Halfway Through NZ: A Perspective

*** PHOTO UPDATE! Check out our new photos in the folders for Queenstown, Milford Track, and Te Anau and Doubtful Sound ***

(karen)
We realized on Valentine's Day that we've officially reached the halfway point of our time in New Zealand. So soon! To supplement my usual journalistic entries, I thought I'd share with you some of our thoughts, comments, and observations from being in New Zealand and living the backpacker lifestyle for 6 weeks.

* I've grown fond of having a daily cuppa English style tea, with milk and sugar. It's a great treat after being in the bush all day.
* Steve hasn't cut his hair since before Christmas and he's starting to look like a Beatle.
* You can still get blisters after 6 weeks of tramping.
* We've taken internet access for granted. Now we typically have to pay $6/hr on coin operated machines.
* I've never worn so much sunscreen in my life.
* It's really nice not to have to think about what to wear every day. The only question is, long sleeve or short?
* We are completely out of touch with music, television, movies, and world events. And it really doesn't seem to matter!
* The coolest weather forecast I've seen so far has been "Nice Spells". As in, most of the day will be crappy but you can expect pockets of niceness?
* Things we've come to value: hot showers, clean clothes, huts to sleep in on the trail, plastic backpack liners on rainy days, high quality tramping gear, dry boots, cheap internet, good books to pass the time, fresh fruits and veggies, ear plugs, toilet paper, mosquito nets, and good people to talk with over a cuppa tea and freeze dried dinners
* The river water here is so clean that you can drink from it without having to treat it. Instead of carrying 2 liters, at times we've just used a mug and scooped up water then we're thirsty
* New Zealanders (Kiwis) idolize Peter Jackson. King Kong is still big out here.
* People ask "How're you going?" instead of "How're you doing?"
* In a quick poll, 4/5 trampers prefer mosquitoes over sand flies
* %75 of all trampers SNORE
* Americans export a staggering amount of culture including movies, books, magazines, television, music, as well as many brand name items and of course fast food. (But why are there so many Subways and so few McDonalds?)
* The most common tourists here are from other members of the Commonwealth like Australia, Britain, and Canada, as well as many Germans, Swiss, and surprisingly, Israelis. There are only a few Americans floating around.
* There are no radio stations in rural New Zealand. Not one.
* Light switches click down to turn on
* Most toilets have two flush buttons, for #1 or for #2
* Many Kiwis have never traveled extensively in their own country, preferring to go abroad. In fact it can often be cheaper to fly to Australia than to fly between the North and South Islands.
* The lamb here tastes better
* Tree line (called bush line) happens at 3,000 ft. elevation
* Telephone poles are made out of concrete
* Folks down under really do eat vegemite and say "g'day!"
* Ourdoor gear is waaaay more expensive than in the States. I was looking for a waterproof jacket, and a Mountain Hardware brand jacket was $700!! Boots run about $400.
* Kiwis and Aussies think Americans are nuts for eating peanut butter with (gasp) jelly! And why do we call it jelly when it is clearly jam?
* They are obsessed with Hollywood tabloids
* Kiwis love to take the mickey out of Aussies in their midst, and how!