Nomad Backpackers

Tuesday morning was the third morning I woke up with a sore throat.  It had become apparent, from the white dots that lined my tonsils, that I had strep throat.  Unfortunately, although I was 100% certain that I had strep, just as in the States I had to jump through the hoops (fill out the paperwork, wait in the waiting room, and spend about 2 minutes with the doctor)to obtain a prescription allowing me to get my hands on some antibiotics. 

Still sick, resting.  That’s right, I just woke up from a 3 hour nap.  A little sleepy, but not too sleepy to share my tale.

I wanted to tough it out and heal on my own.  Drinking freshly squeezed OJ, making homemade ginger tea, reading, watching a movie, you know the usual sick day stuff.  But even after a full day of rest and relaxation, I still woke up experiencing strep throat symptoms.  Am I mad at my body?  Am I upset with the medical system?  It’s funny, I’m not really sure.  Maybe it’s the pain I experience when I swallow or yawn?  Maybe it’s the fact that it’s summer here and strep throat shouldn’t be going around?  Yesterday, and today for that matter, I wanted to go hiking and couldn’t.

I guess that is one positive conclusion.  During my time blogging I have learned more about myself as a writer (that’s another blog).  Justin’s really the writer in the family (in case you have not sorted that out yet).  Ah, their it is, I’ve been waiting for that.  I wrote sorted it out, that’s Kiwi for “figured it out”.  I knew it was only a matter of time before the New Zealand culture would begin to pop out in my writing.  Not only have they infected my writing, but those darn Kiwis have infected me with Strep Throat.  But how can I really be upset with anyone.  I mean, if someone from Germany visited Vermont and became sick could they blame me because I am an American.? I apologize to any Kiwi I may have offended.

After 3 months of traveling I have stepped on a Kinna and now I was back in another Medical Center today for Strep.  How does Justin stay so healthy and safe?  Is he a super hero?  Did he recently rip his pants with superhuman strength?  I’ll look into this and get back with you.

I guess I will just take it easy and let the magical antibiotics do their thing.  Oh, by the way, I am on Roxithromycin if anyone has heard of it.  Feel free to educate me on what I am drugging my body with.  Or encourage me in healing.

And I promise, I will never again write after taking a 3 hour nap.  Really, I promise.

I recently received an email from my Aunt Lynette.  Being the fun aunt that she is, the email was full of interesting questions.  Instead of simply replying to her email, I thought I should post my answers for everyone.

Lynette: Do you have to wear a uniform where you work? I’m sure you both look cute in them if you do.

We do wear uniforms at the lodge.  And I think we look rather exceptional.  Especially Justin’s jumpsuit (read: adult onesie) that he wears for maintaining the grounds and other dirty work. (Pictures coming soon)

Justin:  “You should see me try to get that thing off.”

Lynette: I have a few more “weird Auntie” questions, if you don’t mind……

Weird?  No, never.  They are “FUN Auntie questions” and I am thrilled to answer each one.

Lynette: What is the average temperature during the summer?

The temperature in Te Anau fluctuates rapidly.  In fact, the locals say it is normal to experience “four seasons in a day.”  Wake up feeling frosty, but by 2 pm it’s sunny and 80*, then around 4 pm a cloud sweeps over hiding the sun and it’s suddenly a comfortable 60*.  Who knows what the weather will bring?  Every day is an adventure.  It’s fascinating to look at the mountains, as they always look different, depending upon the angle of the sun, the amount of cloud coverage etc.

However, most of New Zealand (like on the north island) experiences an extremely enjoyable summer.  From what I’ve heard it sounds like it would be rather similar to a Michigan summer.

Lynette: How close are you to the beach?

We are about a half hour from the beach.  Though, I must admit, due to our complex weather in Te Anau, I have not taken my chances at the beach yet.  But I am sure as the summer continues I will plan to spend a day off at the beach.

Lynette: How much is gas per gallon there?

It’s $NZ 1.46 per liter.  Upon converting the liters to gallons and the Kiwi dollars to U.S. dollars, it means that gas is about $2.95 per gallon.  From what I’ve heard it’s currently cheaper to buy gas in the States.

Lynette: Do they have McDonalds?

Yes, New Zealand has McDonalds, but only in the larger cities.  Te Anau didn’t make the cut, it’s too small.  Actually, I think a McDonalds would get loads of business from summer tourists.  Business would suffer as winter comes and the bus loads of Japanese or Germans aren’t stopping by for fries.

A classic kiwi bird

Upon arriving to New Zealand I had a few people find out that I was American and some of them asked me about McDonalds in the States.  They wanted to know about the size options.  I joked around and said, “Super Size me!” and that’s when I learned that New Zealand doesn’t roll like us.  All of the proportion sizes are smaller.  I didn’t believe it. McDonalds is the same everywhere, right?  To test it out I bought a medium fry.  Sure enough, it was about the size of a small fry in the States.  Do they still put the small fry in a wax coated paper bag?

The McDonalds here does has a few special items like the Kiwi Burger, but I am not sure how that differs from a regular burger. Being a vegetarian I didn’t try the Kiwi Burger.  Aunt Lynette, I wish you would have been there.  Then you could have told me what the Kiwi Burger really is.  It’s not the kiwi fruit sliced on top.  Although, if someone said, “Have you tried the new kiwi burger?”, I would have initially pictured the bright green fruit freshly sliced onto of a steaming all beef patty.  Here in New Zealand, a Kiwi is a type of bird, but I can’t imagine they would kill thousands of Kiwi birds each year to satisfy McDonald’s customers.

