seafood and fresh beer in akaroa
birthday sushi and real green tea ice cream!
wine tasting with freija at pegasus... yum.
oh, the botanical gardens :)
arthur's pass
high speed scenery
princess- the guinea pig
greetings and salutations from cheech!
it's my last evening here, i've been staying at an awesome women's hostel here in town, i think i'm the only chic from the us, it's quite refreshing. there are 2 guinea pigs, a cat (austin -who is quite the cuddler!) gardens to eat out of and spring water that comes out of a spigot!!!
it's been quite awhile since my last entry. the last month at pole was gruelling, we had to move over 300 / 2 ton boxes inside through a hole at the bottom of a hill onto air force pallets that were on rollers that had frozen... yes, that is probably difficult to conceive or picture, let me just suffice to say it was truly an experience i never want to repeat. alas, we did it!!!
i was due to fly on a straight through to cheech, but our flight from pole was delayed until 2:30am and when we landed in mactown we caught naps and went looking for penguins and then got on the c-17's and arrived here at midnight, they closed pole 2 days early due to weather, so it was a mad scramble to get everything completed, that's why they call it a harsh continent 'eh?
i was lucky to spend my birthday here with friends and much fresh food, which is really the thing we all lament about the most on ice. went driving all over the bank's peninsula and had amazing seafood, loads of sushi, indian and thai food, went wine tasting, and took the tranz alpine train today, round trip from here to greymouth. it is touted as one of the best rail journeys of the world, i agree!! 19 tunnels, 5 viaducts, huge mountain terrain, plains and rain forest- enough said.
i've been hanging close to town waiting for my itinerary, it often turns out that they will book you on a flight the following day, so, i wanted to hang close. i finally got it all sorted tonight.
i am flying to sydney tomorrow to wander in a van with fellow polies and then fly out on friday, not too long in such a huge and amazing place, but that adventure comes with a hefty price tag that this budget traveler just can't muster at the moment! i will then fly to honolulu and on to kona to see dear friends from alaska who have relocated to warmer climates. i will be there for a week, eating freshies and truly relaxing. then to los angeles and up to s.f. and then flying back out of l.a. to orlando on the 20th of march. from there i will continue to my final destination of martha's vineyard for my 5th summer of being a garden angel!!
it's been quite a whilrlwind, and will continue to be so... just the way i like it!!
once i arrive to a reliable internet connection and gather my fotos and i'll post more great shots from the ice... stay tuned.
for now i wish you all a wonderfull day and hope this finds you all enjoying your favorite things!!
take care, karengrace
