All I Wanna Do is Ride Around Rhonda

My knee is healing fine. I learned that RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) is great for healing. To comfort myself, I stayed in bed with a hot water bottle, went out for some beer, and went to a nice day spa for a 2.5 hour luxurious treatment! Then I found out that HARM (Heat, Alcohol, Running, Massage) is not so good for healing. Oops. Well, I think I averaged out OK.. I'm still not running, and taking a break from skiing for a few more days. But then, it's ON!

Look at this beautiful running scenery...

I went to Dunedin for a few days to get checked for breast cancer. Everything turned out fine and I have nothing to worry about. These screenings are important... In the words of my sister: "Feel Your Boobies!"

The drive to Dunedin was most phenomenal. The fact that I couldn't take many pictures to preserve the memory made me realize how lucky I was to have the experience at all. 

That water was dam blue

Finally! Blocked by sheeps!

I ended up stopping by Oamaru, where there are many Yellow Eyed Penguins, but didn't take the tour to see them. I continued down to Dunedin and stopped to see the Moeraki Boulders. But before I did that I got distracted by some very, very cute aminals.

Tee Hee!

I should send this into http://www.cuteoverload.com/ to get a zoom in on that tongue!

NYAM NYAM NYAM!

Moeraki Boulders

That should be me!

That is me.

At a mall in Dunedin. What is missing here...??

Could it be...

The most awesomest THINGS in the world?!

Marlon, what are you doing so far from home?! Go back before Auntie Sirena gets worried! I'll see you in September!!

Larnach Castle and Gardens (Otago Peninsula)

I must be very priveleged because I found NZ's only castle to be pretty small and modest.

The view, however...

made me want to swing braided hair over the edge of the balcony.

I seee youuu

I went back home and brought some Root Beer back with me. Apparently it's an American thing that not many people have tried... I had to introduce my flat-mates to it... Root Beer Floats for dessert!

Tim: Lovin' It!                               Fiona: Not so much.

I got a flat tyre the other day and changed it myself! I was proud of that. Other than that, there's not much else to report. Have a wonderful weekend, where ever you are, what ever you do.

Adapting

Today I write to you sitting with a busted knee and sore throat, happy as ever. I've been spending my time volunteering in Wanaka, at the Cardrona Alpine Resort. I've been in NZ 8 months and have spent all of it volunteering... my latest project is thoroughly exciting, and consists of helping disabled individuals pursue their love of snow sports. After my first 7 days on the snow, today is my first day of rest (fittingly on the sabbath) ... and I am nursing my knee and throat back to good health.

 Sunrise on one side of the mountain; escaping the inversion layer that keeps Wanaka so cold!

 Moon-set on the other

I am so happy to be putting my 4WD to use... no chains required! But up and down the mountain every day (Cardrona is 40k away) does make a long day longer. But it's worth it to share in moments like these!

I wish I could do this as a career... it's one of my goals! I'm working under the Adaptive Snow Sports Programme, which is run by Disabled Snow Sports NZ. We assist individuals with physical and mental disabilities (e.g. visual/hearing impairments, Autism, Down's Syndrome, limited mobility) pursue their love of snow sports by fitting them with skis, snowboards, sit-skis (mono-skis, bi-skis), etc. I'm also helping out in the office with administrative work (data entry, securing sponsorships, donations for upcoming events, etc) Yay for winter!!