Looks Like Meat’s Back On The Menu Boys!!!

Easter weekend in Queenstown. I have been here for a week and loved every minute of it. I mentioned that a lot of people said the weather is usually crappy here but everyday I’ve been here the sun has been shining bright with not many clouds in the sky. All the locals have said that this summer was the worst one ever. It had rained everyday. So I guess I’m lucky to be here in the fall with no rain. They have also said that because of the crappy summer weather don’t buy any 2012 wines from NZ, they probably won’t be the best.

I had a nice easter weekend. On Saturday I met some Canadians from Saskatchewan. We chilled for most of the day in the mall stealing wifi. One of our room mates gave us the password for a really fast network. While sitting in the mall I was able to watch movie trailers, youtube videos, and the Kony 2012 video. It’s cool to see that some people I know are still supporting it. There isn’t really anything around in NZ. One great thing about that video is the use of Flux Pavilion, a dubstep artist. A lot of people saw us using the internet and asked how we got on because no other networks were working. We had to lie to the people because we didn't want anyone else on this wicked network.

On Sunday we went back to the mall and streamed the final hockey games of the regular season. Leafs didn’t make it yet again. Ottawa made 8th. I wish them luck against the Rangers. I would like to see a 24/7 Rangers - Flyers Eastern Conference Final. Hopefully Philly wins. After watching the games we decided to go play hockey. There was no one at the arena and the owners and people working the desk were all Canadian. NICE! It was fun to skate around and play some pick up. One thing that remind me of home was my rental stick. It was a Muskoka stick.

We walked through the Queenstown Gardens on our way back to the hostel. We saw the coolest tree ever. The Female Monkey Puzzle (Aruacaria Araucana). Check it out if you have time and let me know what you think.

Monday was a travel day. Got on the 7:45am bus heading to Dunedin. I feel that when I get back traveling from Ottawa to Toronto or Bracebridge it will seem like a short ride for me. Most of my buses or road trips have been about 6 hours and they go by really fast now.

Brett had the day off so once he picked me up he showed me around all of Dunedin. He says that it’s big enough to have all the things you need and small enough to be friendly. On our tour we went to St. Clair Beach. It was a really nice beach. People were surfing, swimming, and camping out. There was a memorial for the people that had been taken by “The Great White Shark” of the beach. The list was short and apparently the shark is rarely there. While we were on the pier looking over the Pacific we noticed everyone wearing full body wetsuits while surfing or swimming, then we noticed one girl wearing a bikini swimming around playing in the waves. Seriously!! When I was swimming with the dolphins in a full suit I was cold. She’s obviously crazy. Who does that! I myself went in the water with just my shorts on but I was cringing and screaming. She was laughing and, well it was insane. 

Tuesday and Wednesday were very relaxing. I have been organizing all my stuff. I may need to throw some stuff out if I want to bring back bottles of wine, some L&P, and other souvenirs. I also managed to do laundry.

Wednesday we went to Mt. Cargill. It is a mountain in North Dunedin that looks over the entire city and the Otago Peninsula. It was sunset. It was one of the coolest views yet. The view of Dunedin and the surrounding area was awesome. Mountains, farms, grassy hills, forests, the city, and the Pacific Ocean all within view. I would say it captures most peoples view of New Zealand (the ones that haven’t been here. This place and Kaikoura).

I’m not sure how long I’ll be in Dunedin but I still have lots to do while I am here. Yellow-eyed Penguins, Albatross Colonies, A rugby match.

What Steve Has Noticed.

1. The toilets here are flushing counter-clockwise. Don’t they do that back home?
2. There are no North, South, East, West street signs. Just the closest big cities.
3. When using the 24hr clock they put, 23:05pm. Isn’t the point of the 24hr clock to not use am or pm 
4. The word “special” is sometime spelt “specil” (probably someone made a mistake) but I’m counting it
5. License plates can be say anything you want them to say.

Many of you may be asking how is any of that relevant to “Looks Like Meat’s Back On The Menu Boys”. It is because Lent is over and now I can have sugar candies again!!! YAY (candy = “meat” and “on the menu” = in my horrible diet.)