Ten Last(ing) Impressions

As we leave for home, we came up with 10 points about NZ. There are more, but 10 seemed like a good number. So, in no particular order:

1. NZ is BEAUTIFUL! (Didn’t see that one coming, did you?!)
2. NZ is a very laid back country, with less emphasis on what you wear, the things you have, etc. Very refreshing.
3. NZ seems to be inhabited entirely by nice people.
4. Talking to strangers/fellow travelers has lead to exciting conversations and some surprising coincidences. It’s good to talk!
5. We can live with a lot less: space, clothes, accessories, shower water pressure….Happiness CAN be achieved with less.
6. We will never take central heating for granted again!
7. It’s really exciting when students have read the readings re: the day’s lecture!
8. The no tipping idea sure is nice. And servers still provide quality service because that’s the right thing to do.
9. Public transportation, when done well (as in Christchurch), is great!
10. We benefited so much from living in and learning about a new culture. It made us feel more connected to a wonderful group of people and helped us learn (now and for the future) to be less judgmental and more open to options for how things occur and how we all are more alike than different.

For those of you who read these ramblings, many thanks. We are thankful for everyone’s great thoughts, prayers, and comments. We had a blast and hope someday you get an equally exciting adventure. Love, Kenn and Lynda

Final Days in NZ

Yesterday afternoon, we went downtown and, as you see in the picture, went punting on the Avon. It was very peaceful as we skimmed across the river by lots of mallard and paradise ducks. Last night, we went to the “Uni” Staff Club for a final happy hour and “Sizzling Sausages.” We were somewhat anxious about the sausage part, but it turns out they were pretty good. They were served on your choice of a slice of white or wheat bread. We also tried the Bubbles and Squeak. What is that, you ask? It’s like a hash brown with small pieces of vegetables in it. Very good! We then went with department staff to a Tapas restaurant that was in a rustic (but chic) loft-style building. Great food! Today is our last day in this great city. We’re going downtown, well, because we can and we can still shop! We also will see a real Kiwi (can’t leave NZ without doing that!).

No Fools...We Hear the Clock

Well, the clock is definitely ticking on our stay in NZ. Kenn had his last class session today. The students were very nice and gave him a wooden Maouri fish hook symbol on a stand (he had been wanting something for his office). Two nights ago, Kenn’s suite mate, Dr. Emily Lin, took us out to her favorite (very authentic) Japanese restaurant downtown. We decided to be adventurous and let her pick out the meal. So, that means we had such delicacies as venison (sorry Bambi!), eel, fried fish (as in they fry the whole fish, including bones, so crispy that it is like eating chips…..sort of), and some kind of egg pudding thing. And there was even more than that! Really, most of the food was very tasty. Tonight we head off in search of a cheap suitcase because, well, we have more coming back then we did going. ARGH! Tomorrow is our last late afternoon time at the University Staff Club. It’s sizzling sausage night, too! Cheers!

Dolphins, Take Two!

Here are the much anticipated movies from the dolphin swim. This first one shows Kenn (and, ok, some other swimmers) swimming as the whole pod comes up (and under) them. This is when about 8 of them swam right under Kenn (31 seconds long – it may pause sometimes): http://www.flickr.com/photos/27117889@N08/3397306335/

In this next video, you will see what it was like looking down from the front of the boat as we slowly cruised up the strait. It is awesome! Check out the one dolphin who, several times, seemed to swim sideways so he could look up at us! It’s a minute, 6 seconds long, so if it stops periodically while it buffers, be patient: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27117889@N08/3397335077/

Flipping Out!

This morning started early; we got to the Dolphin place at 7:30 am and took off on the boat at 8:00am. Looking at this photo, can you guess which one of us swam with the dolphins? This experience was AMAZING! The dolphins were bottlenose dolphins. VERY big! Kenn got in and out of the boat four times to swim. The first time, about 6-8 dolphins swam under him. Two swims later, one swam by. Last swim, about 5-6 separately. Each time, he could almost reach out and touch them. AWESOME! Then, everyone got back on the boat with Lynda and the boat glided down the strait and, no kidding, we would entertained by about 60-70 dolphins. Some were right next to or in front of the boat. Some so close that when they blew out their blowholes, the spray hit our faces. Jacques Cousteau never had it so good! See pix at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27117889@N08/?saved=1 We also hope to upload two short dolphin movies Lynda took when we get home. Stay tuned!

This afternoon, we went tramping on the Victoria Domain tracks for about 2 and a half hours (don’t we sound just like Kiwis?!). And we did all of that without a bottle of water (don’t we sound like stupid tourists!). We then went and soaked our feet in the harbor water because they hurt so damn much! We are light-weights!

After cooling off, we walked around the main street, looked at shops, and treated ourselves to chocolate-dipped, Hokey Pokey ice cream cones. You have not lived until you have tried Hokey Pokey, a NZ candy that tastes somewhat like the top of crème brule (sp?). It has a bit of a honeycomb texture, but not as airy. They make cookies, candy, syrups, and ice creams with this chunkie goodness. Not that we have tried each of those before….several times!

We now just finished dinner. We got a bottle of NZ champagne, cold cuts, cheeses, grapes, hummus, and crackers and ate out on our balcony looking at the harbor, the intercoastal ferry that leaves from Picton (to Wellington) and, a few minutes ago, dolphins jumping out of the water. Ask us again if we want to come home.

Whiners?

Even though it’s our last full weekend in NZ, we’re not whining – though we did just get back from a half-day wine tour (including a yummy, boutique chocolate store where they hand-make their own chocolate). So, I guess we’re winers but not whiners. We’re up in the north part of the south island in a little town called Picton. We took the coastal train all along the gorgeous coast. Our room has a balcony with a view of the harbor. As you can see with one of our pictures (http://www.flickr.com/photos/27117889@N08/?saved=1 ), it’s a pretty nice view! Tomorrow, we do a harbor cruise and Kenn is hoping to swim with dolphins (yes, he’s trying it one more time). Hope to have more fun pictures tomorrow of Sunday’s adventures.

Wildlife in Christchurch

No, we’re not talking about Kenn and Lynda! We went to the Willowbank Reserve late this afternoon (it was a beautifully, sunny, warm day). Willowbank is sort of like a zoo (but not), and sort of like a nature preserve. It has animals that are native to NZ and others that are transplants to NZ. It’s very natural: lots of trees, ponds, “rivers”…You walk through the different exhibits (well, most of them). They even had eels in the river and now Kenn will have nightmares! Click this link to see some of the animals and a) guess what they are (specific names, if possible) and b) which native animal you are NOT seeing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27117889@N08/?saved=1