This Little Light of Mine...

(I just realized that almost all of my post's titles are the names of songs. I'm gonna see just how long I can ride this wave. : )

You might say this has been a very "enlightening" weekend (pardon the very corny pun...please!). Pretty much since Friday afternoon, when Jay and I stepped off the boat from Rangitoto, we have been at beautiful Albert Park (located right in the heart of downtown Auckland) taking in the lantern festival. Every year, the Asia New Zealand Foundation holds the event to help kick start the Chinese New Year. And since New Zealand has quite a large Asian population, you can imagine how awesome this event is!

This year is the Year of the Dragon, and the scaly, fire-breathing beasts were running rampant all weekend long - albeit, in a less frightening form. (Well, except for maybe the stilt-walking dragons, which seemed to terrify the kids as much as they delighted them. Click the image below to watch the video.)



If you're in the market for any kind of Asian food (which I am pretty much any day of the week), you'd find it here - everything from pad thai and butter chicken to octopus (for those that like to tickle their taste buds with things of the more "tentacley" variety). The whole weekend was a wonderful blur of food stalls, fireworks, karaoke, karate demonstrations and more. And the best part of all? Except for the food, everything was absolutely free!


Mango shaved ice thingy, Mmmmm...


Octopus snack, anyone? 



Here's a little video that Jay took near the food booths, which gives you a bit of an idea of how crazily huge the crowds were. (Note the random happy dude at 14 seconds, who we didn't even notice until we uploaded the video a little later...I love random happy dudes! Click the image below to watch the video.)



And of course those beautiful, intricately-designed lanterns....














The first sheep we spotted in New Zealand! 









We have no idea who this person is. She just hopped in the photo at the last minute, haha...













Friday night, I discovered my profound love for Chinese reggae. "Chinese reggae?" you might be asking while scratching your head. Didn't think such a thing existed, did you? Neither did I, until I was introduced to the smooth, groovy sounds of Long Shen Dao - who are considered China's first, and best, reggae band. Long Shen Dao means "Way of the Dragon Spirit," so what better band to help ring in the Year of the Dragon? I raised my head to the stars in the warm night sky and let the cool reggae vibes wash over me, still amazed (and grateful) of the fact that I can forgo the winter coat and mittens in early February! I loved Long Shen Dao so much, in fact, that I ran directly to their booth right after the show and picked up their CD...and the next night, Jay and I watched them perform all over again! Here's a video I took of the band, doing what they do best. (More than anything, I loved the keyboardist's (the guy to the far left in the white jacket) sweet-ass dance moves, which he happily displayed all weekend long!) Sorry for the shaky camera work, but it's hard not to hop around when these guys are rippin' up the stage, as you can tell from the crowd. I don't have a friggin' clue what they were singing, since I don't speak Chinese (yet), but it was still sweet sweet music to my ears! And hey - music is the universal language, idden it? (Click the image below to watch the video.)



For some better quality footage, take a look at Long Shen Dao's first music video for the track "The Heart Guides the Way," probably my favourite tune of theirs...so lovely and mellow.

I have read comments that said because things like Facebook and YouTube are blocked in China, the band has no idea how far their music is reaching out into the world or the impact it has. Kinda sad when you think about it. So, if you like the videos I've posted and are keen on the sounds of Long Shen Dao, spread the word and also help spread the Chinese reggae love!

We would've happily watched Long Shen Dao perform a third time on Sunday evening, but we became too swept up in the terribly awesome karaoke performances. Some belted it out quite well; others, not so much - but hey, they all had bigger balls than I, so who am I to judge? I think we heard Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" (Canada represent!) about a half dozen friggin' times - and no, I'm not even exaggerating. By the time the sixth person hopped up on stage to croon the tune, we were about ready to split. But man oh man - am I ever glad we decided to stick around. Here are some of my favourite musical gems from the weekend. Again, just click on the images to see the videos. (I mean no disrespect to these folks whatsoever. Quite the contrary - I think they are awesome. And, like I said, you won't see me up there. For those about to karaoke, we salute you!)


