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Kia Ora,
Well its my last day in NZ. The last few weeks have been full of adventure on the South Island. I've flown in a light aircraft over Mt Cook - although the landing was something I'd rather not repeat, apparantly because of the thermals the pilot literally has to throw the plane down on the tarmac, umm. I've been on a jetboat along the Dart River valley in Queenstown. This was great fun, although the woman sitting next to me didnt seem to appreciate my excited squeels of "again, again" after the numerous 360 deg spins. I've seen the mass of Franz Josef Glacier and travelled over the alps on the Transalpine train. I've been to Kaikora to go whale watching - yes again - lucky enough to see 3 sperm whales just drifting around. My camera took some fantastic shots of seawater just as the tails dived underwater. Thankfully my memory will surfice. Also saw a pod of dusky dolphins throwing some fantastic triple salcos and body spins out of the water for what seemed like ages. Watched albatross with 3m wingspan fly near Stewart Island and NZ fur seals galore.
The tour group finished a week or so back so I've been solo again for a few days. Its strange not to have the old folk to follow around, I miss the tour guide telling me what time to get up in the morning and I particularly miss the driver not collecting my bags from my room. I sat in Christchurch on the last day waiting over an hour for him to arrive! I am also rather confused having to find my own toilet stops on my adventures, but thankfully rather than get a colostamy bag I am learning. It was actually quite sad to say goodbye to the old folk, the farewell dinner was a chuckle - plenty of babyshams for the OAPS lightened the evening considerably. I did have one scare on the penultimate day, my rucksack was stolen from the coach - well it actually turned out to have been taken by mistake by another couple - this is what old age does to you apparantly. Bet they had a scare when they looked for their picnic lunch to discover my jacket, passport and spare knickers where their sandwiches should have been!
I've been in Nelson for the last few days, north of the South Island. Its a beautiful part of NZ close to the Abel Tasman National Park which is where I spent all day yesterday. Seakayaking for a few hours followed by a moderate hike back to Bark Bay where a speedboat picked me up and brought me home. Fantastic day out in gorgeous weather.
But now its time to say goodbye to NZ, the Maori name is Aotearoa meaning Land of the Long White cloud. I have played with their meaning somewhat and have decided to call it the Land of the Numerous BP Petrol stations - we are everywhere. Not sure the name will catch on, the Maori are rightly very proud of their heritage and history. And as for the gorgeous fit young Maori dancer who sang and danced at the tribal village visit - he is welcome to perform for me anytime. (Err sorry hun, but he was fit!)
So tomorrow I fly to the Cook Islands, crossing the dateline means I now get 10th March twice and change from being 13hrs infront of GMT to 10hours behind. All very strange for what is only a 4 hour flight. So I'm off to do alot of nothing, hopefully some diving and some attempt at changing this white skin to off white skin.
Thanks to all for your messages, its very uplifting to hear from home - not that I miss it but I do miss you all. Please keep in touch, much love Annie x
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