The lord of the Rings tour

 The lord of the Rings tour which we had on 28th Novemeber, 2017, was  a great tour and we could go and see the places where the film is shot. I have not seen any of these three films but I know for sure that my children loved all  the three film. We had a lovely tour guide who just takes a small group of six people in a personalised tour and had so much information on the film. She told us about how the film was shot, how they got extras, how the leaves were painted golden by school children and many of her friends who did small roles in the film. Glenorchy is a small sleepy town of about 300 residents, but at its base is the lake  and the awe inspiring Mount Aspiring world heritage area where Middle earth of the film came to life. We saw the Hobbit locations, Loriarisen forests where many of the war scenes take place, the Misty mountains, paradise. The tour operator also carried the swords, the ring and other tid bit props of the film. Peter Jackson the Director is a New Zealanders and loves his country and showed its natural beauty. He had shot all the three sequences simultaneously and though today more than seventeen years have passed the films still appeals.  The Mount Earnshaw stood tall and imposing. We had awe inspiring and breath taking beauty of nature spread in front of us. Amazing tour and I have to go back and see all the three movies and relive this experience.

Cruising on lake Wakatipu

 Cruising lake Wakatipu on a Twin Screw Steamer Earnshaw, which is now more than hundred years old, ship known as Lady of the lake. Constructed in 1912 it was earlier a cargo ship but now a passenger ship. Amazing sights . Also saw a sheep being sheared. Lovely flowers at Walter Peak. The house at Walter Peak was constructed in 1902 and is beautiful.

Millford Sound

 An amazing experience in southern islands of New Zealand is going to Millford Sound. It is one of the most stunning location in the world. This is a five hour drive from Queenstown. The five hour drive is a majestic showcase of sheer mountains, tower information cliffs, rugged valleys and very old native rain forests surrounded by spectacular waterfalls and glacial lakes. Even the driver who drove us through this journey had a wonderful commentary with lots of witty jokes. He kept pulling puches at Australians. The one that I enjoyed the most was that Marino sheep were found only in Spain and any one found stealing them was sentenced to death by the king of Spain. Hence we asked the Australian's who  are good at this sort of thing, being original convicts to steal some for us and that is how we got the Marino sheep into New Zealand. At Mumford Sound we had a three hour cruise and we encountered nature first hand. We discovered the remarkable wild life, could sight few penguins and many seals resting on rocks, could  see the various milky waterfalls and the geology of the region. The jaw opening water Sterling falls are more than 15,000 years old. The snow covered mountains including the famed Mitre peak look as if they have risen from the sea. On the way we could see sheep, deer, cattle farms spread across the region. An amazing experience which leaves one awe stuck with nature's bounty to New Zealand.

Southern island in the city of Queenstown

 Having explored the northern island of New Zealand we are now in the Southern island in the city of Queenstown on 26th Novemeber, 2017. It was named so because it was fit for Queen Victoria. A very touristic place which has been used by Bollywood film makers for films like Me prem ki deewani hoon and I hate love stories. Nestled on the shores of Waka tipu lake it is surrounded by mountains on all side. Lake Waka tipu is about 77km in length. It is a premier visitors destination and known as the adventure capital of the World. The alpine scenery, lakes, rivers add to its beauty. We took the Skycar and the Gondola takes you right up the mountain and one can see the two islands of Queenstown Golf club and Queenstown Gardens. One can also see the peaks of Mount Walter, Mount Cecil and Double cave. The whole town is 2500 feet above sea level. An amazing experience having dinner on top and seeing the town below. A must visit place in New Zealand.As every where there are many Maori legends about the lake. Hakitekura the local chiefs daughter would often  swim across  the lake. She once dived from a steep hill to join her lover, swimming in the lake but miscalculated the distance and met her end. I can see the lake from my hotel window and feel sad for the Chiefs daughter.

Meeting an Iranian studetn from HCU

 My sister introduced me to her friend an  Iranian, who is now an artist in New Zealand. She was a student of our University. She had such good words for HCU and spoke in such glowing terms about the University and the area of Gachibowli, Gulmohar Park,  Chandanagar and Lingampali, that I felt very happy that living in such a beautiful and clean and green  environment  of New Zealand and  the city of Napier, she still remember Hyderabad and has such lovely memories. Having finished her studies in 2010 and settled now in New Zealand, she was very nostalgic about the University and all praise for it. Indeed feel proud of all these students settled in different parts of the world who  are so attached to the University and carry forward  its legacy.

Rotorua skyway

 Rotorua skyway gives one a glimpse of the city . A lovely view indeed,of the sea, the Green cover, and the spread all around. You enjoy this sitting at a height. The new tracks boast tunnel lighting like no other Luge track in the world — 430 metres of LED strip lighting in the tunnels, and 170 LED illuminating the new tracks. More than 25 million luge rides have been completed at Skyline Rotorua since it opened in 1985.