Relaxation

Finally, my most relaxing day so far up in the Daintree Rainforest at Cape Tribulation. It's still kind of funny to think why Cook named this place as he did but after days of rain and grey skies (and without even running aground) I can understand his pain.

So in the rugged yet wonderful resort up here - Cape Tribulation Resort and Spa which I would highly recommend for their rainforest cabins though not much else if I'm completely honest - I found relaxation in reading Prince Caspian sipping on a great bottle of Kiwi wine in the bath. I know, I know! Isn't that something women do? Yes. But there's a very good reason they do this! It is positively Neanderthal thinking to believe that we're more enlightened than they are on the subject - especially without at least giving it a try. Go on be a pioneer and don't be like me and broadcast it to the world. I'm certain this is another post that'll haunt me.

Anyway, dinner at the restaurant wasn't the quickest or most flash I've ever had but it was (a) infintely less hasslesome than another couple's meal seemed to be and (b) infinitely better than our honeymoon experience with the multitude of wine on the list but not in the cellar... But that's a whole other story I'm certain I've blogged about previously. Again, if I'm a bit more truthful the food and experience were pretty good.

A good night's rest then back to Cairns in the morning...

Day 7 - Off to Queensland

Well today has certainly been one with plenty of ups and downs.

Perhaps I should've just set my alarm a little earlier but that can't
be undone now. Anyway, the upshot was a late and rushed checkout where
I wasn't able to verify the room charges nor able to adequately
discuss the fact that one of the hotel housekeepers knocked over a
full bottle of aftershave. I gave up and rushed out when it was clear
I wasn't getting anywhere and it had been inferred that it could've
been all an elaborate ruse on my behalf. Grrrr. Always with the lowest
common denominator ruining things for honest people. Still, it really
isn't worth the tizz I got myself in over it.

Anyway, from there to the massage parlour with Naomi. Oh my godness,
what do I say? It was heaven. I'm not going to bother to elaborate but
I cannot remember the last time I was that relaxed. It was just so good.

So from there to the airport I get to Queensland and another curiosity
that took my high to a new low. 1. Queenstown airport's frequent
flyer lounge is - contrary to every other airport I've ever been in -
BEFORE immigration. So imagine the frustration of getting through
immigration and thinking about comfy seats, relaxing atmosphere, free
wireless, magazines, papers and a generally pleasant wait for the
plane only to realise that the wait would be in a large, noisy hall. 2
Qantas do not have a lounge in Queenstown. Now I completely realize
how much of a primadonna I sound but I really don't care. The whole
reason we paid that little bit extra to fly Qantas was to make use of
such facilities and have a more enjoyable travel experience on holiday
- I do enough of it that isn't anywhere near as enjoyable. Therefore,
just note that about flying with Qantas from Queenstown if you're
expecting lounge access.

So we got to Cairns without any further dramas. Well except that
Naomi went to the wrong car hire place who, as you'd expect, had no
knowledge of our booking. At least that's my story and I'm sticking
to it. After a short 5 minute panic we got sorted at Thrifty and on
our way to the hotel... Sweet exhausted sleep.

Day 6 - Fun with a Hire Car

Plan was to go to Cordrona but the little Hyundai spooked us with the
engine check light. So it was back to The Remarkables via the Frankton
filling station and an oil top up.

Beautiful weather and some amazing runs was just a great end to a
fantastic week. Sheer exhaustion took it's toll on me today though.

I remember the confused look of utter disorientation of one guy whose
face simply said - why, when I'm doing something so enjoyable, am I so
unhappy? That's exactly how I felt.

Well, Naomi could probably have stayed out all night but thankfully
she took pity on me and we headed off.

No sooner had we gotten to the bottom of The Remarkables, however, had
the engine check light come back on. We pulled over and turned on the
hazards which seemed to infuriate countless drivers passing us with
horns blaring - like we really wanted our car to break down?! How
dull and unhelpful do you have to be?

Roadside assist was less than assisting putting the first call to
voicemail and then completely ignoring our location and sending the
mechanic to the top of the mountain?!!! Anyway, an hour later he
found us, checked the car, took us back to the garage, checked the
plugs some more and sent us on our way with a struggling, unhealthy,
misfiring car - we were leaving it back the next day anyway.

Had a nice final evening in Queenstown at Sombrero's Mexican
restaurant (they were full on Thursday so we ended up with a great
meal at Captain's), the Eichardt and Bardeaux again.

Day 5 - Thursday at The Remarkables

I still find it an odd name; I mean it really sounds like a Disney/
Pixar animation. Anyway that aside we'd a great day. Partly because
of a lie in, and probably a lot to do with a much shorter drive but it
was also really quiet on the snow.

Naomi flew down the slopes with her renewed confidence whereas I
struggled with the flat parts on the snowboard. Once you lose that
momentum - kablamo!

So my confidence took a fair knocking until I took a break for lunch
and got my head together again. Completed one of the scariest blue
runs I've ever attempted and was scared witless at the speed. Didn't
do that one again.

The scariest run was clearly for skiers not boarders. A narrow cliff
edge trying to slow the board down on it's nose (goofy footed on a
right hand turn) simply wrecked me; it was so tiring.

Anyway back to the hotel spa and swimming outdoors with snow capped
mountains in the distance was pretty special. All topped off with the
crazy kid in the sauna who wouldn't stop putting bucket after bucket
of water on the coals until the unbearable heat made everyone evacuate!

Well, time for dinner. Tonight is Mexican!

Day 3 - Queenstown to Glenorchy

Naomi still wasn't feeling 100% so we took it easy today and decided
to take the lakeside drive to Glenorchy.

With the sun shining, the wonderfully blue lake reflected the sky -
it's hard not to romanticise about living in such a beautiful location.

Day 2 - Tired Already

We must have pushed harder than we thought before taking off on
holiday. Naomi was pretty unwell today and by the time we got to
Cordrona, was not up for skiing at all. I did a few runs but we left
pretty quickly and just headed back to the hotel to rest.

Day 1 - Lost Already

Ok. Roads in this part of NZ are scary; very scary. They're so hairy,
I really can't think of an analogy deserving of them. Barriers are
only for total wusses it would seem. So much so that Naomi and I
thought the main road to Cordrona and Treble Cone was just some sort
of crazy man's scenic route and took what ended up being a 100km
detour to get to Treble Cone well after lunch. Still Treble Cone is
probably the most challenging field in the area so a couple of hours
on just their "bunny slopes" was enough to build of confidence.

Back to Queenstown; what a beautiful town. Quite simply, I love the
place. The buildings, the scenery, it really is remarkable. Words
could probably describe it but that might take me a while so just go
and see for yourself! :)

My first iphone blog

My first iphone blog

Well rather than write too much, I thought I'd try a quick test 1st.
Reminds me of the joy of getting my Amiga to talk to a dot matrix
printer. Test 1

:)

So Starbucks isn't so bad after all...

Well I've now joined the ranks of those plonkers that Steve Jobs
graced the world with; the idiots that sit using their Macbook hoping
for people to notice their plight as an aspiring but struggling young
writer/filmmaker/web designer.

I can feel the searing stares of jealousy burning through the back of
my head - the very same stares I myself graciously gave until only a
few hours ago. Except that this is worse - I'm on my iPhone. Could I
be any more of a ponce? I'm just glad that I can moderate the
comments on this blog.