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Dear Diary (07/12),
Wkoe up & decided to go for a swim in the sea. Waves were even bigger than yesterday & was like a little kid diving into them (I'm loving the sea, come to think of it any form of water you can dive into or swim in). Just the cure for a slightly sore head.
Stopped off at the Bushman's Centre which basically showed an insight into how people from thias fairly remote area made a living through Possum trapping & primarily helicopter deer recovery to create a number of dear farms (this involved men jumping out of a helicopter over mountains onto wild deer!!). One of the original pioneers of this runs the centre & he & it was a surreal experience but worth the $4 entry fee.
Arrived in Franz Josef about 1pm in the most spectatcular weather - clear blue skys & as hot as you like. This was my prompt to do another skydive over the glacier.
Checked into hostel & got myself sorted for being picked up at 5.30pm for the skydive. 5 other people were there as well & as the plane could only take 2 at a time, I didn't get to take off until about 7.15pm but it was sooooooooo worth the wait.
Got to take my own camara up with me, so got loads of photos of stunning views of the mountains & galcier. The freefall, while only 45 seconds, was better than Taupo as you could take in the sights & not have to worry about the camara person. Once the parachute opened I was allowed to use my camara to take photos & I got some excellent ones.
Also got to steer the parachute from gentle turns left & right to mad crazy spins (better than any rollercoaster). Just an awesome experience all round.
Got back to hostel with a massive smile on my face & really pumped up. Partied hard into the early hours.
(08/12)
The day of the 1st of 3 things I came to NZ for, the Franz Josef glacier walk & it went beyond all expectations.
We had yet another glorious sunny, cludless day, so spent the whole day in just shorts & t-shirt. Not sure how you can describe it in words, it was just the most spectacular, awe inspiring, humbling place I have ever been to.
We walked for about 2 & half hours up the glacier via man made stairs in the ice, through crevices you have to squeeze through, saw heaps of blue ice where it has compressed so much that it has forced the oxygen out.
Some of the scenery was almost unreal - you are standing on a glacier looking out into sunny clear skies with tropical rainforests on either side of the mountains - AWESOME (I hope my pictures do it some justice).
Got back about 6pm & bumped into some people I had left behind in Wellington which was such a cool way to end the day.
Evening activities consisted in much the same as previous night - drink, chat, drink, laughter, drink, pool, drink, drink - Well, it is the Kiwi Experience way!
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