New Zealand IV: A New Hope or I Like my Coffee Black and My Flat White

As previously mentioned, the flat white is the greatest thing I've discovered so far on this trip (aside from the incredible scenery, of course). It is breakfast ambrosia; or in Maori "Te anu ohi nahe" (actually I completely made that up, but I bet they have a word for it that translates to "delicious drink of the white man" or something similar). The current flat white count is at about 16 so far since I left the states (but they're good for you, right?). I'm not sure what exactly what the difference really is between a flat white and a latte (I think it's how much milk is used or something) but it sure makes them taste better. Anyway, enough about the greatest beverage to grace my presence since beer, here's what's been going down on the trip:

Yesterday was spent doing an epic hike to a neighboring peak along side Franz Josef Glacier. It was much longer than I expected (that's what she said) and apparently half a bottle of water was not quite enough. Near the end I was rationing out droplets like at the end of  the movie 127 hours (thankfully I didn't have to chop a limb off). As is always the case, a brutal pace was kept thus making the hike that much more enjoyable (Corey knows what I'm talking about: a hike is to say you did it, not to enjoy it). After reaching the summit though, the views were very much worth the copious amounts of sweat that were exuded by my body (i.e. below...the views that is).

end of 80's sitcom themes continue: "My Two Glaciers"

Today we trucked our way south to Queenstown. Easily was the best scenic drive of the trip so far. Tons of lakes and cool hillsides. The lakes were all an eerie aquamarine set against a bright green of the hillside and often with mountains nearby also. Pretty sure they are all fake (i.e. picture below; obviously photoshopped). Queenstown, itself, seems like an awesome little town; glad I'll be coming back to it in a day (after a Milford Sound trip).

All new pics up on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2704692&id=5704569

...stay tuned for New Zealand V: The Search for Wool Boxers