Wednesday... Bodypump

Yesterday I got the opportunity to shadow with Keri on the Bodyattack. I still have to get used to the carpet on the floor. I find it harder to move around with Bodyattack & Bodycombat with the carpet. With Bodypump I actually love it as it keeps you from sliding away with lunge tracks and it doesn't hurt your knees as much with stretching and 'lazy' push-ups. Okay I know I have to get on my toes, but with triceps push-ups that's just to hard for me. In the morning I did some Bodybalance and after Bodyattack I decided to stay for a few combat tracks with Olly. I ended up with doing the whole thing anyways. So that was tuesday for me.

Well today was awesome. Susan invited me back home, to team-teach her Bodypump class while I was up here in Auckland. Well, it finally happened. It was actually a kind of weird to do so, since I'm really used to teaching in Dutch and now all of sudden I had to explain and coach it all in English. But I came through without any Dutch, so that's good. I had a great time being on stage with Susan and all went well. It's so good to see so many people in a class. No matter who you are, what you are or what you look like, everyone just comes to the gym and does it. It's really in between the ears. In the Netherlands, people still find it difficult to find their way to the gym and once at the gym they sometimes are still afraid of getting into a class and finally end up just staying in the fitness room with the 'safe' stuff. After a while they get bored with that and then they say they don't like going to the gym. Well I think it's all in between the ears and I know I have a mission when I get back home. Anyone can do it, you just have to set your mind to doing it. Especially for all those couch-potatoes, get away from that tv, and start working out, enjoy and have a good time. You will start loving it, once you have done it a couple of times. Believe me. Groupfitness really helps you to enjoy your workouts. Make a nice combo with the fitnessroom and you can have different workouts during the week to work your whole body. It will fit in anyones schedule, just set your mind to it!

Today I also did Bodycombat with Rachael. Dan is still away and she felt a kind of lonely so at the end she invited me and 2 Japanese instructors up on stage. Cool! First time I actually saw Rachael and Dan teach was back home, while they were visiting my gym, about 1 1/2 years ago. I started loving Bodycombat even more than I already did at that time, and decided I wanted to teach Bodycombat from then on. This next to teaching Bodypump which I do for over 3 years now. So that's how the Bodycombat thing started for me.

Well, since I'm actually on holiday I decided to go see and do something today as well. I went to the Auckland Museum and found it very interesting. Unfortunately for me Tony Blair decided to visit at the same time as me, so it was quite busy with police and security. I was already surprised why all the police was out there since I wasn't aware I did anything illegal :-), but then I understood, it wasn't because of me, It was all beacuse of Mr. Blair. Luckily he only had a quick visit, so I didn't have to wait for too long. It's a nice place and I ended up talking with a WOII veteran. A really nice man who told me a lot about his time with the 21st batallion of NZ during the war. Later I walked around for 3 hours to Parnell and the different parks here in Auckland and after that ... well you've just read the whole thing.

Bodyattack on Monday

Can't tell how awesome it was to be on stage with Mark S. this monday. There were so many people in de studio. Amazing. I was really really glad he let me shadow for a few tracks. The energy Mark has is awesome. Actually just being on stage for so many people gives you all the energy you need for Bodyattack. I just love teaching attack. Even at home in our small studio at the gym, with my own class. But still, it's cool to be a part of the thing here in Auckland for a little while and really get a taste of the place were it all happens for Les Mills. It's nice talking en and learning from other instructors, especially the ones we get to see on our quarterly DVD's.

