My Italian friend Anika

Well, I'm in a bit of a depression because my friend Anika left this morning, so now I'm flying solo without my Italian pal. Yesterday we went to Milford Sound, which is one of the most beautiful places in the world, but unfortunately it was rainy and foggy and windy, so we didn't get the best view. Oh well, it was still cool.

I decided against doing a long walk or camping because its probably better to do with someone else rather than on your own. It's kinda pricey as well and I've been spending money like it's going out of style. Queenstown is such a money grab. The resident population here is 20,000 but during the summer months (now) there are 170,000 people in town. Those extras are all tourists. It's mental. Hence why I had to go to 3 different hostels today to get a bed. And why I paid $15.50 for a veggie burger ("the Bun Laden") today. It was from Ferg Burger though which I think is pretty famous around these parts.

Today, in attempts to lessen my depression, I went to the Bird Conservation Centre and saw kiwi birds for the first time. They are incredible, more akin to mammals then birds with fur like feathers. They look like furry bowling balls with a long beak. I think the craziest thing about them is that the female lays an egg that is one fifth of her body size (like a woman giving birth to a four year old). Yowser!

I also saw a bunch of NZ's other native birds, most of which are endangered. But the conservation centre is doing a really great job with breeding programs etc.

I think I did a good job schooling Anika in Canadian/English slang and swear words. She's going to go home so rude! I feel like I should write to her mother and apologize. Anyway, one of the "English" things I taught her was the "Dick in a Box" song from SNL and I finally managed to video her doing it last night. I hope it will upload here because trust me, her doing it in her accent is hillarious!

In 2 days I will head to Mt. Cook which I believe is the highest peak in NZ, or at least on the South Island. I'm going to spend 2 nights there and hope to hike up part of it and sleep on the mountain overnight. We'll see how that works out.

2 weeks today to the Oscars. I kinda wish I was home for it just to watch all the lead-up smut, but hey, I'm not complaining. I'm having a pretty grand time.