Food In Auckland

So I made it to Auckland!
Thang, my local host invited me along with his friend Mary to an interesting Chinese restaurant where you sit at your table and waitresses pass by with a trolley and you choose what you want to eat from that trolley.
I had to try a fine speciality: marinated chicken feet. Disn't really finish mine as I turned out not to be a big fan of thick skin ;) my grandma would love it though!
Then Thang took me around Auckland which is very vast and made of several neighbourhoods where the distances are quite important.

And for dinner we had a local speciality on the beach: fish and chips!

Changing Islands

After 2h of sleep I hit the road (air) again this time to leave stunning Southern Alps and Queenstown to go to Auckland from where I'm flying tomorrow to Australia.
Some breathtaking views taking through my airplane window. Gorgeous sunny weather when I was leaving.

Travellers meet travellers

On my journey I meet so many interesting people, I am received by wonderful and generous hosts. I thought I'd start telling you about them a bit.

On the bus from Fox Glacier I met Christian who is a researcher at Gotteborg, Sweden university specialising in ocean movements. He was coming back from his 2 month mission in Antarctica and showed me some stunning photos taken there. Christian is a great person totally fascinated by his scientific research.
We had great fun last night checking out the local pubs :)

Walking in the ice

What an amazing day!
I've never seen a glacier hence my two nights stop in Fox Glacier.
I went for a full day guided trek and I must admit the sights and the sole experience of walking (and sometimes climbing) the glacier was amazing!
The ice was truly blue in places and formed fantastic and beautiful forms. We went pretty high up to the high white peaks and even crossed those.

Kiwis

I saw live kiwis! In Franz Josef there is a Wildlife Center where they recreated rainforest at night so you can go and see kiwis (on this particular occasion the rarest of species endemic to the area) in action! Very unusual birds indeed. I learned quite a lot about them.

Skydiving (jumping off the plane) in New Zealand - VIDEO

So I did it!
And as a addition to the photos I have posted before, here's a great video.
Enjoy and tell me what you think!

Skydiving! Flying at last! Part 3

Part 3 of photos. Video yet to come.

Skydiving! Flying at last! Part 2

More photos!

Skydiving! Flying at last! Part 1

Those who know me well know that since I was a little boy I've alway wanted to jump out of (a perfectly working) plane. My dream has come true this morning in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Some data:

Date: 27/03/2012
Time: 9.30am
Altitude: 12000 feet (around 4km)
Drop speed: up to 200km/h

The speed is so high that it blows your face apart (especially when you're grinning like me).
Unforgettable experience, great views and the sole fact of jumping out of the plane is amazing!
I got a full documentary service including a dedicated photo and camera man. The video will follow shortly!

Kurt's challenge

I promissed this one to Kurt, a student I met in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Hyde Street Annual Party 2012.
Kurt's challenge: to drink 7 standard servings of cider in one go and guess what, he did it!
Cheers bro!

Sheep

There are 7 million sheep in NZ! Some of them of the Merino quality ;)

Pearl of the Middle Earth: Milford Sound

After 5h on the bus we arrived in Milford Sound which is a fjord formation. We took a cruise of 2h15 around the Sound admiring some of the most breathtaking sights I have ever seen! We went all the way up to Tasman Sea where fresh water mixes eight the salty one. We spotted some seals but no dolphins this time. Water cascades and waterfalls were everywhere! Snow covered mountain peaks.I will never forget this sight despite the cloudy conditions.

Southern Alps

Remember those amazing landscapes from Lore of the Rings film by Peter Jackson? I got up before 6am this morning to see them!
Destination: Milford Sound in Southern Alps claimed to be the most beautiful spot in whole New Zealand!
During the 5h long one way trip we stopped several times to admire natural sites and take pictures. Selection below:

Hit the road Jack!

On the road again today for Queenstown. The heart of New Zealand's Alps. Breathtaking views, more serious pictures to come!
Also special local activities are planned ;) stay tuned for more!

Last morning in Dunedin

My host - Glenn took me for a walk to Dunedin's Otago University. The biggest university in NZ. Truly beautiful XIX century campus.
Then we walked to the graveyard, you can see a picture below of the grave of the architect of the First Church of Otago. (just a miniature of the church, why not??)
And a little lovely mushroom in Botanic Gardens.