#FlatOutBeautiful - Queenstown Half Marathon Weekend

I want to start this post with a quick anecdote - Yesterday I decided that I wanted to bake cookies for the first time. I looked up a recipe online and made a grocery list of 4 ingredients. 

1. Dark brown sugar 

2. Cornstarch 

3. Vanilla Extract 

4. Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

So I drove to the store, and here's what I discovered:
1. They make "brown sugar" in this country. Not light brown sugar, not dark brown sugar. There are not 50 shades of brown. So I came home with 500 grams of soft brown sugar.

2. Cornstarch is actually corn flour here. But when I got to the store they didnt have that, they only had maize corn flour or wheaten corn flour. If I wanted wheaten corn flour wouldnt I just get regular flour? Maybe? Who knows. I got the maize one and hoped for the best.

3. They call extract "essense". ugh. I can't win.

4. Turns out they dont sell those classic toll house semi sweet chocolate chips here either. I had to choose between milk chocolate or dark chocolate and "drops" or "buttons". Came home with some "dark chocolate drops" which Cam confirmed would probably work because dark chocolate doesnt have full sweetness. 

So here I am, more than a year in to living abroad, with less than a month to go, and I still can hardly grocery shop on my own. But hey, the cookies taste delicious.

Queenstown - December 2014.
Just getting you ready for the rest of the post.

The main reason for this post is that last weekend, Cam, seven of our closest work mates/friends, and I went to Queenstown!

Queenstown was the #1 place reccommended to me before I came to New Zealand and it is hands down my favorite place in this country. Every time I go to Queenstown I leave thinking that it is the most gorgeous place on earth, I had the best time, and I hope I go back but if I don't I think I'm satisfied with the excursions I did. Then I go back and find all kinds of new things to do. Well, to be fair, the first time I knew I wasn't satisfied. 

Hellooooo Queenstown

To quickly recap:

Trip #1 - November 2014 - Travelled through Queenstown on my way to the Routeburn track. Got there after dark, and woke up to the most splendid scenery I'd ever seen. Drove around Lake Wakatipu to the get to the track, and after the hike drove the "road to glenorchy" back to Queenstown before heading back to Chch. 
Excursions: FergBurger (It counts), Road to Glenorchy

Trip #2 - December 2014 - Thought my time would be over on 12/20/2014, so my mom came for a visit and we flew on down to Queenstown for the weekend.
Excurions: Queenstown Hill hike, AJ Hackett Bungy, Arrowtown

Trip #3 - March 2015 - Three friends from Hopkins/NY came to visit and we stopped in Queenstown on the way to Milford Sound.
Excursions: Paragliding!!

Trip #4 - April 2015-  It was Jen and Keith's last weekend in NZ and Keith was going to run the Routeburn (See Trip #1), so we all got a bach to wish them farewell. 
Excursion: Gondola + Luge

And finally TRIP NUMBER 5:

Spoiler Alert. 
Excursions: Queenstown Half Marathon, Shotover Jet, Million Dollar Cruise (for the girls), Downhill Mountain Biking (for the boys)

This trip was a long time coming. I had known that I wanted to run a half while I was in New Zealand and knew a friend who ran Queenstown last year and said it was a great course. He didn't tell me about the giant hill in the middle.... but that's besides the point for now. I checked the other day and I actually signed up for the half on July 24th! That seems like so long ago now. 

Photo from Approximately July 24th. So long ago!

The Friday before the race, Cam and I drove down to Queenstown with James and Jess, the other two friends running with me.

Stopped in Tekapo on the way down!

Lupins! Photo Cred: Cam

James had booked our accomodation and warned us that it was "the only thing left" by the time we booked and it was garden view, not lake view. So when we got to Queenstown and checked out the hotel I was absolutely shocked at how nice they were. For the nine of us, we had two 2-bedroom apartments, each with a lake side balcony. 

First look from the parking lot. I like what I see.
(Our future room had one of those pretty balconies)

Just stop. Still in the parking lot. 

