More Queenstown and Milford Sound

We had two more nights in Queenstown. The day we got back from Fox we decided to have a nice dinner together- a couple (yes they were above 70, we should have known) suggested we take the gondola up the mountain to the scenic restaurant for a sunset dinner. It sounded amazing! yummy dinner, on top of a mountain and a sunset, in NZ... I mean really, sounds like a once in a lifetime experience!
we got on line for the gondola and realized we were the only people below 70 and that it was a buffet dinner... errrr, I hate buffet's... food that is produced for the thousands that sits out for far too long to dry out from already being overly bland because it was made with no love. Once again, I hate buffets... but what instinct do we listen to?! The once in a lifetime or the surrounding factors?
We took a walk to the neighboring cemetery (hmmm, see above discription of our company!). It was actually really interesting. Some of the graves were from the 1800's and were a mix of religions.
Mom and I decided to go for it... we took the gondola up there... and keep in mind it was a first gondola trip for mom! All I will say is that they had the most incredible steamed salmon I have ever had. It was moist and fresh and a big surprise... though the rest of the food... bad, just bad.
There is a notable mention for the dessert tray though. New Zealand's famous Kiwi Pavlova. It is marshmallowee yumminess...
Oh and as for the sunset... ummmm... all the mountains cover it, it's the sunrise that would be spectacular... fooling tourists happens to be a worldly occurrence. They got us... BUT... we had a lot of fun... it was worth it for all of the laughs and silliness mom and I shared!

We went to Milford Sound the next day... wow! It is a #2 on my list if I have to categorize (that will be a blog to come) all of the natural sights I have seen during my travels. We took a boat ride through them. Apparently it rains 80% of the time and we lucked out with the most beautiful day. The sun was shining and reflecting off the water- it made the trees on the mountains a spectacular vibrant green color. We were surrounded by the steepest mountains I have ever seen.. and they were so close in proximity. It reminded me a lot of Whitsunday's in Aussie (if It hadn't rained the whole time I was there)... but even more impressive. As I said before it is the scale to which NZ is comprised of... small Islands jam packed with massive mountains and tons of water... too hard to explain... a must see for all.

That night mom and I were back in Queenstown... we went to an opal store and saw a 40 thousand dollar opal... wow.

Another funny moment for us... we went for Chinese for dinner and there was this German in his early twenties eating with some girls. And his accent was hilarious... two funny quotes... "I prefer this one; I take it" (all Arnie like) and a new classic... "I am the Arnold Schwartzenager type of guy. Not in body, but in speak." Mom and I burst out laughing... we just couldn't help it!