Everybody was kung-fu fighting!



Country roads, take me home...John Denver's in the house!



This guy was one of my favourites from the weekend. Again - I have no freakin' clue what he was singing, but I love his enthusiasm! 


To see more pictures and video, click here.

Come to My Island

It's another (somewhat) bright eyed and bushy tailed morning for the Jaybird and I (we seem to be having a lot of those lately!) as we make our way down towards the waterfront to wait for the ferry. The adventure on today's menu? Trekking the awesome, volcanic Rangitoto Island with our two new Canadian pals, Christa and Heather. While it's only about a roughly 25 minute boat ride over, anyone who knows me knows that the slightest motion in the ocean can make me heave like a drunken sailor. So with a Gravol in hand and a prayer (maybe "plea" would be more like it) in my heart, I pop the little white pill and hope for the best.

While we wait, Jay and I watch (me rather nervously) the boats swaying to and fro and just the sight of them is almost enough to bring that lovely shade of green back to my face. Soon, the girls arrive and it's all hands on board. We choose seats on the top deck and once we get going, thankfully, it turns out the water's not as loppy as I thought. We serenely sail on past the pretty little seaside village of Devonport and then reach Rangitoto in record time. "Rangitoto" literally translated means "Bloody Sky" in Maori, which is quite fitting, seeing how an epic Maori battle was fought here many moons ago. Today, the island is a peaceful, pretty little place with a handful of baches (holiday homes - for those who didn't see my last entry) peppered along the waterfront amidst the huge ferns and black lava stones.



We have two options: take the land train to see the sights while kicking back, or explore the island by foot. We choose the latter. We take some time to snap a few pics before ascending the summit of the volcano, soaking in all the greenery around us. Let's play another quick round of "Where's Lindo?" shall we?





Walking around the island, I feel like I've stepped back in time, à la Land of the Lost. One of the most amazing things that strikes me as I wander around is the fact that (as in the rest of New Zealand) there is nothing in the forest that will attack and/or eat me! (It's the little things in life that people sometimes take for granted, isn't it?). No bears, coyotes, moose - absolutely NOTHING - will be jumping out at me today, or any day while I'm here, as there are NO natural predators in the country. Hooray! Realizing this has inadvertently added a lil' extra spring to my step. The volcanic rock underfoot makes satisfying crunching sounds as I tread along.



As we walk along, Jay and I and our new friends get to know each other a bit better. I tell the girls a bit about my home (including everything from Downhome to Republic of Doyle), and they tell us about their work in the emergency preparedness field and the barefoot running club in their area (those crazy Winnipegians!). Our excited chatter begins to crescendo when finally we stumble upon the Holy Grail - the entrance to the lava caves! Whipping out our flashlights - or "torches" as they call them here in New Zealand - and headlamps, we dive in like an excited gaggle of Fraggles. It's times like these that I'm grateful I'm not claustrophobic!









Shortly after, we come upon another small cave, which unfortunately is a wee bit too small for us to squeeze into - even though I give it my best shot! We run into a nice, young English couple with a small baby and after they compliment Jay on his Dr. Who t-shirt and we have a little chat about life in New Zealand, we make our way further up towards the summit - but not before stopping yet again to soak in the amazing scenery. I swear, I've never used the word "lush" so much in my life!

If you look closely, you can see the cone of the now dormant volcano. 

Along the way, we run into another group of adventurous young Canucks (from British Columbia) and the English couple once again. It seems that everyone from everywhere is out and about enjoying the view today - even though it is shrouded in fog, and a tad windy (feels like home!). Even so, the view from the top does not disappoint. (Click the image below to watch the video.)



