Piopiotahi what?

Yes, that is an example of the many names that I can barely spell, nevertheless pronounce. Ah... those Maori, always keeping us on our toes. Legend has it that Tu-te-raki-raki whanoa (try saying that 3 times fast), was an atua (or godly figure) and was given the task of shaping the Fiordland coast. He sang the powerful karakia (chant) and began attacking the towering rock walls with his adze (toki) called Te Hamo. As he moved further north, he perfected his work, creating long winding inlets where the waters would provide refuge from the stormy seas outside. Milford Sound (aka Piopiotahi) is said to be his finest sculpture. This is one of the many many examples we here on a daily basis about Maori legends. Its really interesting, but hard to spell and remember all these things (hence, reference to brochures helps)!

And yes, they spell fiords like that, not fjords how we spell it.

Lauren and I took our car through the Roads to Milford from Te Anau and saw absolutely stunning landscape before we even got to the fiords. You're probably bored of hearing me talk about the gorgeous scenery all the time, but really, it never ceases to amaze me.

Appropriately called, Mirror Lakes! Isn't it gorgeous?!

So the fiordland was basically formed by a crack in the Australian and Pacific plates, and the Pacific plates is what is forming the Southern Alps. The reason I say "forming' in the present tense is because it is growing at a rate of 1 inch a year. Which at that rate will surpass the Himalayas (really!) but because of natural conditions like wind and rain, it kind of is hindering this process. At least this is something I think we heard. Anyway, millions of years ago ice formed glaciers and with time and warm climate, the glaciers kept on retreating and retreating till they advanced enough to form these sculpted rocks, or 'fiords.' So, I'm not a geologist so this was all news to me, but basically, fiord is an ice-carved valley and 'sound' (aka. 'Milford Sound') means something like a river valley flooded by the sea following a rise and/or fall of the land. The rocks were sooooooooo steep and Mitre Peak, the tallest fiord, is something like 1000+ meters!! And it is seriously straight-up vertical. We took a cruise ship up to the point where the sea merges with the Tasman Sea (we didn't get quite there, but close) and then back down again. Once again, its difficult to describe the beauty of it, it was absolutely majestic and amazing. Not just the fiords themselves, but also these cool waterfalls. They were many! Supposedly, depending on season, we could see everything from New Zealand fur seals (which we saw one), Fiordland Crested Penguins (one of the worlds rarest species, of course during the months between Oct and Dec), Blue penguins (the smallest penguins and only found in NZ and Australia), and bottlenose dolphins.

Here are some picts:

See the tiny boat? That'll give you an idea on how HUGE they are!

SUCH an amazing waterfall!!

After this adventure, we drove the 4 hours back to Queenstown and today we took our 8-hour bus back to Christchurch, where I am now. Sniff sniff... we are leaving NZ tomorrow to go back to Sydney. The 12 days (which I can hardly believe) was AWESOME! We not only saw amazing landscape (here I go again), but we met REALLY cool travellers. I don't even know whats best about traveling, seeing all these amazing things, or the people you meet. Hmm...

Well, next entry will be back in Sydney! We have about 4 full days to do laundry, re-pack, and most importanly, rest and revamp before China! Eek!