Lovely Scenic New Zealand

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Isadavid's Travels

You may have noticed that nobody on here has mentioned the train in New Zealand yet. What, you didn't know New Zealand had a train??? Perhaps you haven't heard of it is because the rest of the Selbies found themselves less afraid of the NZ airplanes (see South Island video footage), or maybe they just wanted to get to their destinations quicker. Either way, David and Isabelle found the train to be a joyful and quaint way to get up the North Island... kind of.

We took the train at the end of our journey to get from Palmerston "Palmy" North to Auckland. Mere dropped us off at the station in the morning and we wandered about it in confusion until the train arrived, still slightly confused but boarded it nontheless. If you, dear readers, are confused by our confusion (ack!) this is because the "station" appeared to be completely empty and there was no help to be found. Basically, it looked abandoned. However, this is New Zealand so perhaps to them it looked jam packed full of people!!



We boarded the tiny tiny train (the metro cars in NYC are longer) and headed forth on our journey across the North Island.

David and I counted that we saw: 3 dead sheep, one man waving at the side of the road with a red flag (our kind crew told us to look our for him), 3 scarier than the old Cooper River Bridge bridges (that we crossed), and I'm sure I'll think of some other clever things later.


We also had 2 attendants (or whatever you call them) who would make an announcement every 5 minutes to tell you some history about the train or where we were going or what we were passing by. This was no Amtrak, folks. They would even come by to check if anybody needed anything from the dining car (which was only one car away!). Other than that the highlights were probably the girl in headphones next to us who sang the entire way there (loudly) or the obnoxiously loud-laughy-etc English group 3 rows in front of us. Though, perhaps they were just trying to drown out the singing girl. Who knows.

We did get to stop along the way while they changed crew and David and I found a cute little coffee shop where I ate "the #1 carrot cake in New Zealand". Yea, it was pretty good.


So, the big question is... Would we take it again????

...probably not .

Blast from the (recent) Past

Time to throw in a few more random pictures from NZ.  Here is John starting his abseil (rappel) down a 14 story hole into the glowworm caves during our "Black Abyss" tour.  We highly recommend this to all adventuresome spirits. (And yes, he is wearing a wetsuit, because later on they are going to have us jump off a 10 foot ledge into 50 degree water so we can innertube through the glowworm part of the cave)

And here is Mom (Lynda) in her favorite town of Bulls where everything, and we do mean everything, seems to have either a bull logo (e.g., outside the medical clinic) or use bull in a play on words (e.g., the Soc-a-bulls Club).
This picture is from Mt. Taranaki (Egmont) outside New Plymouth on the North Island.  I just liked this picture.  This is on the same hike where we went over the highest swing bridge in the park.
And Mom again, the fearless leader.  So, these are a few more pictures and video from when Lynda and I did the Tongariro Crossing (Mt. Doom as we called it).  
We still aren't sure why Lynda looks like she's out for a little hike while the rest of the group seems to be strugging, but, oh well. The first video shows how we were walking along some sheer drop offs.  The volume on the second video where our guide is talking should be listened to as he is proclaiming the toughness of our group compared to the group from the day before.  

Me and my silly flight changes...

I don't know how, but I have yet again suceeded in pwning the system by my inability to try, and reliability on dad being smart (ie, choosing Emirates for me... because it was a good deal).

I am drinking Moet and have finally been able to upload some photos online. I have eaten a small prawn crabcake, fresh celery, cheese, Persian Lamb, and am wondering if I have time for one of those lovely salads... hmmm... or more cheese. It's a very gluttonous atmosphere here, I must say. Isn't that Uncle Him's favorite deadly sin?

Anyway, THANKS EMIRATES. I hope to always be on standby with you... and cheers, New Zealand; from Palmy and parents, to Stray and strange friends, to Joan and the city, to surprises and Sara, this has been good. I'll be back soon.

PS: The lady who keeps calling me "Miss Selby" and helping me with my ticket, is named "Clare." Teehee!

Surprise surprise...now want to move to Dunedin.

Hey folks and friends,

am in Dunedin staying with the German jewellry teacher (who studied with Schulz-Wahle) at her farm with her husband, 3 dogs, 3 horses, plus chickens, geese, and goats. I have my own little shanty room that I have to hop a fence to get to that is also her workshop, and have already helped feed the horses. We're actually about to go put blankets on the rest of the horses because it looks like drizzle. So nice. SO nice. We're discussing horse poos right now in the kitchen. Oh how I wish you guys were here. I think I need one of those little japanese ear pieces like Pam and Jim had while Pam was still at art school.

So...... the school was absolutely great today as well, and talked to a lot of different artists (and you can do EVERYTHING when you're here... textiles, jewellry, ceramics, painting.......) so... if anybody can think of new ways of me finageling scholarships in the next year and a half, let me know. Pictures to come (because my camera still works!!! Yaaaaaay!!!!)

Going on a walk to horses with the new American Bulldog puppy now! (I am in heaven).
Love you all, from heaven.

SKIING....now with PICTURES!

IN QUEENSTOWN!!!!!!!

Rethinking life plans once again... think I might try to be a lift operator/ticket checker/nighttime skiier here for the rest of my life instead.

WHERE ARE MY COMMENTS? Just because I have no pictures?

Btw, Geoff and family is great (much like sister Joan ;) and have taken me out to dinner and drinks numerous times, and even a movie. His boys are incredibly nice (and very funny... it's nice to hang out with families), and lent me their skis and Geoff took me and picked me up from the slopes today. Really - family, next time you come here, plan a week in Queenstown skiing. I think it might need to be the next family ski trip. Fantastic - I had slopes to myself almost ALL DAY.

Cheers (with a Black Mac).

Hopefully hike a glacier tomorrow!

My stupid left heel is killing me though, enough to make me think twice. I will let you guys know how it goes though (since I REALLY want to, since didn't get to do Tongariro)!



Ahh... less than 5 minutes. Nutshell:



-New bus cool, with cool driver that seems to know everything about everywhere - really fun guy too, knows lots in Maori (but is normal Kiwi).

-in Franz Josef at the moment for 2 days.

-Carved a Jade hook this morning!!! So cool!!!!!!!!

-Went on Montieth's Brewery Tour last night. Apparently those give you splitting headaches the next day, as well as vague recollections of Kareoke songs... weird. Good beer though.

-Will try to call you guys soon! Sorry - I will text before hand though.



MUCH LOVE!!!!!! Hope you other Selbies and such are having some great reunion