Full Circle

Well I arrived Queenstown this morning. I've come full circle (literally, I've travelled in a full circle around the South Island!) It's kind of strange being back here, especially because it's a reminder that I have to leave NZ soon.

Oh, so I didn't sell my car in Christchurch! I think my car just doesn't want to leave me, and so that's why I had no luck selling it. Heehee. I'm hoping to have more luck selling it in Queenstown. If not, my old flatmate Lee said he would sell it for me after I leave. All the skiiers flood Queenstown in May/June, and they all need cars. I tried selling it at the car fair in Christchurch last Sunday. Although I didn't sell the car, I did make a Maori friend named Shane, who was there looking for a 4WD. He was actually trying to help me sell my car, and he even offered one potential buyer a free oil change if he bought my car! That guy's offer was too low, so I didn't sell it to him. But then after the car fair Shane invited me and this other Austrian girl who sold her car over to his house for lunch, and we laughed alot over pizza, stir fry, and samosas.

I was also in Christchurch for St. Patrick's Day. Oh, what a night. It started off with me and Elizabeth sippin' on ciders at the hostel. Then these German boys joined in. And later Mark joined in as well. Later we all ended up going out, on a night when everyone and their mother was out. Elizabeth and Mark took off early, before I even realized they were gone, and left me with the German boys. I later found out why those 2 left on their own, without me! I don't think they know I know, but I know. Anyhow, I was begging the German boys to go back, but they wanted to keep partying, even though it was already 3 a.m. But they were like 22 years old, so they have a lot more stamina than I do. So I ended up walking back without them cuz I had to go to the car fair early the next morning and I just wanted some sleep. It was a fun night, though. We all had a good time.

Anyhow, this morning I left Aoraki/Mount Cook, where I spent 2 nights. It was fabulous. I did a 3-hour walk in Hooker Valley, where I got some awesome views of Aoraki (which stands about 4,000 meters tall!). Aoraki is the Maori name, and Mount Cook is the European name. I, of course, prefer the Maori name. I took some pictures, but I'll post them on the blog next week, after I get back from the Routeburn trek.

Oh yeah, so tomorrow morning I embark on the Routeburn trek. It's a 3-day trek. The weather looks like it'll be fine tomorrow, but there may be a few showers on Saturday and Sunday. It snowed on the Routeburn trek last week, so a few showers doesn't seem so bad. We'll see.