Fly, Fly, Fly Away

Yesterday morning we took a trip to the Milford Sound.  It is a 40 min flight from Queenstown.  Once we landed there, we took a 2 hour cruise through the fjords before flying back.  The highlight of the trip was seeing the landscape from the boat and in the air.  Of course the Trumpets were in full force with their cameras and video camera.  Another highlight for Steve was when he saw the sea lions.  When the cruise conductor said that we were approaching sea lions, Steve jumped out of his seat to get his video footage. 

During the cruise, we met a very cute couple from Barcelona. They were in their 30s and traveling through NZ for the first time. We had a lot in common with Ana and Salvador:  They have known each other for 13 years but they didn't start dating until a few years ago. Now they're getting married next month!  Sound familiar?  Salvador also works in sales.  Ana is an artist.  They love watching sports and they love to travel.  Salvador is a lot like Steve - both thrill seekers. Ana and I traded war stories about wedding planning.  Now I know bridezillas aren't just a US thing.  Clearly all brides go nuts.  It's too bad I'm not a bride anymore.  I have no excuse.  Talking to them made me miss Spain which I forgot to mention in my last post as a country where I NEVER get sick of the food.  They left Queenstown after Milford Sound. We exchanged emails and FB details so that we can stay in touch. 

Here are some of the activities we've done in Queenstown....

LUGE - Steve wanted to do this.  I was indifferent. We did it in Jamaica and I thought it was fine but nothing mind blowing.  But I figured I would do it since Steve was into it.  When we get to the luge spot, I realize this is nothing like the Jamaica experience.  In Jamaica, your luge locked into the track so it can't go anywhere.  It was basically a slow moving roller coaster.  Here in NZ, you are given a luge and then you have to navigate it down a windy and down hill course.  The worst part is that people can pass you.  I hate going down hills at a fast speed.  It freaks me out.  Especially when I'm in a device that I'm not familiar with.  I start telling Steve I don't want to do it.  He tells me it's going to be fine and that I'm going to love it.  We have these kinds of conversations a lot.  Steve is always pushing me to do something crazy and I'm resistant.  Then 10 times out of 10, I end up loving it.   It was definitely the case for luging.  I did end up loving it.  We did it twice!  I luged down cautiously but made it fun in my own way.  Crazy Steve waited for me to get near the bottom so that he can floor it down the luge and pass me at the end.  He flew around all the curves and hills and then I heard him laughing and screaming when he passed by as I was gripping on the breaks and taking in the scenery.  That's one of the neatest things about all the activities in NZ.....everything has an incredible backdrop.  You're luging and seeing mountains and blue skies.  

PARAGLIDING - Even though I'm a big fat chicken.  I've always wanted to do this.  It looks so easy. You just fly around in the air.  In this case, you're flying 3000 ft above Queenstown.  3000 ft is nothing compared to people who sky dive at 10,000 ft.  Another reason why I was drawn to paragliding is because there is no free fall.  The free fall from sky diving terrifies me.  Steve says that is the best part but that's Steve.  So I was excited for us to paraglide.  We had to take a gondola up near the top of the paraglide launch.  Then we had to hike up the remaining part of the mountain to reach its peak.  At the peak, we got strapped into our gear with our tandem pilots and I was excited to take-off!  Then it all dawned on me when I saw Steve getting ready to take-off.  HOLY SHIT.  You literally have to run off the mountain to fly in the air???  For some odd reason, I thought paragliding take-off was like a hot air balloon ride. You just stand there and the parachute just lifts you up in the air.   Steve already knew the drill and with no hesitation, he waves bye to me and sprints off the cliff and he's up in the air.  Of course he adds a few expressions of excitement as he takes off..."wahooo! yippee!!!!!!!"  i obviously didn't share the same enthusiasm.  

Then it's my turn and I look at Richard (my tandem pilot) and say, "There is no way I can do this."  He's telling me it's fine and don't worry.  Clearly he didn't hear me well enough so I had to turn on my forceful tone and say, "HEY. I'M DONE.  GET ME OUT OF HERE NOW.  I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS GETTING INTO. YOU CAN'T MAKE ME DO ANYTHING."  He starts to push me slowly towards the edge of the cliff and again, I stop and plant my feet on the ground. "LISTEN TO ME.  I DON'T FEEL SAFE!" Next thing you know, he just starts running and I'm forced off the cliff and up in the air.  Once we were up in the air, I LOVED IT.  It was so awesome to be floating around and taking in the amazing scenery through a totally different experience.  Richard applied the Steve method when I start to wuss out on something.....just nudge, nudge, nudge me along and I'll end up loving it.  

It is a little after 7:30 am here.  We're leaving to go snowboarding in an hour.  This will be my first time.  Hope I end up loving it like everything else here.