In Auckland .... finally

Well, I'm finally here in Auckland. Arriving on 23 March, I had a good flight from Christchurch to Auckland, got my baggage quickly and when I walked out of the terminal building the shuttle bus to town just came driving up in front of me. Within 30 minutes I was at the hotel. I have my own room here as I didn't want to stay in a dorm for over a week. Especially not as I want to do as many Les Mills classes as possible. In the afternoon I decided to go find out where Les Mills is located and figure out how long it would take me walking to the gym. Well it's about a 15-20 minute walk to the gym, so I have an extra workout every day, just by walking back and forth. Street are pretty steep up here and that's something I hade not expected. One of the fitness instructors showed me around the gym and it;s cool to finally see studio one, were all the taping is done for the dvd's. I can't believe how big it is. It must me pretty neat to be up on stage for over 150 people in a class. We have a room capacity of about 40 people back home, so that's quite a difference. Especially when you imagine there is another studio (2) here, which is also pretty big, then a circuit room and a RPM studio. Must be cool to be able to work out here every day, or be able to teach here.

Yesterday evening I met an old collegue of mine who happened to be here in Auckland for a meeting. I was nice seeinig him again and it was also good to have met KLM collegues from the local office here in New Zealand.

This morning I did my first 2 classes. Bodypump with Mark S., who I only knew from Bodyattack and after that, Bodycombat with Rachel and Sarah instead of Dan as he is away unfortunately. I was pretty exhausted after that as I haven't been working out for 3 weeks now, but is was still awesome.

In the afternoon I enjoyed the sunshine by sitting on the grass listening to music and just by walking around a bit later. I now found a better place for internet as yesterday, and luckily it's not too far from the place I'm staying at.

Back were it started

Wow, these days went by fast. I'm already back here and looking forward to the next goal of my trip. Visiting Les Mills in Auckland. Tomorrow I will catch a flight from here, up to the North Island. The South Island, I find it wonderfull. I had great time, have met lots of nice people and I will take tons of memories and pictures with me back home. It'll be sad having to leave here, as I really love it, but the good thing will be that I have made a promise to myself that I get to go back here :-) (Am I glad that I work for an airline or what!)

Today I have just enjoyed the ride back on the bus to Christchurch and enjoyed sitting outside with a book, enjoying the sun and thinking of all the things I have the done during my stay here on the South Island. These memories will last forever and I realize I'm very lucky that I got to see all of this.

Lake Tekapo

Off to Lake Tekapo, but not before I have climbed world's steepest street here Dunedin. And I can tell, I'm glad I'm not living up there.... Imagine you forget something with your groceries. The drive to Tekapo went via Lake Pukaki. It was pretty cloudy so I missed out on the view of mount Cook. Too bad, so I'll ahve to buy a postcard. When I arrived in Tekapo I put my stuff away quickly and went out for a good walk. I started out walking along the lake, then crossed the street and followed a trail that was supposed to take 2 hrs. I did it in 1 1/2 hour and was lucky enough to enjoyb the sunshine while I could see all dark clouds around me. It looked a little scary as I have found out here that weather changes really quickly. But no problem there. I found my way walking through the woods up to Lake Scott and then back to Lake Tekapo. had something to drink and then went back to the hostel. It's a nice place to be here in tekapo and there are probably lots more walks to do. Unfortunately not for me, as I'm going back to Christchurch. I have had my share of the South Island so far, and I can tell you one thing, I'm coming back to this beautyful country.

Sealions & Penguins

Today it was time to go to Dunedin. I didn't get to see a lot of the city as I planned to go to a wildlife reserve instead and I had only one day to spend here. The arrival with the bus was pretty early and I had some time to put my stuff up in the room. It was a small group with which I went up to Otago Peninsula. I got to see the huge Albatros and also sealions. A male sealion can weigh up to 400kgs and move as fast as 20km/h on land. In the water he is even able to swim as fast as 40km/h. They live next to the yellow Eye Penguin. Both are protected and the population grew over the past couple of years which is ofcourse good. It was a nice walk along the coast and it was funny to see how close sheep live to the sealions and penguins. The guide even told us that when the weather got really bad a couple of years ago, the were actually laying next to eachother as the beach was gone at that time. Amazing isn't it. The ended with a beautyful sunset which I partially saw on the hill near the beach and the other part from the bus driving back to the city.

