Voyages de Guillaume

All that remains of the last day at Queenstown. I looked out the window and it was snowing! Quel cadeau alors la dernière journée! Even though the snow was not staying on the ground, would see much more later in the day.

Went for a walk to Frankton by the lake which was beautiful

the day even cleared a little with the sun shining just for the time I was walking so the snow capped mountains were quite visible. Such extraordinary beauty especially with the extra snow the last few days.

Bus back to Queenstown and then to take the gondola up to Skyline. This took quite a deal of courage as after yesterday was sure that with the ice and snow the gondola would fall a few hundred metres and what destiny has not managed to do yesterday would be accomplished today. Fears unfounded.

But what a magnificent Winter wonderland was to be found there with so much snow covering the trees and ground.

Stayed there for a couple of hours taking photos and writing. Wonderful end to my holidays, and certainly made up for yesterday.

One shall certainly return and hopefully not in the too distant future.

Today’s events being for Thursday and one is now writing on Sunday, but with the events of yesterday did not feel like writing. The temperature continued to decline from today about 14° to a predicted top of about 9° on Sunday, my last day, but with the snow from time to time in Queenstown, probably more like 3 or 4. But I am getting ahead of myself

So despite the rain today, and one could see more snow on the mountains from today, decided to really play the tourist and go to a farm and see sheep shearing etc. But the main purpose was to do a cruise again on the lake TSS Earnslaw which is a steamer built about 1912. Very interesting few hours.

The house of the landowners was very nice and Afternoon Tea was supplied there. The evening back in Queenstown dinner was again taken at the Prime restaurant where I dined the first evening.

Possibly one has mentioned this before but was talked about again at the property, the amount of water in the lake is a concern,about one and a half metres above normal and with the snow melting eventually into the lake there will be even more.

A major flood occurs about every 6 years when the shops close to the lake are inundated. Beauty at a price.

http://shar.es/IujZP

The above is the link to the local press of the accident I was involved in. As the police said could have been worse. If the driver was not able to have the tree stop our descent, the gorge below down to the river is a very long way and injuries will have been much worse.

As to the reason for the accident, whether the breaks failed, the road was greasy with the rain perhaps even some ice, pointless to speculate,merely that he had the presence of mind to aim for the tree, that we must be grateful for.

Today was summer with temperature of 23. So far has been about 17 each day although yesterday was 14. Nights from 3 to 7.

Quieter day as did not leave my appartement until after 2pm, was meditating, a little yoga too, and writing. Being the warmest day so far, was really not the day for walking 500 metres above Queenstown (about 900 metres above sea level) but this I did walking up a steep incline most of the way. But the view was worth it.

I thought I would be the only one to do the walk but there must have been about 20 people I passed on the way, but much younger than I. So apart from the goal of seeing Queenstown and the environs from up there, the exercise also was pleasant. I was rather fearful of how my body would react, but apart from being rather exhausted and going straight to bed after dinner, this morning on waking there was no pain or tired muscles at all, not even the legs.

Dinner was pleasant again by the lake where most of the good restaurants are to be found (the ones I have frequented at least) and this one particularly so as there was music; tonight was the start of the International Blues and Jazz Festival over this long Labour Day weekend. So I chose the right restaurant it seems. Artists like the Australian Renee Geyer will be performing.

After, as said only had enough energy for the short walk to the apartment and to fall into the arms of Morpheus.

Very cool this morning about 3, but did not feel cold with the layers of clothes. Bus came on time and I was expecting a beautiful experience of Milford Sound with a very clear day, but the journey there was equally as spectacular with the many snowcapped mountains, indeed one was surprised so much snow remains, indeed it does not completely disappear until about mid Summer.

It was not just the mountains (the extra snow here in the Southland as compares around Queenstown is because it is facing south mainly and the enormous amount of rain it receives which translates into snow in the higher regions). As started to write not just the mountains, the valleys in between, and the rivers and many waterfalls, more plentiful now with the rain that has been received in the last few weeks. Extraordinary sight, which I am rather writing often here, but one can see why this area of New Zealand is the most popular for tourism with its Sangri-La quality, hardly lost, but not spoiled by the tourists, more like pilgrims one would say.

So after this beauty to have more of the enrichment of the senses at Milford Sound, with little wind and even sun from time to time. Apart from the magnificence of the landscape,there were also seals to see sunbathing on the rocks and briefly some dolphins. Quite a small boat so could venture close to the shoreline. Also went to the start of the Tasman.

Rain started this evening just after my return to Queenstown and quite heavy during the night (but not until I had returned from my dinner at a pizzeria) but sunny now at Midday.

Some photos of the day below.

I suppose that I am a little disappointed with these entries in that I was hoping for some clarity, but perhaps I philosophise too much and the answer may be to find the meaning in the simple pleasures of life, like this time in Queenstown, just enjoying it for what it is, merely a break from the normal routine.

Today was a quite relaxing day, another walk in the gardens and to book for a cruise on Lake Wakatipu, which was very enjoyable it being another sparkling day. So very beautiful.

After the cruise the search for a restaurant which was very pleasant overlooking the lake again (as has been the case most dinners).

I think a short entry tonight, but this is mainly for my own record, not really as I said anything terribly profound.

Today started with a promenade in the Gardens which are quite extensive and attractive. Blossoms finished probably early to mid September in Sydney but here are still out. The added beauty of looking though the trees to the magnificent lake and mountains in the background.

