Still more

Still Catching Up!

If every day was like yesterday, I'd move here in a blink. The weather was perfect, blue skies, no wind, no rain and sun - all at the same time on the same day!

Since we don't get started early, we left the house after a light lunch and drove to the CBD - Central Business District. Here the buildings are tall, and the apartments plenty - with both a generous number of privately owned or rented units and a large number of well kept government subsidized ones. For a number of reasons this last fact was a real surprise: the subsidized units occupied prime real estate facing Central Park; the upkeep of the units defied what we come to expect in the US; and its location provides work-place housing, which we do poorly in the States. (My years in government taught me that the response to siting anything new, different or less' than is: "It's a great idea, but put it someplace else.")

Tramping

Tramping in NZ is akin to hiking in the US, and on Sunday, Kamini and I adamantly refused to tramp. (rain, wind, chill) Still we needed to get out of the house. So, believing that movie theatres would be crowded due to the holiday, our offspring drove us to the closest mall, nearly forty minutes away, in Bubbles - their van with Dineli practicing for her driving test. (Remember: the NZers drive on the wrong side of the road. LOL)

In contrast to Newtown, which is populated with lots of small shops, including the artsty, the vintage and consignment, the mall provided an opportunity to see lots of both pricey and affordable stuff! Lots of Body Works, kitchen goods, jewelery stores. Stopping only for a sushi lunch, we 'tramped' a good third of the mall.

Though not looking to, I bought a lovely leather bag that had been $164.00 in Kiwi $ and was on sale for 50% of that. However, when converted to US $= $61.00. Not bad when you base currency is US, but still quite expensive if your base is Kiwi.

We had received a dinner invitation for that evening from Ekta, also a physicist at Wellington Hospital. And I was a bit awkward: Immediately I needed to adjust my ear to add Indian English and the native language that her parents spoke - and I had neglected to remove my shoes upon entering the house.

But the evening was very pleasant. Ecta, in her early thirties, is very bright and her mind seems to work like a magnet gathering all sorts of interesting things.* Her family was truly hospitable and while conversation with Ekta's mother was difficult, we managed to 'converse' by way of smiles and nods. Her father, who sports shoulder length white/grey hair, spoke a bit more English. From him I learned that he had been a cinematographer in India. Ekta's nephew, Arian, was a such a beautiful child that my fingers ached for my camera! And he was equally charming and rambunctious, easing the first minutes of our visit with his antics. His mother was warm and also very charming. Moreover, the food, a traditional Indian meal, was delicious, and included dahl, rice, curry, vegetables, and a wheat pudding for dessert. We arrived at 7:30 and left near midnight.

* Did you know that there are more than 250 private cable cars in NZ - constructed by those who have no road access to their homes in the hills?

Moving backwards

Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, was spent mostly at home, venturing out only to New World, the local large grocery, to pick up the usual daily grocery needs.

A true Kiwi holiday, Boxing Day was begun long ago when lower level employees, those who always worked Christmas day, would be given the 26th off, and provided with boxes of food by their employers. Today this is extended to those in public service: police, fire, etc., Ironically, many shops still close while others offer special after Christmas bargains.

Christmas

Nearly two years ago David and Dineli decided to move to this island in order to live a simple life. In doing so, they traded a large and beautiful home in Beaver, PA - just outside Pittsburg, and greater salaries for a far more humble house and a significantly lower income in a less magnificent part of town. Out of respect for their choice, I determined that I would knit each a Christmas gift for each, rather than shop. For David, I made a scarf and hat, for Kamini, beautiful sari-colored shaw, and for Dineli a vest. However, there was one glitch: I decided to leave Dineli's till last believing that I could knit on the plane and then finish in Newtown while she was at work. Well, sleep overcame my good intentions and I knitted little in the air and even had to start, rip and restart the project more than once! Hence I was behind on my work and thought I'd have to wrap my gift - needles and all. But I didn't. By working nearly every available minute, I managed to complete the vest - but not piece it together! Dineli gratefully accepted the back, left front and right with glee and goodness, asking only that I complete the construction in by Tuesday so that she could wear it when she returned to work. (Monday was a legal holiday.) And I did.

