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Author Archives: d4vid
Ford
I had never seen one of these road signs before. I thought to myself, “Well surely this doesn’t mean I’ll need to actually…” But it did afford me the opportunity to ford the ford in my, um, Toyota Highlander. (Sorry. … Continue reading
Posted in Mt. Sunday
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Cinnamon
In Christchurch on the South Island, I stayed at a charming Bed & Breakfast adjacent to and owned by a historic pub called Pomeroy’s on Kilmore. The place smelled of cinnamon apple. Not some crappy cinnamon apple candle, genuine cinnamon apple. … Continue reading
Posted in Christchurch
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Psycho
Yes, yes, I realize that how I arranged things in my motel room is just a few plastic sheets shy of a Dexter kill room.
Posted in Palmerston North
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Tudor
From the east coast of the North Island at Napier, I hurried back to Wellington to catch a flight to the South Island. I stopped for the night, midway at Palmerston North and stayed at this charming motel built to … Continue reading
Posted in Palmerston North
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Thalassocentrism
This was my first glimpse of the South Pacific, looking out from the beach at Napier. The Pacific was the first ocean I ever saw growing up. And this is the same ocean, just seen from the side farthest away.
Wilderness
Heading east from Lake Taupo across the Thermal Explorer Highway (who names these things?), I finally started to see the wilder, emptier aspect of the North Island. I even found this random waterfall that was way cooler than Huka Falls. I … Continue reading
Posted in Titiokura
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Doom
From the redwoods, I traveled southwest to Lake Taupo. This Māori artwork reminded me of some other things I learned from the Maiti tribe. The tā moko facial markings were originally scars, not tattoos. Grooves were carved with three different knives … Continue reading
Serious
Near Lake Taupo are the Huka Falls. Maybe — between Multnomah, Yellowstone, Kegon, and all of Yosemite — I’ve become hard to impress.I did learn the “huka” means “foam” in Māori. Clever. It’s difficult to see clearly in this picture, … Continue reading
Endor
In 1901, twelve hectares of California redwoods were planted in Whakarewarewa southeast of Rotorua. Six hectares survived to this day. Having spent hour after adoring hour wandering the redwood and sequoia groves back in California, I couldn’t help but think of … Continue reading
Improbable
Discovered a black swan in Lake Rotorua. Didn’t see that coming.
Posted in Rotorua
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Sulphur
In Rotorua, stayed at the boutique Regency of Rotorua motel a few blocks away from the sulphurous Lake Rotorua.
Posted in Rotorua
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Tongues
In Rotorua, enjoyed a Māori hāngi which is a feast cooked in a buried pit (much like a Hawaiian luau.) After arriving on the Mitai’s tribal land, we watched the village warriors paddle a waka down the river, carrying torches. Then we gathered … Continue reading
Shire
Yes. That’s the green door. Bag End. Home of Bilbo Baggins. Okay, okay, okay. I admit I went full-nerd but I toured the set of Hobbiton for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Buses started from a … Continue reading
Starfield
I visited the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. After wending our way through stalagtites and stalagmites — some ancient, some forming before our very eyes — we boarded a small boat and our guide used a series of overhanging ropes to pull … Continue reading
Toponyms
If someone came to California for the first time with no sense of history or language, they’d probably say something like, “Wow. There sure are a lot of places with names that start with ‘Los’ or ‘San’ around here!” The … Continue reading