Today we bring you retrospective shots from New Zealand on the day of the excursion to the Milford Sound, considered by some to be New Zealand’s most scenic destination. Here is Bodhinatha on board the boat….

Meanwhile A short report from the team for 18th (yesterday for them)

This was our last full day. Our first activity was out of town at Sheepworld. A number of presentations included a sheep dog on command rounding up sheep and keeping them under control. Shearing of wool was demonstrated, sorting sheep, feeding babies, milking a goat were all included.

Next was a twenty-minute session at the beach for appreciation and giving the blue appreciation ribbons held by Palaniswami. Then an afternoon visit to the Maori exhibit at the museum. It was interesting to see the common elements with the Hawaiians. It gives you a better appreciation of the 6,000 year history of the Polynesian people moving from South east Asia across the Pacific islands including Hawaii and New Zealand. The Maori word for forbidden place is Tapu, versus Hawaiian Kapu, word for priest Tahunga , versus Hawaiian Kahuna.

Last event of the day was a visit to the Thirumurgan Temple, where Gurudeva had gifted the Murugan Deity. A few hundred people, mostly Sri Lankan, were there for puja, and Bodhinatha’s talk.

A shot from the bus on the way…

Our cruise ship that will take us through the fiords.

Ganga (left) from Australia and Lynda from Ohio

The Milford Sound fiords are spectacular

Hema Patel

Suselah Periasamy from Singapore

Seals sun bathing

On our way back we stopped at this most beautiful rain forest….at a place called the chasm.