Too Much To Catch Up On

Ok, it has been way to long since my last entry to catch up on everything I have been doing. To get a good idea check out my flickr page... www.flickr.com/photos/joseph_bolt although that is still asbout 3 weeks behind. I have done so much since my last entry. I met some really cool guys in Wanaka that I traveled around with, we got in the local paper for swimming to an island because some woman thought we were drowning and called the police. We had a great time together, did the Routburn track, another amazing walk athough it was windy and rainy and it even hailed on us at one point. The last day of the track was glorious though and we ran back the way we had gone the previous day to see the amazing sights we missed. We also got drunk....a lot! I have also visited Christchurch and been to the Frans Josef glacier and walkied up it, that was pretty cool. I also worked there for a week waiting for the weather to clear. I then at last SKYDIVED! over the Fox glacier, one of the bext experienced ever. I visited Athurs pass and climbed my first mountain that went higher than plants can grow, the view was spectacular. I have just finished doing the Able Tasman treck, a three day hike around the coast along some beautiful beaches and saw seals in the wild for the first time. A baby seal came up to see me when I was chilling on a rock, it was a really special moment. I am currently in Kaikora. I went whale watching today and saw, 3 sperm whales, a few Seals and a pod of around 150 dolphins!!!! Anyways that is a very brief description of what I have been doing, there has been so much more but I can't afford to spend the money on the net writing it all up. I have already overspent in NZ, and will soon be looking for a job to make some of it back. I am also planning to stay in NZ a couple of months longer than initailly planned cos its SO cool and I am only half way through.
Love you all,
Joe

Wanaka Pic

Just a photo of Wanaka to test new filter on camera.

Killing Time

The weather has taken a turn for the worst and I am killing time waiting for it to clear because I am wanting to do a skydive over the fox glacier and the won't do them when the weather is like this. I had a very short and uneventful stay in the very small and dull town of Milford Sound (nice landscape but there is only 1 shop, 1 bar, and 1 cafe and everything is expensive because there is no other choice). I was there because I needed a rest after the beautiful Milford track and took a cruise around the fiords but it rained and I couldn't see much. I then headed back to the homely Queenstown for a couple of nights and decided to head for Wanaka while the weather is bad as it is on route to the Fox Glacier. Wanaka is pleasent and chilled out but I just feel like I am wasting time here. It is nice to get stuck into my book and take it easy but I am really in the mood for some action, but hey the sun can't be expected to shine everyday.

The Milford Track

Wow!!! Wow, wow, wow!!!!!! A couple of days ago I finished doing the Milford Track, a 4 day trek through some of the most amazing landscape. It is surpossed to be the best walk in New Zealand and one of the best in the world and I can now see why. It was SO amazing!!! You normally have to book at least 6 months ahead 'cos they limit numbers on the track but I got in the day before because somebody cancelled! How lucky am I?? It is definately one of the highlights of the trip so far....one of the highlights of my life even. It was really hard work. 33.5 miles with a full backpack on but totally worth the pain. I even climbed up and over a mountain!!!! How cool is that? The views and atmostphere at the top was impossible to describe, I literally climbed upto and over the clouds. Simply bliss. You may get a hint at how beautiful it was from the photographs but they are nothing to the real thing. Heaven.

This is more like it.......

So relieved to be out of cities and into the mountains. I am in Queenstown!!! It is a wonderful town, yet another place I'd love to live. Staying at a hostel that is more me, very colourful, not to many people, cool people though and everything made out of old bits of driftwood etc. I jumped off a bridge today!!! Best hangover cure in the world a bungy jump, it was amazing, gonna do a higher one tomorrow, that one looks really scary, 134m, 8.5 secs free fall check it....http://www.ajhackett.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/29 This town is another lovely town to chill out in, I am surprised how much I am enjoying chilling out actually, I thought I always wanna be doing stuff to keep me occupied to avoid homesickness, but its just too beautiful to miss home ha ha, sorry guys. Wish you could all come and share it. I am loving life!!

New Zealand!!!

Person jumping from Sky Tower, Auckland, NZ

Performance artist, Auckland, NZ

Grafiti, Auckland, NZ



Lanterns for Chinese New Year, Auckland, NZ

Well I am finally at the first proper stop of my trip, I feel like I can chill out a bit more now, although I havn't exactly been working hard so far, getting up when I want, relaxing on beaches, drinking when I like etc......but now I don't have to worry about flights. I am in Auckland now, it is a lovely city but to be honest I am a bit sick of cities now, looking forward to seeing the mountains. Went up the tallest buinlding in the Southern hemisphere yesterday, it was nice to see the Auckland volcanoes from there but it wasn't quite as impressive as the Empire State building. Went to a couple of Art galleries yesterday which were nice , and I am once again feeling like a pin cushon after having 3 more jabs today. I am finding lots of cool beads for my hair in Auckland wich is great for souveniers as they don't take up any room in my bag. I am also really impressed by the veggie options in Australia and New Zealand and spending way too much on food...its worth it though....yum yum. Ok next stop Queenstown, I'll message y'all from there,

Peace out,

Joe

Some photos from Sydney

Ok, here are some photograhs I didn't get the chance to upload when I did my Sydney entry...

Surfer, Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

Wind shaped rock, just off Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

Guys in yellows tops, Eastern Beaches, Sydney, Australia