After a quick snack, some photos and a chat with fellow hikers, we head back down again, exploring some World War II bunkers along the way. As we get closer to the bottom, we decide to run a little ways because A: It's great exercise, and B: We don't want to risk missing the boat home and having to spend an impromptu night out under the stars. Thankfully, we make it back with a few minutes to spare. We all pile back onto the boat and I decide to be extra adventurous and forgo the Gravol this time. As we sail back, we are treated to the sights of some windsurfers enjoying the waves. Apparently, even the most overcast of days can't keep those Kiwis indoors!



Once we're back on dry land, Christa and Heather tell us about their plans to tour the lovely Land of the Long White Cloud for about three weeks via the Stray bus. They pitch the idea to Jay and I and we all agree it would be awesome to tour the country together, so we decide to mull it over a while. Since Christa and Heather are only in NZ on holiday for a few weeks, we're not sure if we'll be seeing our new friends again, so we say our "goodbyes," "nice to meet you's" and "it's been fun hanging out" before we separate - but not before C and H try to sell us on the Stray bus trip one more time. As Jay and I walk up Queen Street we talk it out, hem and haw and finally come to our decision. We will indeed be Strays with Christa and Heather! We make a mad dash to the IEP office and purchase the same pass from friendly American Katie - who kindly answers all our questions. The bus will pick us up at our hostel this coming Thursday, just six days away. Adventures Ahoy!!!

To see more pictures and video, click here.

Day Tripper

This morning, Jay and I get up bright and early once again to board the Stray bus with our friendly neighbourhood Maori bus driver; an ever enthusiastic Chucky; our new Canadian friends that we met on the bus yesterday, Christa and Heather; along with a whole new slew of excited travellers, including yet another couple of Canucks. We happily roll along past Auckland proper and through the areas where, Chucky tells us, the "bogans" frequent - a local term applied to mullet-sporting metalheads - and up into the hills, with New Zealand comedic folk faves Flight of the Conchords providing the soundtrack. We make a brief pit stop for coffee and snacks at a local bakery, and I know I'm definitely out of the city when I spot a cluckin' chicken meandering around the parking lot.



The bird was actually walking swiftly away from a fried chicken joint - with a blazing sign reading "Fried Chicken" out front, in case it didn't know - just opposite, so perhaps it was trying to make a clean getaway? Guess that answers the age-old question: "Why did the chicken cross the road?"

Once everyone has loaded up on sugary, carb-o-rific breakfast treats, we board the bus again and make our way along the windy roads. And when I say "windy" roads here in New Zealand, I mean the most windiest, twistiest, vomit-inducing kind. Actually, I don't even notice just how much the roads twist 'n' turn this way and that until Chucky points it out. All of a sudden, I feel greener than Kermit the Frog hiding in a lettuce patch. Chucky says years ago, when the Kiwis were building the roads, they would get paid by the spike. Therefore, they laid extra spikes to make more money - which resulted in the insanely snaky roads the Kiwis have today. Not sure how true this story is, and neither is Chucky, so I just chalk it up to an urban legend and roll with it - all the while trying not to loose my breakfast!

Shortly, our bus pulls up to the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park and we all eagerly pile out to feast our eyes on the breathtaking scenery. One word spills out of my mouth over and over again - "lush." Really, there's no better word to describe the gorgeous, green scene that unfolds before me.



After a quick trip to the Arataki Visitor Centre, where we take in a short film about the area and pick up a few postcards to send to the nieces and nephews back home, the group gathers for the mandatory photo inside the big-ass picture frame. Let's have a quick game of "Where's Lindo?" shall we?



After another brief stop to take in some more of the amazing scenery, we make our way through some more twisting roads and eventually wind up at the entrance to some native rainforest, which we trek on through. By the time we hike up a few hills, my clothing is sticking fast to my body thanks to a combo of sweat and humidity. Eventually, we reach the amazing Kitekite falls and all hands jump in for a quick dip to cool off, as we watch a few more adventurous souls (not with our group) rappelling down the rockface. One English guy splashes happily in the water, a big grin on his face. "Now, this is what I came here for," he says. I couldn't agree more. I smile and flip over onto my back, gazing up at the puffy white clouds in the blue sky as I glide along.



