Frodo, Don’t Wear the Ring
Posted in Uncategorized on May 8th, 2010
It’s getting to the point in the academic year wherein I become slightly overwhelmed by the sheer number of assignments that all of my professors have seen fit to throw upon me. Thus, the relative blog-silence over the last few weeks. Not that this is a really negative thing, but it seems like every time I sit down to write an entry, my housemates are shouting for me to make them “American-style giant pretzels” or the ever-memorable vegan lemon cookies. In return, they teach me snappy Ozzie slang like “looking a bit suss” and “charging into the city.” Tip for would-be exchangers: living in a sharehouse with ten other people guarantees you good times, but zero productivity. Ah well.
Anyhow, I intend to increase my blog volume soon, but do have to get through two research papers first. Instead of my musings on small-talk and classes, I would like to briefly present you with My Mid-Semester Break: New Zealand by Campervan.
Before I got to Australia, I was unaware of the rivalry between Ozzies and Kiwis. As far as I knew, it was kind of like Northern California and Southern California: SoCal has the pretty people, but Norcal has the mountains. Tourists divide up accordingly. But after watching approximately a frillion hours of Flight of the Conchords (warning for brief rude hand gestures) with my flatmates, I’ve determined that what I once thought was an affable relationship appears to be a bit more virulent.
Regardless of the debate about how to pronounce the word “better,” even Ozzies can agree: New Zealand is beautiful.
Our loyal steed at the base of Arthur Pass
Just like any mode of travel, going about in a Campervan for eight days has its advantages and disadvantages. Advantage: you can stop anywhere to snap photos of diversity-minded landmarks!
International relations at its finest
Disadvantage: the roads in New Zealand are incredibly windy. Also, narrow. Also, everyone drives on the left.
I spent most of my passenger-time with my eyes shut.
Advantage: easy, impromptu landscape shots!
Looking strangely triumphant near Te Anau
Disadvantage: your legs begin to atrophy from constantly pressing a pedal, so that even a 6 km hike (at which the below photo was taken) leaves you feeling winded and whiny.
Do you reckon the gold at the end of this rainbow has to be declared at Customs?
Advantage: you can drive yourself to the world’s first bungy jumping bridge and not have to pay the $30 concession!
Like a fish on a hook.
Disadvantage: though Christchurch is charming, it is very hard to find petrol stations amidst all the Alice in Wonderland-esque architecture.
Advantage: if you trick out your Campervan, you can even take a trip to Antarctica!
Ithaca prepared me well.
Disadvantage: Riding on the Hagglund at the Christchurch Antarctica Centre will just remind you that the above dream will have to remain a fantasy.
Sadly, our van did not come with floating capabilities.
Advantage: well, at the end of the day, you’re in New Zealand. And adventure (along with many ill-used Lord of the Rings references) awaits!
Franz Josef glacier, waiting to be trekked.
–kj
AND MY AXE.
(Today’s blog post title comes from Flight of the Conchords’s “Frodo (Rejected Lord of the Rings Demo)”, because they are my favorite New Zealand export–apart from kiwifruits and Karl Urban, of course.)