Hi There Everyone! Stayed in Kaikoura, saw 3 sperm whales and 6 beaked whales. The rangers were really surprised, the beaked whales are very rare, and not much is known. There is a trench in the ocean that is one of the largest in the world. The squids are in the trench and the whales love squid! One of the highlights of this trip was seeing the dolphins. There was at least 2 to 3 dozen swimming along side the boat, sailing though the air. Very spectacular!
Also for those that are reading this from Our Lady of the Valley, my family is fine, we were 450 miles from the earthquake.
Tags: Whales New Zealand
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
News for Wednesday Hi, Went to the Tram in Christchurch, it was a sunny day. Have some pictures to download on the next post. I wanted to add that we went to St. Mary's in Christchurch for Mass on Sunday. Everyone knew we were American's. They were very interested in what we had to say, and also gave us wonderful spots to go to investigate. We also took a drive in a very long tunnel through a mountain to a bay on the other side. Tomorrow is the big road trip on the upper half of the South island. We are going through Arthur's pass to the West side of the island, past Westport to a little lodge in Karamea. It is by the sea. They are going to provide us breakfast. There is a wilderness area right next to the lodge. We will take lots of pictures. We will stay two nights there. Not sure if we will be able to see the glow worms this trip. We will then go to Nelson and stay two nights. It is an Artsy town. After that we will travel to Kaikoura where the Sperm whales are.
Tags: Travels From New Zealand
I forgot to add that Sunday was the hottest day ever since the 1960's in Christchurch, south of here it hit 104, but the temperature reached 96 degrees. Very hot, there is no UV, and humid. Then yesterday it rained and was 60 degrees. Everyone walks and bikes, even in the heat and the rain. We went to several malls yesterday. Very different then here. We went into a very tall car parking garage, and everyone drives around in little cars on the wrong side of the street and they dart around! Imported Barts Bees and Loreal from America are big hits! Everything is sort of jumbled up in the stores, hard to explain. Went to a french restaurant for lunch, Autumn ordered duck pate. It was sweet and had a layer of fat on top, it was AWFUL! For dinner we had a meat pie made with puff pastry, "good". Must of walked 10 to 20 miles Sat and Sun, but yesterday it was pouring. Bought a umbrella and had to figure out the operation of that too. Everything is slightly opposite of the states. Today we are going to the Antarctic exhibit. Glad we don't have to rush so much, will venture out to Mt Cook and the out lining areas later this week. More pictures later.
Tags: A Trip Down Under
First Real Day in Christchurch I slept on the plane, Darol and Autumn did not. It still was blur yesterday. The house is great, it is real green here, the climate is similar to San Diego. The sun comes out in the late morning and sets to the West late. We went to a grocery store and did not see any American labels. Everything is made here in New Zealand, very fresh! Had some Lamb steaks last night. We are putting our walking shoes on and going downtown today. It is only a few blocks where we are staying. Will be loading a few pictures later today or tomorrow.
Tags: First Day New Zealand
