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Friedman
I'll Hang Around A Little
Joined: 27 May 2004
Posts: 11
Location: China
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Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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thanks so much for your words, Rich! 
i am considering to visit NZ again this Nov. 
i visited Rotorua in 2002 and it did impress me a lot.
i still remember we sing so many songs in a car beside the lake of Rotorua which dotted with a lot of black swans---they were so cute! 
that's a unforgetable night!
feel jealous that you live in that fabulous land!!! 
i am now living in Shenzhen, China , a city in walk distance to Hongkong.
looking forward to my future trip to NZ.
Friedman |
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richsadams
Electronics Guru
Joined: 19 Dec 2003
Posts: 156
Location: Formerly the U.S. now in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand!
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Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 2:06 pm Post subject: First Impressions |
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Hi Again! 
Great to hear from everyone...and I see the points are down to 140 so hang in there. If the Immigration Minister is getting "spanked"  that much in public, you can imagine what's going on behind the scenes! They'll need to play catch-up for a bit and that should mean the pass mark will drop for quite a while...should include everyone here in the not too distant future!  If they would have only asked us in the first place!!
Friedman-Thank you for your kind words! I really admire you for getting out and seeing the world. Americans generally live a very sheltered life in that sense. I've met so many people that have never left the country...or even their own state for that matter. That's okay if they can't afford it, but some have no desire to see the world and subsequently get a very, very slanted point of view about other people and other lands. Traveling is the best education anyone can have. Keep it up and keep us posted. If we're in town we'll buy you a beer down at the pub! 
I probably over reacted with the shoe thing. I'm proud to be an American (just not what's happened there recently) and as I mentioned, everyone here has been super-nice anyway. I guess I'm just conscious of being spotted as a "tourist". Locals do wear white "trainers" (tennis shoes), but most are dark colored...and now I suspect it's only because they get dirty (muddy, etc.) quickly here. So wearing dark shoes that keep the water out is apparently more functional than a fashion statement! 
People we meet often ask how long we're here for (after they hear our "funny" accent) and when we tell them that we live here they are usually surprised, but also smile and tell us "good on ya" (same as "good for you"). A lot are surprised we'd leave the U.S. to live here as it's usually the other way around for some people they know.
Hang in there So CalGal and Rae...you're almost there! With regard to the moving company, the consulting company we used has a “side business” that helps people find jobs mostly, but it also has agreements with a number of local businesses that offer discounts and freebies to their clients. That's how we came to use Allied Pickford’s Ltd. They are associated with Allied Van Lines in the U.S. So although the company in Auckland handled all of the paperwork, Allied Van Lines did all of the packing, etc. at our house. And from what I saw a great job too. They are pretty strict on what they’ll take of course…the normal items like paint, chemicals, etc. aren’t allowed. We tried to sneak in a couple of packs of batteries and they “caught” us! They didn’t say anything, we just found them on the counter the next morning. Our belongings are due to arrive July 21 and they’ll go into storage as we won’t buy a house until September or so. But when we unpack we’ll let you know how things turned out…safe and sound or otherwise.
I’m writing a little piece on shopping and will post it in the next few days. Find out what Kiwis and elderly U.S. citizens have in common! |
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SoCal Gal
I Like It Here
Joined: 30 Jan 2004
Posts: 84
Location: San Diego, CA
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Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 3:59 pm Post subject: Firs 30 Days |
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Rich! You sly fox! Keeping us on the hook with promises of another story!
We anxiously await.....  |
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nancy
Testing The Water
Joined: 01 Aug 2004
Posts: 4
Location: US
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Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 11:45 am Post subject: |
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Hi Rich,
I really enjoyed reading your account. Are your impressions changing now that you've been in New Zealand for longer?
Nancy |
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richsadams
Electronics Guru
Joined: 19 Dec 2003
Posts: 156
Location: Formerly the U.S. now in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand!
