“I’m a bleeping idiot.” Those were the last words out of my mouth before I lept off a platform suspended 143 meters (440 feet) above a canyon by a couple of lousy cables. Five hours earlier, I was sitting in a barber’s chair getting a much needed haircut. I knew I’d be hurling myself into a canyon later that afternoon, but I was surprisingly calm. I guess I had already Read the rest…
After Makarora, we Strayed to a pleasant little town called Wanaka. Only Evelien and I got off, but we ended up staying in different hostels. Our Stray paths will re-intersect in January. Wanaka is “Queenstown, Lite”. It is by a lake, surrounded by mountains, and lives off tourists and holiday travelers. Then again, lots of little towns rely on tourism. Heck, New Zealand’s number one industry recently became tourism. I Read the rest…
If the word “breathtaking” were literal, I would not have been breathing for the past several days. The scenery here is astounding. I feel like I’m living on a postcard. New Zealand’s South Island only has 25% of the population, but a gazillion percent of the beauty. (Just look at my North Island pictures. It’s hard to believe the landscape gets better!) I’ve been on this trip for 58 days, Read the rest…
Woke up to the pitter-patter of rain falling on our communal gypsie-esque tent at The Barn hostel in Marahau. Not the sound you want to hear on a day that will include hitchhiking and trekking. Nonetheless I boarded the Stray bus back to Motueka. Hopped off and stuck out my thumb in the rain. No more than 3 minutes later I was in a jeep with a tractor saleswoman. She Read the rest…
After Wellington I took a ferry northwest to the South Island. Funny how that works. I stayed in the tiny town of Picton for two nights at the fantastic Tombstone Backpackers. On Saturday, the day I arrived, the town was hosting a Christmas parade. It was a nice hot day, and the star of the parade – Santa Claus – was sweating in his costume. There were floats from schools, Read the rest…
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