Feb 10th-Tauranga

Fastest growing area in NZ. Home of the timber industry and the Kiwi Fruit. Te Puka is the Kiwi town. Kiwi growing is very serious business. There are the regular green kiwi and now the smooth skinned golden (pictured above ready for picking this April), and here in NZ there are 3-4 numbered varieties in the pipeline. There is only 1male vine, planted around 4-5 female vines. At flowering (males have flowers, but no fruit) several beehives are strategically placed among the vines to ensure pollenation. Extra sugar syrup is provided to keep the bees interested and well-fed. The hives are removed in a few weeks and the male vines are cut back severely to allow the females max room.

Pyramid lines are strung above the vines for the next year's fruit-bearing growth which will be let down after the current year's fruit is totally picked. Before picking can begin, a fruit inspector must chemically test in the orchard to ensure a certain sugar content...the okay is given and local new zealanders do the picking, by hand. Fruit is stored for 24 hours, then sorted by size, crated and can be stored in 1degree C for up to a year.....now you know!

Feb 9th- Leaving Aukland, NZ

Good-die and Good-bye Aukland!

Feb 9th- Aukland, NZ

Things I've learned about NZ....there are NO snakes...there are rugged individuals like Billy Black who has a one-man NZ "Heritage" show. He can neutralize a crazy sheep by flipping it on its back in 3.5 seconds and shear it in another 1.5 minutes. Kiwis are fruits AND "baminals"...birds that have mammalian characteristics like fur and no wings!
Go to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves...I was so fascinated I didn't even think of feeling claustraphobic more than 16 meters underground...unfortunately, no pix..they're shy little fellas.
A MUST have is a jar of native Manuka Honey. It's great for anything that ails you, and if by chance it doesn't work, you can take yourself to Urgicare and NOT be alarmed at the question: "Have you come here to die?"....it's just a New Zealander asking if you were admitted TODAY!
Aukland is a great little city of 1.4 million, clean, very safe with interesting architecture...I think almost everyone owns their own boat because there are a lot of marinas everywhere. When you go to the movies, you purchase reserved seats...courtesy and "good" behavior seemed in order even among the roving youth.

Speaking about youth, I couldn't resist including this picture of G really happy with his non-alcoholic green punch with "carrot-bird" at a super little Thai bistro.

Feb 7th Leaving Bay of Islands, NZ

Dolphins are closely following the bow's wake, jumping and playing...wish I could have captured them! This blog counts on your good imagination!

Feb 7th-Bay of Islands, NZ



Our Maori guide explaining his tribal tatoos



A roadsign not seen in "The States!"



Single Kayaks!!!! Our marriage is saved!

Feb 4th,2011 -Tonga

This is a little kingdom of approximately 120,000 people spread over one large island and many smaller isles. It is rich with its own history and culture, very different from French Polynesia. It has a religious backbone, Catholic, Methodist and Latter Day Saints. The churches run many private schools that seemed well attended. Their arranged marriage system seems to work fairly well. Traditional wedding celebrations stretch over a week and culminate with the couple leaving for a "honeymoon." The island doesn't have the breath-taking drama of volcanic mountains running into the sea, but beautiful beaches nonetheless with unusual rock formations, natural caves and some rocky coastlines with spectacular "blow-holes" that explode in high tide waves.  Guess who's building public relations by by sending workers and machinery and supplies to mend pot-holed roads and rebuild hospitals and "palaces?"...I'll give you a hint...the Tonganese are expecting to have a "Chinatown" soon! Very Interesting!

I have a video of a traditional Tonga Firedance performed in a coastal cave after a huge Pig-Roast Luau... Because it won't upload by ship's satellite, just imagine a really cool firedance done by some really fierce-looking, smiling Tonganese warriors and ask to see it when we get home! Amen!

February2nd,2011-A Very Happy UN-Birthday

Not being a seasoned world traveler, I never expected not to celebrate my Birthday...but get this....Today is Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 but tonight we'll cross the International Dateline, and tomorrow we'll wake up to Thursday, February 3rd, 2011. Adios February 2nd, 2011...No Groundhog's Day...no Puxataunee Phil....for me, no year older(It does have a nice ring to it!) We have decided, by popular opinion to celebrate tonight AND tomorrow night...If we could keep doing this do we get younger?