day2, Lord of the Rings tour

Safari of the Rings

 

Today we went on a Safari of the Rings tour with two awesome drivers: Malcolm driving the jeep Elrond, and Caroline driving the jeep Frodo.

Our first stop was part way up the Remarkables to see some spectacular views and some of the sights of Lord of the Rings. Malcolm pointed out to us where the Wargs attack the people of Rohan on their way to Helm's Deep, and where Aragorn falls off the cliff. He then turned around and pointed the opposite direction and said "and he lands in a river several kilometers that way, and when he finally gets out of the river it's in yet another spot." This was just an example of all the clever cutting and pasting Peter Jackson did in order to create the scenery of The Lord of the Rings.

 

Next we drove off toward Arrowtown and through the river. Not just across it, but for sections we were just driving along in the river. We stopped on one of the banks and Malcolm and Caroline made us tea, coffee and hot chocolate, and gave us fruitcake, shortbread and cookies. During our tea break Malcolm showed us how to pan for gold, and just about everyone found at least one tiny little flake. Not worth much, but really neat to find and get to keep! After another drive through the river we came back to the Ford of Bruinen. That's where Arwen calls the tidal wave of magic horses to flood the Nazgul. Of course, where we stopped it was just where the horses actually were standing. The scenery that you see in the movie, the backdrop, is filmed elsewhere and the two shots were pasted together.

 

We also got to see the sight of the Aragonath, or The Pillars of the Kings, and across the way from there we saw crazy people bungee jumping. Potapov says the only reason to do that is if you want to be able to eat again soon, or to fix your digestion since everything is backwards in the Southern Hemisphere. ;)

 

We got dropped back in Queenstown and ate a Hobbit sized lunch, and if you know Lord of the Rings you know that does not mean a miniature lunch. Hobbits eat tons! We ate at the Fergburger. They had huge, delicious burgers. I had a lamb burger and Hannah ate something called "Sweet Bambi". The people there were really nice too!

 

That concluded the group part of our morning and in the afternoon we all went our own ways. Shopping, exploring, napping and going to find Kiwi birds. This evening we take a gondola ride to the top of the mountain for dinner!

 

All I can think as we eat in the hotel dining room looking out over the beautiful lake Wakitipu or walking or driving through gorges and mountains is that the Lord has created a beautiful world, and too often I take it for granted. I am extremely grateful that I get to be in this beautiful part of the world with these really awesome people.

 

"Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation…. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land." (Psalm 95:1,4-5)

 

-Alison Cole

March 2, 2010

Queenstown NZ

Flight day

We've completed the first leg of our journey.  The first flight was one of those domestic flights that have a way of grating on you.  The only technology to entertain my highly sensitive American persona was my own.  No fancy movie players, you had to pay for food and the seats reminded me of airplanes that I used to fly on as a kid.  All in all it was highly uncomfortable and boring. 

I've come to the conclusion that I would much rather fly for 20 hours with a movie player and free food every three hours than seven hours on a domestic flight any day of the week.  Without my distractions my cigarette cravings were almost out of control.

 

In the short time our group has been together we've managed to not lose one of our members.  Matt's bag was retrieved from security after he forgot it there and he got it before security blew it up for fear of bombs.  We haven't managed to kill each other and Bracken's uncomfortability on the last leg of the flight sitting next to a very… lets say… "in love" couple was laughable. 

 

Thus far its an adventure of BACON proportions.  The intercom in the airport is now paging for "passenger Pickles" …best name ever. 

 

Our next flight was much more enjoyable.  International flights are always epic and Air New Zealand was even better than I expected.  The long flight over had me sitting between Bracken and Laird.  Enjoyable to say the least as neither had crossed the international dateline and it was Bracken's first venture outside of the country.  The service was incredible, the meals were great, the movies were stellar and the company of the two boys made it memorable (to say the least).  We landed after 11 long hours to await a five hour layover in Auckland.

 

Lets just say that five hours in the Auckland airport is BORING.  But after struggling to deal with the boredom, exhaustion and need for showers we were relieved to find a warm summerish like day outside waiting for us.  The flight to Queenstown was a hop skip and a jump in comparison to the others and we landed amidst a bit of rainfall and ickyness to meet our driver Dawn who ended up being one hell of a tour guide.  Good times.  Good times Good times in New Zealand.

 

Birdlife included mayna, red-billed gull and house sparrows...

Arrived to Auckland

After 5hr 20 min flight from PHL to LAX and 11 hr 26 min flight LAX to Aulkand we all arrived to Auckland, NZ. Most of us crossed the Equator and International Date lines for the first time.

Waiting to board the plane to Queenstown.

More news and videos to follow.

Eugene

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