Didn't think it could get much better? This is our room. #remarkable

That view tho.

After checking out both rooms, and picking the better one (perks of arriving first), we walked the last 3k of the race course (!!) in to town to pick up our bibs. I was really anxious about the race, so Cam and I got chicken sandwiches and sat by the water for a while before I caught a cab back to the hotel.

One mile to go on the course (the night before)

I got race ready and was in bed before Cam got home. (Also, while getting ready I realized I didn't have ANY food for breakfast. Oops. Traveling for races is hard. Thanks to Cam who grabbed me a scone in town before coming home)

And the next morning it was go time!! Cam (if you can't tell yet, he was the best support crew - major major thanks to Cam.) got up early, took our picture on the balcony (pre-race photos are always the sleepiest), and drove us to the start.

Pre race photos - energy level is not quite READY TO RUN 13.1 MILES.

I was so nervous getting out of the car. As soon as we got about 5 meters from the car, I turned to Jess and said "I can't wait to see Cam again at the finish." #motivation

Lets do this!

And then we got in line, crossed the start line, and ran ran ran until I got back to town. A lot of people have asked how it went/how it was so I think I got my synopsis down: It was hard. It was beautiful. Literally every turn was an incredible view.

Not even joking (maybe one filter) but this was the course!!
Would've taken so many more photos if I weren't also trying to run a race.

The last 11.5 miles were on a trail along the lake, but unfortunately it was really narrow and crowded. I felt like it was hard to boost up or down a hill with the path being so narrow and full of people.

See what I mean about crowded.
Mile 1.5 of the race and heading in to the trail portion

But in the end, I finished, and I saw Cam right in front of the finish, and the announcer man announced my finish! "Erin is across the line! Good job Erin!" And then I found Cam. And then I cried. Ah that post half finish line cry - gets me every time. 

FINISHERS!

The rest of the day is a slight blur - we did a lot of walking and as much sitting as possible. The rest of our friends (the 6 non-runners) were headed on an uphill hike, but I knew I wasn't cut out of that. Cam, James, Jess and I went in to town for a giant pizza and beer feast. We were trying to figure out what we could do that would be exciting (especially for Cam who didn't run) but not too tiring. All of us agreed that the one excursion we hadn't done but would want to was the shotover jet. So we got on the next tour, and headed over to sit down and wait for that to start.

:)

As expected, the shotover jet was incredible!! The bottom of the boat must have been so shallow because it was able to go so close to rocks and the shore without (seemingly) worrying about the depth of the water. It zoomed through the canyon, making several 360 turns in the middle, and had us all cracking up the whole time.

My best friend Kate also went on the shotover jet.
Cam made fun of me for taking this picture.

And after that I was dead. Time for a nap, some beers, dinner, and finally home. When I got home, I checked my phone and I had allegedly walked 22 miles that day. Gooooood night.

Are you getting sick of this view yet? Yeah me neither.

Sunday morning, I woke up feeling surprisingly alright. Cam and I walked in to town to get some meat pies for breakfast (what has happened to me!?), and ended up meeting up with our friends. They were meant to do paragliding (See Trip #2... it was incredible), but it got cancelled due to wind, and they were itching to find another activity.

Not to rub it in, but #tbt. Remember this?

The guys decided to go downhill mountain biking (take a bike up the gondola and then ride down tracks that are marked like ski slopes - green, blue, black, double black) so Cam went with them to do that. Kiki, her friend Terri, and I decided to take the Million Dollar Cruise for $35. Honestly most excursions in Queenstown cost $200 for an 8 second experience (yes bungy jumping I'm talking about you), so $35 for a 90 minute cruise where I could SIT DOWN the whole time? Sign me up. 

Million Dollar Views

Hotel I stayed at with my mom last December!

One more of this view.. Can't stop, won't stop.

Oh forgot to mention I was the captain of the cruise.
Look at that sign above my head  -  that's my favorite part.

