Today was Open Day on campus where a bunch of high schoolers visit the campus and attend mock classes and get tours. They also had some bands on the field outside my dorm so I spent much of the day there. I got sunburned! Not bad but it seems weird because the sun hasn't been shining enough for it to happen lately, or I just haven't been outside that long. I don't know. Catchafire was a good reggae start to the day and then some ok cover bands played. The second cover band threw in a few of their own songs as well. I almost went to Raglan (the beach) today but I wanted to see the bands while there was something happening on campus.
You can easily tell what the photos are of, the start of an adventure. The parabungy is in Queenstown just before I jumped and the hang gliding is 2000 feet up a mountain in the Remarkables. Both were wonderful experiences and I would definately do them again! I haven't done much here this week and I have a field trip on Saturday around the region. I do have plans to see Big Fish on campus and to also go to a local craft fair at the Hamilton Gardens (a place I haven't been). Next week we are going to the final regular season rugby match and the Chiefs may make the semi-finals! I still have plans for after my finals because I now know that I'm done on the 19th but my flight leaves the 28th. Let's see, what haven't I done yet?
Today was absolutely amazing! I went swimming with the dolphins in Kaikoura and there was around 300 of them. They got so close but we weren't supposed to touch them (they might decide to leave). They wanted to play and would circle you going faster and faster if you tried to keep up. Next thing you know, eight dolphins are within a few feet of you circling and darting to and fro. I swear one jumped over me. They also liked you to dive with them but only after they circled you and by then I was too dizzy to dive. The water was freezing upon entry but we had several layers on with our wetsuits. After swimming we got to motor around for some pictures and the playful dolphins were definately showing off! Tomorrow the return to Hamilton starts and it is back to the grindstone ;) This trip has been absolutely wonderful!
Wow, have I been busy! Since my last post, I've done lots of things so I'll only go into detail on the big ones. I spent a full day climbing the glacier at Franz Josef which was amazing. We squeezed through tight crevasses, ducked through tunnels, and hiked around. The rock/ice combo at one section gave way under my feet but I only slid to my bum and not into a hole. There were dangerous falls and deep crevasses but we jumped over or went around those. The next day we went to Wanaka with a few stops for photos along the way. This was a more chill spot and the next morning we went to Puzzle World. This place was kind of neat and was interactive with a museum and a labyrinth. The driver advised all Americans and Germans to avoid the labyrinth as they have a tendency to get very lost. Challenge accepted! I did it fairly easily but found two towers twice before I found the exit. I never cheated like several of the others.
On to Queenstown. This town is a base for many things such as skiing, hang gliding, anything involving a parachute, horse treks, Lord of the Rings tours, and so much more! Personally, I went hang gliding which felt as though I was just floating in the air. We did a few tricks and I got to steer for a while ( it was a tandem flight). This morning was my big day, the Parabungy! I was harnessed and strapped into a chair that was then lifted off the boat by a parachute (like parasailing) and after I reached 165 meters and took some photos that are very interesting (to be posted later), I jumped out of the chair! It was a lot of fun and not scary at all. It also wasn't as bouncy as a normal bungy but everyone I told about it said I was insane (as they were jumping off a 43m bridge). It was amazing! I don't have any other major adrenaline events planned but I am swimming with dolphins in Kaikora. Tomorrow is Milford Sound and beautiful scenery. There is so much more adventure to come! Also, I've met some more people I have personal connections with back home and run into classmates from Hamilton, it is such a small world! ;)
Well so far there has been some driving and a lot of stops. We really never drive more than an hour without stopping to get out and see or do something. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous. So far I have mostly done hiking and tomorrow I am climbing Franz Josef. I'm really excited and I also found out some of the people in my dorm at school didn't know what they were talking about so I'm back to doing the parabungy (instead of Nevis). There are a lot of people traveling with Kiwi Experience so I'm meeting lots more people. We'll be together until Queenstown and then I'll be getting on a different bus. Off for more adventure!
I leave for my trip tonight on the night train to Wellington and will arrive with just enough time to catch the ferry across to the South Island. From there, I hop on a green bus and start my travel around the island. I'm looking forward to it and the first big thing I plan on doing is hiking a glacier in Franz Josef. If anyone wants to follow me on a map, I'll be working my way south along the west coast before I go to Queenstown. From Queenstown, I'll be going to Milford Sound and then back to Christchurch and north along the east coast. I'll hit Picton just in time on the 24th to catch the ferry and then I'll have a couple hours in Wellington before I catch the train back to Hamilton. I figured I might need to rest so I'm coming back the day before classes restart. The bad thing about Easter Break is that it is considered a break
to study not
from study. Several classes are including the break as time for assignments and several people have assignments due during it. I don't have any due during break but I have some due shortly after I get back! Somehow I doubt that'll put a damper on my trip!
Well, we made it back from the Bay of Islands. We also went to Ninety Mile Beach and the Fine Food Festival in Auckland, all with six people in a five person car. We had a few road adventures that included things from sign confusion to a flat tire. All good, though, just a thrill! The sites were amazing and I hope my pictures turn out well enough to post! We were going the cheaper route so we didn't do any commercial tours, just travelled. We stayed in Paihia and I guess the fishing tours from there are great, as is snorkelling and swimming with dolpins.
By the time we got to the food festival, we were all pretty hungry so we loaded up on all the cheeses, crackers and meat and then had a glass of wine (that definately tasted bettter with some cheeses over others!) and tried a lighter wheat beer. We also listened to a seminar on wine. We did tasting, how to store, temperatures and debunking various myths. Good to know! Thursday is when I leave for the South Island so posts may or may not be a few more days apart. Just keep thinking of all the fun I'm having that's keeping me away from a computer!
As with any university course, assignments come due in the week or two before any major break. Since Easter break is two weeks long, project deadlines and tests are consuming everyone's time. Some people are taking things too far and I tried to advise a Kiwi who hasn't slept in three days that he'll do much better on each assignment and complete them faster if he gets some sleep. As for myself, I haven't been too worried over getting my essays done. Just the same, I decided to have a little fun to relieve any stress.
The first thing that put the idea into my head was the fact that we are a day ahead of North America so no one would be suspicious of an April Fools' Day prank (realization courtesy of Deirdre). Next, I thought of posting a fake message on this blog but decided the potential emotional damage needed to be controlled better (plus it posts the date). In the end I decided to call my parents and play on my mom's fear of my desire to skydive. I told them that I had gone skydiving in Taupo yesterday and now had some restrictions on what I could do over the Easter break. When they asked why, I claimed the instructor for my tandem jump was shorter than me (many Kiwis are) and upon landing, his weight plus the force broke my ankle. I kind of blew it when they started asking technical questions but before they realized the haux I asked them to look at the calendar...March 31st...what's the date here?....April Fools' Day. I was then subjected to numerous threats of bodily harm but laugther soon released the tension. Mom decided it wasn't a great joke, though, and ruined it when I started to play it on Brett. This has been the highlight of my day.
