Take a closer look…my frozen Florida water fountain. Ok we are living in weird times

First coat of paint on the new space. Very cottagey don’t you think…?

Ok this is right out of the DHS website. Clearly the soccer mom with the lab in the back seat was a threat that needed to be neutralized…

Caught a job….

Ok its not Panther but it sure will put out some fire…

Ain’t she a beauty…? The dragon should be scared if we show up

Looky what I am driving today…

Birthday dinner with my beloved…

This message hits hard.

In the trenches at R19 today. Merry Christmas everybody..!!! Ho-Ho-Ho!!

www.muellershewrote.com/p/watch-the-... For those who are interested in watching our government’s handy work!

Ok this is Christine’s audition for the next Lord of the rings…

More Hobbiton pics…

Check these pics out…!

Lord of the ring? Eat your heart out!

Today we went to Hobbiton movie studio. Here they built a whole set so we can wander about like children in make believe land. It was spectacular!!

We attended a Maori welcoming ceremony last night. Absolutely amazing and a must see! The cultural experience included songs, stories and learning by doing. They even sung songs from every homeland to honor our visit (China, Malaysia, USA you name it and they sung it!) Deep respect.

More pics from Hells gate…

Today we went to a geothermal spring called of all things “Hells gate”. We did the mud baths, the hot springs and toured the grounds which were quite extensive. Satan even came out and asked for volunteers…? LOL

Crossed over to the North Island to Wellington. Charming little city comparable to West Palm Beach. Had a nice dinner that evening.

We left the South Island of New Zealand today on a ferry. Seas were a bit rough but the boat was big and we managed.

The is an old Chinese gold era town called Arrowtown. It has been kept almost as it was in the old days and is now a bustling trendy town with shops and lots to do and eat!

Couldn’t have said it better myself

Can’t get enough of the zip lining. There were eight all together. This one was short but they had us practicing our monkey maneuvers in case we didn’t make the span…

The zip lines over the rapids were the best! Paradise zip lines was the outfit. Very professional and as safe as zip lining can be…

Christine looks nervous…

Just zipping along…

Here is Christine…

What says New Zealand more than a zip line excursion…?

Turns out that when they blasted the clay off the mountains looking for gold it left behind rocky soils that are perfect for wines. They really do have this figured out here.

What’s a trip to New Zealand without a wine tour? And we love wines. Pinots and Sauvignon Blancs grow here and some of the world’s best! Picked up some of the wild Irishman’s 4 time award winners!! Brings on a whole new meaning of savoring the memories.

Fresh lobster in Kaikoura! How fresh you say? Well you get to pick your lobster. This place is run like clockwork. Beware the seagulls they can be very aggressive…

Had to post these amazing shots!

Some more shots…

Oh and there were other curious hunters around the boat! These dolphins are native to New Zealand and are a wonder to observe in their environment.

Once the sperm whale surfaces it is in a recovery mode but soon enough it dives to resume hunting at incredible depths. They identify these animals by the shape on the leading edge of their tails. It truly is not a job if you love what you do and it shows.

We went whale watching today in Kaikoura. This town was once a whaling town now it is a model for sustainable tourism. Very impressive operation detailing every aspect of their business model that allows preservation of these enigmatic sea creatures.

Arrived in Wanaka to see the resilient tree that shouldn’t be there. Had some lunch with some more locals. The tree is a symbol of determination. What a beautiful lake and just look at that background!

We got to speak with some of the locals while we ate. Friendly and well informed people. New Zealand is filled with beauty from the land and its people.

On our way to the Wanaka tree we stopped by a small town called Fairlie. They have a famous back house which makes freshly baked meat pies. I had a creamy chicken and my wife had the steak and cheese. They were worth stopping for OMG!!

Ok because we are so far from light pollution we booked a star gazing event at a geothermal pool. That was amazing and relaxing. We got to discuss astrological phenomena with the local astronomers. We had four telescopes and got a taste of celestial objects in the clear night sky!

On to the glacier! Or what’s left of it. In order to see the glacier you have to take a helicopter ride but on the other side of this cloud waterfall lies the remains of a glacier. Also, the runoff from the glacier creates a deep turquoise color that is unreal!

While waiting to go through a tunnel…a Kea landed on our car! (A New Zealand parrot) We were warned that they might want to eat the rubber around the windows. I had to nudge it along..

They have tunnels in New Zealand! Good thing too because the mountains are everywhere!

Some of the locals hanging out and sunbathing…

They say that they get 8 meters of water annually….I don’t know why they highlight that…LOL?

Imagine this parabolic cavern filled with a glacier carving out the shape as it moved along….just an awesome display of nature’s power!

While touring on the boat we came upon these zesty dolphins…what an unexpected treat!

No trip to New Zealand would be complete without a trip to Milford sound!

More of Queenstown…..the pictures really do not do any justice to the breathtaking visuals