Photo Journal: New Zealand 2006

This whole adventure started as a joke with my sister: "Well, if you're going to be studying in New Zealand for a semester, I may as well drop by to hang out with you (yawn)." My sister, Amy, and I have always been good friends; pretty much any excuse to see each other is good enough. But New Zealand? I couldn't think of a reason not to go.

So, long story short, I booked a flight in January and arrived April 15 in that other land Down Under (but don't tell them I said that). In fact, I hear New Zealanders take offense if you mistake them for Australians. I guess I can't blame them for feeling that way, seeing as they seem so much alike (wait, sorry!). I think calling them "New Zoolanders" is faux pas as well. But I digress.

For those of you who were part of the 90% bracket that recently failed to locate Afghanistan on a world map, NZ (pronounced "EN ZED" -- yeah, it's a British "Z") is a small nation of islands southeast of Australia. The two main islands, appropriately known as the "North Island" and the "South Island," are about the size of Colorado combined, and nearly as mountainous. Though you won't find 14,000-foot peaks on either of the islands, you will find something that Colorado doesn't have much of these days: water.

The mountains themselves aren't too shabby, either. Rising dramatically 5, 10, even 12,316 feet from the ocean, New Zealand is truly situated between sea and sky. It is difficult to explain just how surreal the scenery seemed to someone who has lived in the Midwest United States for six years. So, I'm hoping that showing you will be more fitting.

In fact, I've decided to make this trip's photo journal more about the photos and less about the journal. I do have many stories to share from my time there with my family, but I'm sure most of you would prefer to gaze at the eye candy (if you've even read this far).

The link below will open a new window with an animated album I've assembled from the photos I took (requires the Adobe/Macromedia Flash plug-in):

Take me to New Zealand!