Go Blackcaps!

Sunday, New Year's Eve

The forecast calls for cloudy partly rainy day. Not unlike the past few. So we throw on layers of clothing as we head to Queenstown a couple hours drive away. The Blackcaps are playing Sri Lanka and the fans are streaming into the stadium when we arrive. There are no designated seats so we claim a spot on the grass to spend the next few hours. I'm not sure how much I actually learn about cricket as I watch, but it's definitely more than I knew before. NZ wins the coin toss and decides to bowl (pitch) for the first half. Sri Lanka sends out their first two players to face the NZ team and fans. We are close to the field and have a good view of the players. It's funny when the fans interact with a player that is assigned to the field near us.

Almost more entertaining (impossible) than the game is the half-time show. Fans compete against each other to catch tennis balls shot straight up into the air. Some die-hard fans show their enthusiasm by dressing in super hero costumes with the names of NZ team members. Another group of enthusiasts cross-dress and I'm not sure how that's connected with cricket. Small games of cricket break out among the crowds as people wait for the game to continue. The sun has come out in full force and volunteers walk up and down offering free sunscreen. We still got burnt, even Kimball. The field is nestled beneath mountains and beside a small airport. Airplanes rise elegantly in the sky above the game.

During half-time a helicopter hovers over the field so news reporters can capture the energy of the fans for the local news. Amy and Kimball run back to the car to change clothing because the heat is becoming amazingly strong. Sri Lanka takes the outfield in the second half and the game goes on. And on. And on. About 4 or 5 hours into the game we realize it's not almost over and we're ready to leave.

Consulting our guide book, we conclude that the most desireable activity is to see the Kiwi birds. Parking downtown Queenstown (everything is walking distance), we collect our headphones for the self-guided walking tour of the Kiwi nature habitat. The Kiwis are kept indoors in a dark room. Their day/night schedule is purposefully set opposite ours because they hide during the day and we wouldn't be able to see them. When our eyes adjust to the dim lighting, we see the two flightless birds walking around their home and poking their long noses into the ground. They are the only bird to have their nostrils at the end of their nose, which they use to search for bugs and other food under the ground. They are surprisingly bigger than we expected. Walking through the rest of the park, we are able to see Wood Ducks, parrots, Tuatara (lizards that look like miniature dinasours), and other fun animals. Most of the animals that populate NZ are birds because (if I haven't already mentioned) the only native mammals are two types of bats. All other mammals were brought in by humans, which have begun destroying various types of birds that once found peace in the seclusion on the island from predators. We also learn about the native Maori and almost lose Amy into one of their huts, which are low to the ground so they can see their enemies coming and also to keep each other warm.

The snacks we ate during the cricket game have worn off and we must find food. A short walk brings us directly to an Indian restaurant. When we request a table (most people make reservations), the waiter asks if we will be done eating in 2 hours because they are booked for the evening. We assure him we'll be done sooner than that and watch as his face relaxes. I guess most people take their time eating. It tends to be a social evening activity and not just for the purpose of consuming food. Everywhere we look, people are sitting at cafes, restaurants and bars chatting and unconcerned about their next activity. Our food arrives and is delicious. Yummy curry and mango lassi.

Bellies satisfied we wander down the street to the waterfront. A street performer is entertaining a crowd. Card tricks and jokes and harmless insults keep the lazy holiday crowd laughing. We take a short walk along the lakeside. The evening wind picks up and we decide to find our night's accommodation. During the cricket half-time, Amy and Kimball apparently drove around town to find a place to stay. Previously, more than one person told us tales of the impossiblities of finding a place to stay in Queenstown before February. So when Amy and Kimball tell us they found a small room that was decent our emotions are mixed. What is the definition of "decent", but at least they found something. However, our emotions aren't as mixed when they lead us to a 3-bedroom condo with huge windows overlooking the bay. With a flip of a switch, the fireplace roars to life and we marvel at the view below. How blessed we are. I quickly claim a lake-view bedroom and discover a massive bathtub in the bathroom. Soaking in the tub I am convinced this is the life. Until I step out of the tub and onto the heated floor. Now, this is the life. Hot chocolates in hand, a game of Hearts begins the night's festivities.

Waiting for midnight, Kimball introduces us to a new game. Dealing out a complete deck of cards, the first card played (any card) begins the story and rotating clockwise the next person has to match suite or number and continue the story connecting the story to the card in any way possible. I have not laughed so hard in a very long time. Our story about 5 people who loved each other so much that it annoyed others evolved to where the Kiwi birds in the enchanted forest were endangered and the princess had 10 suitors who each played a different musical instrument. There were wishes and diamonds and romance and tragedy. And of course comedy. Look for it among best sellers in 2007. Just as the game ended we saw flashes of light outside. Without fighting crowds or even getting cold, we watched as a several magical displays of fireworks burst over the water. Happy New Year!