Holiday: Queenstown, Bungee, and the Great Bunny Hunt

I can't believe we're finishing up our first week of holiday.  Just like every week, it's gone by crazy fast!

We returned from Te Anau Tuesday night and have enjoyed lounging around.  I'm spent a lot of the time at the school working on resume and trying to apply for jobs as much as possible.

Friday (yesterday) we went to Queenstown to meet Miranda and her mom.  Laura, David and I had decided we were going to bungee jump.  Miranda refused.  David planned to do the highest jump in New Zealand. We dropped him off and went to pick up Miranda.  We had time to spare and decided to ride the gondola in Queenstown. The gondola take you up the mountain and overlooks the city of Queenstown.  It was quite amazing. On top of the hill is a luge track.  You ride another short chair lift to the top and luge down.  I didn't know how fun it could actually be, but I was surprised how fast the little things went! We enjoyed lunch on top of the mountain and then went back to meet David.  We walked around a bit before it was time for Laura and I to jump.

I was rather surprised how much I wasn't nervous.  Laura was literally shaking just watching others jump.  We checked in and they told us to just go wait on the bridge.  I was expecting to have to wait a long time before we could go.  A guy saw that we were going together and brought us to the front.  We really didn't have time to think twice.  It was very interesting how it all worked.  We first put on our harnesses.  I then sat down on the side of the bridge while a lady tied some ropes to my feet.  I then moved over while she did the same thing to Laura.  She connected a few ropes and asked if we were ready.  I was expecting a long explanation of what was going to happen, but that never happened.  She asked if we wanted to dip our hands/possibly heads in the water and we agreed.  We stood up together and shuffled to the edge of the bridge. By this time, Laura was physically shaking.  I wasn't as nervous as I thought I might be.  I think I was just trying not to be for Laura.  The lady made us a look into a few camera for some pictures, counted to three and we jumped.  It all happened so fast, I honestly don't remember actually jumping off the bridge.  Falling was also so quick.  I was surprised how painless it was.  I was expecting my back and neck to get jerked around, but it was really smooth.  Unfortunately we didn't touch the water, I was pretty disappointed.  It was all so fast, I remember telling Laura, "We did it! We did it!"  It was hard to not get dizzy, I had to keep looking at the water and not the shoreline.  When we were coming to a stop we did a lot of spins.  There was a boat waiting at the bottom.  They had a long pole we grabbed onto and then pulled us into the boat, on our back and unlatched us.  It was a little difficult to get out of the boat because my legs were still shaking.  Afterwards, I realized my jaw was a little stiff, I think I had my mouth open the whole time smiling/screaming.  When we walked back up to the top, Laura and I both said, I want to do that again!  I seriously considered it.  They advertised, the 2nd jump was only 60 dollars + free photos and video.  It was pretty enticing but we declined.  We did buy some pretty cool photos. I will put them up but it takes 3 days before they put them online.  Our package also came with a video, but I can't figure out how to put it online.

Today, Saturday is a pretty big day in Alexandra, The Great Bunny Hunt.  Each year, a day before Easter, hunters from all over, come to the area for a competition to see who can kill the most rabbits.  Pretty extreme if you ask me.  Our landlord told us it.  She told us we had to go to the park Saturday afternoon.  The hunter hunt all day Friday and into Saturday morning.  Then Saturday morning, they bring all their kills to the park to display their lot.  Each group has team names.  The rabbits are grouped in 5 and lined up.  You can look down the line and see who has the most.  I read in the paper the other day, one man's goal was to kill 1,500 this year!  Laura and I thought we check it out.  I was shocked to see how many people were there!  I think the whole town of Alex was at he park.  Kids were running around, poking and prodding the rabbits. The smell got too be a little to much.  On the other side of the park there was a huge market selling all sorts of things.  We walked around a bit and enjoyed people watching.  Tomorrow i'm planning to go to church and then later in the afternoon we are going to a town about 6 miles from us, to enjoy the food and wine festival.  We are told there are hundreds of venders sampling different foods and wines from the surrounding areas.  We're excited, everyone says we have to go if we're in town.  Monday we begin our week long travel around the coast. I'll try my best to update when possible.   I can't believe we only have 12 more days in the country, better make the most of it :)   

The internet is being very slow. I will upload photos when I get a better connection..