Loved it. Was a bit sad to get back here, but have had a fab day visiting Arrowtown today. It's a little gold mining town in the mountains. Amazing is the word.
Flying home tomorrow. See you!!
fredag 17 april 2009
Almost there!
Back in Queenstown after four days in the wild. Fantastic. Sorry, but the superlatives are just flowing here. It was so amazing. The solo-tramping (kiwi for hiking by yourself) went magnificent, really no problem at all. I walked for 4-6 hours per days through amazing alpine landscapes. I am not overly religious but when the sun appeared in a mountain pass in the far distance, after 2 hours of pouring rain, I was convinced that there must be a higher creator. It was painstakingly beautiful. Had nice chats with people in the huts in the evening too, really nice people these trampers. Many solo-trampers too, so I didn't feel like billy-no-mates either.
måndag 13 april 2009
Un communicado
Am in Milford Sound, Fiordlands, a National Park in South West New Zealand. Am checked in to a not-so-glamorous Lodge on the Fiord. Clean and full of people, no worries at all. Tomorrow I am off to the Routeburn track for hiking for three days. All by myself but with loads of stops along the way with people on track and staff in the huts. No worries at all. The only thing that I am slightly at ease about is lack of mobile network. Not because anything would happen or I would need emergency help or anything. It's just so ... unusual ... to not be in touch with the world. To not get morning texts from a cute guy or funny updates from pals or a sweet and perfectly spelled formal text from my parents. Me knows, it's only for four days. I suspect this will be my greatest challenge so far.
By the way -- Milford Sound is MAGNIFICENT. It's a dream world this place, never ever seen anything like this.
By the way -- Milford Sound is MAGNIFICENT. It's a dream world this place, never ever seen anything like this.
Global reflections
One thing I come to think of when I am out travelling like this is, not very original, how small our planet has become. I remember when I was little, my grandparents and other adults, parents also, used to sit and talk about people from other parts of Sweden as very foreign and of a different breed almost.
'Those Skane-people, they are a bit loud aren't they' or 'Norrlanningar are a bit silent and difficult, after all, don't you think'? And my grandparents more or less talked about people from other parts of Dalarna (my home-county) like they were a bit of a different species too.
Ok, admittedly, my relatives may not have been the most wordly travelled, even for their generation, but I still think it's such a difference today. When I am out travelling like this, I am instantly drawn to and connected to any other Swedes, or even English people (although there are HEAPS of them) and other nationalities are doing the same. Who knows, perhaps our world is becoming so globalised that our children will be totally mixed with all sorts of nationalities and regard their own as one big group.
Perhaps this is just because I live in London, one of the most cosmopolitan towns on this planet, maybe people in my hometown of Borlange still think that their world is confined to Dalarna?
'Those Skane-people, they are a bit loud aren't they' or 'Norrlanningar are a bit silent and difficult, after all, don't you think'? And my grandparents more or less talked about people from other parts of Dalarna (my home-county) like they were a bit of a different species too.
Ok, admittedly, my relatives may not have been the most wordly travelled, even for their generation, but I still think it's such a difference today. When I am out travelling like this, I am instantly drawn to and connected to any other Swedes, or even English people (although there are HEAPS of them) and other nationalities are doing the same. Who knows, perhaps our world is becoming so globalised that our children will be totally mixed with all sorts of nationalities and regard their own as one big group.
Perhaps this is just because I live in London, one of the most cosmopolitan towns on this planet, maybe people in my hometown of Borlange still think that their world is confined to Dalarna?
söndag 12 april 2009
time passes quickly!
oy! it's sunday night and in a week's time I will be on my way home. how weird is that?! well, at least I have 7 lovely days to go here in kiwiland. many things have happened in 50 hours, since I last blogged.
I have
1. learned that I need to be more unfriendly and more harsh if and when I venture out on my own. went out on friday night to see some climbing pals, but was chatted up by a little geeky mountain goat with his mates cheering in the background. not fun at all actually. ok, sometimes it can be flattering to be approached by young men, but not this time. it just didn't feel right. he asked all sorts of questions and it was just so obvious that he was only interested in getting into my pants. and that's fine. not to get into them of course, but to be open about it. what I really didn't like what that if felt as if he thought that was my ambition too, just because I was out on my own. terrible feeling. I went to bed early but scared that he was following me to my little dodge motel. bah.
2. driven 390 km from franz josef to queenstown in pouring rain. not that it was any less pretty though, amazing nature this place. at one point I was in a forest with enormous tall trees that really looked like the trees in lord of the rings. totally totally amazing.
3. arrived in queenstown which seems to be a heaven for outdoorsy touristic stuff. i would imagine the place to be unbearably filled with tiresome tourists in the summer, but now in autumn, it's just perfect.
4. jetboated! sooo much fun. http://www.shotoverjet.com/queenstown/main/. speedboats whizzing through the waters and doing 360 whirrls, sooo cool. don't think it's too organic, but still, sooo much fun.
5. had dinner at a FAB resto in Queenstown. really good wine and seafood, had table just by the shore. looovely.
6. bought some tacky souvenirs to friends and folks. terrible stuff, but sort of fun.
7. got miself organised for the big hike, starting on tuesday. can't wait. but it's a lot of stuff to get in place. bah.