Hope you're enjoying the break that the holidays provide!

Note: There has been some difficulty adding pictures to the blog. David and I are still trying and hope to have more for next time: Central Park!

Catching Up

Good Evening, your time,

Well, yesterday was the 22nd of December, and New Zealand is becoming familiar.

Kamini (pronounced K, with a short A and equal stress on all three syllables), David and I spent most of the day shopping and gathering Christmas decorations for the house. Last year, their first year here, was spend in Sri Lanka where Dineli's (equal stress on all syllables) father had recently gone on to Larger Life, as it is said in the Anglican church.

Weather wise it was the loveliest day since my arrival. It was warm, though not hot, with bright, healing sun and clouds reminiscent of puff pastry - and gratefully no wind! In between our stops at too many stores to list, David, Kamini and I , along with Sky and Emma, the resident dogs, trekked up a local mile high mountain, where we are pictured. (It was really a hill, but nearly mile high as it wove higher and higher to its precipice, where Kamini and I are pictured.)

Our goal was to view a memorial placed there by the Turkish government after WWII. The memorial honors the New Zealanders and Aussies who lost their lives as they charged Turkish boundaries. You see, the British (smartly?) sent in NZers and Aussies first in order to reduce the enemy troops before they charged. Huge, huge numbers of NZers and Aussies died in this manner and here they are memorialized. In part the wording of the large brass plague reads:

Mothers who send your sons to fight this war, know that they now rest on welcoming soil." (very paraphrased)

After the strenuous and the emotional impact of the memorial, we lingered to take in the beauty of Cook's Straight and the houses peppering the hillsides. Gradually we collected our energy while a myriad of birds chirped away, only gently breaking the peace filled silence.

Decorating for Christmas

The decorations we've purchased are both simple and quirky: a camellia bush to decorate for indoors and later plant outside, small red and green tinsel strips, small twinkling white lights and a golden star, woven of metal, for the tree's top. We also purchased a long string of bold white, lighted stars that will hang on the three palm trees bordering the deck and some quirky lights to string in the kitchen. Our 'tree' will occupy the hearth in my room, which is actually the lounge - or living room where we'll spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. (We spend far more time in the kitchen than other rooms.)

Nothing pleases Kamini more than shopping, so we've done our share, gauging the quality of the item or that and comparing its cost in Kiwi with the American dollar and the Sri Lankaan rupee. We look more than buy. But Monday was the exception. In the morning Kamini connected with Rowan, her son in Indiana, on Skype and learned that her new grandchild, expected in May, would be a boy. Her smile was joyful and contagious: we headed off to the yarn store where she, an eager knitting novice, purchased materials for a baby blanket. As for me, in yarn stores and garden stores I have no monetary limits. Passing one's fingers over possum yarn*, cashmere and merino can be likened to visiting heaven with an angel as guide! I purchased enough for three projects!

* Possum is a new commodity indigenous to NZ and rightfully gaining popularity.

New Zealand

Since arriving, I've needed to put the patches of life here together. I'd flown many miles over the course of two days, yet there was no immediate culture shock. Quite the contrary, there was no foreign feeling to the city. My last major trip, to Sri Lanka, was one where the air pulsated with third world differences. Three languages dominated the airport and I was confronted immediately with cows, chickens and uniformed school children moving about the 7:00 a.m. sidewalks and streets. There horns beeped incessantly as cars, buses, motorcycles and tuk tuks all vied for space on the small overcrowded streets. (Son David calls this beeping 'The Sri Lankaan Anthem.')

Here Kiwi English was not only familiar, but signaled Sri Lanka and GB. Only rather friendly, open-faced light skinned Kiwis peopled the shops and streets. The terrain resembled San Francisco where I had just spent 10 hours. The patching together comes slowly, but I can share a few observations.

First, people seem to move about life not slowly, but in a rather undetermined fashion. Shops are closed at unusual hours. Christmas vacations are sometime a month long. (The health club all but closes down from December 20 until January 5) and there is no sense of urgency or enterprise in the air.

