Mt. Cook

I was sitting in the back this day and able to get a better overview of the inside of the plane as we flew toward Mt. Cook.

Our dear pilot Warrick with his aircraft on the most desolate airstrip I've ever seen.

This was the view of Mt. Cook from our room at the beatiful Hermitage Hotel.  The hotel has been there for more than 100 years and one can only puzzle over how is was built in the first place because the place is so remote and tucked into the mountains.  It was added onto over the years and today is a huge complex with at least ten stories, a huge gift shop, a theatre and planetarium, and of course a restaurant and bar.  We loved our room--spacious and comfortable and with this fabulous view out of the large picture window on the ninth floor.

Phrenji preparing to back the 4WD vehicle off of the trailer.

In Marlborough Country

Bad color, but this will give some idea of the beauty of the Marlborough Sounds.  Those are black swans in the picture and they were everywhere.

Our happy group in front of the Odyssea.  That's Graham and Trish, Jeannie, David, Tom tuck in between and Virginia in the back.  Me on the right of course.

Had to include this creative bit of marketing.  This was across the street from our hotel.  Inside was a bed and a small chest of drawers.  Only $60 a week!  Worth it?

On Marlborough Sound heading to the Mussel Farm

The plate of mussels on board the Odyssea, part of our beautiful buffet lunch

Ryan, our captain, demonstrating how the mussels are collected when they cling to the hemp ropes that hang between the floats.  This is very heavy and he could only hold it briefly to show us before having to drop it back into the water.

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In Marlborough country

No lack of fabulous food

The Maori chieftain's wife and young daughter welcoming us to their gallery.

A very elaborte Maori cape made of dyed feathers

More pix to accompany the previous text

For each new flight, Warrick would explain where we were going and what the route would be.  Trish is on the left and that's our leader Virginia in the center.

Today I got to sit in the co-pilot's seat and try to figure out what all these controls  were for.  I was afraid to talk to Warrick for fear of distracting him, but I later found out that he could fly the plane and talk to his co-pilot at the same time.

At a wine tasting lunch in the Marlborough wine country.  Virginia, Jeannie, Trish, Graham, David and Tom enjoying a fine Pinot Gris.

A few more pictures of the Rotorua Thermal Springs,..

This is boiling mud.  Falling in means instant death but there are no guard rails.  As Gary explained, if you're dumb enough to fall in you get what you deserve.  It's not up to the government to protect you from yourself.

Steam everywhere.

Isn't the world an amazing place?

Rotorua Mineral Springs,

The six mates in front of the Rotorua thermal springs.  The sulphur smell was extremely intense. Gary said to breathe in and it would cure all of our ills.

The beautiful old timbered Rotorua Bath House, now turned into a museum complete with realistic earthquake experience.

A lovely picnic in the woods.  Our "maitre d'" standing at attention with Virginia our leader and Jeannie from Brisbane.