8. discovered that the wine- and food tour I went to have displayed shitloads of photos of me! I really have to do sumfinx with that silly hairdo. ASAP!http://www.wineexposed.co.nz/tourgallery/wm08.04.09.aspx
9. have booked a WHITE WATER RAFTING tour tomorrow including a helicopter tour! how cool is this? heavily touristic of course, but should be loads of FUN!
now back to my laundry mission. need clean stuff for the hike.
adios amigos.
xx
I have
1. learned that I need to be more unfriendly and more harsh if and when I venture out on my own. went out on friday night to see some climbing pals, but was chatted up by a little geeky mountain goat with his mates cheering in the background. not fun at all actually. ok, sometimes it can be flattering to be approached by young men, but not this time. it just didn't feel right. he asked all sorts of questions and it was just so obvious that he was only interested in getting into my pants. and that's fine. not to get into them of course, but to be open about it. what I really didn't like what that if felt as if he thought that was my ambition too, just because I was out on my own. terrible feeling. I went to bed early but scared that he was following me to my little dodge motel. bah.
2. driven 390 km from franz josef to queenstown in pouring rain. not that it was any less pretty though, amazing nature this place. at one point I was in a forest with enormous tall trees that really looked like the trees in lord of the rings. totally totally amazing.
3. arrived in queenstown which seems to be a heaven for outdoorsy touristic stuff. i would imagine the place to be unbearably filled with tiresome tourists in the summer, but now in autumn, it's just perfect.
4. jetboated! sooo much fun. http://www.shotoverjet.com/queenstown/main/. speedboats whizzing through the waters and doing 360 whirrls, sooo cool. don't think it's too organic, but still, sooo much fun.
5. had dinner at a FAB resto in Queenstown. really good wine and seafood, had table just by the shore. looovely.
6. bought some tacky souvenirs to friends and folks. terrible stuff, but sort of fun.
7. got miself organised for the big hike, starting on tuesday. can't wait. but it's a lot of stuff to get in place. bah.
8. discovered that the wine- and food tour I went to have displayed shitloads of photos of me! I really have to do sumfinx with that silly hairdo. ASAP!http://www.wineexposed.co.nz/tourgallery/wm08.04.09.aspx
9. have booked a WHITE WATER RAFTING tour tomorrow including a helicopter tour! how cool is this? heavily touristic of course, but should be loads of FUN!
now back to my laundry mission. need clean stuff for the hike.
adios amigos.
xx
fredag 10 april 2009
A very GOOD FRIDAY
The days are clearly trying to beat eachother in perfectness for the moment. Today I have been iceclimbing on the glacier in sparkling sun and clear blue skies, been in a hot pools www.glacierhotpools.com in rainforest and am now off for a drink. And I am sleeping like a log at night! All jet lag is balanced now! Tomorrow I am off to Queenstown. I don't really know what to expect from this place. Some people say it's a tourist trap from hell, other love it.
We shall see, we shall see.
xx
We shall see, we shall see.
xx
torsdag 9 april 2009
"You can spit backwards also..."
That's what he said, the funny guy at the wine tour. Went on an amazing wine- and food tour around the Marlborough district yesterday. FANTASTIC. It was only me and a guy from the hotel with the guide and we had very exclusive service. Went to 6-7 vineyards, had lunch at a fab restaurant, lovely snacks here and a visit at a choclate factory. I was rather wobbly when I was transported home to my great hotel after around 10 hours tour. I asked Noel, our guide, if we weren't supposed to spit out when we were trying out 4-6 wines at each place. He just answered that there are 2 ways of spitting -- forwards and backwards. We spitted very much backwards, I can tell you...
Today i have been on the road for 500 km! Great long drive down south and out at the coast. Excellent all. Totally fabulous views and sceneries. Just like a dream land. . Have now arrived in Frans Josef. It's fun here, a bit odd village. And I have booked a motel that they recommended in my guide book. Not too sure about it. The room/studio is excellent but the door is just a glasdoor with a simple lock that goes straight out on the veranda. I am not totally superstitious but it doesn't feel all too safe? I arrived a bit late and didn't want to hassle with changing, perhaps I should have. Anyways. Better stop thinking about it. i will speak to my neighbours and the receptionist and perhaps they can provide me with some extra locks or something...
Tomorrow ICECLIMBING. How weird is that? I'm a bit nervous about this too. I think a sleeping pill will be a good idea for the ME tonight. She is getting a bit silly.
puzzz
Today i have been on the road for 500 km! Great long drive down south and out at the coast. Excellent all. Totally fabulous views and sceneries. Just like a dream land. . Have now arrived in Frans Josef. It's fun here, a bit odd village. And I have booked a motel that they recommended in my guide book. Not too sure about it. The room/studio is excellent but the door is just a glasdoor with a simple lock that goes straight out on the veranda. I am not totally superstitious but it doesn't feel all too safe? I arrived a bit late and didn't want to hassle with changing, perhaps I should have. Anyways. Better stop thinking about it. i will speak to my neighbours and the receptionist and perhaps they can provide me with some extra locks or something...
Tomorrow ICECLIMBING. How weird is that? I'm a bit nervous about this too. I think a sleeping pill will be a good idea for the ME tonight. She is getting a bit silly.
puzzz
måndag 6 april 2009
NZ reflections
People are -- curious, friendly, a bit less world-wise and more modest and interested, not at all blase. The country is very very different to anything I have ever seen -- so clean, well organised, functional and so polynesian and integrated. It's just amazing. When I was little there was a TV programme about a flying doctor on the coast somewhere in NZ, but I can't remember its name -- does anyone know??
Wellington now, off for some foodie. Laters.
puzz
Wellington now, off for some foodie. Laters.
puzz
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