Second, there seems to be no need to know on the part of the many Kiwis I've met; no desire for accuracy. I mentioned this in an earlier post, and it was highlighted with the comfort I felt when it was juxtaposed with our visit to the yarn store. There the female clerks knew their stock, and were clear on the exchanges between US knitting terms and those used here. Moreover, though they were quite busy, a clerk was always available to answer a question - with surety and accuracy. It was so refreshing after more than a week of receiving kind but frustrating guidance.

In following these thoughts through, I dug out a piece of another trip, which I took in the mid-eighties. This one was to Tortola in the BVIs. On my first day there, I thought I'd loose my mind to impatience with the slow pace of movement. However by day two, my own pace easily mirrored that of residents. I gauged this quick absorption of the culture to need to accomodate the tropic climate, which certainly does not prevail here. (As I write the winds gust at 40 - 50 mph) Then I wondered, are these transitions, too, just a bit slower to take hold as the calendar years of one's life increases?

The geography of New Zealand is beautiful! Wellington, on the north island, is nestled in a series of lush hills and deep valleys. For the most part, the houses are built into little and large hillsides. Cook's Straight flows into the Tasmanian Sea and then the Pacific Ocean. It takes your breath away - and yet since it is so pervasive, it can become mundane.

Last night was a perfect time to be swaddled in the island's atmosphere. As we finished the last of our shopping, we stopped at New World, a grocery, where Kamini and I picked up some makings for an easy dinner: curried hard boiled eggs, timbouli, marinated artichoke hearts and prawns, which Dineli, a natural chef, allowed me to prepare. (I'm trying to be very observant of the old adage that two cooks in the kitchen can spoil the pot - and sometimes the evening!) Later we had fresh, delicious ice cream for dessert. But though the food was delicious, the real delight was the company and the fact that it was shared on a table set on the front deck overlooking Newtown. (not to mention the lovely local wines!)

Today is a day at home with time to work on Christmas gifts and a good walk with the dogs. Tonight when Dineli and David return have dinner and do the decorating!

There is much more to say, but work to do. I hope this finds all well and in the spirit of joy and celebration! We need it so these days!

Please always feel free to comment on this site or by email.

LOL,

B

If there's one more thing...

If there's one more thing that is to be said about New Zealand it is this: the winds are more than horrific - if that can be. And if there is even one more thing it is: summer time here is a state of mind, not at all reflective of temperature.

As I sit here in the lounge - living room - writing this the winds are topping 75 mph, and it is daunting and continuos. Outside the large window that overlooks the street pictured in my last post, trees sway almost to the point of breaking. It is very unsettling. Fortunately the trees, most with very small diameter, bend with a natural ease Walking is nearly impossible particularly given the very hilly terraine.

Now the temperature: After nearly a week of observation, it can honestly be said that summer here is strictly a state of mind that is reflected in clothing choices not temperature. Today, I moved about Wellington wearing sweat pants, knee socks, a hooded sweatshirt and a long sleeve tee shirt, and I felt no excess warmth whatsoever. Notably different are the Kiwis donned in light weight clothing, flip flops or sandals with sweaters or jackets. They're nuts! (Here I will note that summer colors do not abound. Most clothing is black or dark grey.) And I think I know why.

You see, New Zealand, despite it proported changes in climate never looses its greenery. As Kamini and I walk to the shops and stores, we observe Geranium, roses, daisies and more in full bloom on very woody branches. Nearly everything winters over! So I guess the locals depend on the calendar for seasonal changes, because you surely can't find it in the weather! If it is December in New Zealand, it must be summer! Regardless.

Walking is a major source of transportation. That and a wonderful bus transit system. Take today: David dropped me off at the pool at 9:45 in time for a one hour water aerobic class, (More about classes later), After the class, I changed out of my suit and I headed for the #3 bus - about a ten minute walk. The bus arrived on schedule and the ride took only ten minutes. Following this was another five minute walk before I arrived at 12:00 at the friends of my friend Lois who had suggested that I visit with them. The overall trip was short, inexpensive - maybe a dollar - I'm not sure of the coin denominations yet - and interesting. I had the opportunity to Kiwi watch!

