Red beach.. Whangerparaoa. N.Z.

           New Zealand again. Well, you know there is plenty to talk about. I am in the North Island for the entire trip, this year. The antipodes, is located in the Southern Hemisphere, the North is hot, the South is cold. Easy to remember, being the reverse of the Northern Hemisphere, for those who are used to the UK. or Europe. I am sure I must have said before, it's a reasonably under inhabited country. With only a fraction of people here, that are in most places in Europe. I think figures somewhere said, about the same number of people live in the whole country, as live in London. 

           This North island is the one with rolling hills, and deep valleys. As opposed to high, snow capped mountains, and deep drops. Both have rivers, and streams galore, both are beautiful. There are large tracts of bush scattered around the Islands, still quite unspoilt. Bush is composed of mainly tea tree, and palm, with some other small natives. Once giant kauri would have predominated. Logging over a hundred years ago, cut down most of those. With only a few scattered trees of any real size remaining. What do remain, are now protected.

            Here in Red Beach though, it is Urban, the palms are more cultivated, taller, and decorative. The whole of the peninsula of Whangaparaoa, of which Red Beach is the first small centre, is well established. Built up, with mostly single, and double storey buildings. Although, there are a few, constructed a little higher, three, four, levels, often, five. These higher ones tend to be the odd retirement block of flats, but often, quite up market too. New Zealand, along with the rest of the world, have a flood of growing retirement age peoples. People who want to live well, and are too fit to settle into old folks home. They really like these up to date, units, with facilities for movement into something more sheltered, as they age. I guess it makes a nice little community, if you like that kind of thing. I can't imagine it suiting me though.

              As for Red Beach, it originally got its name from the colour of the sand. Maybe way back, before anyone built there, it may have looked red, now, it's hardly any darker than any other beach around. There are one, or two big old trees around the main beech entrance, up from the surf club. These are the Pohutokawas, the native tree that blossoms with red flowers around Christmas time. They call it the NZ Christmas tree. When out in full flower, it is quite a sight. The nice thing is, they are a common sight all over the country. The Red Beach trees are great for kids to climb, with large limbs, leaning at an angle, and great for giving shade on the beach.

             A double, and a triple circle of nice houses, mostly updated, or newly built on old sites, sit smugly stacked, overlooking the vista of golden red sand, wide sea views, assorted islands, and nearbye headland. Most of these, sit high above the beach. Reached by a steep public path, or steps at the same angles, from their own homes. Nearer to the other end of the beach, next to the large trees, the slope is gentle. Easily accessible for all.

              As with the majority of beaches in this country, I have yet to see it heaving with people. Never, as you see in many European countries, stacked end to end with people spread on towels, wind breaks, or deck chairs. You may see, a dozen or so, or a few dogs on leads, when they are allowed during the winter months, or early hours on summer days. Otherwise, you walk, or sit with barely an interruption. A beachcomber on your own stretch of tropical beach. I have spend many a happy day on such beaches, relaxing, reading, dozing, and swimming.

               Red beach then, is perhaps the ideal place to live. Close to the amenities of Orewa, and of Silverdale. Also with their own little bakery, fish & chips shop, chemist, grocery, take away, and doctors. The roads are quiet to live in, some, sloped to give a hard walk, or close to everything you may need. 

              In England, it would be a little fishing village, here, it is a modern, clean, and attractive family place to settle down, and bring up a family. Within a mile or two, are schools, parks, and leisure centres, you would lack for nothing.

              Another of New Zealand's many destinations you could settle, and live the good life. Do not think it would be boring, or too quiet either. Two miles away, are a raceway, (motorised go carts), a ski, snow slope, both indoor, so quiet for neighbours. Orewa has boogie boards, and surf boards for hire. Gypsy fairs are held regularly nearby. With another surf club to teach the children, not only how to swim, but how to survive, and help save others. Something taken very seriously in both NZ, and Australia. There are few kids who do not belong to a surf club. For older visitors, or inhabitants, there are bowls clubs, dance classes, libraries, with boats, and fishing facilities everywhere you look.

             Soon to leave New Zealand again...for a while... I can heartily recommend this small community, and tell you, quite truthfully, there are so many more for you to discover. I could not begin to list them all.

            Come visit, or live, the Kiwi will welcome you, and if you are prepared to work hard, you will fit right in. With plenty of facilities, time, and sun for leisure.

