Great break...

My visiting Aussie friends shouted us a night on the "Wanderer" on Milford Sound. On Monday morning we travelled to TeAnau and stayed a night there. The next day we went on to Milford, boarded our boat and spent the evening and night on Milford Sound, taking in the scenery. We had an excursion in the boat's tender, to get up close and personal with some waterfalls and local vegetation. On Wednesday morning we visited a display that took us 10 metres under the sea in Milford Sound to see Black Coral (Which is actually white till it dies) and various fish. We then travelled as far as Cromwell to relax for a night, and back to Dunedin and work today.

Friends to relax with..

It has been good in that after all the stress of ministry, the Christmas dinner and a busy weekend I could switch off and relax. It is good to have friends you can relax with and not have to watch your "P's and Q's". I have felt at ease as we have chatted, able to chat if I want to, or just stay quiet if I preferred that.

The scenery is out of this world!

We were very lucky. People have often said that they have travelled to Milford Sound and been engulfed in mist. Others have said that to enjoy Milford Sound you have to have sufficient rainfall to make the waterfalls come alive and then clear days to enjoy the scenery. We had just that. Driving there on Monday and Tuesday morning it rained. We encountered rivers with fantastic roaring waters! We ate our lunch at Milford and then stepped out into sunny clear skies. The waterfalls were spectacular! At the same time we could see clearly the mountain peaks. It was ideal conditions to experience Milford. The boat (and the ship's tender when we were on that) took us right under and into the sprays of the waterfalls. I looked for a photo that would capture our experience, but there could never be! You just have to be there! To hear the sounds, see the movement, experience the high cliffs and the spray was a real "spiritual" experience. We are so fortunate to live in this country.

Two observations...

First... when I was in Milford ten years ago and spent a night on a boat I was intrigued by the dolphins swimming alongside the boat. It seemed that wherever we went they escorted us. I actually got to swim with the dolphins. This time however, there were none! Where have all the dolphins gone? It was the same time of year? I hope there is nothing sinister in their absence, but I never saw one dolphin.

Second... we stopped off and viewed the Mirror Lakes, another amazing spot. As I wandered up the board walk through the bush I got to thinking about the last week. I thought of all the people I knew who lived in NZ who rushed overseas to see various sights and sounds without ever thinking of the tremendous experiences available to them on their back door step. But I also could not help thinking about all the people at our Christmas Day dinner, just a few days earlier. I realised that so few of them would ever get to enjoy the sights and sounds I had enjoyed. Even just the Fiordland bush, without the expensive boat ride, would be an impossible dream for them.

I am extremely fortunate. I loved the experiences of the last few days.

Photos:

• Early morning coming back into the Fiord having had an excursion out to sea.
• Our ship anchored in the spot where we spent the evening... not a bad view to go to bed with and to wake up to?
• I love these tree ferns. West Coast/Fiordland ones are exquisite.
• Beautiful NZ bush.
• A roaring river we discovered on the way to Milford.