Another marvelous weekend in the mountains

This time we actually had sun - both days and all day long! Unbelievable! I had to buy sunscreen. A 1-ounce tube for $8 at the ski lodge - but it was so worth it!

After some initial start up problems with the car (the wheel sounded like it was about to fall off - but Ian decided we need to go skiing and can't worry about minor details like that) we ended up in 84 new cm of fluffy white stuff.
The backcountry skiing and hiking around the ridge line was so good that we used the lift only 3 times all day. The first run took us 2 hours including the hiking and the descent. We hiked up the ridge from the end of the lift and then traversed over to the backside to a run called Hammie's.
And I got the chance to see a real Voile splitboard in action - I guess it's time to get another student loan :)
The other exciting find of the day was a monoski which Wendy is modeling here for us:
We saw the owner of it later on trying to get down the hill on it. Not a pretty sight.

Scenery was awesome, so here are some shots: (this next one is a 360 panorama from the top of the ridge)

We spent the night at Donna's house. She had an amazing selection of crystal bowls that she got from the U.S. and gave us a lesson on how to make them vibrate. The bigger ones create a truly astonishing sound. It was just like being in church with big organ pipes. And I also felt as enlightened afterwards. And on top of that she told me my future. Now I am scared. I am not sure I like my future. I think I want another future. Or somebody else's future.

Back in Dunedin now - at least until next Friday. Practicing Maori songs tomorrow for a Hui next week. I am definitely better with the Maori pronunciation than with the NZ pronunciation. It's almost like German except "wh" is pronounced "f". I will have to memorize this song by tomorrow:

E tu kahikatea
He mau whakapai ururoa
Awhi mai awhi atu
Tatou tatou e

E tu e puriri
Laua takoto kia reri
Awhi mai awhi atu
Tatou tatou e
Awhi mai awhi atu
Tatou tatou e

Piece of cake!

Not even a whole week now and Ben will be here. Really looking forward to seeing him and doing some traveling around the island.