             

             

Silverdale, near Auckland. New Zealand

         Where I sit this morning, working, writing this, is Silverdale. I always think that is such a neat name. When I first came here, it was only a crossroads, with a few scattered, old fashioned shops. Now it is hub in its own right. A speedily growing stock of housing, created the need for something more here. The town planners, predicted growth, to gradually become part of Albany, and on to Auckland itself. You know how it happens. It happens with most large cities. They gradually spread out, and small hamlets enlarge, until it is if they were designed that way. As one giant city. That, is what is happening here, whether that is the right way to go, or not. Time will tell.

          Well, it's not quite there yet, but it's not far away. In the meantime, some of the larger stores are now here, and there is a new leisure centre (even though private, and too expensive for all.)  There is a Bunnings, Pack and Save, Countdown, and Dress for Less. Then the Warehouse, and a flurry of small trendy stores, for storage, electrical, Manchester, software and the like. As well as a good smattering of coffee houses. Of which. I am in the best. Mosiac, part of a chain, but a good one. Not your smelly Starbucks, which always smells of sour milk, and turns my stomach. Fast food joints abound, Kentucky Chicken, McDonald's, The Rib & Roast, or all of those sorts. This one is far classier. With real food, not just high fat, high sugar options.

          Around me, it's Friday busy, and I am taking up valuable table space, but no one complains at me. They are unfailingly polite. Nearly all of the tables are full. Outside the sun is shining, diners outside, sit under red umbrellas. The breeze is just right. There, but not too strong, cooling us in the growing humid heat. The dishes as they pass me, are of the 'stacked' variety. They look large, fresh, and delicious. There is good selection of food. Panini's, wraps, salads, cakes (really exotic cake, my downfall) When, on the card menu, are beef burgers, chicken livers, risottos, steak fungetti, chicken, & bacon fettuccini, oh I could go on. You can tell by the noise volume, and the happy sound, that people are enjoying being there. I can heartily recommend a quick visit, or a long one.

           This, then is the new shopping centre. The new housing around it, is of a wide variety. No little buildings in rows, looking identical, as they do in England. It's far more organic here. The other thing I like about new sub divisions, is that all of the services go in first, along with creating the building level plot for the house base. Then, all the roading goes in, even the paths around the house. This means no one is building in the middle of a great dust bowl, or mud bath. It's so clean, and organised, even before its half way built, it looks attractive. England could learn a lot from this. It brings organisation, from chaos, and helps with the fastest clean up afterwards.

          From here, you are an easy travelling distance to Auckland, and the main road leading north

 to many holiday destinations. Up another hill, is the entrance the the Whangaparaoa Peninsular. Three sides, surrounded by water. There are a great many grand houses here, overlooking the sparkling sea, and pristine beaches. This was one of the original holiday places. The sort where families would buy a Bach. A small cottage, near the water, to bring the family to during the summer months. Now, it is all far more permanent. As through the years, these became more permanent, now used for young families, and retirees in the main.

        Just five minutes away is Orewa. It's gradually changing, but as yet is the retirees favourite place. Where it pays to look out for strange moves from the cars around you, as drivers do their own thing. As though they have reached the age when everything sounded rough. They tend to come at you from all directions. Parking in the centre car park, in front of the new world supermarket, is offering up your paintwork to the gods. I have have more mysterious scratches there, than anywhere else. Do they not know they have bumbed you, or do they just not own up? Ahhhh.

         A mystery it shall remain.

         Now, though, as well  as a high rise, built  before it's time block of apartments. It now has a couple of ice cream shops, and a wonderful new restaurant. Its called the Casablanca, and as it suggests sells Turkish, type dips, and bean dishes, with a twist. It very good, born out by the fact it's always fully booked,  and you must book well in advance to get a table. 

           If you can't get in there, one or two of the pubs sell decent food. The ship, or Muldoons.

Who also has local bands play. One of which is my brother, who once played back up to Dire Straits, in the days I knew mark knofler, lead singer, and guitarist. When my brother, he was in Praying Mantis  in london. This was before moving to New Zealand, and helping create Sticky Fingers. He is now running Stage four. You can guess why it has that particualrly name.

            Roll on eight o clock, and his great rock music.

           Yes,, folks, lots to come visit around Silverdale.....

            Too much for me to mention actually...

          

AUSTRALIA ...The Gold Coast, Queensland.

        The Gold Coast, just the name conjures exotic climes. Memories, of heat, and pools, and the sea, tumble together inside my head. Already in New Zealand, it is a short hop over the 'pond' as the locals call the Tasman Sea. Excitement builds, as I plan where to go. With the centre of the red land burning hot, most of the large towns are around the coast. What a coast though, from Darwin at the top, to Adelade at the bottom. What a magical country, as well as being a place well slanted towards having everything it's inhabitants could wish for. I tell you now, if if were not for the fact most f my family are still in England, I would live in Australia. In fact, it still my dream.

