorrow afternoon (10:30-11pm at home) I will be freefalling through the Shotover Canyon at 150km/hr! I think I will be taking the "do a back flip off the platform" option, so I will be sure to take Karyn's advice and go pee before the swing so that I don't have any unfortunate accidents caught on DVD! Don't worry about me either - I promise to post an update as soon as I'm back on the ground with access to the Internet.

Fish is also doing a Canyon Swing tomorrow, and she's convinced that she's going to get up there and just cry her eyes out. Now she's trying to reframe it... positive thinking! "I won't cry, I won't cry, I won't cry.... I will f#^*ing love it!!!!"

And I should mention as well that I am completely GUTTED about the fact that the Tim Horton's in Queenstown has apparently gone out of business. NOOOOOOOO!!!!!! You had all better plan to have a Tim Horton's date with me when I get home, because I've been too long without it... and now with all of this build-up and subsequent disappointment re: the lack of a kiwi Tim Horton's, I am really feeling deprived. Imagine me shedding a single tear here in Queenstown. Do I have your pity? Go, go now and drink plenty of iced capps for me. And eat a Boston Creme. Perhaps some broccoli soup... or cream of potato bacon. With a beautiful fresh roll. WHY, OH WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?!?!?!

And on a much less dramatic note, I am going to sign off and go seek out some food with Tiffany (another crushed Canadian in this whole Tim Horton's disappointment). Then it's off to do some gift shopping!

Cheers!

Franz Josef glacier hike picture overdose!

Hello from a very tired and content little glacier hiker! As the title suggests, prepare yourself for a picture overdose from today's hike. It was beautiful, tiring, cold, wet, breathtaking, and absolutely worth the $130 NZ I spent on it. Worth. Every. Penny. Here are some picture highlights (I took about 250 pictures on the glacier today, so I've obviously chosen just a few):

Just thought mom would appreciate this one. Haha.

Our guide, Rob, briefing us before we head off on our hike.

Maddie and me in black and white.

Some of the steeper or more dangerous areas had ropes that we had to hang on to for balance and/or support (I took this one at the spot just before I had to grab the rope - no worries, I wasn't being careless!).

Halfway through our hike, we got to a place where we could choose whether or not we wanted to use an ice pick for the rest of the hike. Many of us decided against it, but we had to pose for pictures anyway!

Liam managed to cut both of his knees on the ice... you'd be amazed at how sharp that stuff is! I cut my leg and my finger too - everyone was bleeding. Haha.

Maddie took this picture of me pretending to hike a steep incline. She forgot to put the camera on an angle, so it's pretty clear that I was just laying down on the ice. What a nut!

This is what it was supposed to look like! Lewis helps to pull Sarah to safety.

Trekking across a flatter part of the glacier.

Lewis and I stopped for a photo op in one of many crevaces.

Here is where I'm saying "How the heck am I supposed to get up here?!" (The steps seem a lot less steep in this picture, but climbing up here with legs as short as mine was a challenge!)

Liam strikes an epic cliffhanger pose.

Some of the crevaces that we had to climb through were quite tight. Rob forges the way, while Sarah looks a bit hesitant (we all made it through, but we were all soaked!).

(Semi-)Group shot!

Rob (aka Jafa - "Just another f****** Aucklander," although he swears it stands for "Just another friendly Aucklander," haha) and friends hack away at the ice so that it falls on Ben and Scott below. These guys are all about helping each other out, let me tell you.

One of the steeper crevaces that we had to manouever through (the camera doesn't do it justice).

James made it through the tiny cave!!!! Well done, bro!

Group 1 forges ahead on the way back down the glacier while Group 2 waits for everyone else to catch up.

Mom, this is the picture I was talking about.... I took it just for you!!!! I promised I wouldn't fall into a glacial crevace, and I didn't, but I had to take this picture just to freak you out a little. You're welcome.

Yep, that's a bit of a tight fit!

One of my favourite parts of the glacier.

Hiking through the "wave" formations, on the way back down the glacier.