Once we've quickly towelled off, it's onwards and upwards, hiking further along the hill until we eventually reach another cool pool at the top of the waterfall. Again, most everyone eagerly hops in as if they've just spent the last few days dying of thirst in the dessert. I stand on the sidelines and snap a few pics - like this cool one of Christa taking a flying leap.



We continue along, most of us now just donning our soaking bathing suits with towels wrapped around. I still have a hard time believing this is early February! I, for one, am certainly not complaining about the heat. Before we leave the rainforest, everyone has to rinse off their shoes with a disinfectant liquid to help prevent spreading kauri dieback - a disease which attacks the North Island's beautiful, mighty (and huge!) kauri trees. If there is one thing Kiwis are protective over, I have learned, it is the gorgeous environment that surrounds them.



Before we leave, I get a picture with the remnants of one of these awe-inspiring giants of the forest.



Everyone piles onto the bus once again to head to our next stop, Piha beach - a popular black sand, surf beach. The area is peppered with beautiful baches (or holiday homes), one of which, Chucky says, is rumoured to belong to everyone's favourite mellow folk rocker/surfer Jack Johnson. Before we head down to the sand, we hit Blair's on the Beach - which Chucky describes as the "best, and only, burger joint on the beach." I devour a Hawaiian burger - topped with a pineapple ring, of course! Yummm...



We've been told beforehand about the powerful rip currents that can pop up in the area. These occur so frequently, in fact, that a New Zealand reality series called "Piha Rescue" - which follows the work of the lifeguards of the Piha Surf Life Saving Club - is filmed here. After being warned to swim only inside of the red and yellow flags, a brave few souls venture out into the waves; but since I only started taking swimming lessons a couple of years ago, I decide it's best if I stick to the sand for now.



Jay and I, along with a couple of our new English friends, decide to hike up to the top of the famous Lion Rock - so named because it kinda looks like a lion laying down - to take in the awesome views from high up above. Before we head up, a local surfer dude strolls over and asks Jay to help him zip up the back of his wetsuit. I watch him stroll over the sand, board in hand, and daydream about the day when I, too, will be confident enough in my swimming abilities to be able to ride the waves!



As you can see, the views from near the top of Lion Rock do not disappoint.











After heading back down and laying our sweaty selves down on the sand for a while, we all pile back onto the bus and zip along the twisting roads back towards Auckland. While the others head to a local bar for a brew to cap off the day, Christa, Heather, Jay and I head to the Fullers travel office to buy tickets to the ferry which will take us to the volcanic Rangitoto Island tomorrow. More adventures to come! Better pack the Gravol!

To see more pictures and video, click here.

A Ticket to Ride

This morning, Jay and I get up bright and early, slather on the sunscreen (I think I've learned my lesson!) and scarf down our breakfast on one of the benches just outside the hostel as we wait for the Stray bus to arrive. We see Ian standing out front, chatting it up with the other Strays, so we join them. Just on time, the bus pulls up and the Maori bus driver (who is a very nice guy with a welcoming smile - though you probably wouldn't want to pick a fight with him at a bar) takes our names and tells us to hop on. 

From Shared New Zealand Album 1

After picking up our fellow passengers, we fetch our guide for the day - another instantly likeable and lively guy named Chucky. He greets us with a rousing "KIA ORA!" (a Maori word - pronounced "key-or-ah" - which literally translated means "be well" or "be healthy," but is more commonly used by Kiwis to say "Hi!" or "G'day!"), and then the bus driver and the young boy sitting up front (who I think is the driver's son) each take their turns. We all yell greetings back and roll along. Chucky is actually an Englishman who made New Zealand his permanent home several years ago, but he sounds pretty much like a native Kiwi. He gives us the lowdown on how things are going to go for the day, and fills us in on some Kiwi history and culture. He also gives us a new word to add to our Kiwi vocab - "JAFA." It's a rather nasty term applied to those who live in Auckland and stands for "Just another fucking Aucklander," or, as Chucky says in his Kiwi accent, "Just anotha fuck-ing Aucklanda." Aucklanders, he says, have a reputation as being a somewhat unfriendly, "all about business" bunch. However, all the Aucklanders I've met thus far have been nothing but lovely, friendly people. (I think I'll just strike that word from the list - at least until someone gives me a good reason to use it!). Soon, we hit our first stop - Auckland's iconic Sky Tower.

