**Down Under**

Just a quick post to say that all is well. The conference went well. The other presentations varied in their interest. Not terribly theoretical, but then hey, they were mainly lawyers.

Landed in Christchurch, NZ on Saturday afternoon and wandered around downtown in the early evening. There was a large Indian (India) festival so I manage to eat some festival food. Sunday, we took off for the west coast. It took the greater part of the day to cross the mountains and once we got to Arthurs Pass National Park, it was raining. So we made one quick hike to the Devil's Punchbowl. Got soaked.

This morning, I am staring out a window at the ocean about 100 yards away. There is a big storm upon us. Started about nine hours ago. The surf looks just like a stormy Oregon coast, except it isn't - it is the Tasman Sea or the "Ditch" as they call it here. I am currently in Hokitika. They are famous for many things - a place where you can feed giant eels, carve jade and bone. Frankly, it is a tourist mecca. I was amazed a room was available 50 miles from this cultural mecca. Arthur's Pass Village with this famous resident, was nearly as impressive.

Actually the appeal of Hokitika for me is the largest above ground habitat of glow worms ( I would have a pictures, but it looks like a bunch of stars cause you can only see them at night.

The Hostel was nice and quiet and had wireless (thus the post). Our room had cute stuffed lambs and a larger than life picture of the killer parrots.

Today, we head south down the coast. Don't know yet where we will stay for the night.

**Exhale**

:)