Both of our excursions ended at the same time (ish), so we all met up, got some dumplings for lunch, and started the long long drive back to Christchurch. I was honestly so sad to leave Queenstown, knowing that I really am leaving New Zealand this time. But I'll be back. As my mom said, I'm still young ;)

Ah Queenstown. I LOVE YOU. 12/2014

Wine and Dine - Waiheke Island

You're going to Hawaii?

Unfortunately, No. But Waiheke (Not to be confused with Waikeke) Island in New Zealand was pretty stunning in its own right. And it was just determined to be the Number 5 Region to Travel to in 2016! So how bout that?

Sand, Sun, Surf, and Cam

Cam had to be in Auckland for the day on Thursday so we decided to make a weekend out of it and I flew up to meet him Friday afternoon. After flying by myself and paying for an $80 taxi ride (ugh. thank god you don't have to tip here) I met Cam in our DREAM apartment. Cam has a very distinctive style in apartments and I didn't quite realize what I was letting him do when I gave him permission to pick the Auckland Airbnb. When I showed up, I realized that he had found his dream home. I'm lucky I ever got him to leave. On top of having tons of natural light, it had a surf board on the stairs and the book he was currently reading on the bookshelf. And did I mention the location? On a quiet side road, just downhill from Ponsonby (the suburb), and just uphill from an adorable cafe. Hey, I said his taste was disinctive - definitely not bad.

I got a little photo happy when I realized that this is my last time flying to the north island

Bottom of North Island

Flying in to Auckland

We were excited to be in Auckland. So we headed up the hill to town to check out the local fare. After a couple drinks alone, we met up with one of Cam's longest friends and had a quick dinner with him and his girlfriend before they had another party to attend. Busy city people! I swear going back to New York is going to be SUCH an adjustment. After dinner, we took a walk down town, cabbed back once I realized I was exhausted, got a lolly mixture (because we're sugar-oholics), and called it a night.

And the next morning, before we got on the ferry to go to Waiheke Island, I made sure we went to that cute cafe down the hill for some of that world-famous-in-new-zealand avocado toast. We got a donut to go, because #yolo, and headed off to the ferry.

About an hour later, we were there.We dropped off our stuff at the Airbnb that I booked (a perfect bungalo for two of course), headed in to town to the Oyster Inn, almost got scammed on bikes, walked to a vineyard, drank some wine, went home for a nap, and went back to another vineyard for dinner.

Honest reviews?

Oyster Inn - 5 Stars. Holy Moly. Oysters were incredible. The host told me since winter just passed it's prime oyster season. Speaking of the host, he was the sweetest man - I wish he was somehow a part of my family (hopefully that's not strange) - and we had lemonade mint tea. I died. Should've actually died there - that was the best part.

So Good.

What is this photo? This is me being excited and taking photos of everything.

Man scamming us on bikes - He was the worst. He wanted $20 per hour (definitely a made up on the spot rate) or $60/day even though the day was 12 hours long and we only wanted them for 2 hours. Also the vineyards were walking distance, so walking there and taking a taxi back  (I'm noticing a trend) cost us a total $10. Sorry dude.

Walk views weren't too shabby at all.

Mudbrick Vineyard - Beautiful Scenery. As far as atmosphere, I really just wish they had explained their process a bit more. When my mom and I went wine tasting in Nelson, the typical practice was to taste 3-5 wines at the front desk before sitting at a table for lunch, a cheese plate, another bottle wine, etc. I thought we would do that at Mudbrick, but their process is actually quite different. At Mudbrick, they offer a tasting for $10 - $20 (depending on how nice the wines are) and you're meant to have them pour you one, then sit down, enjoy the taste, then go back for the next one. After 3 tastings at the counter it was getting awkward and we finally figured out the system. I felt bad for not knowing that and it kind of tarnished my time. But hey, BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, which is what they're selling, so 5 stars for that. 2(.5?) for atmosphere and honestly the wine wasn't fantastic or really even local... anyway.

Welcome to the good life.