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Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 7:24 pm Post subject: First Impressions |
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Hi Nancy
You Wrote:
| Quote: | | I really enjoyed reading your account. Are your impressions changing now that you've been in New Zealand for longer? |
No, can't say as they have. Everything is going well...we're certainly not in Kansas anymore (although I've never been to Kansas! ). And no place is perfect, including NZ. But the people are still great and the place continues to astonish and amaze.
Today some of our new Kiwi friends took us out on their boat on Lake Tarawera. After sight seeing around the lake, including an up close look at the live volcano, we had this incredible picnic lunch. Not only was the scenery incredible, the deserted area where we went on shore had small waterfalls which delivered steaming hot water into the lake. Apparently rain water filters down through the hot volcanic rocks and feeds the lake...which for the most part is deep and cold. But in this particular area some if it is too hot to put your hands in!
Our hosts brought along a beautiful rainbow trout which they had caught earlier. And here's the really cool part...they simply dug a hole in the shoreline, put the fish in a plastic bag, dropped it in and covered it up. We came back about 45 minutes later and it was cooked to perfection! Wow!  So we sat by the lakeshore, feasted on delicious trout and some terrific NZ white wine while clouds of mist rose around us and swirled across the lake giving it a completely surreal and magical quality. My wife and I had never experienced anything like it! We felt like we had chanced upon a small part of Rivendale for sure! We love this place a little more each day! |
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Moorf
Future NZ Guru
Joined: 06 Mar 2004
Posts: 705
Location: West Sussex, UK
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Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 11:46 pm Post subject: |
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WOW WOW Is there a "goosebumps" emoticon....
Great read....
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karltsmith
Moderator
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
Posts: 570
Location: North Shore, Auckland since March 2004
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Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Rich,
Your tale put me in mind of an experience my wife and I had nearly 8 years ago at Lake te Anau.
We were touring NZ a couple of years after we got married and we ended up in Te Anau (near Milford Fiordland) . We really wanted to get onto the Milford Track but we only had one day to spare in our tight schedule. The Milford track links Te Anau with Milford and was discovered by McKinon in 1885. We were introduced to a local deer hunter called Barry who had his own boat and took guided walks up the Milford track. We duely booked his services and he met us the following morning at 6:00 am. After lauching the "tinny" boat off a trailer we spead across lake Te Anau heading for the Clinton River. On the way Barry pulled in at a small island that he knew was devoid of sandflies and we pulled up on the shore. He promptly produced a weird looking World War one kettle that was essentially a cylindrical kettle. He filled the outer jacket with water from the lake and packed tinder down the central core and after lighting it we waited about 5 mins for it to boil. Breakfast (second breakfast) was had in the middle of Lake Te Anau amidst towering mountain peaks and water so calm it was like a mirror. Back in the boat and off to the Milford track. After two hours of walking alongside the Clinton River, possibly the most crystal clear water I have ever seen, Barry started to take us off the beaten track to discover parts of the bush/rainforest that the average walker would easily pass by. He was a real bushman and nothing escaped his eye. He showed us huge fluffy Lichens that were testament to the purity of the air, superb beach tree forests and around lunch time we stopped on the shore of the river for lunch wereupon he produced, seamingly from nowhere a telescopic spinning rod, and started spinning for trout. 20 minutes later he had a brace of 2lb rainbows and offered them to us for dinner that evening. The day was puntuated with hunting stories and other wonderful annecdotes that flowed effortlessly as we progressed down the track. We started back as the sun began to set...a wonderful light pink dusk all the way back....we even had time for a spot of fishing off the boat on the lake...but no luck this time! Even so we went away feeling very different ....tired...mellow...calm... and completely wowed by the whole day!
I have travelled extensively and walked, climbed, fished and skied a fair bit but for all that when you meet a person for whom this way of life falls into place so effortlessly you understand how little you know and you can't help but be in awe!
Barry, mate, I take my hat off to you wherever you are...we had one of the most memorable days of our life.