Milford Sound

A long day, but it was well worth it. A beautyful drive through the mountains which brought me up to the boat to Milford Sound. The drive with the bus was again something unforgetable. Views of lakes, rivers and this cool temperate rainforest were really amazing. The weather was really good too, which surprised me, as it rains at least 4 out of every 7 days, which they have told me. But okay, I consider myself lucky and I have been enjoyed the boatrip on the upperdeck. Now I can understand why they missed out on this in the very beginning. When you look from they ocean up to the shore, it just seems a bay with really high rocks and nothing behind it. I saw some barracuda's jumping out of the water and because the sun was shining, I even giot to see rainbows at the waterfalls. The ride back on the bus was again long, but I managed to stay awake and again enjoyed the scenery. Had a quick dinner in Queenstown and then time to go to bed.

Queenstown

Today was a long drive from Fransz Joseph to Queenstown, but it was well worth it. Again amazing scenery. It allready started out at Lake Matheson, mirror lake. Even though the sun wasn't shining the view on the lake was awesome after it stopped raining. We had a few stops on the road during the day to take some pics and in the afternoon the sun even came out. I think so far I have been very lucky with weather. I heard stories of other backpackers just being in the rain all the time ... and I.... just some rain in Christchurch and some rain just this morning. I'll keep my fingers crossed it'll stay this way. Tomorrow I will go on a tour to Milford sound. It is supposed to be very nice, so I let yu know later wat I think about it. So far Queenstwn is okay. Lots of backpackers and I thick it's really been commercialized, but still a nice place to stay. Even if it was just for the drive here, which is so great. Today was also the last day with the driver I have had so far. He is a really nice guy who told a lot and is really enjoying his job. Too bad for me, he going further tomorrow.

I also have been checking my email again. It is so nice to receive all those emails from back home. And Susan, it'll be good meeting you again. I'm looking forward to go to Auckland and see Les Mills over there. Can hardly wait and I'm happy I still have so much good stuff coming up for my holiday.

Glacier Walk

If you want to do something you'll never forget, I got something here for you.The Heli-hike on Fransz Jospeph Glacier. Wow, this is so cool. Got some special walking shoes (not very fashionable :-), some spikes and then of in the helicopter, to way up high on the glacier. I had never been on a heli before and it was pretty cool. The view was amazing over the glacier.You could see white and blue ice, really clear water flowing down, and all of this with the sun shining nicely. After about 10-15 minutes, they dropped us of on the glacier and we went to walk with a small group.The walking was pretty easy with these spikes on. It was amazing how fast the weather can change and how fast clouds can move. We started out with a blue sky and sun shining and after a short time a thick blanket of clouds came in and created a fog we could hardly see through. And then not much later it was all gone and clear again. The views of the ice, from bright blue, to white was nice to see. Imagine, the Glacier at the top can move 5metres a day. Well we heard ice breaking of 3 times, and this quite scary, even though the guide said we didn't have to worry. After about 2 hrs on the ice, tons of pictures later we were picked up by the helicopter again. Could enjoy the view for one more time and I can tell you, it was well worth it all.

Nelson - Greymouth

Today a nice drive from Nelson down to Greymouth. The weather was still fine and the scenery still beautyful. Instead of the pinetrees the view changed to palmtrees and ferns but still was good to watch. Before we got into Greymouth we made a stop with the bus at thePancake rocks and Blow holes. Go some really good views outh there and I think it'sstill amazing how nature goes it's own way and just creates all these things. We got into Greymouth late, and there's not much to do. Even though I do not like beer, I went to do a Brewerytour which was really nice even without drinking the beer. Afterwards we went a out with a few people and had a good time. Went to bed too late as I had to get up early for the bus leaving to Fransz Joseph.

Abel Tasman NP

This morning I got picked up by the bus early to go to Kaiteriteri, to catch a boat to Torrent Bay. From there I got to walk back to Marahau. The walk was mostly along the coast of Abel Tasman NP. Sometimes walking along the beach sometimes going through like a jungle. The walk was supposed to take up to about four hours, but it took me a little over 3 hours, even with resting in between and taking a bunch of pictures. The views over the bays with these really nice beaches was great. Over the mountains there were some really dark clouds coming in, so I did not want to take the risk of getting all wet. Luckily now rain came down and I had a nice walk through the national park. From Marahau the bus went back to Nelson and once again I had a day to remember.

