Wairepo House Nelson

... the whole journey which was awesome :) . We arrived in Picton the port on the south island, and travelled to Nelson. Nelson is famous for being the centre of NZ, there is a point of top of a small mountain where the measured centre is actually located, we talked up and took up some snaps :). Not a lot else went down here, we were glad for a little rest.

... Well, that's a first!! We jumped on the water taxi, which goes all along the coast. You can hop on and hop off, walk, camp...in the luscious vegetation. The place reminded us of Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica.: nature and untouched beaches. We pass by the split apple, a round rock split in half. A dolphin has been in one of the bays for the last year or so and is all alone. So, each time a boat comes around, it comes and play with the waves the boat ...

... now will be happy to sample a selection of fine wines in Hunter Wines in the Marlborough region. Hunter Wines is currently run by Ann Hunter who is the first lady of New Zealand wine. She runs it solo now that her Irish husband has passed away. He helped start it and judging my the awards hanging around the wall - the wines are pretty well respected - I buy a few for the road. Back on the road we stop off for lunch ...

... they are and assume (correctly) that they can get away with anything. One boy told the dark haired girl that she looked like "Jordan" (as in some model?) and Abdura added playfully, "You mean Micheal Jordan?". The girl whipped around, (letting h** hair fall just so) and yelled "Are you calling me some ****** who plays basketball?"... and then proceeded on a five minute "****** this, ****** that" rant, leaving the rest of us in stunned silence.... She has to ...

... experience".  We were met by Uncle Boys, a Maori, who welcomed us to his home.  After dinner we participated in a traditional Maori challenge (quite intimidating) and greeting.  The men then learned the "Haka" (the warrior challenge dance) and the women leaned the "Poi" (designed to help keep your wrists flexible to throw weapons).  It was a lot of fun !!  We all slept in the "performance room" on mattresses which we placed on the floor.  (there was bedding too ...

... picture 20 college students running around grunting and yelling (or in my case screaming and laughing), and tackling one another. It was like a mobile dog-pile or the "beehive," characteristic of 5-year olds' soccer games. Though the carnage was quite extensive with at least seven injuries, it also resulted in a group team-bonding experience that only knocking someone flat can create. It's amazing what a little competition will bring out in people. :)

... We got a very nice final Wellington breakfast courtesy of Mojo in the airport (thank God they finally have a nice café there,) before starting our 30 hour travelling day. Aeroplane to Sydney was fine. Aeroplane to LA was great! Slept some, watched Dirty Harry, great food, whiskey. The flight to Mexico City was ****. Rude staff (who seemed ...

... We stayed in a houseboat, a backpackers resort in the bay. It was pretty busy for an hour with all the kayakers coming in and being water taxied out. Eventually all the activity died down, and it was just us and a handful of boats in the bay. We had a nice, relaxing night on the boat. Our host put on a nice BBQ, and I was in bed by 10 pm, rare for me. After breaky in the morning, Jackie and I got deposited back on the beach from our ...

... though! From there we moved on in the morning towards Nelson. We stopped at Split Apple Rock, but couldn't get a good look because the tide was in and we hadn't worn our swimmers. Then we moved to Motueka to look around the shops, a recommendation from our Lonely Planet. A few purchases and some emails later and we were back on the road. The next stop was Rabbit Island, famous for it's warm sea water (presumably affected by geothermal activity). We headed ...

... and once to check on a group of people who had driven their car into a ditch, but who seemed pretty relaxed about it. I can understand how it is hard to keep your eyes on the road in the midst of this monumental landscape. After a long day's drive, we rolled into the Fox Glacier Holiday Park at dusk, and slumped down in our 'chalet' for the night, in anticipation of what the morning might bring weather-wise for our long-awaited glacier walk.