          Trip booked, fare reasonable from New Zealand,a. Couple of hundred NZ dollars. The trip is only a bare three hours long, you spend longer getting through customs, and on the plane, than the actual flying time. Even NZ is better thought out than England. The airport far more beautiful, and impressive. There are plenty of cafes, coffee places, shops, and seating areas to help you get through customs comfortably. What with today's extra security measures, getting through most airports can be a nightmare, but has to be done. Oh, for the old days, when things were simple, and we did not have nutters sitting on the sidelines, causing us hassles, and delays. Sometimes, I think the world is crazy. But what choice do we have, we must cope with whatever we need. I know, better safe than sorry. 

          I remember how easy, how simple it all once was. When my parents first began going on holiday abroad, when they were in their forties. As I had a young family, and could not imagine ever being able to fly anywhere. Always curious, I asked so many questions about the food on the plane, that they saved one of the tray meals, and bought it back for me to see, and try. Can you imagine trying to get through customs with that food today? The whole place would light up like a Christmas tree, as dogs, and staff descended to fine you, and slap your wrists, or even cart you away as an enemy of the state.

          Camels, are found in the outback. Imported long ago, and now quite at home.

         So, back to Australia,(and I wish I were).  Landing at the other end, is always exciting for me. I get this knot in my stomache, and a rising sense of excitement, I'm home, I'm home!  Something I have felt since my first visit, many years ago now. Even though I was not born here, nor lived here for a long  period. I did come, and go quite a lot, living the best part of three years there. Both when my parents, and brother lived there, and after my parents moved on to New Zealand.  My much missed younger brother died there, so that gives me a great sense of family still there. A part of me, will always be there, even though, I am sure in I would feel like that regardless. Even though his wife, had him cremated, with no visible resting ground, his spirit is there, he loved the place. He felt, at the time, it was the closest he would get to Africa. A land he saw with many similarities of colours, temperature, and soul. Everything except the animals, I think. In a way, he now belongs to the greater energy of the land I head for.

               Alice Springs, not pretty, but friendly, with some good hotels.

          What a land it is, with its vast desert interior, housing the ancient Ayers Rock, and the lovely, characterful little town of Alice Springs. What a spiritual place I found it to be. The rest, as I said, is mostly coastal settlements. Strung around the circumference of that large, red land. Hot, and humid to the north, near Darwin, cooler, and more temperate climates to the South, near to the big towns of Adelaide, and Melbourne. Me, well, I got to know its heat first. When I went to Darwin, it's there I left my brother. I have visited all of the other major towns. Still, I prefer the country around the Gold Coast, a bit down from Darwin, on the coast. More like half way down that coast really. Many of the seafront places, are high rise apartments, very nice most of the are. Some with fanciful, almost Spanish looking outlines. Which, I suppose is the Moorish influence from Spain, which has somehow, left an impression on the Gold Coast.

          The Gold Coast is now known as the Theme Park capital of Australia. All major theme parks located somewhere between the coast, and Brisbane city. There is so much more to the coast than that though. Of course, there are parks, waterways, and in the hinterland sits magic mountain, and some sweet little tourists towns. How could you not want to visit the zoo too, everyone wants to see the kangaroos, crocodile and the koalas. The kangaroos are so tame, you can pet them, as they sprawl on the ground. The birds, and the trees are as colorful as the coastline is magnificent. With its unusual skyline of buildings, andwhite sands, miles of it. It's buildings are futuristic, with walks, and cycle paths, set in the shade, beside the sea. I always think real planning has gone into making facilities for the peopl. Wide walkways, cycle paths, shade, and seating stretch for miles. I feel they look after their people, far better than many countries I have seen. Of course, being mineral rich must help afford such luxuries.

            As a place to visit, you can not go wrong. I would be there again, tomorrow, if I could. It's beautiful, it's comfortable, the people are friendly, and the sun shines most of the time.

            My words here, barely touch the surface, to what Australia offers you, the Gold Coast in particular, but there is so much more, every town with its own character. Go, and experience some of it for yourself. I know you will not be sorry. One visit is never enough.

                 Sidney, each town has it's own character. Each one fascinating.

              So many places to explore, visiting is never enough. Not for me, anyway......

Auckland, New Zealand

New Zealand.

       Is a country about the size of the UK but with only a fraction of the people. This makes it a country for those who like space, for themselves. In their homes, and the land around them. It's roughly the shape of Italy, but the other way up. The boot, and the foot, you know. The coastline is truly magnificent. Composed of endless bays, and white sandy beaches. With an assortment of cliff hights, from high, and rugged, to flat, and grassy. There are bays for every taste. Shallow, and quiet, deep shelving, and rough, flat, and calm, surf beaches, boaty beaches, all.....are walking beaches. A joy to amble along by the side of the sea, or in the sea. Many beaches, backed by sand dunes, most now protected to stop further erosion. It's a beautiful country, that deserves looking after.

