Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Free Days in Queenstown!
The next morning we woke up and drove to see part of the glacier we didn't get to see the day before.We only saw a little bit of it but it was still very pretty. Then we all hopped back into the van and drove to Queenstown for our free days. Little did I know that I was gunna have the time of my life there and fall in love with the "city."
The first full day I was there the girls all got up and walked around the town. Our hostal was right along the lake so each time we walked into town and back we had a spectacular view. So we shopped and explored the town when I decided that I really wanted to go river surfing! Queenstown is the only place to do it so I knew that I had to take advantage of the opportunity. I was relunctent, however, because I was the only one who wanted to go... for some reason. I said screw it and decided to go anyway knowing that I would meet other adventurist along the way. At 2:00 I ran to the office, nervous, but glad I had signed up. I hopped on the bus to find that a loud group of Americans were going to be doing it with me: perfect. They were from the group Pacific Challenge, a group we have been following pretty much this whole time. I got all suited up in my wetsuit, flippers, helmet, life jacket and boogie board and headed down to the river, which was perfect aqua. Basically what I did was went through class 2-4 rapids on a boogie board... it was awesome. I got to do barrel rolls and plow through the waves. At one point we faced up river and rode the wave like I was surfing on it. It was hard to catch and not everyone did but I was lucky enough to get on it for a while. I also got to go through the Pillars of the Kings, the scene in first lord of the rings where the fellowship are on the canoes and go by the huge king statues. Unfortunatly the statues weren't there anymore but we got to see where there were. We stopped to jump of this rock (I did a flip) and to watch the bungee jumpers fall from the bridge above. Little did I know that I was going to be doing that the very next day! In the end, we went through our final rapids and they were a class 4. It was pretty intense but there was like 6 guides with us so I felt completely safe. What we had to do was duck our heads under water when we saw the white water coming otherwise it would just throw us back. I went through it full of screams and laughs and luckily survived! It was a fun day and I was glad I took advantage of the opportunity.
I came back to the hostal and missed the other girls who went out to dinner so I just walked along the pier, watching the sunset. The sun hit the mountains and it was gorgeous. I walked around then grabbed a Fergburger which is the best burger ever. It is famous in the town and is always jam packed with people-- for a verry good reason! I then met up later with the rest of the girls and had a chill night... internet and bed!
My second day of Queenstown is written below... possibly one of the best days everrr!! Here is my bungee video though!