Mardi 25 novembre 2008

After two more weeks in Queenstown where I pursued my English classes and had a Great time with my friends at the hostel, I left to Franz Joseph glacier in Sunday afternoon. At one point, I was tempted to stay another night because I wasn’t in top shape after the “pimp and porn star” party, it was raining and 7 hours alone in the car is a long ride. Anyway, even if we like a place, we should know that there is a time to continue our journey ;-) Arrived in Franz Joseph glacier it was raining there also… I was supposed to climb the glacier the day after but with this weather?? After I asked some people “Anyway, it rains everyday here” (fun… interesting place to stay all year long). Ah, I will see how I feel tomorrow.

7h30 am: My alarm clock told me that I should wake up… I don’t want to!

8:00 am: I was late. Ok just a look at the weather… it’s sunny, I have no choice.

8:05 am: I ask the reception if it’s possible to book the trip… the line is busy.

8:20 am: Is too late for the 8:30 trip but I can book the one at 9:15… I’m here so let’s go!

8:25 am: I pack my bag.

8:35 am: I am going to the market to buy food for the day

9:15 am: I am running late to have my breakfast.

9:20 am: I ask the reception, I’m supposed to wait here?

9:21 am: I’m running to the office because I was supposed to be there at 9:15…

9:26 am: They are like me; they are late in their planning so I’m ok…

10:15 am: They give us our material for the climb and I get in the bus and just like that…

I’m on the road again… it is the traveler’s game ;-)

Even if it was raining all day long and I was completely wet, Franz Joseph glacier is very interesting. Before, I saw some glaciers in Canada and New Zealand but it was the first time that I was able to climb with crampons.  The blue color of the ice is especially beautiful!

 

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Dimanche 2 novembre 2008

« L’avenue me fait marcher c’est comme ca, cette nuit le ciel est mon plancher trouver-moi, … ».

We want to say thank you to Amelie for sending me this great CD to Indonesia. We played and we play, we play, we play, we play it !

We left you at Bluff and we were supposed to go to the Catlins National Park and... we did that. The Catlins is the winding coastal route between Invercargill and Dunedin passes through natural sights, beaches, side roads and gorgeous vistas.  One characteristic of the road trough Catlins National Park is the incredible slogans of the cities for example: Tuatapere, New Zealand’s sausage capital (we can bet that the last mayor was the butcher of the town), Milton “ the city of opportunities” (what’s your profession? ah, it doesn’t matter, we need you anyway) or Owaka “place of the canoe” and Pouwanea “meeting of the water”.  

Day 6: First stop, Waipapa point with the sea lions and the lighthouse. Arrived to the beach, a warning sign told us to be extremely careful with the sea lion, especially when they mate so now because they can attack you... Slowly we enter the beach and saw the grumpy one then we escape and find the lazy one who was happy to pose for us. After that, we were ready for some tramping at the fossil forest (forest from the Jurassic time) and to see the yellow eyes penguins at Curious bay despite we were very tired. “Where are the old threes?” Nobody told us that it’s a forest OF fossils. Maybe our archaeological part didn’t really know where she was supposed to look for but saw fossils and rocks and big seaweeds, the most interesting sight. And penguins... they never show up. Tired from our walk, we decided to look an accommodation for the night. We found a very special place:  you just stop, park your car, open the door, say “hello anybody here?” then enter in the house, write your name on a sheet of paper and make yourself like at home. The owner turn up at eight o’clock to collect the money... easy way to save a receptionist pay.

Day 7: We stayed in the bed very late, because both of us wanted to jump into the shower but the american girl has been in there forever... or at least, that was what we taught. So it was a big surprise when we discovered that the shower change during the night to a bathtub... The pleasure of sharing a place ;-) So it seems to be the day of the water, while it was raining outside we left for the Matai waterfall then to the Nugget point at roaring bay where we saw sea lions again and finally Dunedin.

Day 8-9: Dunedin is a nice university city in front of the sea. Sometimes, it’s good to be back in a city: cinema, art gallery, coffee and walk without a goal. We went to the Otago peninsula for another attempt to see the yellow eyed penguins with success. In fact, we saw one but it was really cute. It was amazing to observe him coming out off the water to go home.  We saw some sea lions again...boring ;-) It’s funny how excited we got the first time we saw them and how rapidly, it’s becoming a normal figure. Also, we managed to see some huge Albatross birds. We are now on the road to Oamaru and another night with miss Monroe...

We are tired... see you tomorrow                

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Lundi 27 octobre 2008
 As I am travelling with Annika and I need to practise my english writing, I will try to write some texts in my second language. For sure, you will find many grammar errors... don’t laugh at me please ;-)

We start our road trip one week ago with Miss Monroe who, I believe, is still enjoying the trip. After one month in Queenstown, we left our new foster family at the flaming kiwi backpackers to explore the South of New-Zealand. First, we wanted to go to Milford Sound for tramping but apparently, all treks begins at Te Anau so we were happy to see few minutes of Milford Sound and the famous Mitre Peak, that shows at the end of the fellow ship of the ring.

