Thanks Zack!

Thanks Zack Albrecht for suggesting canyoning...it was CRAZY AWESOME! The pictures can probably speak better than I can. We repelled, went down slides, and jumped into water. I did a 14ft. jump into the water...scary but fun. There was also one where I went head first into the water. It ended with a zipline. It was a great adventure we had in Wanaka!

Ode to the New Zealand Public Toilet

This might be a strange blog but I feel the need to write an ode to the New Zealand public toilet. You might think to yourself that there's nothing special about a public toilet...but oh you are wrong. You haven't seen the New Zealand public toilet especially the ones on the south island on the west coast. I know what you're thinking, you just need to toilet to do your business but this toilet cleans itself, checks up on you, flushes itself, and even sings to you. In order to enter you must push a button. When you get in it tells you that you have 10 minutes to use it and then precedes to sing classical music to you. In order for you to flush, you must wash your hands. You get soap by put your hand under it and water but just putting your hands in the sink. If you stay too long in the toilet, the music will stop. It will ask you if you're still in there to move. When you leave, it completely washes itself. Everyone must come to New Zealand just to experience the toilet. You're so GREAT New Zealand public toilet!

On a different note, we hiked on a glacier today. We had crampons on and explored the ice. At one point there were huge walls of ice on both sides of me. What a cool experience! Great pictures from the trip.

A Great American Feeling

Warning to all...I'm about to get political in this one. It's been so great traveling now that Obama is president. This is the first time that I've traveled and people have positive things to say about the American gov't. From the guy we bought our car from to political leaders to street vendors, everyone has a renewed feeling about America. When we were at the Waitangi Day festivities at the beginning of our trip, the leader of the Maori Party was wearing an Obama shirt (at an important event!). The leader of the Labor Party (he's the second highest political figure right now) said that at least they can agree on one thing...America has the right president! It's great to hear this attitude.

It's so New Zealand

After Abel Tasman, we drove back to Nelson to take part in creating our own bone carving necklaces. On the way we stopped and picked raspberries. I think I ate more than I actually picked! That night we drove to a beach and cooked our dinner on the beach. We decided to sleep in the parking lot of the beach. There were signs that said no overnight camping but there were at least 20 other vehicles parked there to sleep. We even talked to someone that had been sleeping there for 2 weeks. We said that every once few days they get kicked out but always come back. It was raining so we weren't worried. At about 10:30 that night I woke up because there was lots of car noise. A couple of seconds later there was a knock on the car door. There was a security officer there. In the nicest and most apologetic voice he said "will you please move but you can go on the next street to sleep." It was so typical of the people from New Zealand there always nice even if they have to kick you out. The next morning we went to this guy, Stephen house. He's a bone carver and we took a workshop with him. Bone carvings are very sacred in Maori culture. Each one tells a story. They are made to be give to someone (I wonder who I'll give mine to...). Check out the picture of mine. I can't believe how well it turn out...I love it! Sara's is also great. The workshop was awesome with great results! Today we had a long drive. In Lonely Planet it was listed as one of the 10 most scenic drives in the world. All the drives have been gorgous but this one was spectacular. We stopped on the way at a place called Pancake Rocks. The rocks look like stacks of pancakes. At high tide, water shoots up through the holes. Sara and I enjoyed finding faces and pictures in the rocks. We arrived a Franz Joseph Glacier. We booked a hike on the glacier for tomorrow and took a hike today to view the glacier.

I think I'm in a postcard!

We ended up in Marahau and decided to stay at Old MacDonald's Farm. They had llamas and alpacas on the farm (on like any farm I'm used to). The place we stayed had naval orange trees (for those of you who know my love of oranges will understand) and I ate sooo many of them. They were delicious. The morning we left for a 2day and 1night hike in the Abel Tasman National Park. We took a water taxi to the start. On the way we stopped on an island with seals on it. All of a sudden I saw a dolphin jump out of the water. It followed us for a while and gave us a show. The hike was great. We pretty must hiked from beach to beach. Great views!

Shout out to all my friends and family that are reading

Thanks to everyone who has replied, send emails, or messages on facebook. It's been great hearing from so many people! I misss everyone soooooo much. I'm sorry that I'm not able to send personal emails. Internet is expensive here and I'm just finding the time to update the blog.

Love to all!!!

Every story must begin with a story...

So here's a story that Sara told me after this situation happened. I have been asking Sara to share one of her stories with me and she always relies, when the time is right. The story goes like this...There was once a Chasidic Rabbi back in the day that was walking to synagogue and was stopped by the king. Now this king thought highly of this Rabbi and even consulted him on important matters. The king asked the Rabbi where he was traveling to this morning. The Rabbi replied that he's not sure. The king asked again and got the same answer. The king thought that the Rabbi was lying to him so he took him off to jail. When they got to the jail the king asked the Rabbi why he wouldn't tell him the truth. Well the Rabbi replied, I was on my way to synagogue and headed up in jail. You never know where your journeys might take you.

Now this story being told, this is our story. We took the ferry from the north island to the south island. The view was gorgous. We drove our car off of the ferry and were heading toward Nelson. We were just about to leave the city of Picton (where the ferry gets let off) and our car breaks down. Sara stays with the car and I run to a gas station close by to get some help. The man says that he can't leave for 45min but will come when he gets off work. I go back to the car and we get our stove out and cook a big feast on the side of the road while we wait. The man goes and pulls us (literally with a rope) back to the gas station. He tells us to come back in the morning. He was incredibly nice and helpful. We find a hostel and it has a hot tub! I go back in the morning and the car is all fixed. We leave for our second time to head to Nelson.