Day 8: October 16, 2010

Yesterday, per my photographic evidence, Chad and I arrived in Queenstown.

Queenstown one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Think Lake Tahoe views with a Park City/Aspen cute town vibe. So great!

Queenstown is also the adventure capital of this very far away corner of the world in which we find ourselves. People come here from everywhere to jump out of planes, flying on small crafts dangerously close to large mountains, in hopes of getting a better view of the landscape than the one available on dry land. (Please see exhibit a). In short, they come here to scare the sh*t out of themselves.



Chad and I have known eachother for over five years. During that time, I have been an open book of likes and dislikes. Things I like: the jersey shore, reading, shopping, wine, socializing, a combo of any of the above, working out, the occasional round of golf and possibly a sporting event once or twice a year to pat myself on the back for being a well rounded individual.

I have also been transparent about things that I don’t like. Chief among these is the feeling of being wet and cold. (Please reference my infrequent trips into the ocean, despite spending plenty next to the ocean as evidence. This is also the reason why I ski once every five years). Unnecessary personal angst is also a major dislike, in the form of scary movies and very fast driving at an unsafe distance from the car in front of mine (Chad and taxis are often guilty of the latter).

Little did I know, but yesterday, I stepped off the plane in Queenstown- not with Chad- but with Captain Adventure, who apparently had a quick lobotomy in the bathroom of our two hour flight. After taking one look at the mountains as we “dropped” onto the runway (borrowing the pilot’s words), Chad suddenly found himself back in high school, coordinating class trips to white water rapids. By the time we arrived at the hotel, Chad had mentally signed us up for canyoninig and white water rafting, which stand in CLEAR VIOLATION of my bill of likes and dislikes.

I slept on it, thinking that maybe today I would wake up and want to be cold, wet and afraid. Unfortunately, I didn't have a change of heart, and informed Chad of this.

Captain Adventure took a few minutes to walk off his surprise and disappointment that our flight over the southern alps yesterday had not cured me of my fears. Once he recovered, we headed to find an adventure that I could handle. After waiting in line for 30 minutes behind four discombobulated Brazilians (two of which, Chad sneered, were wearing Brazil soccer jerseys, despite their loss in the World Cup quarter finals), we signed up for something called “Jetboating”. Chad also signed up solo for white water rafting with the Brazilians (who he vowed to push in the water), immediately following the Jetboat.

I have clearly lived to tell the tale of our day. I closed my eyes during 50% of our ½ hour jetboat ride, but made it through! Then, I enjoyed a glass of wine and read my book, while Chad took to the river in a unitard.



















Lots of love, Morgs and chad