After a climb at Charleston, West Coast, NZ

Back again

Howdy folks,

How're you goin? Well, I'm back in Wanaka and the sun is once again shining. My five weeks of travel around the south island produced a ton of rain which left us locked inside Mandy for more than a couple nights. However back in Wanaka, surrounded by mountains on all sides the weather simply seems to get blocked and elbowed out of the way as this place is flat dry - but incredibly windy! It reminds me of Colorado a lot except for the extreme wind constantly. I arrived back last friday just in time to start partying. Bruce and Swenja threw a huge party for no reason on Friday the 13th. Friends from Wanaka and beyond descended on Bruce's work shed which in a matter of two weeks had gone from a manly, sawdust-filled auditorium of work tools to a relaxing lavender colored yoga studio to a raving party house. I was in for a long night as these New Zealand folk were tireless party-ers and danced until well after the sun was up again. Coming hot off of CC's party culture of things starting as early as 8 PM and ending no later than 2 AM if it is the most outrageous party of the year, I was a bit overwhelmed after and snuck off around 5:30 to watch the sun rise although coincidentally, I got to see the moon rise first! However overwhelming on the whole, does not account for the fact that I had a fantastic time and suddenly feel at home again with this Wanaka community.

Once again too, I'm back at it, cracking away at the rocks and subsequently climbing those cracks. Not actually, but I am climbing and simply staying active. However, my favorite thing that has happened since getting back was going to the movies with Bruce, Swenja, and Tony last last night. We saw the movie 2012 at the small independent theater with couches instead of tiered seats and an intermission when they serve full meals, cookies, beer, wine, coffee, anything really...a proper cafe. Although that added to the experience the true beauty was in the movie...which by all conventions was absolutely horrible except that in such a way that it was really good and entertaining. You sit there (for far too long) and simply laugh at what hollywood has produced. I HIGHLY recommend seeing this movie, except in doing so, you must see it with friends who you are ready to laugh with because it will be a wild ride undoubtedly. Well, I'm thinking I might try to leave some short snippets and stories that have happened over the course of my trip so that it adds a little more spice than simply re-hashing my day to day actions.

My first happened recently when I was making my way back from Christchurch to Wanaka. It is a considerable drive and along the way there is a "driver reviver" which is a cafe that offers free coffee for drivers on the road. Naturally I pulled over immediately and grabbed a coffee. In order to further my excitedness for the rest of my driving I put on a rather intense, upbeat, and aggressive hip-hop/rap/electronic mixture...a bunch of popular rap songs covered by ratatat with electronic beats behind. As I pulled out I rolled down the window and bumped up the music. Quickly however came a turn that I had to slow to 30 kilometers per hour and enter a work zone to navigate. Doing so quickly I had no time to turn down music as I looked up inquisitively to the two workers as to which direction I should go. They signaled and as I started passing them I became suddenly and violently aware of the ridiculousness of my situation. Here I was, this confused, help seeking young guy passing along two road workers, with my windows down and strong rap music beating impetuously in the background. As soon as I became aware of the fact, I heard unrestricted laughter coming from the two workers. All I could do as I continued on was laugh with them.

That's my story for today.

Much love

A little window

Written in my journal while enjoying a pint at The Twisted Hop in Christchurch. A little different entry today, but nonetheless fitting:

Wild night in Christchurch...something about horse races and everyone dressed up like they are going to a wedding. "cup day?" Today I must start writing down my random philosophies on life, says Liza. So this is the start of that.

1. Setting: Indian Restaurant in Duluth, MN with Henry McKenna, while listening and pondering the bad background music.
Philosophy: I think Indian restaurants need to play bad indian music all the time because otherwise they would become bored of the good Indian music.

2. Setting: At an Indian Restaurant with Liza in Sumner, NZ eating a very mildly spiced meal in which Liza is desperately attempting to add more chilli powder out of the shaker we were given upon request.
Philosophy: Maybe the reason all NZ food lacks any sort of spice is because all the holes in the spice dispensers are too small and it would take far too long to properly spice the food.

3. Setting: Currently enjoying a pint, theorizing on my theories...
Philosophy: Clearly there is a correlation between my eating Indian food and solving previously unanswerable questions about the world. Thus more should be consumed to solve all the world's upcoming dilemnas such as "who will save the world from 2012?"
....Just thinking about indian food and instantly! IDEA! we need to skip 2012 like appartment buildings skip the 13th floor and deftly call it, "the 14th floor". We must quickly arrange the year 2012 to be called either 2013 or 2014 if you are superstitious. Thus, nostrasdamus' prediction could not possibly come true.