New Zealand

We started adventuring in New Zealand with a 3-day hike in the North Island's Tongariro National Park. The trail is marked with signs in case it gets rustic and there are huts along the way where it's first-come, first serve for a bunk. There are active volcanos along the way and some bits of the path are steep and treacherous (Mordor especially!). It's a long incredibly scenic walk where you try to remember scenes from Lord of the Rings because you're on the set. Cozzy jumped into an icy crater lake and played sand jumps with Belgian Sam.

In Wellington we thought we'd treat ourselves to a spring roll at a little fast food shop. The clerk passed us each a big greasy spring roll in a little paper bag. We thought he'd simply forgotten the customary delicious dipping sauce or worse, planned on charging us more for the condiment. When we asked for it, the guy was taken aback at our apparent effrontery. He instanty raised his voice to exclaim that there was no sauce. We persisted. Politely we asked if we could have some sweet and sour sauce as a consolation, having noted several other dishes on the menu that would necessitate such tincture. The guy's left eye started watering and he shouted his previous message -- no sauce. We retreated to our table, puzzled and a little sad, chewing slowly at our savoury snacks, seeking balance. Ever the prononent of reason and debate, Cozzy got up and requested sauce one last time. This time the clerk offered us ketchup packets at $1.50 apiece and loudly accused us of distrust. "Ask him! Ask him! You are in New Zealand now! No sauce for spring roll!" Some guy that ordered a cheeseburger chimed in and said "It's true, mate. You don't get sauce when you order a spring roll in New Zealand, mate." Grrrr.

In the South Island, we rented a Mazda Familia from the early 90's with a tape deck and cruised by massive farmland, lakes, beaches, mountains plus a quick sidetrip to walk close to a glacier. On our way to Milford Sound we drove through a mountain -- a dark 1219 metre tunnel. Quite claustrophobic. We took a boat tour in the fjords out to the Tasman Sea and back. It's stunning.

In Auckland, before we left, we had spring rolls. With sauce. So there.