Here in Greymouth now. Drove a ways today, a lot of the time we were right on the coast. On our way out of Franz Josef we took a short hike to see the glacier up close. About 15 minutes through lush green and another 30 in a river rock bed, we came to the bottom of an enormous glacier. While my dad was taking photos of all the waterfalls, my mom and I searched for souvenir rocks in the rock bed. They looked like slate, with all the layers and shiny iridescent surfaces. Found some good ones! They don't ask you if you have any rocks when you go through customs, do they? I hope not. Cheapest souvenir I'm going to find!
The rest of the drive was just as choice* as what I've seen so far. I drove some of the way, which is fun, trying to adjust to being on the left side of the road. Kinda like playing Mario Kart or something, what with the windy roads. I'm getting the hang of it. The hardest part is the blinker. I always hit the windshield wiper instead.
Here we are staying at another quirky place called the Noah's Ark Backpackers. It's a really old, big house turned hostel. Each room is a different animal theme. We have the tiger room. Pretty great.
And we had the best meal of the trip thus far here tonight: Indian food! My favorite- vegetable korma and chicken tikka masala.
Spending the evening sitting in the lounge area of the hostel. I've been reading Dracula, mom is knitting, dad is reading, there is a big Chinese family eating dinner, and a group of German travelers playing jenga and cards, listening to Pearl Jam on the stereo. The roommates tonight are 2 boys from Switzerland. I met a girl from Holland here, Nicollette, who has been traveling here by herself for the last 3 months. She goes home in 5 weeks. She loves it here on the South Island, and gave me some good advice. Everyone here has been super helpful. Except the Chinese people for some reason.
*vocab lesson: "choice" is the NZ word for cool
