April 24 - 9 pm

It was so sunny and lovely in Wanaka today! And that made all the difference in my attitude. I had a fantastic morning walking around Lake Wanaka. So many people out on the beach and in the street. I could live in Wanaka. I kinda wish I would have rented a bike to ride around the town and the lake. They have lots of good cycle tracks. So when I come back someday..
But I had to leave Wanaka today to go back to Queenstown. Just two nights here before I go home. Just two more days! Really? Crazy. I'm staying in a nice hostel called Adventure Queenstown. I've heard there is a snorer in my room though, so I hope I can sleep through whatever happens tonight. I may have to get earplugs tomorrow if it's bad.

April 23 - 9:40 pm

The weather was better today. Perfect for my hike. Not a long one - just up Mt. Iron. It was about an hour and a half. Good lookout point at the summit. Gorgeous Lake Wanaka. I repeat, beautiful fall colors. I walked back into town after my hike and sat by the lake and ate my lunch. By then the clouds were filling in, so I was back in my down coat again, but it was still pretty comfortable temperature. It started to rain a bit later, and I hung out inside at the hostel drawing. The paint app on my iPad provides me with endless entertainment.
Mom told me that she'd pay for me to go to a movie here, so I took her up on that. And she had told me that she liked the movie Warm Bodies - a zombie romantic comedy - so I bought a ticket for the 6:30 showing. I thought it might be entertaining.. I mean the trailer featured The Black Keys song, Lonely Boy. I like that song. The movie should be good.. Nope! I thought it was quite possibly the worst movie I've ever seen. Worse than Twilight number one. Same cheesy, so-bad-it's-funny factor. But not as good as Twilight. Ha yeah, sorry Mom. Bad taste in movies. The theatre was really cool though. Small! Only one screen, couches and different old comfy theatre seats, only about 50 seats. It was funky. So that kinda made up for the lame movie.
Back to Queenstown tomorrow afternoon.

April 22 - 5:30 pm

Hanukkah. Harmonica. Wanaka.
Beautiful beautiful in the fall. All the leaves have changed. The lake is a perfect mirror.
It was nice weather too, until about 3:00 when it started to rain.
I'm staying at a nice hostel, just down the street, along the lake, from the city centre. I walked around a bit today, sat by the lake, went to the market. i want to go on a hike tomorrow if its not raining. I'll probably just hang out at the hostel tonight. There isn't much to do in town after dark. And it's raining.
Pumpkin soup and toast tonight. Giving myself a break from spaghetti.
No good books on the book exchange shelf, so I'm back to the iBooks on my iPad. I think I'll start The Jungle.

Feb 14 - 10 pm

Happy Valentine's Day. They celebrate it here too. But I didn't really celebrate. I spent the day with my parents, driving from Wanaka to Franz Josef. Best Valentines Day ever. I decided I really like Wanaka, after walking around this morning. Lots of people out at the cafes and at the lakeside. And they have a bakery, called The Doughbin, where I got a cinnamon donut! That's all it takes to make me happy. We saw a woman with a labradoodle sitting outside, so my mom and I stopped to talk to her. Cutest little dog. I'm so happy my folks decided to get one, so I'll have a little puppy to play with when I get home.
We drove probably 4 hours, stopping often to see the scenic views and really take it all in.
Franz Josef was the night's destination. We were staying at the Glow Worm Cottages. Great name. Funky place, it offered free veggie soup at 6 to all the guests. So that was dinner! And grilled cheese sandwiches that we made. Delicioso.
We walked around town, a short walk through the rainforest just a minute's walk from our hostel, stopped in some old historic churches, Maori jewelry shops, ice cream place. Met a great couple from Atlanta who were here on their honeymoon - really nice people. And then our roommate was a young guy from London. So many different kinds of humans!
What blows me away is seeing all the green and vegetation in what they call "glacier country". It's really crazy.

Feb 13 - 11 pm

Less exciting day, but every bit as much enjoyable. We drove from Te Anau to Wanaka; took the scenic route, on some very windy zig-zaggy roads. Met some more Americans- a father son team tramping around Te Anau, and a Minnesota boy in the hostel we're staying at tonight. Both just here enjoying the incredible outdoors here. I wish I could camp and do some of the great walks here. I guess I'll just have to come back someday! I will be back; mark my words. Wanaka (rhymes with hannukah, or harmonica) is a good little town. All the shops close early, lots of cute little expensive shops. Even their Salvation Army was super pricy. This is a great place for outdoor activities though. Climbing, hiking, skiing, skydiving.. Perfect.
My dad really wanted to check out Puzzle World here. It's a whole museum of different illusion exhibits. Like the hologram room, tilted house, little big room, and optical illusion puzzles. It was pretty cool. A major attraction here in Wanaka. And the place ends with a big maze, like a corn maze without the corn. I have always hated corn mazes, but I gave it a shot. Without my dad I would have given up after 10 minutes, but he was determined to complete it. An hour later, we had succeeded. Well done.
Regretfully, we ate dinner at Uncle John's Pizzeria. An Italian/Chinese place, run by Chinese. So we got the Chinese. Not the best.. My chow mien was just oriental flavored top ramen I think. Should have checked urbanspoon.