Almost at the bottom.

On the way back to the hostel after a long and tiring day of hiking, I had to stop to pose with Cowan Street (for my roommate, Scott Cowan). I miss him, but at least I can hug the street sign!

Photo update of south island adventures!

I have managed to scrounge up enough money (after paying for my many excellent adventure activities) to find enough internet time to upload, compress, and post a few of my pictures for your viewing enjoyment. Tomorrow I head out on the glacier hike, while Fi will do some kayaking. I should get to bed soon, as it's nearly midnight and we have to make an early start tomorrow. So, with that, here's what Fi and I have been up to since Monday:

I've been in NZ for 2 1/2 months now, and I still hate seafood so much that I chose to stick my head in my trailmix bag and sniff while we walked by the smoked fish shop in Nelson (notice my fabulous new "NZ Identity" shoulder bag!).

On our first night of Kiwi Ex in Nelson we collectively bought Matt (from England) a jug of beer if he agreed to shave his head. Here it is in action.

We've been hanging out with these two hooligans, among others, since Day 1 - Scott and Ben, both from England.

We stopped at Lake Rotoiti for lunch, and our bus driver Mangee offered a free pint (or jug?) for the first person to dive off the dock into the frigid water. Kelly and Ste chose to pose nicely instead.

Fish won the free beer!

Jetboating on the Buller River en route to Westport.

We had a bonfire on the beach in Westport. Fiona and I took every opportunity to sing around the campfire.

Whilst taking a picture of my feet in the Tasman Sea, as per mom's photo challenge request, the tide came in, leaving me with wet jeans and a friend (Tiffany, my fellow Canadian!) who was eager to take my picture.

One of the many beautiful scenes at the Cape Foulwind Walkway.

I had to pose by the crazy sign at Cape Foulwind. How far to Vancouver?

The big green Kiwi Experience bus!

We stopped at the Irimahuwhero lookout point to take pictures. This doesn't do it justice - I actually got choked up as we drove past because it really was that beautiful.

On our way to Lake Mahinapua we stopped at the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks. It was a gorgeous day, and the sun was warm and bright, making the walk enjoyable (maybe almost too hot), and the pictures vibrant.

Maddie (from England) and I picked up skipping stones from the beach at Mahinapua.

Last night we had a "T" Party at our hostel in Mahinapua. Scott (England), James (Northern Ireland), and Liam (Dublin) all went in togas.

Fish in her Maori costume (mentioned - and likely horribly misspelled - in the last post)

Jauma and Lewis went as tramps, while Maddie and I went as trailer trash twins. We even had matching travel pillows under our shirts! I know, I know, it's classy. What can I say? (It was especially entertaining to explain to Jauma, who is from Barcelona and doesn't speak very good English, how we wanted to pose in these awful costumes with him)

Jade, Craig, and Claire (Scotland) = tribal

Lewis (from Wales) got up-close and personal with his new girlfriend, a thar, at the Bushman Cafe, en route to Franz Josef this morning.

Our first peek of the Franz Josef glacier this afternoon, which we will be hiking all day tomorrow.

One of my favourite pictures from the last few days. Maddie has written in the sand the name of each country she's visited. This was taken yesterday, late afternoon - a beautiful day at Lake Mahinapua.

Lauren's Kiwi Adventures..... er, Experiences!

Off I go for a 2-week tour of New Zealand's beautiful and scenic south island with the Kiwi Experience bus tours. Here's the challenge:

You (yes, I mean you!) will leave me comments about anything that you want to see a picture of on my blog, and I will do my best to take a picture of it on the south island. It could be anything - a specific landmark, a funny road sign, a man wearing ugly short shorts, a mullet, a NZ symbol, anything. Be creative - it will make my picture-taking interesting!

I'm leaving in about 20 minutes, and will likely have sporadic access to the Internet while I'm gone, but if the blog posts dwindle and you don't hear from me for a while, don't fear. I'm with Fiona, adding another mark on the list of fantastic kiwi adventures..... or should I say Kiwi Experiences!