Nap - Naptime was great. I slept. And teased Cam for using the phrase "hey maybe when we're taking a nap I'll look up such and such on the iPad." That's not how you nap.

Home, Sweet, Home

Cable Bay Vineyards - We headed here for dinner upon lots (literally every article I read) of internet reviews that also recommended Oyster Inn. We were one of three groups there in a really forced-fancy atmosphere. I won't go on much more, except to say, I ordered the raviolo expecting some variation on Ravioli and realized that the only variation is that raviolo is the singular form of ravioli. It was one piece of pasta. Cam had a similar experience with the lamb. Well, hey I guess we're trying to eat less meat anyway, right? We had already ordered a bottle of wine, so we drank that, had the $40 bite of food on our plate, and laughed about it the whole way home.

Dinner views tho

The next morning we were up at 5 am to watch the All Blacks beat the Aussies in the World Cup Rugby Finals. First country to win three world cups and first country to win two world cups back to back!!! Tbh I slept through some of the second half but I really did watch the first half. and the end. :)

Also if you're not in New Zealand and probably haven't seen the Air NZ All Blacks Safety Video.. please watch it. When American Airlines/Quantas announced last week that they're starting nonstops from Auckland to LA to create a competitive market (yesss cheap flights), the American Airlines CEO literally said "The only thing we can't do just as well is that safety video... but I'm sure we'll come up with something"

Then we slept in, took a walk down the beach, grabbed our stuff, and headed to the ferry for the long commute back to Christchurch. It felt so good to be home :)

Bye Waiheke!

Just trying to avoid that sunburn on top of a boat.

Til next time Waiheke!

Laziness on Labour Day

Hello blog readers! Only 35 days to go until I leave Christchurch! Which means less than two more months of this blog. I have some big insightful posts coming up. I've been reading some non fiction books and have been inspired to share my knowledge! 

After we leave Christchurch, Cam and I are driving up to the North Island and I'm flying home from Auckland right before Christmas. I'm really happy to be going home to family and friends, but sad to leave New Zealand and also sad to leave this blog. It's been fun to share my experiences and think about them in a story telling way :) 

But more about that in "less than two months" when I sign off one last time.

Flying past Kaikoura on my way to Waiheke Island
These are the beautiful glacial braided rivers of Canterbury!
(Stay tuned for that post)

This post is actually a follow up from my previous one. I mentioned at the end of my post about Lions, Tigers, and Sheep (Oh my) that I was going to be swimming with seals the following weekend. Well I went up on Labour Day Monday and we did it. It was definitely cold, but it was so worth it and SO much fun.

The seal swim was up in Kaikoura about two and a half hours north of Christchurch. I had only been to Kaikoura once (!) and it was actually about this time last year. I just drove through with two coworkers on our way to Golden Bay, got a coffee, and kept going. I remember thinking it was stunning, and I knew I would have to go back at some point to actually check Kaikoura off my bucket list.

Kaikoura last year - not my best photo, but you get it

Luckily I'm addicted to instagram and several NZ Instagrammers including Youngadventuress and ChristchurchNZ have been really promoting these excursions recently. I asked my friend Jess if she wanted to try it and then she, I, and two other friends signed up.

And here begins all the photos that are not my own..
Sucker for instagram advertising apparently. Oops.

We got so lucky with the weather and Iona and I had an awesome drive up north - stopping to eat brunch at an outdoor cafe - and made it to Kaikoura right on time. We met up with Jess and her friend, Naja, and thats when the fun started. 

The guides at Seal Swim Kaikoura sized us up and gave us really serious wet suits to wear. Those things are HARD to get on. Iona, being the tiny lady that she is, had to wear THREE wet suits. And I thought my life was hard.

 Once we were all suited up, they instructed us to "strut down the street to the van". Unfortunately they also told us not to bring any phones or cameras unless they were waterproof, so I missed the opportunity to document us in our wetsuits, strutting through Kaikoura.

Maybe that's us on the boat?
Side note - Cam and I watched Castaway the night before
and I made him promise not to get stranded on any island
when I left the house that morning .... and then I found myself
on this boat...

