Queenstown Weekend

I flew into Queenstown Saturday morning from Auckland. The experience at the Auckland airport was the most pleasant airport atmosphere I have ever known. You checked your luggage yourself and everyone was happy and helpful (especially the security guards who do not require you to take your shoes off). The flight down was mainly over the water but once I was over the south island it was beautiful mountains that were spotted with sheep all the way to my decent into the airport.

The drive was just as beautiful with the lake surrounded by mountains. The weather is sunny and about 75 degrees. I love it here.

Saturday I moved in, went grocery shopping and walked around town a bit, where there are a lot of different languages being spoken because it is a very touristy town.

Sunday morning I walked down to Queenstown which took about 2 hours (with my photo stops that is). The photo at the top is me at the wetlands park that I walked through on my way down to town. There were some great views on my way down and lots of sheep, horses and flowers.

Every night that I watch TV in the common room I feel as though I am in a time machine. Saturday I was watching music videos and the Backstreet Boys "Bye Bye Bye" was on then the Spice Girls came on after wards. Last night I watched Tales from the Crypt. It is an amazing jump back in time to 10 years ago :-)

Picture Updates

Ok the first picture, obviously, a kiwi at the Auckland zoo.

Second picture is the whole intern group (plus a couple Maori guys) in front of the Maori cultural center.

Lastly, is a picture of Breann (left), Alanna and me in front of the city skyline.

Maori and Kiwi and Sheep OH MY!

Today was a bus tour out of Auckland with Paul the bus driver.

We went to the Maori cultural center where we were greeted by 4 Maori (3 guys and a girl) about our age who taught us Maori culture and history. We got to learn to weave the plants that look like palms (but are MUCH more durable) and sing Maori songs.

We ventured to One Tree Hill (not the movie set) where the park was filled with sheep. Unfortunately, no one in our group was able to get close enough to the sheep to take a picture with them but we did get pictures of them. . . running away from us.

The Auckland Zoo had all the animals out and about, which is what really makes the zoo fun. Not only did we see a Kiwi (who ran, and it was adorable) but we also saw hippos, lions, monkeys, giraffes, zebras, flamingos, turtles, sea lions and much more. The zoo was awesome because there is a medical center within the zoo to handle animal issues. What really makes this ingenious is that the operating tables are behind glass panes so that guests can see what is going on and the doctors will take the time to explain what is happening.

The tour ended at the museum of Maori Culture. We only had 45 minutes to do a quick tour (no, we did not see it all) of the artifacts and pieces of history from the Maori people. During this we were able to sit in on a volcano erruption simulation of an actual eruption that happened not too long ago. I never want to live near volcanoes.


Took over 200 pictures today. . . Best of coming soon.

Myths Busted

1. Toilet does NOT flush the other direction. I know I'm disappointed too.

2. Mullets do exist over here.

3. Kiwis are not everywhere - actually only 700,000 still exist when there used to be millions.



Any other myths I should be trying to bust?

Think I went to heaven

Landed safely in New Zealand this morning (Thursday - I had no Wednesday) at 4:55am, just in time to see the sunrise over the airport. It was far too early.

The flight was cramped coming from LAX to New Zealand. Happily, everyone had their own TVs for in flight entertainment.

After a whirlwind of a day (it is still only 4:15pm here) I am still going on some reserve energy I have managed to keep. So far we have had breakfast, expored a bit, had lunch and took a walking tour of Auckland. Plans for tonight are for a bit of fun at the pubs and trying to acclimate ourselves to NZ time.

Everyone in my group has the same travel bug I do and we are trying to find good times to visit eachother in our respective cities. Everyone wants to go to Fiji for the weekend of one of our girls birthdays - I'M PUMPED.

One fun fact about New Zealand - BEST COFFEE EVER. I think I'm in heaven. Coffee is everywhere and it makes me so happy.

I'm on a timer at the hostel computer so I have to cut this short. I will post again as soon as I can.

Lots of Love from Auckland!

861YBE

I am going crazy today with packing and pulling together all the loose ends. My to do list does not seem to be getting any smaller and I am procrastinating as I write this post. It just proves that I am still a college student, leave everything to the last minute and procrastinate as much as you can before getting in trouble.

As I was driving from OSU's campus to Dublin yesterday I was behind a car who's license plate was 861YBE. My head twisted the letters around at the end and made it spell 861BYE and I found it to really represent the past weekend that I have had and the night and morning at the airport to come. I have been running around trying to see everyone that I know one last time before I ship off and even though it was not 861 it still meant a lot to see everyone.

To all those that I did not get a chance to see or talk to - GOOD BYE! I will miss you!

Well I must be getting back to my to do list. My suitcases are already on the verge of breaking 50 pounds so let the shuffle begin!


My next post will be from New Zealand!

Accomodations!

For the Auckland orientation we are staying in a hostel. But it is not a typical hostel where you wind up walking out with scabies (ask about my Galway, Ireland incident). This hostel has a sauna, rooftop sundeck, and hot breakfast. I am also pumped for the orientation where we will have a tour of Auckland, learning about the Maori culture and a trip to the Auckland zoo (where there will be KIWIS!).

When in Queenstown I will be in a furnished, 1 bedroom apartment that is a 2 minute walk from my internship. My apartment is in the Shotover Ridge Lodge (previously known as the Storm Cat Lodge) off Arthurs Point Rd. The furnishings include queen size bed, couch, table with 2 chairs and a kitchenette. I AM SO EXCITED :-)

Estimations of my location:
•8 Minutes to Queenstown centre
•15 Minutes to Arrowtown
•20 Minutes to Queenstown Airport
•10 Minutes to Coronet Peak Ski Area
•6 Hours drive to Christchurch
•3 ½ hour drive to Dunedin