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'Every day's a Sunday' - Tales of a one-way
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Speechless and Frustrated
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It didn't take us long to get to Te Anau which was convenient as today's schedule was planned tightly. We arrived at the Te Anau Lakeside Camping Ground, checked in to secure a bed for the night then it was straight back on the bus to head off for what has to be the most stunning, awesome, breathtaking road journey I have ever been on. Apparently, it is rated as one of the most scenically amazing drives in the world. I simply can't describe what we saw so I won't even try. I can't. What I can tell you is that we travelled the road that takes you along the edge of the Fiordlands National Park. This is where we passed through the 'Chasm', the 'Valley of a Thousand Waterfalls', the 'Homer Tunnel' and the 'Avenue of the Disappearing Mountains' to name but a few. Rudyard Kipling aptly describes it as 'the eighth wonder of the world'. What is a great shame is that not only are there no words adequate enough to describe these parts, but I cannot even upload the pathetic pictures I took. It would be disrespectful. We all spent more time in speechless silence with our eyes on sticks than giving the slightest bit of attention to the pathetic attempt that the most sophisticated camera would ever manage. I foolishly tried to take a couple of pictures at the Chasm which were promptly deleted. This place really has to be seen to believed. And now that makes the rest of this beautiful country sound less significant so I can't win, but I'm sure you know what I mean.
We arrived in Milford at around 3pm where we boarded the boat for our 'Milford Cruise'. This was a ninety minute trip out in to the mysterious 'Milford Sounds' by boat to see some of the most magnificent scenery on earth. They say its a beautiful place when the weather is fine but this particularly beautiful place becomes a truly magnificent one when subjected to bad weather as it becomes fantastically animated with waterfalls and mist, bringing out the very best of its mystical presence.
Well today it had been raining hard so we were in for another treat. And what a treat it was. An unforgettable one. The only word I can give it is breathtaking and once again that's not even close so I won't even try to come up with another from my limited vocabulary. Not being able to express something is so frustrating! I'll just say no more. The pictures once again do no justice whatsoever but I've included a few in an attempt to give you a vague idea of what this incredible land is remotely like.
A nice surprise waited for us in Te Anau on our return as we discovered we all had a room each. A room each! A complete room. A room with a bed and a small heater, next to a conveniently placed desk and chair with no other person(s). A whole single room with walls and sockets, even a window with a venetian blind. Each. To oneself. Completer peace. Complete bliss! This is a first in nearly four months apart from my first day in Auckland when I checked in to that double room with excrutiating tonsillitis pain which caused me to totally take it for granted. So I was chuffed to bits. We all were. A great end to an absolutely mind blowing day!
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