Welcome to my Blog

Welcome to my Blog

I created this space to post my thoughts and photos. It began in 2012 with my travels to New Zealand, Tasmania and living and studying in Australia then continued back to Canada with my return home to Edmonton and moving to Victoria, British Columbia. Join me on the journey. Post a comment!

Sunday 12 February 2012

Interesting things about NZ

Today was our last day in NZ. It has been an amazing trip. We spent the day in caves above and below ground and in awe of the mystical glow worms. Yes they really do exist but unfortunately I was not allowed to take photos!
So what have we experienced in NZ?
People keep their doors open, crime is low, there are few bugs and the breeze flows through the house and helps to cool things off.
Speaking of bugs, the petrol stations have great windshield cleaning brushes, better than ours, yet there are few bugs – go figure?!
Most of the roads and towns have Maori names and we find them extremely difficult to pronounce.
One lane bridges with a yield to one side of the traffic is common.
Sheep are everywhere!
It is incredibly clean and the only graffiti is on the rental vans – purposely.
The trees are amazing, huge, lush and coniferous forests with scotch pines are interspersed with a variety of palm trees.
Public toilets are everywhere and clean.
The most popular potato chip is chicken flavoured. We unintentionally tried some today - not horrible.
When you order a hot chocolate you get a couple of bite sized white and pink marshmallows to go with it. Kumara is sweet potatoe, corgette is zuchinni and capsicum is green (or red or yellow) pepper.
Agapanthus, huge, bulbous purple and white flowers grow wild beside roadways.
Hotels and B & B's don't have closets.
The Maori women called us "my lovelies".
The people are friendly and kind, especially Canadians like Sharon below (the sister of my friend Gail) who lives in Auckland.

1 comment:

Sharon said...

It was lovely to catch up with you and Keith last night. I'm amazed at the sheer volume of activities that you've managed to pack into such a short stay. Also glad that you're now convinced that glowworms are real! Looking forward to hearing about your adventures in Tassie.
Cheers,
Sharon