JM: Enjoying an evening of dinner and games with our young friends. We're so glad these young people invite us over to the "Frat House". Front (L to R): Quin Pinson, me, Maurice (Mau) Melligan, Chris, Tom Swain. Back (L to R): Janet Pinson, Shirley, Shilo Kino, Tanya.
Rich Hunter and his family invited us to join them and a few friends for Christmas Eve. We enjoyed finger food and games. Rich and his family were so kind to invite us into their home, especially on Christmas Eve.
Opening presents on Christmas Day. Even with a tree and gifts, Christmas without family just doesn't seem to be Christmas.
This Pukeko filled with candy was a special gift from Brother and Sister Paki (who also attend the Glen Innes Ward). It was so kind and thoughtful of them to think of us.
Several missionary couples gathered for lunch and "Farkle" on Christmas Day. Good company, good food and a good game, it doesn't get much better than that. L to R: My sweetheart, Sister and Elder Rowberry, Sister and Elder Williams, Sister Streeter (Elder Streeter took the photo), Elder and Sister Pinson and me.
We joined Leah, Derek and Ellie Couch and Elder and Sister Harvey for dinner on Christmas Day. Originally we were going to have dinner at the home of the Couches, but Elder Harvey's back caused him not to be able to travel. So, the Couches brought dinner to Harvey's apartment. Couches are our friends in the Glen Innes Ward and Sister Harvey is Leah Couch's first cousin.
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| Pavlova, one of our favorite New Zealand treats! |
On Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) we hopped on a plane and flew to Queenstown. As we landed, the terrain and landscape reminded us of Utah. The following day we boarded the BBQ Bus for Milford Sound. To our surprise, at one of the stops to pick up additional passengers, Elder and Sister Henshaw and three of their children got on the bus. That made the 13 hour trip a lot more fun!
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| The field behind me was used to film one of the battles in one of the Lord of the Rings movies. |
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| Enjoying being together at a beautiful campground where we stopped for our BBQ lunch |
Kia birds have beautiful green and yellow underwings. You don't want to mess with them, though. Their beaks are very sharp. One of these was pulling out the rubber gasket between the top of the door and the roof.
The tunnel leading to Milford Sound is one-way. Cars line up waiting for a green light indicating that it is their turn.
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| On the boat in Milford Sound |
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| A classy lady in Milford Sound |
Henshaw's son had served a mission in Norway and said that if you have seen Milford Sound you have seen the fjords of Norway. The only difference he mentioned was that the Norway fjords are longer. It was a warm, dry summer day in the sound. We were told that it rains two-thirds of the time and normally the faces of the mountains are covered with waterfalls.
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| In spite of the dry weather, there were still a couple of waterfalls |
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| Returning to Milford Sound from Tasman Sea |
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| Seals sunning on the rocks in Milford Sound |
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| Sun setting over Lake Wakatipu |
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| In line for the gondola to Bob's Peak |
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| The stunning view from Bob's Peak (Queenstown in foreground) |
We took the TSS Earnslaw from Queenstown to Walter Peak. It was an enjoyable, relaxing one hour cruise each way.
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| We had a barbecue lunch in the restaurant at Walter Peak |
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| Dogwood at Walter Peak |
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| After a fascinating sheep shearing demonstration we were treated to a sheep dog demonstration |
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| Enjoying the sun at Walter Peak |
Queenstown is the only place in New Zealand (and perhaps the world/) where Shark Attacks are commercially available for rent. They are quite fast and they change direction quickly. In addition, though, they submerge a little and then pop up out of the water almost vertically. Pretty cool!
This is the view we see while walking on Takapuna Beach. The red blossoms on the tree at the top of the photos are Pahutakawa tree blossoms that only appear in December. Their beautiful red color and the green leaves of the tree are the reason these trees are called New Zealand's Christmas tree.
From the deck of our apartment we watched fireworks being shot off from the Sky Tower in Auckland. It was a bit disappointing, though. They lasted only about five minutes! HAPPY 2018!