Today was raining, drizzle in the morning but heavy rain in the afternoon, but pleasant to see Queentown in a different hue. As an aside the lake has risen about a metre from the rain received in the last weeks. The exercise was pleasant and the colour of the plants and flowers quite special.

Before the rain in the afternoon the lake was quite dramatic with the wind causing the waves to crash again the walls/bank. I would not have liked to be going up in the gondola ce matin.

The afternoon was a tour to places where The Lord of the Rings was, were filmed. I have only seen the first film but I mainly joined the trip as I wanted to go into the mountains, and I would say a perfect day for it. Mist and mountains seem to go together and for me make them an even more spiritual place when there is much cloud. Although I was wearing quite a few layers was not particularly cold but then again was only outside the 4 wheel drive for short periods.

We did go into the mountains but returned to Arrowtown and through a few rivers which were swollen with the rain today. Quite exciting with at times wondering if one would make it. No need for the jetboats!

So a mixture of activities these few days and I keep thinking of Annecy in France here in Queenstown, very different in terms of architecture but for me it does have a similar ambiance with the lake and mountains, and the many restaurants too. La beauté ici est assez frappante, as I have said maintes fois, I am sure. And also as I have said meditation may not be necessary this being a constant meditation to simply regard nature and with the relaxed and polite population. By the way the number of people living in Queenstown and it’s surrounds is roughly always double the normal population (Summer and Winter higher number of tourists than now I suppose). The most popular destination in all of New Zealand and the only real industry.

It is now after 17h about 14° writing in the gardens, the music of the waves against the rocks, not as rough as yesterday, with the particularly musical birds singing. Absolutely idyllic. Encore une petite promenade before I make the difficult decision which restaurant to choose for dinner.

This was my first full day here in this beautiful town. My intention coming here, as well as to appreciate so much beauty, and the general ambiance of peace, was to find some clarity by meditating daily. This has not come to pass, but then I suppose that just being here, and in some way by being taken over by nature, which it is impossible to avoid in Queenstown, and the surrounds, is a meditation in itself.

Today I took the bus to Arrowtown, where I had visited 30years ago, and it seemed different to how I remembered it, and probably was, though of course the main buildings would be the same.

The museum with the history/artefacts are very interesting, with rooms as they would have been, transporting one back. Lunch was taken in a French restaurant which added to the pleasure of the day, to be able to hear the French language.

The more one is here, the more the mode de vie seems to resonate with me, being so sensitive to beauty as one is, and a gentle beauty that one finds around Queenstown. Even such things as the lack of poisonous creatures, for example snakes and spiders make it such a different energy to Australia.

One of course cannot but contrast the hell that the poor people are going through in NSW, particularly in the Blue Mountains, where so much property has been lost, and the relative fraicheur here where the temperature was only about 16 today and now about 9 with heavy rain this afternoon, and the other side of the Tasman with its completely different weather and it seems still a few more days before a cooler regime is in place around Sydney.

But returning to the South Island of New Zealand. After Arrowtown to return to the centre of Queenstown and take the gondola up to Skyline for the extraordinary view.

Spent a couple of hours up there absorbing the view and writing. Then a leisurely walk back to the apartment.

When one is enjoying a holiday it is unfortunate how quickly the time goes, whereas the drudgery of work is interminable.

One is writing this in the Skyline having ascended in the gondola. It is an extraordinarily beautiful town, Queenstown, and the view from my apartment superb, but of course up here, so high above the town, the panorama is magnificent.

Did not write yesterday, my first day here, as one was acclimatising to the new country/town, although there are of course strong resemblances to Australia being so close and yet differences also. There is a politeness which reminds one of France where it is expected to say hello and goodbye in shops, a politeness which in large cities at least has not been in Australia for some decades.

Perhaps one feels that those living in such a beautiful endroit as this

(these taken from my living room and bedroom), must be affected by the landscape that rather determines the character and perhaps even the language of a people. One could, I think, quite easily live here especially with the climate; second half of October and temperatures mid teens even down to 9° maximum towards the end of the week. But like Sydney Australia these are unusual (although in the case of Sydney it is the heat and dry causing bushfires rather than cold).

I suppose some of the mundane details of the trip from Sydney. To stay at Rydges Sydney Airport Friday night rather than trying to come to the airport early on Saturday made it so much more relaxing and indeed pleasant. To come over to the airport and dine, to soak up the ambience, knowing that after 9 years I was to travel overseas the next morning. Everything was easy, checking in online meant one’s queue was very short, through customs, and the flight on time.

The flight to Queenstown was only about 2 and half hours. The arrival at the airport was a little disconcerting. I am not one to make plans (or have goals in life I suppose) and both at customs, and by a security person who was walking around speaking to people waiting for their luggage, vetting them I suppose, the question was repeated twice «have you planned any excursions yet?» as if everything needs to planned to the last detail and no time for leisurely exploring of the town. Yes annoying, and another question repeated of «do you know anyone here are you meeting anyone». So I felt a little unwelcome, but I suppose security is tight even in New Zealand.

But after this quick taxi trip to the Alexis with the views above, which even now I need to keep looking out the window to ensure they are real and not a painting/photo. The apartment is very spacious.

After unpacking une promenade to the centre of town by the lake with the snow covered mountains in the background, and decided to dine at a very pleasant restaurant with this view.

After dinner, was lost for a time, but that was fine as saw parts of Queenstown I may not have seen otherwise.

So from apart from the aberration at the airport a wonderful day! to be continued ……