Exploring New Zealand’s Wonders
Ethan Uong | Aug. 25, 2010
My last article left off with me discussing my proposed project and what I aimed to accomplish. This time I would like to share my adventures and the kind of activities I do in New Zealand.
On the first week of my arrival I knew I just had to visit the Auckland Zoo. I’d heard a lot about it being a paradise for animals, and surely enough, all the creatures there seemed to be enjoying the attention. Not only was admission cheap, seeing a kiwi bird for the first time was a really refreshing change from seeing the birds in San Diego.
Also in Auckland, I would go to the supermarket (called Countdown and New World here) twice a week to do my grocery shopping (yes, I eat a lot). I’d also tried to watch the movie “Eclipse”—and that was not easy. There are only so many cinemas here and popular movies like “Twilight” must be booked a few days prior. I was left with two options: watch on that day on the side seat of the second row in the front or go home and book a later day. I chose the latter.
I also ventured out of town on the weekends. One weekend I went to Devonport via ferry and hiked up Mt. Victoria to watch the sunset. The sun was never crispier. The following day, I took another ferry to Rangitoto and befriended a group of backpackers. We ventured into a 300-meter (300-yard) dark lava cave (inactive of course).
My friends and I also rented a car for a few weekends and took a road trip to Waitomo and Rotorua. Driving on the left side was so fun, although I must say that I did drive on the right lane for a good (or should I say bad) seven seconds when I pulled out of a restaurant. In Waitomo we got to see some glowworms in their caves, and we relaxed at a mud spa in Rotorua. We also saw many sheep. There are so many in New Zealand! I’m beginning to think there are more sheep than humans here.
Last weekend I went to the South Island of New Zealand. I stayed in Queenstown for four days and a night in the town of Franz Josef. The landscape of the south island is majestic. I really felt that I was living in a book. The south of the island has white snowy mountains, whereas the north is more like a green hillside. I trekked the Franz Josef glacier and that was a great experience. In Queenstown I rode a luge for the first time and took a cruise to Milford Sound. Words cannot express how I felt in the landscape’s presence. You really need to be there yourself to witness the beauty of it. I also took a jet boat ride on the Shotover River. Because of the heavy rain that day and the fact that the boat glided and spun at 85 kilometers (more than 50 miles) per hour, it felt like undergoing an acupuncture treatment at high speed.
In my spare time, I like to go to play pool. It’s my favorite pastime in America and not playing it in New Zealand would be a waste. One game I could never forget took place in Rotorua. My friend and I waited for a while to play since the table was occupied by two other backpackers. One of the two beat his friend so quickly that there were always at least five balls left in the table. Then he asked if I wanted to play. I said yes, took the pool stick and shot all five balls in a row in less than half a minute. People were watching me and my new friend was really impressed. I never felt that cool in my life.
I am really living my life to the fullest. Awesome job, great food, genuine people, beautiful sunsets, amazing landscape: what else can I ask for?
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