Routeburn Track - rain rain and more rain

"Heavy showers clearing out in afternoon" - that was the forecast for the second day of our longest and hardest track since we got to NZ.
We were about to walk 7.5 hours on the second day and to see the most amazing views of the whole track. We had no choice. We had to take a chance and make that track even though we knew the chances of having rain were high.
We started the track on the 6-JAN at 14:00. We knew we had only 2 hours walk and we didn't want to get to the camping too early.
It was quite a difficult walk with the heavy bags. It was walking through the bush, which we are already very familiar with, so it wasn't that exciting for us. The rain started pouring on us already at about midnight and we heard it banging over our tent that whole night. It didn't stop not even for a minute.
We started the second day with heavy rain. We climbed for 2 hours until getting to the first hut and the whole time it was raining. we were also wearing rain coats and rain pants, which made it even more difficult. We decided to wait in the hut until the rain would stop. We waited for more than 2 hours but it kept on raining. We knew we had still more than 5 hours walk so we couldn't wait anymore. We continued our climbing in the rain. It was all foggy around us so we couldn't really see anything. It was very very disappointing. We felt we were walking only for the sake of reaching our next target - the camping - and not enjoying the highlight views supposedly of the track. We reached the top of the mountain - about 1300m. Finally the rain stopped. Good news? No! It was still foggy and we could barely see 2m ahead of us.
We continued our walking towards our camping area. We arrived to the camping area very tired. Our whole body was hurting and the last hour of walking was for me (Karine) a real suffer.
The last day was the compensation of the whole track. Finally the clouds cleared out. Mushi could finally take some pictures. Our body was very tired on the last day, however, it was the easiest day for us to walk because we could finally enjoy the views and feel we were walking with a purpose and a reward - the amazing snowy mountains, raging waterfalls and blueish lakes of the Routeburn Track!

The Pancake Nazi

remember the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld?
Well we've met the equivalent to him - the Pancake Nazi.
We've been in a place called Panakiki. It's a beautiful place known to its rocks that resemble Pancakes - they look like layers over layers of pancakes.
Well, before going to see this amazing gorges and rocks, we saw this small coffee shop selling Pancakes. Mushi and I oredred a pancake and got 1 side of it which was nice and soft (mushi was the lucky one) and I got the overcooked one - it was hard like a stone! I went to the counter and said very politely (you know me.... ) - " I am sorry but the pancake is unedible. It's over cooked." The owner of the place was standing there hearing everything I was saying. He said to the casheir "give her her money back". So I said " but I don't want my money, I would like a new Pancake". So he said 'No, give her her money. We are not making new pancakes". He got out money from the casheir and gave it to me without even looking at me. Pancake Nazi or not?

The Big Number of 134

when you hear about 134 what does it say to you??
Nothing right.
well for me as you can see it does say.
134m is the Highest bungy jump at NZ.
134m -> Each building floor is ~3m so Imagine that you jump from about 45 floors .....
i have got up at the morning after we have finished the Rotbaren Track and sleeping well.
the rest you can guess from the pictures :)

it was amazing

click on the picture to see the full size

Walls of green

Driving at NZ it is experience it self. first you have to drive at the WRONG side of the road (they drive at the Left side of the road.
Every day when I m starting my drive I need to think am i driving on the Right side???
When i m driving Karine is my GPS and when she is driving I m her GPS.
every where you drive it all green. sheep's are every where and on every hill that you see and probably on those you don't see.
The roads are so beautiful. there are places that it is only mountains around and there are places where you drive just near the beaches and you can stop for TEA where ever you feel like.

walking on a glassier ("KARHON")

How many time a man/woman got the chance to walk on a glassier???
Well it depend if you are traveling in NZ because you can get the chance if you want..
Today (your night.. hope you slept good) we had a walk on a glassier and it is amazing experience.

we were walking with guided walk and you know me it was hard for me, but it was worth it.
at the beginning we had 1 hour climb in order to get to the point where you can easily step on the ICE.
we have put some straps around our boots and start walking the guide was making us stairs and places to walk
it was not so easy but not so bad ether.
we where sitting and eating our lunch in the middle of the glassier and it was beautifully.
we were walking and every thing around us was ICE and see cracks in the ICE, and ICE at white and blue color.
after walking about 4 hours we went back (back was very fast).
we had ~4K of walking on the glassier.
YOU SHOULD TRY THAT ONE DAY
There are more picturs at hte big album

Karine and her Kiwi

Ever since we've arrived to NZ, the word Kiwi is mentioned everywhere. After doing some investigation, we found out that the Kiwi is the NZ National Bird.
It's a pity I do not have a picture of it but it is the cutest bird. Ever since I've laid my eyes on it I fell in love. We haven't seen it in 'real life' yet but we've seen many pictures and I intend to see it in real life before we leave NZ. My beloved husband decided to surprise me for the Christmas, so while we were on the ferry from the North Island to the South Island, and I was taking a nap he bought me a Kiwi. He intended to give it to me the next morning but I 'blew' the surprise when I 'sniffed' through his bag and found the Kiwi.

Abel Tasman Track

finally we've done a 2 days Trip - Able Tasman.
We took a Boat Taxi to our walking starting point and we started walking and walking and walking. The first day we were walking for about 5 hours. We camped at night and the second day we walked for another 5 hours. The most amazing thing about this sea, is that the High tide reaches about 5 meters higher than in low tide. It's the highest in the world!!!! To give you a notion of it - we would see in the high tide a boat floating on the water and the next day during low tide, it would be standing exactly at the same spot only completely dry on the sand. Unbelievable sight.
The whole trip I was with 7 kilos on my back and Mushi with about 10 Kilos. Can you imagine? However, the amazing views made us forget we we carrying such heavy weights on our backs.
The Tasman Sea with the green mountain and the walking through the thick bushes made it certainly the best 2 days trip we've had up until now (although it's also the only one :-)).