Once again, nothing too crazy in this email. Just some ridiculous scenery. That's the thing about New Zealand. Once you think you've seen the most mind-boggling lanscape in the world, then around the corner there's something that resets the bar. I had to really pick and choose from my 75 photos per day.
I've been staying in backpacker hostels, which is totally the way to go. I avoid staying in the dorms, but there are usually private rooms available so you can still hang out in the common areas but not have to deal with snorers and door-slammers. Being a solo traveler, it's absolutely impossible not to meet people unless you lock yourself in a room. So, I've hung out with the following people:
A Quebecoise girl whom I met on the trail (about Montreal, university studies, and career paths)
A Malaysian Chinese girl (about Malaysian and Singapore politics)
A French guy (about skiing, and also Lance Armstrong!)
A Dutch guy (about American gun laws)
An Irish guy (about the color of one's stool after drinking Guinness for several days)
...among others
I received word that I need to return to work in a couple of days, so I'll be making my way back north tomorrow.
Arriving in Te Anau. The next day I hiked up the mountain off my right hand. It took about eight hours. I left before daybreak and returned at dusk. It was absolutely amazing but howling winds and rain meant that I couldn't take many pictures.
Top of the hike. I was wet and cold. That's a fjord behind me but the sun is so low and the land is so steep that everything is always in shadow.
The lakefront in the town of Te Anau. It's a nice little town. A few T-shirt shops, a big statue of a bird, and lots of wilderness next door.
On the road to Milford Sound
Riddle me this:
You've heard the saying "the photos don't do it justice". Well, this time it's true.