Lynette: Where are most of the tourists from, that visit your hotel, Europeans, US ?

I have met Americans on vacation from San Francisco, Boston, D.C. and Chicago,  to name a few.  I have also met guests on holiday from England, Belgium, Germany, Holland, and Australia.  We even have some of the Belgium Royal Family staying at the Lodge over Christmas.  Tragically, this does mean that Justin and I will be working hard Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I’ll be serving breakfast for 23 the morning after Christmas, but don’t worry, I’ll have one or two of the lodges gourmet chefs to prepare all the bacon and eggs.  I just have to focus on not dropping food in the laps of the royal family.  Overall, if you have to work on Christmas evening, at least share the evening with a royal family,- even if you are the one pouring the wine, instead of sitting by the fire sipping it

Thanks Aunt Lynette!  I hope I have satisfied your questions and have allowed you to understand New Zealand culture a little more.  Enjoy Christmas and being together with everyone as a family.  I would quickly trade the entire Royal Belgium Family to spend Christmas at grandma and grandpa’s.  Have fun!

On one of our days off, Justin and I decided to visit Invercargill.  This is one of the closest major cities to Te Anau.  You can take the fast way to Invercargill; the 2 lane (one for each direction) expressway, 94 out of Te Anau and if you drive like an American in New Zealand (faster than your average Kiwi) you should end up in Invercargill within an hour and a half.  However, the New Zealand Atlas says it takes 2 hours and 25 minutes.  I think that’s on a bad day, when a farmer decides to move one thousand of her sheep across the expressway.

View Larger Map
However, on our Friday off of work, we took the leisurely Southern Scenic Route (a road) to Invercargill.  As we were driving Justin saw a sign that said Lake Monowai.  He thought it would be fun to take a quick diversion.  About a half hour later we pulled up at a really small lake.  I grew up in the Great Lake State (Michigan LINK) and frankly, I was unimpressed.  Lake Monowai would be considered a pond by most Michiganders.  So, Monowai rhyming with “Don’t know why”.  I began to laugh at the humor of the situation and sing my new song, “I don’t know why, we’re at Lake Monowai.”  It can be sung to the Adams Family Tune if you are really desperate to sing along.  Don’t forget to the “snap, snap”.

Several hundred thousand sheep, and a few tractors in the road later, we arrived in Invercargill.  One of the bustling metropolises of the South Island, Invercargill is a city of 54,000 people with a great Brewery.  The Invercargill Brewery.  After driving in a few circles we found this tasty treasure and enthusiastically burst through the door where we were greeted by Jill.  I kindly introduced ourselves and explained that we enjoyed touring Microbrewery’s around the world.  Jill agreed to give us a tour of the place.  (Thanks Phil and Sarah, I believe it was the usage of the word, “Beer-cation” that really got us the tour.)  It  was amazing to see such a tiny brewery producing such a high quality selection of beer.  Jill showed us the old bottling machine, which only allowed 4 bottles to be filled at a time, and the new automated machine, recently purchased by the Brewery.  The bottling process is still labor intensive but now it takes much less time.

Invercargill Brewery is a innovative brewery willing to engage locals.  They even brew apple cider.  This year, they invited farmers to bring various types of apples to the brewery to be blended together as a part of the “Heritage Cider”.  What an incredible idea! .  It was not ready yet, but I may have to spend another day off visiting Invercargill, just so I can try the “Heritage Cider”.

The brewery also welcomes a few individuals, known as the “Yeastie Boys”, every few months.  The “Yeastie Boys” experiment and create a wide range of beers.  After sampling ‘Golden Boy’ I was impressed by the bright flavor and smooth wheat taste. Also, it did not become bitter or flat at the end as is the nagging tendency with many inferior wheat beers.  I think ‘Golden Boy’ could hold it’s own next to Sunshine Wheat, brewed at New Belgium Brewery, in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Justin and I support the local community wherever we live.  If that support happens to occur at the local brewery than, all the better.  In fact, after our time in Invercargill, Justin mentioned that if we ever end our nomad backpacking days and choose to settle down somewhere, having a Microbrewery nearby will be a selling point.  Forget that!  Why not start your own Microbrewery?  The “Yeastie Boys” seem to be doing great.  Their beer is available at The Malthouse in Wellington, which sounds awesome, I can’t wait to visit this establishment.  I can only imagine that if beer I created was sold on tap, I’d visit often to see what the public thought of my latest creation.  I hope to meet the “Yeastie Boys”, almost like backstage passes to the beer in concert in my mouth.

Perhaps, I could begin by learning from the pros and then apply my creativity, enthusiasm and beverage knowledge to create award winning beer?  As a barista, I fell in love with the wild, intoxicating Espresso Love, brewed at The Corner Brewery, in Ypsilanti, Michigan.  Really any coffee/beer combinations interest me a lot.  The caffeinated brew is definitely worth trying.

If you are sitting reading this wondering what a Microbrery is like…I highly suggest Googling for one in your local area.  You should find a rewarding educational experience on beer production and most likely have a FREE tasting session of many unique beers.

Let’s just say the Brewery sure beat Lake Monowai.  Have a favorite Microbrewery?  Tell me about it.