Day 2 - 5th June : QUEENSTOWN, HERE WE COME

Journey: Lake Tekapo - Twizel – Omarama – Queenstown

As conservative accountants, we left Tekapo at 630am, even before the first light, so that we can reach Queens early. It was a mistake!! The first light was at around 8am (who say NZ day starts early!!! The day is damn short) and we miss the scenery of Lindis Pass. We only manage to catch the dark shadows of the mountains of Lindis Pass, abit sad..... keke.

BUT, nothing can make me unhappy for long when I am in a freaking cold place and with no work (HP switched off at all times).. wahaha

After kooning in the car for about an hour (most of us slept, except for the super drive of cos), it was feeding time!!! First pitstop for the chimneys' medications!!

By the road side of OMARAMA

As you can see, the sky is still quite dark. Vaguely, I can remember that this place is quite cold. So I guess it must be freaking cold for the rest... wahaha.

Introducing OLIVE!!!! The Koon-神 （SJ met her 对手 in kooning) and the other ma-ma shop attendant. Oh, she is also very good in map-reading. What a compatible couple, one drive and the other read maps....

After about 20 minutes break, we head off to Queens and reached Lake Hayes (just outside Queens) just before noon.

Another place with great scenery. Photo time!!!!

Trying to be artisitc (above). Postcards again (below)

The Group photo. The top 2 is Popeye and Olive (couple). In case VC and 水果妹 angry, i need to clarify that the bottom are just friends... er hmmm at the time of taking this shot... who knows...

Seldom see me smile and so happy right.... The right ingredients will make me happy - a dose of cold air, away from my laptop and great company!!

This is the same tree where the 2-couple picture was shot (above). But, he just looks more mature than the rest... wahahaha... AH LAO again!!!! Ware is your "stylish" sunglasses??? hehe. The most classic picture i must say is the one taken on the first day to Lake Tekapo (which was NOT posted cos he is one of the delinquent who has yet to pass SJ his pictures. Maybe I will post when I received the compiled DVD of pictures from SJ).

After an hour of stop-over at Lake Hayes, we head off to Queens. We went straight to the I-site to book our planned activities - Jetboat and white water rafting. We managed to book the Jetboat but not the white water rafting (reason shall notbe disclosed).

After making the booking for the noon ride, we head off to our hotel for check-in - RYDGES HOTEL. This is the only hotel which we stayed for our entire trip. Really good hotel and not very expensive. Nice scenery of Lake Wakatipu from the balcony.

Remember this shot and notice there are still browns and greens on the mountains. When we were back to this place on our 4th day, the mountain caps were filled with snow!! Will paste the picture for Day4.

Our Hotel (above)

After checking in, we make a super speed walk to the shotover jetboat station to take the shuttle to Arthur Point for our Jetboat!! This company's jetboat is highly recommended! The Jetboat was AWESOME! Although it is pricey at about NZD99 for about 25 minutes ride, I would give it a not to be missed rating.

A picture taken after our jetboat ride. We were waiting for the shuttle bus to take us back to Queens town centre for our lunch.

After lunch, we head off to Deer Park heights. Deer park Heights, just outside Queenstown, was used for the filming of Lord of the Rings - The Twin Tower, for a duration of 3 weeks. The deer park was used for quite a few scenes, including the path of the Rohan refugees, warg battles and where Aragorn disappears over the cliff.

I love this place too, although some of the roadtrippers dun quite like the place cos they dun like dried-up fields and animals. Entrance fee is by car (NZD20) and the whole route will lead us to the top of the mountaineous area. Along the way to the top, you will see animals (some which we cant name) roaming freely in the open.. oh ya they shit freely too.. keke.

Animals along the way (above)

VC, not so cool anymore. kaka. Let me guess, should be 3 layers (one very thick 2layered jacket, long sleeve t-shirt and long john) So it should be 4 layer.

Cool pictures right? It was really cold up here, HIGH HIGH HIGH!!!

As it was really cold(Popeye and Olive really scared of the cold... hehe), we left after spending half an hour at the top of the mountain.

On our way down, Popeye taking pictures with his KIND (meh meh 羊, keke). I did not bluff all, layering getting thicker....

This picture was taken after the 3rd attempt and Donkeys (not insdie the pic) are chasing after me!

Let me try to explain the why this picture was taken. While we were driving down the mountain, there was this bunch of animal (duno wad they are called. inside the picture above) and some black big donkeys following our car. Then someone commented that here we are in Deer Park and none of us had taken a picture with the animals close up. So i suggested that we get off the car and take pictures with the animal. No one dare lor. Then I say I will get off the car to take the picture and Popeye will take the picture for me (oh, the driver was Ah Lao and Popeye was sitting at the passenger seat in front).

So, I got off the car and run to the bunch of animal and wait for Popeye to click my camera, but before he can click, the donkeys are approaching and i got to run back up into the car. Maybe at this juncture, you must be recalling from the narration of Day 1 that I mentioned my cut-hand picture was the last picture Popeye took for me? Yes, I m not wrong. Because the running in and out of the car happened twice and Popeye managed to take one picture BUT with half an animal.. haha. Sensing it is not going to get any better, VC volunteer to take the camera from Popeye and take the picture for me. And here is the final posted picture. Me feeling scared that the animal wil kiss me. hahahaah.

After Deer Park, we head back to Hotel for a rest before dinner. I think we had KFC. Nice and cheap. Next day, we will be going to Te Anau, where we had one of our best dinners.

Btw, the 3rd day blog would be posted some time next weekend, since i am going away for 3 days... till then... MX OUT!