From Shared New Zealand Album 1

Chucky reminds us that we should be donning closed toe shoes today - no jandals allowed! - for an activity that will be happening a little later on. I look down upon my feet and frown as my toes smile back up at me - dammit! (Apparently, I also didn't read the slip of paper that we were given yesterday when we booked this trip, which reads, "BRING: Closed toe shoes and money for lunch.") I look around and notice that everyone else's smelly feet are hidden from view, except for one other girl, so I start to feel a little better that there's someone else to share in my misfortune. Chucky tells us that if our hostel is nearby (which ours is), now would be a good opportunity to run back to fetch more appropriate footwear. But since I don't want to miss any of the action, I decide to grin and bear it and stay put. At the base of the tower Chucky requests a coin, and since those on the bus are from all over the globe, he hopes for a rare or interesting one. Someone tosses him one and we start to play heads or tails. We stand in a big circle and put our hands on either or heads or our butts while Chucky tosses the coin. Whoever's hands matches up with what the coins shows moves ahead a few steps, while the others step out of the circle. I manage to make it ahead a few more times before I'm ultimately booted out. Finally, a young German girl is the last one left standing, and Chucky informs her that she's just won a jump from the 328-metre tall Sky Tower (not really sure if this is supposed to be a prize or punishment!). While we wait for the lucky winner to go up to the top of the tower and get suited up, Chucky tells the rest of us to turn, walk on over to the person directly in front of us and introduce ourselves. (Stray likes to do lots of these "getting to know you" type of activities, which are quite awesome, as they really do help to break the ice and get everyone chatting with each other.) The person standing in front of Jay and I turns out to be Heather - a lovely girl from Winnipeg who is here on vacation with her fellow Winnipegian friend Christa. Soon, Christa strolls on over and we all chat 'er up a bit and get acquainted while we wait for the German to fall (which she does - with much hearty screaming). 

Click the image below to watch the video: 

From NZ 6 - Day 4

Soon, we hop back on the bus and roll right along to our next stop - the lovely Michael Joseph Savage Memorial, which honours the first Labour prime minister of New Zealand. 

From NZ 8 - iPhone photos from week 1

Chucky tells us we have about 15 minutes or so to explore. To make sure we all get back to the bus on time, he threatens if anyone is late, they will have to stand at the front and sing their national anthem. I jump off the bus, head straight for the green grass and flowers and drink in their intoxicating aroma, all the while saying a silent thank you that I'm here instead of back home in the dead of winter, trying to shovel myself out of the house. I stand in the middle of a big green meadow and take in the view of the palm trees framing the Sky Tower in the distance. 

From NZ 6 - Day 4

After meandering around for a bit, we all pile back on the bus - but there are a few empty seats. As we sit and stare out the window, we see a group of Germans running frantically for the bus. Chucky, however, doesn't make idle threats, so the trio is forced to give an impromptu performance. 

Click the image below to watch the video:

From NZ 6 - Day 4

After a good laugh, we head a little further down from the memorial where we all get out and stroll around while Chucky tells us about some of NZ's native trees. Birds would eat the fermented berries on one of them, he says, and fall to the ground drunk (even our feathered friends down here like having a good time!), where the Maori would collect them. Chucky also shares with us the tale of how Aotearora (the Maori word for New Zealand) came to be. The country wasn't formed by colliding plates and volcanic activity, he says, as most of us have been lead to believe. Rather, the Land of the Long White Cloud came about when a young boy named Maui, who wanted to go fishing with his older brothers, snuck into their boat. Eventually, Maui dropped his fishhook over the boat, got a mighty tug and hauled up the North Island. Maui's brothers got into an argument over who owned the "catch," began pounding at it, and that's why there are so many hills and valleys on the North Island today. The South Island is actually the brothers' overturned boat, and Stewart Island (which lies at the bottom of the country) is the boat's anchor. (A slightly abridged version of the story - but whoomp, there it is!) If you look at a map of the North Island sideways, Chucky adds, it kind of looks like a dolphin. Of course, Auckland is the dolphin's ass. (Those poor Aucklanders never seem to catch a break!) 

