21/2 Greymouth-Fox Glacier

We have left Greymouth at 8 o'clock and we had a breakfast stop in Hokitika. I have made a little walk in this town. I was still looking for a cap, that doesn't look that silly or like a real tourist. I haven't find the right cap, but I had a nice conversation with the lady of the shop. She recognized me as being Dutch (tall, blond, looking so healthy?) and because of my accent (the TH sound). Actually this was the first time that New Zealand people didn't think I was German ;) It was really nice to talk with her to get an idea of life in NZ, where so many people are immigrants and have roots in the UK and the Netherlands. Our bus driver from the South Island told us that people in the South Island are even more relaxed and friendly than on the North Island. He thought that at the North Island life is so busy, although we had the impression that life in New Zealand is so much more relaxed, compared to the Netherlands and many other European countries. It is just so much fun to talk with local people about their life and the place where they live. So I regretted it that we had to go further by bus. I've I told my travelmates that this conversation was the highlight of my day, I felt so enthusiastic about this country (again).

With our new bus, we drove another hour, but climbing upon a mountain, the gear didn't work properly, so we had to return to a village to wait for another bus ;) We just can laugh about it, feeling so relaxed and enjoyed our time in the village Fox Glacier. It was just a pity that when the new bus arrived we didn't have time for a 30 minute walk to the Franz Josef Glacier. Most people of the group have planned a helicopter flight to see the Fox Glacier and have a little walk, so we had to hurry to be on time. I'm just too much afraid of heights to fly in an helicopter and walk relaxed, so I have chosen to do a nice walk in the rainforest. Or actually I have done the walk twice, back and forth. The second time time I've seen many new things, like a river, a fish and interesting trees. It felt so peaceful, just a pity to hear the helicopters, flying over.

In the evening we had a buffet in our hotel and with some travel mates we did a walk in the rainforest. The same one where I have been earlier that day, but now in the dark. We had some flash lights to guide us in the dark, but the main attraction was to see the glow worms, just like a Christmas decoration in a tree. And it wasn't that scary at all. My eyes get used to the dark and it was quite easy to walk. We have also seen two possums. It is quite an ugly animal, and it is a real plague here. In the shops I have seen gloves and sweaters made of these possums (hairs, fur?).

21/2 Greymouth- Fox Glacier