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32FOCUS-JANUARY2014groundedduetofogsoIhiredasingle-enginewhichprovidedthemostturbulenceIveeverfeltonanairplane.MyheadconstantlybangedagainsttheceilingasthetinyplanewasjostledthroughtheairandwhenitlandedinMilfordSoundIkissedthegroundvowingnevertoyagain.IwasntseriousandyoucanimaginemydisappointmentwhenIlearnedIcouldnotgetaightoutattheendofthedayandendedupspendingsixhoursinabus.TheexperiencetoMilfordSoundisnottobemissednorisahelicopterighttothetopofMountCookNewZealandshighestmountainreachingnearly4000m.Althoughtheheli-copterridewasquitebumpyduetoturbulenceonceitlandedeverythingafewbeatsbutluckilythehelicopterroseaboveitandagainIwassurroundedbyspectacularviews.MyadventurecontinuedontotheFranzJosephandFoxGlacierslocatednearthewesterncoast.ItwashardtobelievethatonlyafewhoursearlierIwasswim-minginthewarmwatersofLakeWakatipuandnowIwasstandingonfrozenice.InishedmyNewZealandadventurewithavisittoChristchurchthecitythattakesyoubackintimetohistoricEngland.InfactcrossingNewZealandfromtheFoxGlaciertoChristchurchonehastotravelovertheCanterburyPlains.ThesebeautifullushpasturesarehometomanyofNewZealands6millionsheep.InoticedmanyofthesheephadcolouredmarkingsontheirbackandwhenIaskedalocalfarmerwhythiswasheexplainedtheyuseabreastplateonthemaleswithcolouredcrayons.Thenwhenaewegivesbirthtotwinstheyknowwhichmalewasresponsibleandkeephimforfutureuse-soundsabitexploitiveifyouaskme.IfyouhaveplanstovisitAustraliastopatNewZealandrst.Takeatleasttwoweekstovisitthecoun-tryyouwillnotbedisappointed.Infactyoumaydecidetoapplyforlandedimmigrantstatusandstaytherepermanently.Manyreadersenjoycruis-ingandIwantedtomentionthatjustafterlastmonthsarticleaboutVenicewaspub-lisheditwasannouncedthat2014willbethelastyeartobookacruisetothatwonder-fulItaliancity.IfacruisetoVeniceisonyourbucketlisthopovertoatravelagentandbookitin.FollowJonathanvanBilsenstravelsandexploitsatwww.photosNtravel.com.wasforgottenbythesheerbeautyofthesurroundingsuntouchedsnowbrightblueskiesandvistasasfarastheeyecouldsee.Ihadonlybeentherefor20minuteswhenthepilottoldmewehadtoleave.IwassurprisedandexpectedittobealongervisitbuthepointedtofoginthedistanceandasIstaredatitIwasastoundedathowquicklyitmoved.Inosoonergotintothechopperandweliftedoffandweretotallysurroundedbyfog.MyheartskippedTheRotoruaMuseumofArtandHistoryishousedintheoldBathHousebuildingatthespatownofRotorualocatedintheGovernmentGardensinNewZealand.Continuedfrompage31RayHobbsgarageEst.1954CallBrianTasselltodayandfndoutwhatgoodcustomerserviceisallabout182NorthportRoadUnits89PortPerry905-985-0059www.rayhobbsgarage.aaro.casignsvehiclegraphicsletteringandevenmoregraphicsScugogsVehicleWrappingSpecialists.SignworkScaada.cmReachNorthportRd.PortPerry905-985-0802Since199648WaterSt.PortPerryON905985-3767KOTYAPEEKINFashionBoutiqueDressesSportswearLingerieSwimSummerWearavailableallyear1888ScugogSt.905-985-1890JANUARYCLEARANCESALEAllOccasionLadiesWear