On the way to the boat, which would take us to the seal swim area, they told us a little bit about the nature and history of our excursion, which I really liked. Turns out that the seals we have in Kaikoura (look at me, taking ownership of New Zealand's wildlife) are New Zealand fur seals, which means they have two layers of fur to keep them warm. He said its basically like they're wearing a wet suit AND a sleeping bag. This allows them to go 200 m below the surface of the water. They overheat out of the water, so they have to go deep under water to regulate their temperature and they evolved to do that at night so that they don't have to go thaaat deep - 30 m I believe. (I think this is what he said, but I can't remember exactly why they have to go down at night). At any rate, his point was that while the fur seals look really lazy, they actually just do their active time opposite to us. Turns out they're not that lazy!

They also told us that the cliffs in Kaikoura are made of limestone, which erodes really nicely, leaving the bays and platforms for the seals that they like so much. Another reason Kaikoura is perfect.

This is the peninsula that we drove around on the boat.
See all the areas for seals to rest?

Another fun fact - I was home watching David Attenborough's Life Story (It's his latest series and if you haven't watched it you totally should. Each episode is a stage of life, so the first episode was ALL baby animals taking their first steps, and the second episode was learning to be independent from their moms. So good! Can't wait for next Sunday at 7:30. Anyway...) and one of the last animals they featured were the New Zealand fur seal babies IN KAIKOURA. I was so excited. 

He was talking about how the first time the baby seals try to enter the ocean in Kaikoura, there are so many dangers, so the fur seals in Kaikoura actually swim upstream about 20 kilometers to a little pool of water at the base of a water fall. Then they all hang out until theyre ready to go back - also I think until they get hungry, because there can't be much to eat there. 

The guide on the seal swim told us that the seals are pretty territorial (on the rock I think because they were fine in the water ) and they like to hold an area. They aren't considered "socially mature" until they can defend their own area. I guess they don't have this problem at the pools.

David Attenborough highlighted the fact that noone knows how they find this pool, because they make the trip once - so its not like they see other seals coming and going all the time. I thought that was pretty awesome and was so happy that by the time I watched this special I had already seen the baby seal pool and swum with big seals in the wild!

So anyway, now that you know all the background information, I'll give you a brief summary of what its like to swim with seals.

Just one more photo of the beautiful place that is Kaikoura

First of all there were eight or nine people in the group so they managed to find two areas that were perfect for observing some seal activity and let us split up in to the groups we came with. We each got a guide who helped us spot the seals and he swam with a giant kick board that Naja got to hold on to, so that was really nice too.

The seals didn't mind us in the water and swam around us for the most part. A few of them swam a few meters a way but a lot of them came within a meter of me! As we swam a little longer we started to notice that a lof of them were chasing each other. Our guide told us it was "that time of year" so it was mostly boys chasing girls. I don't think many of them were very successful.

We floated around (wet suits let you float) and put our heads under when a seal came near and stared at them, and swum with them. It was pretty cool. But just as we were all getting a little cold and a little tired the best thing happened! The biggest seal I had seen all day, swam right up to me, maybe a foot a way, and just stayed there. Kind of moved its backside in circles so it could stay relatively in the same spot and we got to really look at the seal in the wild. Those eyes! They were so big. Honestly, even if I had my camera I was way to excited to take any pictures. After that happened we knew it wasn't going to get any better, so we hailed down the boat and got out of the freezing cold water.

THOSE EYES.

And as if anything could top an up close encounter with a New Zealand fur seal..... They let us pour hot water down our wetsuits. This is a feeling you'll never understand til you do it. Just do it.

And that was it! Then we took the boat/van back to Kaikoura, shared a pizza,  did a little souvenier shop, and drove all the way back to Christchurch.

"Those mountain layers..."

I hear ya, Young Adventuress. And that's why I bought.. THIS.

I love you seals, maybe I'll see you again one day!

Also thanks, Instagram for the idea and the photos!