On my way to Nelson

Again a beautyfull scenic drive. This time different views as the day before with a lot of pine trees on the mountain sides, sheep enjoying their grass meal and cows having the same for lunch as the sheep. Arrival was late afternoon in Nelson. Just put my stuff up in the hostel, went out for a quick dinner and then off to an internet place. Got some nice emails from home. It's always good to receive messages from home when you are away.

Tomorrow I will be going to Abel Tasman NP. I'm looking forward to it, as I heard it's a really nice walk you can do there. I let you know more as soon as I have been there.

Whale watching

This was really amazing today. It started out with a beautyfull drive from Christchurch, through the hills and mountains up to the ocean. The views from the bus were great. All different kinds of green hillsides, blue skies with some with clouds, which looked like little sheep up in the sky. And then all of a sudden there was the ocean. Mountains are flowing out right into the ocean. It's an awesome sight and really hard to describe when you're not there. Went to see a sealcolony, but I think most of the seals were either on holiday or out for a swim, as only one seal was laying there on the beach. I can't blame the others, as it wasn't very warm so not very nice to lay out there. Then of to see the whales. I went on a boat and we went about 4kms from the coast. At first the water was blue/green, a really light color and it was only 2m deep. After about 15 minutes on the boat all of sudden the water turned really deep dark blue and the depth was like 1000m. Wow, the guide told us the whales like it when it 's at least 500m, so we are on the right spot. And yes indeed, do you guys know the cover of de Lonely Planet New Zealand...??!! I made a picture just like that. Isn't that awesome. Well I think it is :-) I still can't believe this big sperm whale is so huge, it was even bigger than the boat, and the boat wasn't that small. Later, in the early evening I went up to see if there were some more seals... and yess, now there were 3 of 'm. Okay, I'm on holiday, so they can be as well. Hope that they are enjoying it as much as I am.

From Christchurch

10 March
Finally arrived in New Zealand. After a long flight via Kuala Lumpur and Auckland I got in Christchurch friday late afternoon. It's good To finally get here. I had been looking forward so much to go to New Zealand and now I'm here. I just love it so far.

11 March
On saturday I did a walk thru the city, went to Cathedral squar, the Botanical gardens, walked along Avon River. The last took me a while to find out it was Avon River, because I had a different imagination from a river, but I loved to walk along it anyways. The sun was shining, the different smells in the botanical gardens where nice (from roses to lavender... mmm). In the afternoon I wnet to the Antarctic center and had the experience of what it would be like on the Southpole with a blizzard and temperatures of at least 20c below zero ... brrrr. I had dinner at le Cafe and went to bed early as I stille have a jetlag. Waking up in the middle of the night and not be able to go back to sleep.

12 March
Last night again, wide awake at three. It was raining and storming outside, so I decided to skipp my walk up to gondola if it would be still like that in the morning. Well that was the case, so I decided to go to Les Mills Christchurch and take a BODYPUMP class. As a Les Mills instructor in the Netherlands it's fun to see how it all goes in New Zealand. Ofcourse I'm planning to go to Auckland to see what it is like where it all really, really happens. But this was a good starter. Sunday morning 10 am usual time for BODYPUMP. The only difference is the time diffence and being in a class instead of in front of the class. It wasn't very busy, but I had a nice workout to start of this day. I also did a BODYSTEP class right before the BODYPUMP Luckily the weather is clearing up now, and this afternoon I will be catching a bus to go up to the gondola anyways. I find it pretty cold out here at the moment.

Hakuna Matata

Why? It means no worries, for the rest of your life. Doesn't it sound great. Never ever have to worry again? For me it does. And then, why a blogspot? Well, travelling through New Zealand, meeting people I thought this would be a great way to keep people posted on what's going on. Not only during vacation, but also during daily life. We'll see if I'm up to it.