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richsadams
Electronics Guru
Joined: 19 Dec 2003
Posts: 156
Location: Formerly the U.S. now in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand!
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Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:09 pm Post subject: First Impressions |
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Hey Karl!
I can really identify with your memorable day as ours went quite similarly. Our friends have their own fishing business and know NZ like the back of their hand. You are SO right that we have SO much to learn and really appreciate their God-given talents to find those special places.
I'm beginning to think we'll never tire of the search for those places...and I believe we'll never see them all...but we'll sure give it a shot!
Now we have yet another place to explore! Good on 'ya mate! Great to hear from you...let's hear some more! |
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karltsmith
Moderator
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
Posts: 570
Location: North Shore, Auckland since March 2004
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Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Richard et al,
Another tale for you!!!
When I lived here in 1987 my friend and I decided to go on a South Island adventure. We were poorer pomes back then and we decided to fly to ChCh hire a car and use the international youth hostels and dodgy backpackers lodges. We had the time of our life!!!!!
On one particular occasion we hooked up with a couple of really nice girls (nothing romantic going on!!) from LA. We met them ay Greymouth having travelled through Arthurs pass on our journey down to Southland via the Fox and franz Josef Glaciers.
On our way down the west coast we were intrigued to see a aeroplane pulled up next to the road (almost) with a sign offering adventure tours of the Mount Aspiring National Park. Well it had our names written all over it.
The pilot, a MAD local crop spayer flew us into the National Park, and very nearly into several mountains just for a laugh , and made the most "thrilling" landing on a bumpy patch of grass I have ever experienced (single engined, high wing plane). His words as we were about to land....... "any landing you walk away from is a good one!".
Once the adrenalin had subsided and we had changed our underwear we were then confronted with the next stage of our "adventure" a leisurely 20km walk in the NZ bush to a rendezvous with a jet boat some 6 hours later....the sting in the tail?.......fording a wide, deep, glacial fed river stripped to the bare essentials and carrying our packs and clothing over our heads.........I feel cold again now just thinking about it!  The water only came up to our midriffs but blimey it was cold and we were all numb to the core by the time we made the other side. A fantastic walk followed in true wilderness and we arrived pretty much on time to be met by the jet boat for a white knuckle ride home...............
Last edited by karltsmith on Tue Aug 03, 2004 7:42 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Timbo
Thoroughly Good Egg
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 290
Location: Epsom England
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Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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Karl. "Second breakfast"......I love it mate.
Wonderful storys guys, keep them coming. Thats the sort of stuff to inspire us all to keep plugging away. |
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normasizzaz
I'll Hang Around A Little
Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 16
Location: birmingham, UK
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 7:43 am Post subject: fantastic stories |
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Hi all,
Keep these fab stories coming. I'm just sat here with a glass of cider thinking what will I do if they don't let us in?
I want to fish for trout and cook it with natural volcanic heat and wade through a freezing cold lake and see the lichen grown in pure air....
Pick me , pick me, pick me before I go mad with envy!
Laura |
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Timbo
Thoroughly Good Egg
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 290
Location: Epsom England
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 8:26 am Post subject: |
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| Going at a bit of a tangent here I know, but did you know it is illegal to either buy or sell trout in Nz. So you have to catch it yourself. |
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richsadams
Electronics Guru
Joined: 19 Dec 2003
Posts: 156
Location: Formerly the U.S. now in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand!
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 9:20 am Post subject: Trout |
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Hi Timbo and All
Trout? Yummm! And it's true, it's true...trout can only be acquired through a fishing expedition or by being lucky enough to know someone that had a good catch! You can't even find it in restaurants  . And you aren't allowed to fish during certain times of the year so the trout have a chance to replenish their population. The non-native trout originally came from the Russian River in California and they are thhhhhhiiiiiiiissssss big! They really are beautiful and tasty fish.
If you're into fishing...this IS the place to do it. You have your choice of oceans, lakes and rivers to choose from...and it's all good!
Another great story Karl...this place IS amazing! |
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