Kiwis are an interesting lot. They are friendly, very un-style conscious, yet it is nearly impossible to obtain accurate info from them. Take my inquiry into water classes at the local pools. On the day after my arrival David drive me to two pools he had previously located for my use during my visit - both government operated and affiliated with each other. With me I had the pools' schedules, which I had printed out in November on my home printer. Almost none of the info was accurate.

Pool #1: Here we appealed to the information desk clerks. Clerk one: There are no more classes until after the first of the year. Clerk two: There are no classes in the therapeutic pool, warm water, but there are classes in the large pool. Of course, no one thought to mention that there was no therapeutic pool at this location. When I referred to the schedule printed from the internet, I was assured that if it were online, it would be up to date.

Pool #2: Here I am assured that there is a therapeutic pool, but it will be closed down from December 21 till January 15 for cleaning and repair with no classes before then. However there will be classes in the regular pool. After leaving the pool I asked David to phone and recheck the info. (I have difficulty understanding the Kiwi accent on the phone.) He phoned, left a message and the call was returned with promptness. Yes there would be two classes at 9:00 and 10:00 on Saturdays in the deep pool.

I decided on the 10:00 a.m. one and put the schedule aside. Then yesterday, while I was moving it into my file folder, I noted a 12:00 noon class in therapeutic pool. Of course, it was 11:55. So okay, I stuck today's 10:00 a.m. after which the instructor announces that this is the last class of 2009.

But there was a silver lining. I decided to observe the class rather than participate, thus avoiding the back cramping that results from cold water. Moreover my position on the deck, from which the instructor taught, would allow me to take notes and observe the instructor's moves. And I again learned that the world is small; our exercises, including their titles, were nearly identical. Additionally, I noted that my warm-ups were more effective! At the end of the class we had the opportunity to share info and discuss the class a bit.

Enough for now. Please feel free to comment -

LOL,

B

Newtown

New Zealand

If there is a single work to use describing New Zealand it would be fresh!

The milk, the yogurt, the air and especially the tap water sing of freshness. The people here are friendly, seemingly happy, and very much into their own lives in a very wholesome way.

Yesterday, Kamini (Dineli's mother) David and I did errands. To the bank to cash in American dollars for Kiwis, to the grocery for staples and food for dinner, and finally to the Two Dollar Store. (Yes, you read correctly - the Two Dollar Store.) Though Kamini and I purchased little, the shopping was fun, and because our pace is slow as we examine quality and value, we only managed tro cover half of each store. Lunch was in the 'mall,' which would be a real surprise to my shopping granddaughters. It is about 1/80 the size of Towson Town Center! I was craving something ordinary, but decided to go along with David and Kaminni to a Tai restaurant. To my delight it also carried hamburgers and BLTs with lots of additional toppings. D & K enjoyed a very spicy noodle and tofu dish, and I thoroughly enjoyed my BLT with mushrooms!

We returned from our expedition and K & I each took a two hour nap after which Dineli created a dinner of vegetables in a tomato sauce served over pasta shells with the flavors of each veggie distinctly its own. I ate more than I needed! Because the days are very long here with daylight extending till nearly 10:00 p.m. Kamine and I were able to take a pleasant walk to the bus stops so that we'd find our way when we wanted to sight see or shop.

House

As some of you already know, D & d's house is built into the side of a hill with the front deck overlooking Wellington, while the back of the house faces directly into the hillside. (The kitchen window opens into this hill with only a few feet of open space before one faces nothing but a wall of dirt and greenery. It's a charming house replete with D & d touches. There are five rooms plus laundry and "shed" that are utilize in the following fashion and listed as one enters the house and into a long hallways. David's office, bedroom, living room, which doubles comfortably for my bedroom, kitchen - nice large bright room blue and white replete with skylight, dog room. Since Sky sheds so they've simply declared one room as The Dog Room and it is here that he sleeps and naps. Or course Emma, who idolizes her big 'brother' joins him there. Shady Cat comes and goes through a pet door in the kitchen. Kitchen, bathroom, and "shed" will come later, hopefully with pics.

