Moving On

Currently killing time at the Aukland domestic terminal, T-minus 10 hours 30 minutes till our flight to Queenstown departs. We just got out of the beautiful northland countryside, a destination we will definitely be returning to. We had the good fortune to have two close contacts in the northland area to house us, show us around, and acclimate us to the lifestyles and customs of New Zealand. And as luck would have it, they lived approximately 10 km from each other!

Our first stop was at Aliyah's cousins' near Parua Bay. They had a sweet house overlooking a small bay a short walk from a little beach. We spent the first few days getting aquainted with the nearest city, Whagerei, where we did our supply shopping, shipping, getting a fishing license, etc. We also got out in the cousin's boat for an evening session to no avail.

The coming weekend was packed with seasonal activities including a touch rugby match in the donated cow pasture across the road and show day at he local elementary which where Aliyah's 6 year old cousin attended. Show day is like a county fair crossed with a 4H event; go-kart rides, scissor lift/paper airplane toss combos, bounce houses, crappy carny games, cow patty bingo, sheep sheering, lambs galore, awkward tween tribal dancing, lamb burgers while lambs watch, etc.

Then later that night, Guy Fawkes Day, as known in the US as that holiday depicted in the movie where Natalie Portman shaves her head. Essentially everyone in the neighborhood gathers in a field where a huge pile of debris has been mounded. An effigy is place atop the pile, copious amounts of diesel are applied, and the whole mess burns through the night and into the next day while the towns folk rejoice (get drunk, BBQ, and light fireworks simultaneously).

Sunday was spent in quiet reflection. Aliyah's second cousin-inlaw (older man married to Aliyah's mom's cousin, you tell me what he's called) took us to mount Manaia, a sacred mountain overlooking the town and surrounding bays. It was gorgeous with scattered clouds, bluebird skies, and dense jungly vegetation. We get a crash course in New Zealand natural and cultural history, glimpsing just enough to know that much of the native bush and old growth forest decimated at one point and only now returning. We learned lots of new plant names and enjoyed beautiful but windy views at the peak.

The next morning we departed the cousin's pad and moved down the road to Pataua South, another small collection of rural homes overlooking a large estuary. Again we were delighted to have to company of friends very close to my Dad who I had not seen since I was three years old. We shared lots of great stories and slow walks around the area, visiting secluded beaches, sacred mountains, secret fishing holes, cormorant colonies, and a glass blowing studio. And our guest room had a sunrise view overlooking the entire estuary!

Sadly we left the Eden with a promise to return and an entire adventure still ahead of us. Next up, kayaking Milford Sound on my birthday!

Pictures to come, having too much fun to upload now.