What's next? Travel is an addiction and usually the more remote, the better but Tui was tops for everyone and everywhere (except that 2-3 weeks of NZ would be 3X more amazing of course). The variety is absolutely stunning: mountains, glaciers, rivers (braided even, a new concept), lakes, farms, oceans, beaches, wildlife, just a super-abundance of breathtaking scenery that photos don't begin to capture. Instead of the usual race to review pics on returning, it has been so tough because it makes me wish so much to be back and they are pretty, but just not the same as being there. The funniest thing I tell friends is about the text message the night before kayaking Milford Sound when the rain was coming down hard, telling a friend here in the states that I was skipping the kayak outing because of the dreary weather (the ONLY ugly day the whole time BTW). Next morning, I drag tail down and gear up, thinking the whole time that this could be the longest 4 hours of my life. What do you know--45 min later, the sun is out, we have a penguin, seals and finally, DOLPHINS jumping around. Jumping up and down in a kayak is a bad idea but you get the idea. Finally the feeling of looking up and up and up for a mile to the tip of Mitre Peak and miles more down the sound to the waterfall and realizing just how magical a place this is and how tiny you are was boggling. Every single person in our group got it, the guides get it, the whole Kiwi population gets it and is so generous and happy to share. I'll be back, with friends.

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