Aoraki/Mount Cook

Mt Cook from Tekapo Canal (photo from Wikipedia)

perhaps i was a bit naive by expecting New Zealand to be more exotic than it appears to be. i thought that a very far away country in the South Pacific would have more distinct cultural differences than the United States. however that does not seem to be the case, either that or i have become somewhat jaded by my time spent in Asia and Europe. or perhaps the simple fact of globalization has taken hold on most industrialized nations.
having said that the personality of New Zealand and New Zealanders is very distinctive in it's own way just as every culture has a particular collective psyche. the main reason i chose to come here was for the majestic landscape and for that i am not disappointed. at times riding through the country side i feel like i could be in the middle of a Lord Of The Rings set. huge grassy pastures with a lake off to the right and a snow capped mountain rage on the left.
i have now ridden from Christchurch to the base of Mt.Cook. Aoraki/Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand, reaching a height of 3,754 meters (12,316 ft).
It lies in the Southern Alps, the mountain range which runs the length of the South Island.
As i rode up the valley leading to the mountain i could not have asked for better weather until the winds shifted for the final 10km climb up to the campsite. the wind continued all through the night and i thought my tent was going to snap in half.
i am spending a few days at this power place before carrying on south and then up north along the west coast.

distant view