Feb 11 - 11:30 pm

Time for bed again. This time, in the rural area between Te Anau and Manapouri. We are staying at a hostel called Barnyard Backpackers. It's on a deer farm with an amazing view of the mountains and pastures here. It's a funny little place. We are actually in a cottage with five single beds, sharing with a German couple. We were in the lodge area playing pool tonight, and there were a bunch of other groups there, not a one that was speaking English though. Not what I expected coming to an English-speaking country, but it's kinda cool. Lots of Chinese and Germans. Quite a few Aussies, British, Irish, Dutch, even Indian.
But let's talk about the best thing about my day: bungy jumping off the Kawarau Bridge - the original site of bungy. The day started out rainy and cold. Great, I was going to have to jump off a bridge in the pouring rain. But luckily, the clouds parted, and the sun came out just in time for our trip out to the bungy place. 43km above the river, I went first. They strapped me into a harness, tied my ankles up real tight, led me to the edge of the platform, and told me to dive. And I dove! No hesitation, no fear. I fell head first toward the river, just touched the water with my fingers, and bounced up and down a few times, trying to internalize what just happened. I just remember thinking that it was the most amazing feeling, and I wanted to do it again! Maybe up in Auckland? We'll see. But I did it - I bungy jumped in New Zealand. And I have the video, photos, and t-shirt to prove it.
Milford Sound tomorrow! Cheers mate!