Today started with a promenade in the Gardens which are quite extensive and attractive. Blossoms finished probably early to mid September in Sydney but here are still out. The added beauty of looking though the trees to the magnificent lake and mountains in the background.
Today was raining, drizzle in the morning but heavy rain in the afternoon, but pleasant to see Queentown in a different hue. As an aside the lake has risen about a metre from the rain received in the last weeks. The exercise was pleasant and the colour of the plants and flowers quite special.
Before the rain in the afternoon the lake was quite dramatic with the wind causing the waves to crash again the walls/bank. I would not have liked to be going up in the gondola ce matin.
The afternoon was a tour to places where The Lord of the Rings was, were filmed. I have only seen the first film but I mainly joined the trip as I wanted to go into the mountains, and I would say a perfect day for it. Mist and mountains seem to go together and for me make them an even more spiritual place when there is much cloud. Although I was wearing quite a few layers was not particularly cold but then again was only outside the 4 wheel drive for short periods.
We did go into the mountains but returned to Arrowtown and through a few rivers which were swollen with the rain today. Quite exciting with at times wondering if one would make it. No need for the jetboats!
So a mixture of activities these few days and I keep thinking of Annecy in France here in Queenstown, very different in terms of architecture but for me it does have a similar ambiance with the lake and mountains, and the many restaurants too. La beauté ici est assez frappante, as I have said maintes fois, I am sure. And also as I have said meditation may not be necessary this being a constant meditation to simply regard nature and with the relaxed and polite population. By the way the number of people living in Queenstown and it’s surrounds is roughly always double the normal population (Summer and Winter higher number of tourists than now I suppose). The most popular destination in all of New Zealand and the only real industry.
It is now after 17h about 14° writing in the gardens, the music of the waves against the rocks, not as rough as yesterday, with the particularly musical birds singing. Absolutely idyllic. Encore une petite promenade before I make the difficult decision which restaurant to choose for dinner.
Voyages de Guillaume 