Franz Josef glacier

Today we went to see the franz Josef glacier. It was really cool because we walked through a rainforest to get to the glacier. We also had to walk through a moraine. A moraine is a riverbed made of rocks which are dropped as the glacier melts. We had to walk about 45 minutes along the moraine to get to the bottom of the glacier. We could only get 50-100 meters from the bottom of it. 

I talked to a lady that said the glacier has receded in the last while because of climate change. They have to get a  lot of snow up in the mountains so the glacier will grow more. Sometimes when they have a lot if rain the river fills up from bank to bank so people can't walk as close. 

You can't walk up close to the glacier anymore because there is melting water under the glacier that sometimes melts big chunks off that can break off and fall on people. 

On the way back from seeing the glacier my mom and dad started to teach me fractions and algebra in the river. Now I had my math for the day. 

We built a inukshuk  by the glacier. 

Kaka point

-i did not try the musels to be honest with you. so i do not know. But they didn't look so good. I helped clean them so I was a bit grossed out afterwards.
-the way we got so close the penguins is by a hideout that you hide behind and see them through the glass which was on the top of a hill so we do not disturb them. if we do disturb them then they stay on the beach and start to digest the food and their babies dont get as much food so we didnt want to see them to close. But we did get a good look.
- and I'm doing good
-well after we go to new zeland for 2 munths we go to aisa for 2 more months.
-well on the sign to see the penguins it said "131 penguins last night" but we didnt stay that long so we only saw 10-12 penguins.
- there are no monkeys in NZ. There are only a few native animals on the island and all the others were brought over seas by other people.but there are lots of sheep and cows.
- and yes i do like to hike but it is hard work because there are lots of hills and we sometimes hike for an hour at a time.
- when the earthquake happend it only lasted for 3 sec and it was a small one. and nothing fell over.
- well we do this thing called couchserfing we stay at peoples houses for free.
- well i have just finished watching the hobbit and I whould say yes the landskape is just as beautiful as The Lord of the rings.
- no they do not have very many fields because it is all mountins and the tracters woulld tip over.
- everything is in New Zealand dollar. It costs $150 to see the albatros and penguins so we did not go there and we went to see them elswhere that did not cost anything but every thing is in new zeland.
-no we have not seen any oranges and no monkeys.
- there are no elephants here on both islands because they would have to be imported.
- yes i did make that video of the turtles but not here. They are in dryberry lake last summer.
- the yellow eyed penguins are black and white with a yellow band across the eyes. They are about 2 feet tall.

Today we went to see a blow hole called jacks hole. It is a big hole 200 meters from the sea and its 55 meters deep. It wasnt spurting water up it though because it was low tide and the water level wasn't high enough.
We also went see a waterfall and some lion seals. We walked along the beach and they were right in front of us. We had to walk very slowly back so we didnn't get to close.They looked really mean.
Tomorrow we leave to the south tip of NZ. We are sad to leave because we really like the place we are staying.
-to see pictures that we took, here is a link to facebook
www.facebook.com/ourfamilytravels

Kaka point. New zealand

Some of the things I've seen so far in New Zealand are yellow eyed penguins, which are one of the rarest kind of penguins. We wanted to go see penguins. So we went on this long ride to see them. But it was supposed to cost $150. So we didn't go there. Then when we came to this persons house where we are couch surfing. He told us the down the road there is this bay to see penguins called nugget point. So we went there  in the evening before dark and s the penguins come in from the ocean to feed their babies fish that they regurgitate. If they see people to close to them, they don't come in off the beach. If they don't come in soon enough they start to digest the food and they can't feed their babies. So it's important to not be to loud hen they are coming in. 

Another thing we have seen is seals. We have seen at least 50-60. They are usually by the rocky cliffs by the ocean. I like how cute they are and how good they can swim. Seals like to play with each other and are fun to watch. 

Yesterday we went collecting mussels along the rocks. We are going to eat them for supper today. I think they might be gross. 

We have been doing a lot of hiking. We have hiked up to see a lighthouse, albatross, seals and sea lions. 

Today we might go hike to see a blow hole by the ocean and some waterfalls. 

new zeland

First  we went on a plane it was 13 hours it was very long i hated it. That plane took me to Auckland new- zeland  which is in the north island. Then we went on a plane to the south island to Christchurch where our first couch surfing house is. We are staying with very nice people. I felt my first earthquake. and i plastered myself to a chair when the people I'm staying with just sat there and said "oh thats another earthquake." :D It was scary and all the people just laughed at me.

I'm always tired because theres a 5 hours time change so ive been going to bed at 8 oclok in the evning and im exited to go to bed now. its funny. and theres lots of different things. like lemon trees and no snow :D and theres lots of flowers. its very pretty here. and the coldest it gets here is -5 and we get -45 :D

Here is a picture of me and Maddi