...after another short walk around town I conclude that the whole area is overrun by Scots and Irishmen (I mean people working in bars and sales staff)
...I post some more postcards and notice that this time both he mailbox and the stamps have a different postal service name on them. Must be a South Island thing. Glad that I put those in Auckland into the correct box!
...I go to the Visitors Center to buy two tickets for huts in about to spend the night during my upcoming trek. There I meet a German couple who resell their tickets to me at a discount - they canceled because of the weather :)
...I notice that the society of NZ has a very egalitarian feel to it - race does not have much to do with class here, at least based on my observation. And oh, there are hardly any Africans or Arabs.
...I take advantage of unexpected Friday 13th sales to buy more merino wool stuff
...I take a drive north out of Queenstown and pass some very scenic areas, one of which - Lake Hawea - must be named after the way locals greet each other
...I observe how waterfalls here are usually given people's names such as Roaring Billy or Roaring Meg
...I check into an inn - finally a bed! - in a small remote mountain village of Makarora, where my next trail begins. No reception and very expensive internet but there is a pub and beer and drunk locals making noise a night!
...I set off for the remote west coast where unfortunately the famous Knights Point lookout is closed due to landslides but still the virgin coastal rainforest scenery blows me away
...I discover the existence of sandflies in New Zealand - it's not a welcome encounter!
...I am happy to say that even in the most remote places in this country credit cards are accepted (even where there's no cellphone coverage!)