Internet is not as the US, I apologize but having a little of hard time getting these pictures off the camera and on to the website. There will be more tomorrow. We are in Kaikoura and going to see the Sperm Whales off the coast tomorrow. This place is one of the only places in the world to see the Sperm Whales.
One thing that is very different here is that they do not have brewed coffee, there is only instant coffee here, and it is not Tasters Choice. We can pick up a flat white at a coffee house. A flat white is a coffee with milk no foam. There are lots of scones around here too, and breakfast and lunch pies. We Had a giant crawfish here tonight. It was as big as a lobster and sweeter. We were served by a French man. The host of this place was from the gold coast of the New Zealand. Sweet lady, she bought us some champagne for Valentines day.
Everyone has been all over the world here, she had been to Washington DC, the French man had been to BC, the man at the grocery store from the UK had been at the States too. Not sure why we are so less world traveled...? Miss Karmea.
Hi, Internet is a little faster in Nelson, New Zealand. We were in the bush the last couple of days, very hard to blog or down load. We will try to get some pictures out today, or in the am. We stayed in a lodge by the forest ran by a Canadian. He has been here 30 years. If you want to look up his lodge it is at http://www.karamealodge.co.nz/. We went trekking in the rain forest and explored some Limestone caves. The forest is in the Kahurangi National Park, the caves are "The Oparara". His lodge is fully self sustaining with rain water as his source of water.
The floors were Birch and it was quite nice. We stopped at a Pub and had whitefish sandwiches, and green mussels. The people are very nice and accommodating. We traveled by the white water capital Murchison and walked over the Buller Gorge Swingbridge. We are now staying at the http://www.centuryparkmotorlodge.com/. Last night we went to dinner at the Lone Star (NZ version not related to US) and listened to Dean Martin and Hank Williams. I had lamb shanks, Autumn had New Zealand salmon, Darol had chicken stuffed with Sundried tomatoes. The town looks just like Southern California I imagine in 1950... Less crowded. We walked around and there was a string concert by the old church. It was quite "lovely". Everything is "lovely" here. Pictures soon, time to go. Cheers
The internet connection is poor, here is the link to some downloaded pictures in the Westlands. We are in Karamea on the South Island, off the beaten track. We are in a lodge by the Ocean, mountains and forest. Looks like Lord of the Rings here.
Tags: Travel To New Zealand
