You understand now why you came this way
'Cause the truth you might be runnin' from is so small
But it's as big as the promise, the promise of a comin' day
Lying in bed, because there are no curtains, I can see the Southern Cross in the sky across the water and above Cecil (pronounced like Cecil Fielder) Peak. . .it's hard to get back to sleep when you can see the constellation of the southern hemisphere and a snow topped 6,500 foot mountain with one of my favorite French words. . .massifs. . .it is with a mixture of awe and wonderment when I wake up in the middle of the night. . .last time I saw the Southern Cross was in 1989 on my six weeks of work in Perth/two weeks traveling in Australia. . .in case you are wondering, it hasn't changed.
Tough choice this early morning -- stay barefoot to enjoy the under floor heating, or put on boots to brave the 36 degree temps and take pictures of the Remarkables with the glow of the sun rising behind them. . .photo time. . .also it's daylight savings time day here. . .so we lose an hour of sleep but gain one more hour of sunlight in the early evening.
New Zealanders are very friendly. . .hard to believe there are fewer than 4.5 million of them. . .they drive like maniacs (which, for a guy from Jersey, is the pot calling kettle thing.!). . .you also don't know which side of the sidewalk or path to walk on. . .it's a guess each time, because in the States, while we walk on the right on a sidewalk or trail, NZers are all over the place.
The Central Otago region (where Queenstown is) would be the playground for the world if it were more accessible. It's stunningly beautiful (if I haven't conveyed that), and there are many adventure sports to choose from. . .if you haven't been, you have to get here. . .every time I look out the windows of this place, I am in awe at the beauty of God's creation. . .New Zealand is 70 percent mountains. . .it appears the other 30 percent are beautiful lakes, hills, or sheep and cow pastures.
. . .I feel like this is a Larry King column. . .every time I write it. . .because of these. . .
Speaking of other writers, be sure to read Maddy's blog for her perspective on her time in New Zealand as well as her great adventures thus far in Australia. . .great fun. . .and, as my friends and family who have been reading it note, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
If you come to Qtown, it helps to like Pinot Noir. . .NZ is famous for its whites, but in Central Otago, Pinot Noir rules. . .it's handy that every bottle seems to be screwtops. . .not corks. . .if we don't finish the second bottle of the night. . .we recap it and wait for the next night. . .our wine tour is Monday. . .today is the Shotover Jet in the morning and sporting clays in the afternoon. . .with the extra hour of daylight. . .we'll cap off the day with one of two hikes.
Carol is sleeping well this morning. . .the night before, she was up at 3am with some distress from eating mutton bird, which is harvested by the Maori on Stewart Island (off the southern tip of the South Island). . .The birds are also called sooty shearwaters or titi. . .One 18th century commentator said they taste like sheep. . .uh, not even close. . .she thinks that food. . .plus the NZ pork belly sandwich from Fergburger for lunch. . .is what ruined her sleep. . .but she handled the Milford Sound trip like a trooper. . .before falling asleep by 9pm.
I've taken over 400 pictures so far. . .and that's less than 2.5 days on the ground. . .in the land of the Kiwi.
Tough choice this early morning -- stay barefoot to enjoy the under floor heating, or put on boots to brave the 36 degree temps and take pictures of the Remarkables with the glow of the sun rising behind them. . .photo time. . .also it's daylight savings time day here. . .so we lose an hour of sleep but gain one more hour of sunlight in the early evening.
New Zealanders are very friendly. . .hard to believe there are fewer than 4.5 million of them. . .they drive like maniacs (which, for a guy from Jersey, is the pot calling kettle thing.!). . .you also don't know which side of the sidewalk or path to walk on. . .it's a guess each time, because in the States, while we walk on the right on a sidewalk or trail, NZers are all over the place.
The Central Otago region (where Queenstown is) would be the playground for the world if it were more accessible. It's stunningly beautiful (if I haven't conveyed that), and there are many adventure sports to choose from. . .if you haven't been, you have to get here. . .every time I look out the windows of this place, I am in awe at the beauty of God's creation. . .New Zealand is 70 percent mountains. . .it appears the other 30 percent are beautiful lakes, hills, or sheep and cow pastures.
. . .I feel like this is a Larry King column. . .every time I write it. . .because of these. . .
Speaking of other writers, be sure to read Maddy's blog for her perspective on her time in New Zealand as well as her great adventures thus far in Australia. . .great fun. . .and, as my friends and family who have been reading it note, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
If you come to Qtown, it helps to like Pinot Noir. . .NZ is famous for its whites, but in Central Otago, Pinot Noir rules. . .it's handy that every bottle seems to be screwtops. . .not corks. . .if we don't finish the second bottle of the night. . .we recap it and wait for the next night. . .our wine tour is Monday. . .today is the Shotover Jet in the morning and sporting clays in the afternoon. . .with the extra hour of daylight. . .we'll cap off the day with one of two hikes.
Carol is sleeping well this morning. . .the night before, she was up at 3am with some distress from eating mutton bird, which is harvested by the Maori on Stewart Island (off the southern tip of the South Island). . .The birds are also called sooty shearwaters or titi. . .One 18th century commentator said they taste like sheep. . .uh, not even close. . .she thinks that food. . .plus the NZ pork belly sandwich from Fergburger for lunch. . .is what ruined her sleep. . .but she handled the Milford Sound trip like a trooper. . .before falling asleep by 9pm.
I've taken over 400 pictures so far. . .and that's less than 2.5 days on the ground. . .in the land of the Kiwi.
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