Queenstown

   To get to Queenstown we had a very long drive from Fox Glacier. In New Zealand there are a ton of one lane bridges going over glacier rivers, so we kept on having to stop and wait for the bridges to be empty of cars. It's definitely worth the wait though. The scenery on the bridges is amaaaazing. There are about 3,000 glaciers on the south island alone, and they all melt into rivers.The water in the rivers is really light blue and really clear. It is all pure and clean enough to drink which means I've traveled a long way from the Aberjona. On the banks of the rivers grassy hillsides with sheep and deer and cows and goats rise up and turn into enormous snow capped mountains even though it is summer here. Queenstown is on the banks of a massive deep blue lake. Mountains with snow rise up all around and there are deep canyons with rivers just 5 minutes drive outside the very center of town. Queenstown is also the capital of adventure sports and the home of bungy jumping. On our first day we went on a jet boat, which is a high speed boat that can go around 50 miles per hour and do 360's. We traveled into a river that was 99.9% pure water according to our driver, even though it drains from a lake with a city on it. At most points the water was no more than 2 or 3 inches deep and the boat just cruised over it. We saw huge rock walls and a hillside where scenes from the Lord of the Rings movie were filmed. After the jet boat we got Thai food. Now we're in a small town south of Queenstown and we're going on a trip to Doubtful sound which is supposed to be like a fjord with penguins and seals and dolphins. We are going to sleep overnight on a boat and after that only 5 more nights in New Zealand! We're headed to Indonesia next- first to an island called Bali, then a tiny place called Gili air and finally Lombok.           

Isoa

Isoa is the caretaker of the house that we stayed in on Taveuni. He lives right near the house with his wife, Pini; his grandson, Isaac; daughter, Salomi; and sometimes his nieces. He is very nice and helpful and came with us on most of our trips around the island. He and Pini also cooked a lovo (a traditional Fijian feast) one night. He was born in a small village called Wiwi village, about 1 to 2 miles from where he lives now. It was very interesting to talk to Isoa because he still does a lot of traditional Fijian things. He can free dive down 70 feet and spearfish. He also raises pigs and chickens on the property. He knows how to cut open a coconut and get the coconut milk, which is one of many foods growing around his house. There are also pineapples, bananas, papayas, breadfruit, mangoes and eggplants. Our stay would not have been nearly as enjoyable without Isoa around to help us out.

Jewel

Jewel is one of the many great people we have met on our trip so far. We met her because she is the daughter of our scuba diving instructor. She is 8 years old, same as my sister Addie so they immediately became friends. Because her father is a dive instructor, Jewel's family is one of the richest on the island. Because they are more wealthy, in some of the pictures I have posted in the next blog she can be seen wearing a bathing suit and sneakers which most Fijians don't have. You will see most of the other Fijians in the pictures are swimming in their clothes and walking around barefoot or in flip-flops. We took a trip with Jewel to a natural rock water slide on the island and to the international date line and everyone had a great time. She especially loved to jump off the rocks into the pool at the bottom of the slide. Addie loved having a friend on the island with her. Addie and Jewel even did a scuba diving course for kids who are too young to get fully certified.

Taveuni Pictures

This picture is for  Tommy Dooley, Dan Garber, and Stephen Morris.

The airport on Taveuni, the third largest island in Fiji.

Jewel is going down the water slide, Isoa is lying behind her and Sophie and Addie are waiting for their turn.

The Market in the largest village (it's not very large)

Qiolele, my mom, Sophie and I. Qio was our scuba dive master. (the q in Fijian is pronounced as a g in English, so his name actually sounds like Gio)

Jewel, Sophie, and Addie at the international date line.

They spelled Addie's name wrong on her birthday cake!

She still enjoyed it though

This is the chiefs son from a small village on Gamea island. He was super nice.

This is the village on Gamea. We ate a big Lovo, a traditional Fijian feast baked in a special oven.

Malakai (top)and Isaac!(bottom)

About to go to Taveuni falls! with Debbie and Salomi, Isoa's daughter and niece.

Me talking to Isoa

Jumping!

Sophie jumping!

Addie jumping! This is the coolest picture!

Coming back from Gamea. The guy driving is named Tommy.

Qio!

Isoa, Jewel and I below the water slide

Bula! that's what they say in Fiji instead of "cheese" when taking a picture. This is a picture of the chief's house in Gamea where we had the Lovo. I had to make this picture really big to be able to see everyone clearly.

Max, Where are you?

Max, we are missing you and starting to worry.  Where are you, Max?  Pete says you are still in Fiji.  You are?  Drew wants to know about the water.  And Dan says, "Hi?"  Are there evil tribes, and have you been taken?  (Pete is scared.)  Max, where are you?!?

Max's Replacement

Max, We normally won't post to your blog -- it is your blog afterall, but we couldn't attach this picture any other way.  Homer is saving your seat.  We miss you already. -- Silver Team

November 10- my birthday

Yesterday was my birthday, and I was in Los Angeles. Los Angeles is enormous. As soon as we were over the last mountains, I could see streets with houses for miles. The downtown area is pretty small, there's only like 6 or 7 really tall skyscrapers, but its surrounded by shopping areas and houses and resorts and my favorite, Compton. We met up with our friends who live in the city and went to Venice beach. Venice beach is really cool. If anyone has seen the movie Fletch, the drug scenes were filmed in Venice beach. There are lots of skateboarders, DJs trying to sell their albums, graffiti, and tattoo stands. The beach itself wasn't very crowded because it was insanely windy, but there were a few surfers and some para-sailors. After eating lunch, we drove through Malibu which is a very rich neighborhood, and Beverly Hills which is even richer. I saw Porsches, very expensive Audis and BMWs, Mercedes, Cadillacs, and even one of those weird cars like the one in Back to the Future. The houses were all very modern, and all had great views of the Pacific Ocean. We ate dinner at our friends house in Santa Monica, and then headed to the airport. After our 11hour flight we arrived in Nadi, Fiji. As I am writing this it is 4:46 Monday afternoon but 11:46 Sunday night at home and I'm really tired. By the way, if anyone is looking for a good movie watch The Campaign. It's hilarious.

Wu Tang Clan

Wednesday, November 07, 2012

On Saturday, I will be going to start my boring trip mehhhh . . .  The plan is we are going to Fiji.  Before Fiji, we are going to Los Angeles, but we will only be there for eight hours. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, really . . . but I don't really want to go on this trip.  Going is not as good as staying.

P.S. I'll do this stupid blog, but I am not going to put any apostrophes.  At least from now on.