Queenstown - March 16-25; Chris Jackson - Airbnb

1. - rented bike
2. - Gondola and Luge
3. - Bike adventure to Kawarau Bridge; AJ Hacket first bungee with Danielle
4. - Nevis Swing with Danielle
5. - Appellation Wine tour with Doctors-
6. - Bike to Arrowtown
7. - Shotover River Jetboat and Kayaking

Blog

Queenstown was such a refreshing change. The weather is cooler, there are mountains and clear, clean lakes and fresh air - it feels like home - Oh Canada! I am staying in another Airbnb with Chris Jackson (hi Chris) who is a tour guide helicopter pilot. Thank goodness as he helped me tons with what to do and see here. There is a lot!

First thing I did was go to Frankton (Chris's place was about 5 km from Queenstown) and tried to rent a bike - shop there couldn't rent for a week so I took a bus to Queenstown where they did. The bike trail back to Frankton is fabulous and it felt so good to get on a bike again! The water in the lake is CLEAR - wow, have not seen that for a while! Chris had another house guest - Danielle so Chris took us grocery shopping and we made a fab dinner (home cooked yah) Chris provided the wine - what a great night! Staying at an Airbnb is a great way to meet local people who make the visit all that more personal.

During my 8 day stay here (check out the photo albums), I did a lot of action packed activities - it is so fun but EXPENSIVE. Not like Australia where the wages are abnormally high, but because you really are on an island in the middle of nowhere so it's expensive to export things here. New Zealand's was settled by freemen (vs convict colonies in Australia) so the attitude is different. I met helpful, free spirited people; as Danielle put it - have an excellent work-life balance. (She is from USA and an incredible foodie and cook) They work hard but like their free time to enjoy their incredible outdoors. I loved it here - go if you can.

I am finding it so easy now to find my way around places - not embarrassed to ask questions and directions and where to eat, what to do, about what they like about a place. It's a survival thing I think - people need human interaction and the best way to engage a conversation is to ask questions.

Most people everywhere are so willing to help, again human nature at work. I am also becoming comfortable with doing things alone - eating out, activities, taxis, hotels and general getting around. There is a sense of freedom and confidence that comes from being able to trust your fellow human being. Also - I have been in so many groups and in other folks homes and buses and tours etc etc - I am starting to really learn how to interact in a group dynamic - it is not always easy, in fact most of the time it is hard for me; like for most of us. My focus now is to speak less (I still talk a lot; too much!), keep ears and eyes open, be happy and laugh a lot (people like and want to be around happy people), ask questions about others, (your story will come out in time), be kind - we are all on a different journey and sometimes the *real* story is not apparent until you listen and gain trust, be empathetic and sincere. I have had the privilege to get to know about so many people, I feel so honored. The little things are really important and this new awareness is brilliant for me and I like it!