Queenstown

Hi all! It has been a while. A lot has happened in the last few days. I will write about Queenstown.

Jess and I stayed there a total of about 1 week. It was a beautiful place but definitely one where all of the average tourists leave with empty pockets. Like I described before Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world. There are so many extreme sports and opportunities here. ( stunt jet flying, whitewater rafting, paragliding, river surfing, skydiving, dirt biking, bungee jumping, jet boating etc.) Mainly it is snow sport capital of New Zealand and comes alive in the winter. Queenstown is also the birthplace of bungee jumping. It is a little bit overwhelming having so much peer pressure to do these things. Jess and I decided it wasn't all that important to us to succumb to the tourist traps. We finally resolved as a couple that we would save the cash and sacrifice all of the adrenaline rushes available. We had a long talk and both came to peace with our decision. Just as a testimony to how God sees and recognizes the sacrifices that we make to come together as a couple, we both won a free bungee jump no more than five hours later. The jump is the second highest in the world a 134 meters (450 ft.) called the Nevis. We were sooo excited! I have never heard so many guys talk about how scared they have been until I heard them talk about this bungee.
Jess and I each did the bungee and loved it. Jesse didn't even hesitate to jump. It was a feeling unlike I have ever had. The driver took us from town about 45 minutes to the mountains, then put harnesses on us and we all got into a little basket attached to a pulley wire like a ski lift but it was hanging over the middle of a massive canyon. This took us out to the center of the canyon where there was a hanging room with music going and all of the bungee straps and cords. each person took their turn getting strapped up and inching out to an itty-bitty platform, waiting for the 3, 2, 1, then leaped out if their legs let them, into a swan dive down into the canyon below. They fly toward the river with about a 7 second free fall then spring up to another 40 meters (130 ft) and fall again. It is incredible. I jumped then remembered I wanted to look up and out instead of down. The colors of the mountains around were just a blur as I savored the free fall feeling. :O) crazy. I am so happy to know that it was not just a jump but almost the highest in the world, I won't feel the need to go higher, I won't need a next time.
Not only did we win the Bungee, but I won a river surfing trip, this is where you put on a full wet suit life jacket and helmet then with your guides and other travelers jump into the river and boogie board down grade three rapids, about 4 miles. (it is so hard) When I finished doing this, I felt like I had just run the mile. It was such an incredible experience just to become acquainted with the river, and to feel the pull and the strength of the water. I had an amazing time.
Jess and I enjoyed the friendships that we made on our buses. Almost all of us stayed in Queenstown for the whole week together and were able to hang out and have a lot of fun. There were some really nice groups almost all English.
Yesterday we took a tour bus from Queenstown to Mt. Cook Village. There is no store here, just a few accommodations and tons of hiking. Yesterday we hiked to Hooker Glacier on Hooker Lake. We both agreed that it was the best hike we had ever done. It took us about five hours in total. The mountains that surround us here are amazing, towering, and covered in snow. It is wild. On our hike we could see Mueller Glacier, Tazman Glazier, Mt. Sefton Glacier, and Hooker Glacier. Mt. Cook was also in full view during the hike, this is the highest Mt. in NZ at 12,316 ft. This is a place where someone hikes all day and comes back to the cabin for a warm drink and to sit by the fire.
Two days later.... we changed our plans from two nights here to four nights. The park is just too amazing to leave so soon. We have done some truly gorgeous hikes and we able to spend a lot of time in the visitors center museum learning the history of the area and the mountaineers who first adventured to the tops of these mountains in the late 1800's. Tomorrow we leave for Christchurch. I will post this after we get there.