My Kiwi Experience Part 3 : Royally Good Time

After a delightful time in Christchurch, I headed back on the bus to get down to Queenstown, otherwise known as the extreme sports capital of New Zealand. What I was unprepared for was the exquisite beauty of the place. This small, pretty touristy town is nestled between jagged mountain peaks that reflect in the deep clear lake. It's like Swiss Chalet type heaven, and with the leaves beginning to turn it was just perfect. The nightlife in Queenstown is also just my speed. Show up wearing a fleece and jeans, have a few beers, then dance the night away if you feel so inclined. Filled with like minded travellers, who share an equal enthusiasm for hiking and climbing, travel, and having a good time. I met plenty of good ones that passed the time easily.
Of course, the first night I was there, I ran into 2 friends I had made in Australia, because they all end up here. It's just a matter of time. Its as if Australia is tipped into a New Zealand funnel and the bottom of that funnel is Queesntown. And it's small enough that you will run into them. So, ran into a friend from my Cairns dive boat. After a few beers he somehow talks me into doing a Canyon Swing with him. Here is the basic idea, it's like a bungee, but there is no elastic, instead of slowing down and bouncing back, you speed up into a pendulum swing, getting up to speeds of 150km. And, unlike a bungee, which hooks onto your feet, you have a bunch of options of how to be linked up and how you want to jump. So, being the tough kid I am, I want the scariest! Well, one of the scariest ones is to fall backwards off the platform. And yeah, let me tell you, it's pretty scary. As I got geared up, my knees started shaking, I stopped making sense, just babbling. When the instructors leaned me out for my photo op, I clung madly to his wrist, digging my nails in pretty ferociously. Then, without thinking, I (or they) let go, and I was falling 109 meters, taller than the Statue of Liberty. There was no breath to scream, but believe me, panic was the only relevant emotion. Then, suddenly, I was moving sideways in an arc. I couldn't stop laughing. It turned so quickly into such a fun, beautiful swing. I was walking on air.
Maybe in an attempt to redeem myself, but mostly to get my moneys worth, I did a second jump. This time I was suspended upside down and face first into the canyon. "Okay, you ready?" "Ummm... yeah?" "okay we'll give you a count down. Five. Four." And I was gone, barreling face first towards the ground. Those bastards, you gotta love them for it. It was amazing, the biggest rush, and really really fun. But, man, I was ready to hit the hot tub and relax after a heart pounding day.
The next day I went hiking around Queenstown Hill, and indulged in shopping, waiting for my Milford Sound trip. After scant hours of sleep (thanks to the nightlife) I got on a bus and headed to one of the most beautiful places in the world: mountains carved by glaciers and mossy forests and glassy lakes. The Cruise around the sound was spectacular. Amazing steep cliff faces dotted with water falls. I would have loved to have kayaked it, gotten close and personal with the wildlife (seals and penguins!), but after fallen head over heels for Queenstown, I know I am coming back. Maybe then I can afford the helicopter trip to the glaciers, to soar among these cliffs would be truly unforgettable.
Sadly, I had to leave, it was truly just the tiniest taste of New Zealand, but it left me with such a great taste, I'm coming back for seconds, hopefully a much bigger serving. My good feelings about New Zealand continued even on the plane ride to Santiago, since I was bumped up to business class and dined and slept in the lap of luxury. Sort of like a parting gift. The kind that makes you not want to part. Now, I am in Santiago, praying that I will make the adjustment. It's going to be a lot harder to travel here, especially after New Zealand made me so soft. But hey, it's a tough life, but someones got to do it.