Snack-blog

I'm about to leave New Zealand for Australia.  Maybe I'll add another update from there where they'll stop charging us huge fees to use the internet connexion. While waiting, here's the recipe to stay zen.

A moutain+the noise of a river+a sunset+this song = telling myself it's worth it to throw all my money away for this trip.

To conclude, I need to wish a very happy birthday to Lisanne...

** For an unknown reason, it is possible the song won't play very well. That's not normal.

A ride on board of the Tranzalpine Scenic Train

My videos are never too complicated, but they are worth what they are worth. Here is the panorama the Tranzalpine Scenic Train has to offer. I know, it's moving and noisy. But you were warned.

Another video of Tangariro

Here is a second video of the walk on Tangariro Alpine Crossing. It's in the south crater, not on top yet.

Pictures of New Zealand

Auckland

Devonport

Rangitoto

Tangariro

Here are some pictures for those who are not on Facebook and haven't seen those yet. It's a small preview of what you can see in New Zealand.

Going with the flow

Queenstown, New Zealand

I'm speaking more and more in english. I will soon have been gone for three complete weeks, which is about 10 years in a dog's life and six months in a round-the-world traveler's life, and the little voice in my head switches slowly from french to english, without stopping. That's how it is when you surround yourself with another language.

Well, I say surrounded... Even if I like our French cousins, there are freaking everywhere. You cannot go around the corner without meeting one. BUT, not a lot of "French Canadians".

« You're my first French Canadian » I was told today. Woot!

All that introduction was a way to apologize for using an english title on the french version on this blog. But it was the first title that came into my mind.

So... Going with the flow... Because I tied my cartesian-planning self at the very bottom of my luggage, I accept that I don't know, two or three days ahead, where I'll be and what I'll be doing. Unless I'm in high season, it's probably the best way to see the world. And it allows to have last minute plans.

That's what I did when I figured their was a Nostradamus sign in the cancellation of my ferry. No ferry? Ok, then I'll fly to Queenstown, all the way down the south island, where everybody says you need to go. Too bad for Picton, Nelson and the other northern destinations.

Didn't need to fight to get my refund for the ferry, that's already something. And I flew, like a little bird, early this morning. The capital, with it's neverending grey sky, rainy and windy city, was left behind. One hour later, I found sun and just a little bit of wind.

Queenstown, I love you! Just for your sun. But also because now I understand why everybody says you need to go there. Some will prefer the hundreds of bars and pubs, way too many for the number of people living here. But I also fall for the huge mountains, the lake, the nature with a capital N, a little bit in the middle of nowhere.

I've seen the huge mountains in Innsbruck, Austria, with snow on top. But here, there is a lake. It's almost silent when you go up anywhere. There is a feeling that this nature is really stronger than everything.

So, listening to the gossips, I'm emptying my bank account tomorrow to explore Milford Sound fjord. 120 people live there. And seals (guaranteed). And maybe dolphins too.

I just realized I chose expensive countries. More time in Asia would have helped save money. But one cannot miss New Zealand.

Gone for a stroll

As promised, here it the address of Troy's blog. Troy is that Australian who travels around the world to gather money to fight against breast cancer.

www.goneforastroll.com

Stuck in boring Wellington

Wellington, New Zealand

My "aura of sun" has left me. New Zealand's "bipolarity" is stronger.

Happy, this morning, I booked a shuttle and the ferry that should have brought me on the South Island, in Picton.

When I got in my hostel in the evening, another guest told me a storm and huge waves were expected for the next day. Result : no ferry. Stuck, I am!

Zen, me? Not really. But when you leave for six months, one unexpected event is not that bad. Only, I had enough of Wellington, where, to be franc, they is not a lot to do if you travel on a budget. Especially when it rains. Because when it's sunny, you can find something to do.

Not out of solutions, I booked a flight to Queenstown (far from here) for Sunday, after adding a night in my hostel, unfortunately the most expensive of the trip yet.

I still need to track the refunds I hope to get. Yeah!

On another topic, I met a 21 year old Australian who travels the world to find places to trek or hike. He walked on the Himalaya, already, and he confirms he found the Tangariro Alpine Crossing difficult. So there I am, proud of what I accomplished.

That Australian guy uses his walks to find sponsors and get money to fight against breast cancer. I'm trying to get the address of his blog to add it to my links page. It would be an excellent article in the newspaper if he had chosen to climb mount Bellevue in Sherbrooke instead of the Rocky Moutains this fall.