Walking in a Postcard

My flights were uneventful (a good thing for flights to be.) The two highlights were my layover in SanFran where my friend, Chris, took me on a tours of both the airport parking garage, & Chinatown, & the descent into Queenstown. Not only was my 30+ hour journey finally done but I've never seem such a gorgeous setting for an airport. It was breathtaking.

The town's not too bad either:

I couldn't check in until 2 pm... which meant I had 5 hours to kill with my bag, in the cold, exhausted. So I did the logical thing. I went to the dock, changed, and then took a two hour hiking trail.

It was a bit difficult, but well worth it. It was like walking in a postcard:

Exhausted, I finally got to check in, climb into my bunk and fall asleep.. Or so I thought. As I lay down dogs started barking outside. I open the shades and on the dock was a enclosed area with some bails of hay piled up. Dogs were being led up the bails of hay and barking, on occasion if the dog didn't bark the owner would bark instead. The weirdest part of this was that there were about 300 people who roared with applause and laughter anytime a dog barked. Only later did I find out that this was part of the Queenstown winter festival (a big deal here) and was the last event in a sheepdog competition.

After unsuccessfully trying to sleep, I finally got up & went to the gallery in town. I had a lovely chat with the owner & after returning to my room had an equally lovely chat with my roommates. They invited me along to dinner and I hung out with 3 of them (a Brazilian, & an Irish couple) and 2 other guys (another Brazilian & a German) for much longer than I thought I would be able to. It was a blast. 

The next day, unable to fall asleep after waking up very early I got breakfast, and took my book out on the same trail I hiked yesterday. As I came back into town again I heard a loud announcer (who sounds exactly like the manager in "Flight of the Concords") and cheering. I went back to the arena and watched dodgeball for about 40 minutes. A highlight was when the police team sort of took over officiating of their own game "look the law is enforcing it." Having watched more dodgeball games than a majority of people, (woo HAVOC!) I was able to explain it to the confused people next to me. However, while answering a question a dodgeball flew out of the arena and hit my squarely in the face. After a few minutes of heckling by the announcers I felt both my face and my pride might be better inside. Luckily my room looks right over it. The final is going on as we speak between the "Flaming Kiwis" (who are all only wearing matching neon colored sweat bands, boxers, mustaches, bow ties and suspenders) and the "Fixers" (who are all wearing matching pink body suits.) To give you an idea there are less than half the people yesterday for the dogs. After all this excitement I might need a nap!