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Last Few Days


The other day we passed through Westport and took some nice coastal walks through places like Cape Foulwind where I finally spotted my first wild kiwi bird. Unfortunately, the stupid British dudes from the tour bus scared it away before I could snap a photo. After a night of beating the girls in some card game called "Beanie" we got a full night's sleep in before heading to Punakaiki and taking another short hike along the west coast, checking out the pancake rocks (rock formations that resemble stacks of pancakes), and a smelly seal colony.

I've been blowing through New Zealand much too fast but I can't afford the time or money to take it slower. It's the sort of place that has so many incredible vistas that staring out the window is a joy. And sadly, that's how I've had to experience much of it.

Last night we made a stop at Lake Mahinapua. The Kiwi bus had organized a huge dinner for us. I definitely ate way too much. Check out the photo to see the plate piled with food. All of that went into my gut along with a second serving of venison. After dinner, the seventy or so of us went to a "fancy dress" party which I guess is what they call costume parties around these parts. I decided to wear a fancy dress. I'd fought a Thai boxer, climbed Mt. Fuji, gone swimming with dolphins... why not try dressing in drag? Regardless of not having shaved, I still made a pretty convincing girl which made the girls and boys uncomfortable. Mission accomplished.

After midnight, Carlien and I took a walk out to Lake Mahinapua to see the glowworms. These soft-bodied beetles have luminescent organs that emit light to attract mates. I remember how excited I was the first time I saw a firefly walking with my friend My in Queens (NY). Phosphorescent creatures are wild man. When we started on the path, there was pitch blackness in front of us and behind us. We had to follow the space in the trees above to know where the path went. Then, along the sides of the path, we'd start to see patches of undergrowth dimly lit. Crouching down, we took a closer look and found dozens of tiny dots of light. Carlien said they looked like fairies, I compared them to accent lights that light footpaths. Out on the lake, stars filled the sky. But soon, the cold chased us back to the hostel.

Early in the morning, we walked back out to the lake to see the morning mist roll across the water and the sun breathing warmth into the green around us. Another sleepy bus ride took us out to Pukekura for a peak into the touristy Bushman's Centre. We watched a video about the history of the deer population in NZ, fed some possum, and grabbed breakfast.

Finally, we ended up in Franz Josef Glacier Village. We took a quick look at the magnificent glacier that I will be climbing tomorrow, armed with spiky boots and two pick axes. Should be interesting.

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1 Responses to “Last Few Days”

  1. # Anonymous Anonymous

    Happy Waitangi Day! Just saw it on my calendar... Hmm, I had to look it up on Wikipedia.  

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filmgen@yahoo.com A 29 yr old filmmaker from California traveled through Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia/NZ over ten months from April 2007 to March 2008.



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    TRAVEL ITINERARY

    2007
    April 6:
    Cuba
    April 30:
    France
    England
    Scotland
    Ireland
    Netherlands
    Poland
    Czech Republic
    June 3:
    Spain
    June 20:
    Switzerland
    June 22:
    Russia
    June 27:
    Germany
    June 30:
    Italy
    July 22:
    Greece
    Egypt
    August 9:
    India
    August 27:
    Japan
    September 10:
    China
    October 3:
    Thailand
    October 30:
    Vietnam/Cambodia
    December 3:
    Australia

    2008
    January 23:
    New Zealand
    February 26:
    Hawaii
    March 1:
    California
    Spring:
    Florida, North Carolina,
    New York, England, Spain

    2009
    December 29:
    Iceland
    January 9:
    New York City
    January 17:
    Washington D.C.
    February 18:
    California
    March 18-23:
    New Orleans


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