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Thought of the month: December 2009
Hi folks I only returned back yesterday from doing a small tour of the West Coast and Milford Sounds of New Zealand, and I am in awe of our beautiful country. At this time of the year, the snows are melting and the weather not so bitterly cold. Plus, we were blessed with amazing weather. I take tours overseas, like Peru, China and Egypt,( which i will be doing again in 2010 along with a new Zealand one now :) and always something to look at in their countries. The history and ancient buildings like the Pyramids, Machu Picchu and Dazu in china....all amazing sights to visit. BUT, this time my husband and I decided to stay home and forget the hassles of internationalflights and immigration, time zones etc and stay at home. As I had organised a tour of the whole of New Zealand for a group from Europe, I decided why not use that research and do some of it ourselves! We did. We cancelled the Cambodia flights and changed them to Christchurch....only an hour and a half flight and we were there... First stop was Hanmer Springs for a soak in the hot sulphur pools and relax, slow down and bath in the scenery. Then onto Punakaiki to view the rocks there. Amazing! Why did we go to Ireland to see them years ago!!!!! Onto Franz Joseph glacier....why did I walk for 3 weeks to get to the foot of the Ganges River in India to view the glacier, once again.....then to sail to the Milford Sounds.....after the most amazing sights along the 5 hour drive to get there. Fields bathed in purples, reds, to mauve Lupins in full bloom. The back drops of the snow capped mountains and the bubbling rivers, the native forest etc. all here in New Zealand. Whow at every corner as my husband got tired of my yelling " stop the car' and out came the camera. I gave up as every corner was something quite beautiful.....all in our own country. We might not have the history of the ancient buildings, but as I feel we need to live in the now.....nature is something that cannot be beaten. No wonder folk visit our country....no litter alongside the road, clean toilets that do not charge, freindly information kiosks with folk keen to only help and advise. free maps and booklets......the tourists must think New zealand the weathliest country out! And we are.... We live in paradise and we should look after this land of ours. The beauty is something to talk about, even this old near on pushing 60 lady typing out on these keys! I feel my spirit has been revived and renewed. I have come home with renewed energy and enthusiasm as life is good. All we have to do is look around us and see it. Every morning, to look in the mirror and see that beauty also reflecting back at you. So the world is going crazy, crime is on the rise. But, if we keep that peace and beauty in our hearts, we will survive this amazing times we are living in.. May Christmas and New Year recharge your batteries, keep safe and slow dowen. Smell the flowers. May God bless you will all that you desire and need.... good health and happiness. May the New Year ring in a new beginning where peace and goodwell to all men starts to kick in more. We have to, too survive thsi time change. Namaste Gail, Blessings | 
