Snow?

I apologize for the delay in posts, but picking up from where I left off…

As Auckland faded behind our bus, the New Zealand countryside surrounded us. Considering the previously mentioned volcanalogic (yes, that is a real word) nature of the country, I expected a shark toothed landscape of spike-peaked mountaintops, tall sheer ridges, and vast horizons of sharp mountain ranges. But, heading south, our surroundings were quite the opposite. Sprawling flatlands and prairies were all that I could see from my bus window for the first hour of our journey. Slowly rolling into gentle foothills in the hours to come, the landscape was anything but comparable to a carnivores vicious chompers. Upon entering the foothill region we began to follow a river that wove and wound through a a shallow canyon. My head slowly bobbing up and down, not from the bouncy terrain but from my complete inability to stay awake in vehicles, my eyes would pop open just to fall back asleep despite desperately trying to drink in the sights. Flat. Asleep. Green grasslands. Asleep. Sheep, I tried to count them but I fell. Asleep. Pinetrees. Asleep. Am I “up nort” (northern Wisconsin), very similar. Asleep. Wow, we haven’t been through any populated areas in like 2 hours. Asleep. Sheep. Asleep. The bus driver announces that we will be stopping just about a half hour shy of our destination in order to change drivers. He says that National Park Village lies just beyond a slightly taller range of hills. I am a bit confused as I get off the bus. We are less than an hour away from where we intend to live and work on a ski resort and all I am wearing is a sweatshirt and a pair of shorts. Although there is plenty of wind; ice, cold, and snow there is not. Call me crazy, but I thought those where necessary ingredients for a ski resort?! The bus takes off and we make our way up the hill. Five minutes pass, T-minus 25 until its supposed to be a winter wonderland, nothing. Ten minutes pass, only 20 minutes until snow and I still cant see my breath out the window. Working our way up the range a slightly larger hill obscures my view out the left window. As we continue its obstruction shrinks. Head begin to pop out in the aisle of the bus. Chitter chatter and excited whispers replace the dull hum of the tires on the road. Passengers rise out of there seats and tweak their necks for a better view. And then I see it. Just beyond the hill to my left there they were: the shimmering white snow capped peaks of Mt. Ngauruhoe (aka Mt. Doom, Lord of the Rings geeks) and Mt. Ruapehu. The drastic and sudden transition of scenery leaves me stunned, these two massive snow drenched volcanoes bursting into the sky from such a relatively docile landscape is incredible. A smile cracks across both mine and Andrea’s (along with everyone else on the bus’ faces). Eyes wide and fixed on the peaks and heart pounding with eager anticipation of my adventure to come, trying to stay awake was no longer a problem.