Wanna Wanaka?

The house we're currently inhabiting.

Since Monday we've been in the lovely little town of Wanaka, staying at a friend of my Mom's -- it's been way sweet. The house faces the west (i think -- being in the southern hemisphere has slightly downgraded my impeccible sense of direction), and the sun heats the place up nicely all day, since there are huge windows all facing west. The picture below is the view from the back porch. (yes those mountains in the back are snow covered)



Also in the west-wardly view lies a farm (possibly the only farm in NZ without sheep -- just goats and deer). Have you ever heard the sounds does make (of doe a dear a female deer) -- absolutely hilarious. A cross between the goy noise that was popular in junior high and a dolphin screeching.

Dad and I are completely in our travel groove -- we've reverted to 12 yr old boy humor. Today we went on a hike (we're expert hikers now, at least according to the specifications of the hike) and stopped to eat our snack on a big rock. Big like you have to climb up on other rocks to sit on it. We're eating, enjoying the scenery, and what do I notice? A pile of poo sitting on the rock, about a meter away. (Sheep poo, obviously, the cows aren't that dexterous). Why did a sheep poo on the rock? The eternal question.

The hike was a bit of a challenge -- quite steep (without switchbacks) but we're experts! Check out the pics below for my dad traversing the creek (no bridges for the Kiwis, they're hearty) - it was way cold and caused us both to curse then laugh at our wussiness; and then of me sitting on the poo rock.





One other JMH tidbit -- two nights ago he was reading the local paper (quite similar to the Daily Local News), and he came across the results of the Bowling League Raffle. Among the prizes: an iced fruit cake, a load of wood, and .... (the fifth prize made Dad laugh so hard he cried and couldn't talk - if you've never seen this you totally need to, its hilarious and makes the witnesser also laugh quite hard) -- a toy turtle. What is a toy turtle? A toy shaped like a turtle, or a small turtle, like a toy poodle?

We have two more full days in Wanaka, then up to Christchurch for a bit of exploration and flights -- Dad back to the states, and me back to north Island.

More later.