       It can be quite an incestuous country, in that you are never far form someone you know. It's never surprising to see friends walk by, or meet people who know the same people as you. Many miles away from home. Twenty years ago, everyone knew almost everyone else, or perhaps just coming out of that a little now. I think they say each person is only three places removed, from everyone else. Of course that's before the latest influx of Asian immigrants. They seem to like it here a great deal. As they should, as the kiwis are an affable race, and the country has something for everyone.

      There are the bay of islands to the North,  a truly beautiful  attraction. Then, the ski fields of Queenstown to the south. With about everything in between. Walks, of every description, and for those more adventurous types, New Zealand has become the adventure capital. Bungy jumps, para gliding, heli skiing, jet boats, even a dive from sky tower in Auckland.

       The Moiri culture, is a great part of the history of the country, of course. They were the earliest of the immigrants too, like the later settlers. They are essentially polynesian. Having headed out to sea, and discovered New Zealand, and it's original indigenous peoples.  Which, according to history, did not long survive the influx of a new people. They are not like the Aborigine of Australia, who really have been there for four million, or more years. The first settlers, for sure. Their culture is alive, and well at a family level in the ..., and as a tourist attraction. The songs, inspiring, or sometimes frightening, like the Hakka. The dances, and song tunes mostly of Polynesian extraction. These roots go deep, and mix now, with the culture of the later European migrants.

           Even in town here, as I sit in Auckland, you have the old and beautiful churches, mixed with the new apartment buildings, and the needle like sky tower casino. Which is much more than that. It is a hotel, a meeting place, a collection of cafes, bars, and restaurants, and shows. The streets are planted with avenues of pale green, lacy trees, set against the cream, stonework of the older buildings. The pavements are wide in most places, and the shops colourful. If you walk down to the harbour, where you can catch boats to Waiheke island, Devonport, or even whale watching. As a culture, it remains quite laid back, interesting even for its mangled vowels. The whole town sits on sevn volcanos. None of which are active, we hope. All the streets though, are at a steep angle. Hardly anything is on the flat. Good for getting fit, or keeping fit.

           If you are a film buff, you will have seen the Peter Jackson films of the Hobbit, and The Lord  of the Rings, there the wonderful photography of the what they call Middle Earth, will show you something of the magic of the countryside in New Zealand.

          If you have not already done so, you need to visit, you will never forget it, or regret it.

        
+Fisherman Foundation and all fishermen. This is the country for fishing.

+tramping tracks walking tracks 
+Moiri culture 

Why?

             Why another blog. Why this blog. Well, it's because everyone sees the world differently, I thought it might be interesting to speak of some of the things I see. Either as I travel, or as I move through my life. I am an artist, and a writer. In a past life I was teacher, coach, mother and world citizen. I have lived in many countries over the years, I intend to continue doing just that. I look forward to the fact, that every place has such unique people, and situations for me to discover. Each has its own beauty. I don't look for the problems, only how to enjoy what's there. How to fit in, I suppose. Or, maybe, to slip through without disrupting things too much.
             Moving, whether temporary, or permanent is a big part of who I am. I have had so many homes, and left so many homes, that the process does not daunt me at all. I know if you lose everything, it's only stuff. It, or something equally as good, or better, will replace it. Much of this stuff holds you down, you stay as you are, where you are out of fear, or because it's too difficult to know what to do about your stuff. How crazy is that? Letting inanimate objects decide your future. You can't do it can you. O.K. I confess, I can't do it.
             I know what you're saying, what if a person is happy where they are. What if they don't like to move? I say, that's great. Do what makes you happy, do what suits you. I try to do just that, within reason. We all have someone in our lives, partners, family, friends, workmates, or neighbours. Some of these must be considered when making your decisions. You cannot live in a vacuum. Somehow, for me, it's always easy. Or perhaps it's all to do with attitude. I find, that what you need will find you. I also know that every new place, has at least one special person who will become your good friend. The great thing is, you don't have to lose any of your old friends. They are all still there. At the end of the phone, or Internet connection, or plane ride. Picking up with an old friend, is great. It's as if you have never been away. Regardless if it's one week, one year, or one decade. Isn't that neat!
              This blog, I hope will say something of interest to you, if you don't agree that's fine. If you're bored, then that's not. I must do better. I am looking forward to sharing with you, where I am, what I am seeing, and what I think about it.
               Welcome to this journey, I am excited. I hope that you are too.