Next, we head to a local pub for lunch where, lucky for us, they have created a special discounted backpacker's menu. Before we chow down, we get to sample some local brew. I try a cider, (which tastes a lot like Strongbow) and it's quite refreshing and delicious. The "sample" is actually in a regular-sized glass, so I have a nice, free beverage to go with my meal - bonus! (Sometimes, I feel pretty thankful that I don't drink that much - really! - since that's where you tend to spend most of your money.)  Christa and Heather invite us to sit with them, so we enjoy some good ol' Canadian conversation over our potato wedges (complete with a large dollop of sour cream…Mmmmmm). After lunch we head to the Auckland Harbour Bridge, where Chucky reminds us that those who aren't wearing appropriate footwear must stay behind. He also says that if anyone wants to do a bungy, now's the time, adding that we won't actually be allowed to leave the country until we do one (pretty sure he's lying, but with those crazy Kiwis, you never know!). It seems that a couple of brave souls have taken him up on the offer, including our new buddy Ian (who, it turns out, has a two for one coupon, so him and another girl split the price of the jump - some smart financial planning at work there). The Auckland Bridge bungy is actually the world's first harbour bridge bungy jump and is the only place in New Zealand where you can jump and dunk yourself in the ocean. On the wall inside the office are photos of celebrities that have come here to take their big, flying leap - everyone from Katy Perry and Justin Bieber to David Beckham. Jay feels bad that I won't be able to join the group and offers to stay back with me, but, of course, I tell him to go on (after cursing at my toes a little more). He and the others get fitted with hard hats, go outside to get some group photos and eventually, head across the street to climb the bridge. I also make my way over to the other side of the road and plank down by the ocean. There are a bunch of fishing rods set up, some attended, some not, and people sitting in plastic chairs waiting to get a bite. The one other girl that is wearing sandals (who was sitting at the front of the bus) comes over and sits next to me. I find out that she's doing a sort of internship and is studying tourism at school. We watch the group as they make their way across the bridge and the talk turns to bungy jumping and how she's afraid to do one. I mention my past skydiving adventure in the Annapolis Valley and she tells me I'm the first person she's met that has actually skydived. I find this very strange, coming from a native Kiwi, since they practically invented adventure sports! We have a grand chat for the next 40 minutes or so, and I actually start to feel kind of happy that I left my sneakers back at the hostel. The warm sun shines down on us, sparkling against the water, and I smile as she flicks her toes and says, "I really want to take my jandals off!" (I love the Kiwi language.) After a while, the group makes their way back and Jay and I vow to come here again (no friggin' jandals for me next time) to jump off the bridge.

Chucky reminds us that we can sign up for another Stray day trip to Piha Beach tomorrow, just outside of the city. Christa and Heather say they're game and at just 60 bucks a head, the price is right, so Jay and I decide to go for it too. When we reach our stop, we say bye to our new friends and make a mad dash to the IEP office, where Craig reserves two seats for us on the bus tomorrow. We chat with him about our day, and somewhere along the way, the conversation turns to weta bugs. Craig tells us about a "game" he and a friend used to play with their roommate involving these creepy crawlies called "There's a weta in John's shoe," which later graduated to "There's a weta in John's bed," etc. etc. I silently tell myself to never become roommates with Craig Jack. But hey - at least they never played the game with a giant weta!  

© Mark Moffett/Minden Pictures/Solent

To see more pictures and video, click here.