2/16 Best Day EVER!

WOW!!!!!

I literally just had THE best day ever!!! It started out rough, however, with the stress on which activity to pick for my free day in Queenstown. That consisted of a stressful and, yes, a tearful phone call to my dad pleading for help: should I do bungee jumping or a Lord of the Rings horseback tour? I know, I cried over that--- I guess it was a good reason to cry? Anyway, somehow I pulled off BOTH activities! I pesterd the receptionist as well as my instructor in order to switch my bungee jumping til earlier, get my instructor to drive me there, call the Lord of the Rings tour last minute and book the last spot.... a crazy morning! But by 10:30 I was on my way to bungee jump of THE FIRST bungee jump in the world over the river where Lord of the Rings was filmed and where the previous day I boogie boarded down "river surfed." I got there by 11:00 FULL of excitement I can't tell you. I ran down the stairs to the check in and got my ticket. I then ran to the bridge ready to jump 43M down into the river... Let me tell you, it was far more scary than skydiving! The anticipation was killer and I chatted with my fellow bungee jumpers waiting to free fall. We were all freaknig out but excited for the thrill of a lifetime! It was finally my turn and I turned to my instructor and friend Lindsay with a giant thumbs up. I got the the ledge... slowly, my feet tied and my heart pounding. When they were tying me in I couldn't even feel my legs! Shaking and holding onto the bar next to me I screamed out "HOLY SHIT!" posed for the camera, and then dove into thin air.. 43m down right into the river (screaming on the top of my lungs of course)! I got my upper body wet and my hair went crazy-- as I bounced up and down. I did it!!! I was sooo pumped up I told the boaters who untied me that I would be back... 20min later I was. 

I decided to jump for the SECOND time... but this time.... backwards. Yes, I dove backwards off the bridge. It was also SUPER amazing and a whole different sensation. Both I felt like I was a free "flying" bird. What a rush. I got some awesome pictures and a great DVD of it (sorry dad?). Anyway, morning of my life and the day still wasn't over!

Lindsay Leo and I got back and treated ourselves to some amazing ice cream-- I got the flavor Banana split and it was fantastic. Once I finished it I headed over to the bus stop in order to get picked up for my Lord of the RIngs adventure. Man was I excited! I was gonig to be a RIder of Rohan!! I didn't even mind that I was alone because I knew that I would also be surrounded by geeky fans... I quickly realized I was by sitting next to a girl named Rebecca who did a LOTR tour the day before and that morning... she had a lot to share with me but we clicked pretty quickly! Anyway, we got to the barns and geared up. We were assigned horses and get this... I got a horse who was actually IN THE MOVIE!!! His name was Redd and he was awesome. I rode a movie star! It was the cherry on the most perfect sundae. We rode around Middle Earth and saw basically the whole second movie's worth of scenary.. here they are (my terminology won't be correct):

-Helms deep, Isengard, forest of the elves where the fellowship go to after the mine and where Frodo recieves the light potion, the area where Borimir dies and where Mary and Pippen are captured, the tree where Aragon is pinned up against by the head Ork after Borimir dies but Aragon kills kills him, and manyy more!

It was just awesome to be outside on a gorgeous day with gorgeous scenary. It was so cool actually being in Paradise, the area where everything was filmed! SO FUN! Definitely a highlight for sure!!