So I think I am falling in love with this amazing country. The people here are amazing, all willing to chat and outdoorsy. I mean, not to say you need to be outdoorsy to be cool, but it helps.
There is this new style I have been digging called KIWI style, which is basically shorts over thermal pants. It sounds stupid, but is absolutely amazingly comfortable. I don't quite pull it off though because my shorts are too long; true kiwi style incorporates the short shorts.
On to updates. In Queenstown three other students and myself decided to bunjee jump. Did i mention it was the highest bunjee in the Southern Hemispher?!? 134m 8 seconds of free fall. Epic.
I also got to pick up a hedgehog! BAsically we saw it in the middle of the highway and Dan, one of our fearless instructors, turned ther van around to save it. He stopped in the middle of the road just long enough so i could jump out the back window of the van and snatch the little critter. Then to my surprise, he told me to bring it in the van! SO we relocated it down the highway by like 30 minute drive.
Otherwise, I have come to realize in these past few weeks the simple pleasure living in a tent can supply. Sure, there are few amenities, thin walls, and it can get cold, but life is easy and enjoyable. This is how life is meant to be led, with simple desires and activities filling the day; no regard to technologies that blind us from the pure things in life. Sure, facebook is great.... but swimming in a glacial stream as the sun peaks between whispy high elevation clouds is even better.
I am tired of paying for internet at this cafe... so til next time! Odds are I will still be hiking in amazing coiuntry. If your curious what it looks like, watch lord of the rings!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
NZ Part 1
So i have finally made it New Zealand and been here about ten days. SO far, I am absolutely in love with the country. The landscape is a mixture of rangeland (for sheep) and crazy snow capped mountains. One morning, when camping near the Fjordlands, I went for a run. WHile running, the clouds parted to display and epic view of snow capped mountains above a lake. Gorgeous, peaceful and amazing.
As far as the program goes, I am slightly dissapointed. Essentially we have been staying in hostels, or camping in their yards with little actual nature. We have done a few hikes, but nothing like I expected. Hell backpacking is a minimal part of the program apparently; we are traveling every day though. Currently I am in Queenstown, adventure capital of New Zealand. Instead of going to a library to do research, I went with a few fellow students to do the highest bungee jump in the southern hemisphere. It was absolutely thrlling to say the least. Upon jumping, I was silent for about two seconds, yellled "O FUUUUUUUCK" for another couple, and was thrilled the whole time. 8.5 seconds of free fall. Epic.
Beyond that, the few hikes we have gone on have been absolutely breathtaking. I have hiked through temperate rainforests, a.k.a. rainforests fromavatar with temperatures in the low sixties to mid fifties. Good thing I brought warm clothes. One day we assisted in invasive mammal trappping. This was actually hiking through the rainforest emptying rat traps, a surpirsingly fun, rewarding day.
At this point I am loving the program, though we have almost no free time. I find myself running in the morning just to get some time by myself to soothe the nerves. Not that anyone is annoying me, but I need the time to myself to free my mind of stressors and find a center. The other students are very down to earth; there are two other guys and 12 girls. I get long with them all.
The only downer is that tonight, at the bars I lost my passport. Ya... I am that fucking stupid drunk kid who F'ed up. Go me! I bet it was riding the mechanical bowl downtown....
I hope for the best in finding it... at least I have a copy. Well I am off to bed seeing as it is late. Internet is scarce out here, and expensive when available. Until next time.
Peace, love, and good vibes.
Trevor
As far as the program goes, I am slightly dissapointed. Essentially we have been staying in hostels, or camping in their yards with little actual nature. We have done a few hikes, but nothing like I expected. Hell backpacking is a minimal part of the program apparently; we are traveling every day though. Currently I am in Queenstown, adventure capital of New Zealand. Instead of going to a library to do research, I went with a few fellow students to do the highest bungee jump in the southern hemisphere. It was absolutely thrlling to say the least. Upon jumping, I was silent for about two seconds, yellled "O FUUUUUUUCK" for another couple, and was thrilled the whole time. 8.5 seconds of free fall. Epic.
Beyond that, the few hikes we have gone on have been absolutely breathtaking. I have hiked through temperate rainforests, a.k.a. rainforests fromavatar with temperatures in the low sixties to mid fifties. Good thing I brought warm clothes. One day we assisted in invasive mammal trappping. This was actually hiking through the rainforest emptying rat traps, a surpirsingly fun, rewarding day.
At this point I am loving the program, though we have almost no free time. I find myself running in the morning just to get some time by myself to soothe the nerves. Not that anyone is annoying me, but I need the time to myself to free my mind of stressors and find a center. The other students are very down to earth; there are two other guys and 12 girls. I get long with them all.
The only downer is that tonight, at the bars I lost my passport. Ya... I am that fucking stupid drunk kid who F'ed up. Go me! I bet it was riding the mechanical bowl downtown....
I hope for the best in finding it... at least I have a copy. Well I am off to bed seeing as it is late. Internet is scarce out here, and expensive when available. Until next time.
Peace, love, and good vibes.
Trevor
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