Day 2: Shopping at Te Anau to prepare our journey to the Kepler trek.

Day 3-4-5: The Kepler trek, “what are we doing here?” is always a good when you are standing in the snow half way up the mountain. The second question is “Why didn’t I bring some sweet food or at least, a little bit more?”. Well we made good friends: Thanks to Boris and Yannick for their contributions! The third is “How old are we?”... 45 or 82 years old ? and my personal question after 2 days and a stiff neck : “Why didn’t I bring a pillow?”, an Israel girl made her boy friend carry her teddy bear for three days. The second day’s view was stunning! We were tramping along the ridge of the mountain as if in a movie scene: When the helicopter arrive at the end to save the people from the storm (no, the weather was nicer) so maybe we were more in the final scene of a nature film... or ok it is enough, you get the picture !

Finally, after all these questions we were successful! You know after three days, the most wonderful thing is the shower at the end hum... or maybe is not... it is the beer at the Moose with the guys ;-)

Day 6: Oh no, is it already 7am? The first question of the morning is: “Why did we book this full day boat trip to Doubtful Sound?” We got up tired, hangover, sore muscles and an angry German lady that we apparently woke up 3 times during the night, oups. Late, another angry woman (the bus lady) came to drag us into the bus and let’s go to Doubtful Sound, Youpi ;-/ Ok, we weren’t in top shape, we had a little nap on the boat but saw dolphins and some great sceneries. Still going strong, we drove by night to Bluff and slept in the car. “Should we put the alarm clock?” Annika said. No..., we sleep in the car. Do you really think that is necessary? (at the same time looking at our accommodation for the night) I answered.

Day 7: Ouch! “Where am I ?” / “What time is it?”: half an hour before the boat departures to Stewart Island. Doesn’t matter, there is another one at 11:30. After some considerations, as the price, the weather and a long holiday weekend (problem to get accommodation on the island), we decided to pass over Stewart Island and go directly to the Catlins...

To find out what will happen next, read the next chapter in a few days...

Val and Annika

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Lundi 6 octobre 2008

Voici le bilan de mes activités dans cette petite ville qu’est Queenstown… après deux semaines au pays des kiwis,

Je vais en classe tous les après-midi du lundi au vendredi… hou excitant ! Pour vrai, cela peut vous paraitre étrange mais j’apprécie le retour aux études et je crois que c’est vraiment bien pour moi… L’école est à 30 secondes à pieds de mon « hostel » et les enseignants sont vraiment compétents en linguistique… Ce vendredi, j’ai effectue une pratique de l’examen IETLS… j’avais la fumée qui me sortait par les oreilles… J’étais devant ma feuille et devais expliquer puis comparer le cycle de vie des vers à soie vs la production de la soie a partir d’un schéma. Dans l’autre texte, je devais argumenter sur le respect ou non de la culture du pays hôte. Non mais combien je suis nulle en écriture anglaise !!! Je pouvais ressentir comment mes petits élèves dyslexiques pouvaient souffrir de ne pouvoir exprimer leurs idées par écrit… Pourtant ce n’est pas complique de trouver un synonyme pour « different »…

 Bref, j’ai un petit bout de chemin à faire au plan de l’écrit mais pour le reste…je devrais m’en sortir et obtenir la note nécessaire soit 7.5-8/9.

Voila pour le plan scolaire… maintenant le social. La plupart des gens qui demeurent à l’auberge jeunesse sont à Queenstown depuis un certain temps et y travaillent. Donc, c’est bien car tout le monde se connait… nous sortons tous ensembles : barbecues, « nightlife », films, sports… Par contre, c’est un peu difficile d’étudier dans ce contexte ;-)

Annika est venue me rejoindre et notre activité principale est le trekking…Comme je l’ai déjà mentionne, Queenstown ressemble vraiment a Nelson (CA) en moins artistique et plus party (un grand lac entre deux montagnes). Donc, il y a plusieurs sentiers et parc aux alentours. Puis, nous allons jouer au frisbee ou au soccer après mes cours.

Ha oui ! J’ai acheté une voiture avec Annika : Miss Monroe, une Corolla blanche 1985… Je retrouve enfin le plaisir de conduire à travers ses montagnes… Le panorama est superbe. Bon nous avons déjà été oblige de demander l’aide de nos compatriotes masculins avec les câbles car j’avais oublie les lumières et après nous sommes pratiquement tombées en panne d’essence entre Queenstown et Cromwell… Lorsque je grimpe à l’intérieur de Mis Monroe… je ne sais jamais si elle préférera continuer à dormir ou venir avec nous… mais bon c’est Miss Monroe.

C’est ma petite vie a Queenstown et ce, pour deux semaines supplémentaires. Après cela, je partirai avec Annika et Miss Monroe, si elle le veut bien, explorer l’ile du sud de la Nouvelle-Zélande…

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