Eden Lodge Oamaru

... 1490; 93;וינים שבילו בים כל היום לחזור אל היבשה, בכדי להביא את המזון לגוזל 97;ם. רק אז יעזוב ב ...

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....made it up to Mount Cook, which was just as awe-inspiring as the last time I was here. Luckily we had a gloriously sunny day so we could see the peak. Had lunch at the Hermitage (read NZ's equivalent of Claridges, just with a better view!) then went to the Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, which was pretty disappointing. Drove back to Tekapo via Lake Pukaki. Then went to the Hot Alpine Springs for a quick soak and to watch the sun go down over the mountains. Awesome!

... and in the height of winter. We'd found a walk we fancied doing in our guide book, wrapped up warm and headed off on a 5 hour trek across the coast to Sandfly Bay. On the way, we passed a place called Lovers Leap, a huge blow hole with the sea crashing onto the rocks below.

Getting to Sandfly Bay involved crossing a huge system of sand-dunes which spread about a mile back from the coast. Walking on soft shifting sand for about an hour was ...

... we ended up running back and forth inbetween waves for some pictures and to see these weird boulders up close. We even saw a broken boulder further down the beach that looked like it had exploded sometime in the past. It clearly showed that the centre had been hollow and at some point the pressure inside had been too great and it just blew up there on the beach. Luckily we only had to dodge incoming waves and not flying rocks this time round though :P

... eyed area. On the way out, Elaine noticed him in the bushes just a few feet from where we stood. Unbelievable!

While we were there they made us a roast of lamb, or hoget as they called it. So another night Brian and I made them Mulligan Stew, a recipe from my family. Merv took me mushroom hunting. When we got back we saw their neighbors pig hanging around. It is this ...

... of firsts - 1st University in NZ, first phone call made from NZ - the list goes on and on. Rabbie's there too with his back to the English Church(the Anglican Cathedral) and facing a row of pubs! The tour guides make a big deal out of that! Anyway enough I think. Today the temperature in Oamaru was 6 degrees this morning and the South westerly is still blowing hard so I'm sitting nice and warm in this internet shop! Tomorrow we head back to Christchurch and ...

... had spent 8 years living and sailing round the world on their 36 foot steel hulled yacht. Yes, just 36 feet!! Overnight we found a defect in the van. It rained and we had water coming through both skylights. 10 Feb - We managed to dry everthing off with the aid of a tumble drier and then set off for the Moeraki Boulders. These were simply amazing. They are like giant marbles rolled out onto the beach. Some are visible in the ...

... of penguins arriving followed by about 50 surfing in and waddling up the ramp to their nests. It was a great sight and for the next hour, more penguins kept arriving - over 200 in the end! They were very entertaining although much smaller than we had expected (30cm tall). On the walk home, we saw another 10 penguins trying to cross the road from the harbour to get home which was also amusing! (see photos)

... time. Nature has become my Plaything. I fear that once I'm back, I will find it hard not to feel restless and bored staring at the television and feeling stuck inside, hiding from the cold. I will just have to commit myself to something more, I'm sure trying to sort out my future will keep me busy enough. I will miss being able to walk next to the sea when I want to think, on lonely nights when the sound of the sea keeps me company better than any person could. Silly me ...

... as i write this tonight, i have 10 days left in dunedin. though i have enjoyed calling it my home for 5 months, i am more than ready to start traveling again. i have much planned and i can't wait to get on the road again. i promise another post within the next week or so to let you know where i'll be and what i'll be doing for the coming weeks. **NOTE** I WILL ONLY BE AT MY CURRENT ADDRESS UNTIL NOVEMBER 9TH. As soon as i have an address you can reach me at, i will let you know!