Sunday 7 February 2010Today we went to the Queenstown Branch for church at 10 am. The branch meets at the Lakes District Funeral Services building. Today there were 12 adults (from their branch, plus the 16 People from the BYU Crew) 3 kids and 2 Missionaries. It was fast and testimony meeting. I bore my testimony of the beauty of New Zealand, the beauty of the Atonement, The Gospel being good, how thankful I am for my family, and Thomas S. Monson, to Prophet of our church (and how he leads and guides us), and the Church!After Sacrement Meeting, Mark (a meeting of the branch presidency and judge of the Straw tower/structure building activity) taught the Sunday School Lesson. He talked about Noah, and how important it is to be spiritually prepared fro life’s challenges. Then Johnny (our tour guide of Queenstown extraordinaire) taught the combined Relief Society and Priesthood about the creation and how the Lord created the earth in such an orderly and wonderful way. Then we went to the Hostel, and changed out of our church clothes. Then we took a Sunday drive to Glenorchy. We stopped at lake/dock area and took some pictures of the beautiful area around us. Then we got back in the vans and started driving the in 7 rivers area. We saw Saurman’s HQ from Lord of the Rings..the site of the 2 towers. We drove through the land where the Chronicles happened, as in the Chronicles of Narnia. It made me think of the SNL video Lazy Sunday…why? It was Sunday and we were in the land of the “Chronic-what-cles of Narnia”! We also were in the land of Lothlorien…or something like that...also, the forest that we were in seemed reminiscent of the Forest used in Lord of the Rings where all the trees were walking around with the hobbits…I think it was in the 2nd movie. Yeah, we went to the place where the Chronicles happened. Overall, it was beautiful, magnificent, gorgeous…should I go on? On the way back from Glenorchy, we stopped at Closeburn and had a picnic. We had chicken sandwiches, fruit (glorious fruit), biscuits (cookies), it was quite delicious, considering I ad only eaten Minties and fruit before this. After we got back to the Hostel, Megan and I went to Patagonia Chocolates to use the internet and checked our e-mail. Then I went to Hostel and found my Queenstown flatemates taking a rest. I used Mekelle’s computer to check my facebook. Then the rest of the evening (once everyone woke up), we just chatted…girl talk…of course. It was pretty fun. Hooray for Sunday in Queenstown, Glenorchy (AKA Narnia and LOTR), Closeburn and back to Queenstown!!
At the stop in Glenorchy!
Oh, you know, just in New Zealand...no big deal...right?
Monday 8 February 2010
Today I woke up at 8:30, the day started out like any other. Lauren, Amanda, Ashley and I were going to go shopping in the morning, and we decided to stop by the Mad (company) Travel Desk on our way out. We found out that the Nevis Arc (World’s highest swing) was pretty amazing (according to the guy at the travel desk). So, we deliberated a little bit. It was cheaper to do a tandem swing, than to do a single jump. So, the guy booked two tandem swings. After the deed was done, Lauren decided that she didn’t want to go. The guy who booked the swing said that she couldn’t back out, and that she had to go. So, she did. We hustled over to the AJ Hackett office. We got to the office, checked in (they got our weight, and gave us a number), and waited nervously. The bus ride up to the Swing site was probably the longest ride I have ever been on. My stomach was tossing and turning like a person sleeping on a bad mattress. When we arrived, we checked into the front desk, and then we walked across this bridge. I figured it was safe, but it was kind of scary even walking across the bridge, just to get to the swing site. I was wondering how I would even be able to do the Nevis Arc. But since Queenstown is the Adrenaline Capital of New Zealand, I figured I HAD to do it. Plus, I had already paid, and it was a done deal. When it was my turn, I got suited up my gear, and Lauren and I got ready. They had her sitting in front, and she got to hold onto the rope things attached to her harness. I was sitting behind her and had to hold onto the little plastic handles next to her hips on Lauren’s harness. It was ridiculous. So, they hook us up to the swing contraption; lift us up high about the ground and away from the platform. Then the lady counts down, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and we are released. Since I wasn’t holding onto the straps, during the freefall my body went forward (I guess my head and torso are heavier than my legs), and I was flying…kind of. It was a really crazy experience. Once we reached the bottom of the fall, we curved into the arc. Since, I didn’t wear my glasses for this thing, I could kind of see the scenery, but it was pretty fuzzy. After we stopped the majority of our swinging, they started to pull us up. It was almost scarier to be pulled up backwards, slowly, than it was to fall really fast. Why? It made me realize just how far I fell into the canyon below. The whole experience was terrifyingly amazing. I would have done it again, I would have missed out on Wanaka (pronounced like Hanukkah). So, Lauren and I left, I bought my photos, and we were off on the next bus back into Queenstown. On the ride home, Lauren and I talked about the craziness that we just put ourselves through. We also talked about how awesome we are. When we got back to Queenstown, we met up with Joy (the program director) who drove us to Wanaka, and puzzling world. That place was amazing! At first, (I’m not gonna lie) I was thinking it would be lame, boy was I wrong. That place was awesome! We took a tour throughout the Puzzling world museum, saw some awesome optical illusions, and were amazed. Even the toilets were awesome. Yeah. See the pictures on facebook for more proof of the awesomeness. After Puzzling world, and many pictures with the leaning tower of Wanaka, we drove to Lake Wanaka. It was beautiful! After taking in the view, we drove back through Wanaka to Queenstown. As we were driving through the mountains, it was a BEAUTIFUL view! The sun was setting on the mountains over the yellow/green hills and vales. **See video below**
Puzzling World in Wanaka:
Seriously breathtaking...good thing I don't have asthma.
Ok, so I realize that I should probably be typing up the rest of the cool things I have been doing. But I haven't got time for that now. Sorry. Just kidding, I do. Just kidding, I don't. Just kidding, I will. Just kidding I won't. Just kidding, I don't have time. Just kidding, I'll make time.
Here is a video of the NEVIS ARC!!
