Friday, February 15, at 6:00 pm Phuket time, Melissa and I left Southeast Asia after five weeks.  We changed planes in Singapore Airport (rated the world’s best airport for the sixth consecutive year by Skytrax) and arrived in Auckland, New Zealand around 2:00 pm on Sunday, February 16.  I don’t know what Skytrax is, but Singapore Airport is Disneyland meets Luxemburg.  It boasts three free 24-hour movie theatres, a twelve-story slide, a butterfly garden with 47 species and over 1000 butterflies, a sunflower garden, a fish spa, free massage and a snooze lounge.  Unfortunately, Melissa and I could not take advantage of any of these attractions as our first flight was delayed and we ran the three quarters of a mile from one gate to the next.  Not only are the terminals and gates well signed, the signs even tell you the amount of time it will take to walk to the gate.  I am pretty sure we hold the record.

When I planned our transition from SE Asia to New Zealand, I built in an overnight in Auckland to catch some sleep before flying from Auckland to Queenstown.  Auckland is at the top of the northern island and Queenstown is at the bottom of the southern island.  Since we would basically be crashing, waking up and catching another plane, I booked a hotel by the airport.  Sensible.  Why spend money on a place you will stay in for less than 24 hours.  Ah, well.  The Naumi Hotel has a bit of a problem with its marketing.  As soon as we entered the lobby, it felt a bit too hip.  In our room, signs were posted to let us know about the different amenities.  Each sign began the same way, “Naumi says…”  Everything that followed was a sexual innuendo.  At first, I thought it was me and my jet lag. Then I read the note on the bag containing the hairdryer. It read: “Naumi says blow me.”  The bed was comfortable.  The room was clean, creepy, but clean. I think we’ll stay at a Holiday Inn next time.

We landed in Queenstown on Sunday afternoon and, fortunately, checked into a wonderful boutique hotel called the QT.  Queenstown sits on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, and our room had a magnificent view of the lake and the surrounding mountains.  We christened our arrival with one of Australia’s many fine wines. Note to file: contain enthusiasm for local wine until after the effects of jet lag have subsided.  Melissa sensibly dealt with her jet lag by sleeping 12 hours our first two nights.  I was not as lucky, finding myself pacing our room from 1 am to about 3. 

We climbed Queenstown Hill (a complete misnomer – 1500 foot climb with few switchbacks) to test our legs before heading out on the Milford Trek.  We survived.  The view was remarkable.  I am glad I brought ibuprofen.  We leave tomorrow for five days and four nights on the Milford Trek, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful hikes in the world.  We’ll be incommunicado until we return.

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We have been talking about this transition from east to west, sharing our impressions.  At some point, with a little time to process it all, we hope to write about it.  The world is truly an amazing place not only for its geographic diversity, but its cultural diversity.  I suppose my most hopeful take away is that we have so much we can learn from each other if we can learn to approach each other without fear and judgment.  I’m still sore from yoga, but I miss the quiet, settled feeling of listening to my breath; and, while I miss the stillness of yoga, I remembered today how much I love and miss hiking in the mountains. Each of those experiences, so remarkably different in their physicality, somehow produce the same sense of awe and wonder.   Be still and know that I am God, or, go hiking and know that I am God.  Both work for me.