Houses in the area are each unique one from the other and many if not most are painted in striking, pleasant and often bright colors. The entire New Town area, which is where we 'live," is much like a bowl with houses on the hillsides New Town's town center - here called a CB - central business district.

Enough for now. I love your comments!

LOL,
B

Nearly There

Okay, I skewed-up the last post by hitting the wrong key at the wrong time, but now here we go!

San Francisco - Thursday 12/10.09

After a 'brief' six hour flight, during which I managed to sleep a bit, I arrived at

SF International at about 9:30 a.m. (12:30 Baltimore time). Because I felt that if I sat down even once in the airport, I wouldn't get up, I stayed on the move and immediately headed for the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and then the #30 bus that took me to China Town. (I had been traveling nearly ten hours and had foregone sleep the night of my departure rather than have to awaken in the wee hours.) After a 15 or 20 minute ride, and a transfer to the #30 bus, I was moving about China Town amongst a population speaking China's sometimes high pitched, tonal language that played havoc with my need to ask directions and my ears preference for bass sounds.

My goals for the ten hour layover had been simple: to avoid sitting in the airport, to have a tasty, freshly prepared meal, and to visit City Lights, the bookstore begun by the beat poet, Lawrence Ferlinghetti. I easily accomplished these with shopping between lunch and books, time for tea and a cream filled philo pastry in a pleasant little bakery - and a manicure at place recommended by the baker! I arrived back at the airport at 6 p.m. for a 7:30 flight for my thirteen hour flight to Auckland, New Zealand.

Being that , this was my first trip to New Zealand and the first time I had seen David and Dineli in nearly a year, my anticipation was high! (As corny as it sounds, I could hardly wait to see my grandogs and cat.) With the help of a small glass of wine and an ambien, and fueled by exhaustion, I slept about 9 hours! My seat mates were pleasant, a couple from Seattle, and the trip easy: we set down in Auckland, which is in the northern part of the North Island at about 6 a.m. and departed for one hour flight to Wellington, the country's capitol, where David would be waiting for me. Fortunately between arrival and departure, I managed to 'pick-up' a Kiwi engineer who spends his time moving from oil rig to oil rig ascertaining their proper maintenance. Actually, though it was he who approached me when he saw me wrestling with the my luggage! It was not a pretty sight.

Usually I am a careful packer using one suitcase with space for bringing back gifts. However, New Zealand weather is unpredictable with temperatures varying between the low 50's and the 70's, very high gusting winds, clear, warm sunshine and incessant rain. Hence I was advised to bring layers of clothing. Moreover, 'goods' are expensive in their newly adopted land and David and Dineli had ordered half of every available item on the Internet shipped to my home. Hence, my knight who traveled light, nicely helped me with my 3 pieces of luggage, knitting bag, and a purse the size of Alaska that contained a camera, itinerary, and travel books in addition to its normal contents. After my Kiwi and I wrestled my stuff from the international terminal to the waiting station for bus transportation to the domestic terminal (up and down, from inside to outside and across a street,) we shared a bench. He being a typical New Zealander, friendly and layed back, conversation was easy as we awaited our respective flights - he was heading for his home on the South Island. Before we boarded the transit to the domestic terminal he offered me his business card and suggested that I call. And I'm thinking about it. After all, I really did want to get to know the natives! (New Zealanders seem to fly about, much like we might take a train to D.C.)

With all this wonderful information, I leave you for now.

Kindly overlook any obvious errors in this posting and all future ones. This is not headed for the travel section of The Times, and I'm working on Dineli's mac - and I'm a pc! And ditto for seeming time discrepancies. By this point in my travels I had flown through several.

Hope this finds you well and warm!

With love,

B

Welcome! I'm glad you signed in!

Please give me a bit to settle, the trip takes two days, and then I'll begin posting. In the meantime, know that while you're reading this, I be halfway to San Francisco where I'll spend the day. By late afternoon, I'll head back the the airport and board a 7:30 p.m. flight for Aukland!