Second Week Continued...

As my second full week of touring wound down, I could tell I was running out of steam a bit and not as gung ho as I usually am....after all this was my Fifth Week over all and I had been going at it pretty hard over the last month or so....still I was excited for the weekend and to get back to watching rugby and this amazing tournament that was unfolding before our eyes.  For now however, it was nice just to go to a locals for some beers, conversation and a home cooked meal.

Our connection was Proos (almost sounds like bruce when the sweeds say it and roll the r's) He was an old friend of Hanky's and had lived down in this area playing rugby years ago.  Apparently he had made friends with Steve and Kylee McNab and work for their river rafting outfit.  When we met in the park, in fact... they were just coming from the river and were still in the company van.  Turns out they had taken the kids out for some fun as the day had turned out to treacherous for tours....the amount of rain + flooding = volumes or flows that are out of control and dangerous for any tours to operate.  So instead they took their kids to do some other fun stuff on a RARE day off.

Proos and his son were also down in NZ for the World Cup and to catch up with old friends....so it was a welcomed homecoming of sorts and we were excited to be off to something different than a soggy camper site left to cook our meager rations thrown together meals from the store.

Not too much after arriving at Steve and Kylee's house, you could tell these two lived a face pace life of raising kids and running a very busy and successful company.  The phone rang off the hook with appointment bookings and other guides calling in to check schedules and loads for the coming days.  So at first it was a bit hard to engage in conversation.... so I played with the kids and tossed a rugby ball around.  As it turned out... Steve's son was a world champion already...  at motorcycle racing... and he was only 7 !!!!

Yes, the kiwis seem to get their young ones going at an early age no matter what the sport.  "Ripper" Rugby, which is flag rugby for the kids starts at about 4 or 5 !!!   So, guess it shouldn't be any surprise that you have a world champion as a 7 year old!       Anyway, some time went by and things settled down as Steve prepared dinner for us all.  Fresh Muscles and Pasta.... again, yes New Zealand is a good place!

It wasn't too much later that Kylee was able to hop in the conversation and soon we were all sharing our stories of travels, where we were from and what we thought of their beautiful country.  It really was nice, and almost seemed like Thanksgiving or Christmas back home when all the family members caught up.  Just another allure of NZ is its wonderful people....as they welcome you in their homes, or give you willing advice on the road...whatever the case, they all seem to genuinely care about your welfare and more importantly your experience in their country.... really a cool thing.

One could tell Steve and Kylee were passionate people, whether it was their successful business

http://www.raftabout.co.nz/about-us

Or all the places they had traveled around the world...not only separately when they were single...but not together as a family.  Kylee was a university scholar athlete in softball and was able to play some professionally abroad, and Steve wasn't much different with his naturalistic routes and stout frame....no wonder they had a man child of a world champion motorcycle son!  Anyway, they both had lots of wonderful explanations to our questions since they had a really good hold of not only New Zealand's history and feeling of its own people but how it felt or pertained to world views that they saw when they had traveled.

Not coincidentally, there had recently (within a few days) been a tragedy of epic proportions to a small naturally beautiful country like New Zealand where an oil tanker had run aground and was hung up on a jagged reef near the Bay of Plenty while its contents bled out into the sea.  This type of accident which has almost become all too common among American's was particularly disturbing to the Kiwi's on several different levels.  We learned from Steve and Kylee that these types of shipments / contents were thought by the Kiwi public to not have been approved for passage….especially in the really pristine part of the eastern coastline of the north island where navigation if very tricky and difficult for any boat or ship.   In fact just last week Hanky, Roffe and I had passed through this very same region just south of the Coramandel coast coming only a few dozen meters from the beach at Mount Maunganui and the other beaches near the Port of Tauranga....  See the Cathedral Cove pictures and the Cape of Rodney listed in the prior post during our first week in the van.

Suddenly the pictures I had so proudly taken just a week prior seem to speak volumes to the effects that would soon be handed down.

It’s one thing to build or make a fence like this, but it really does speak volumes about how the Kiwi's truly feel about their surroundings.

So when the news broke of a tanker carrying heavy oil in this area had wrecked....EVERYONE was devastated...but now to hear some things that you don't get on the News or the TV broadcasts was all the more disturbing.  It seems, by Steve's explanation that national government had even tricked or superseded the local governments in that area by giving them a false sense of protection.  Instead, passage rights and fees had been paid for this difficult route to be navigated by exporters of other countries...this particular ship originating from Greece.  This news only made the Kiwi public that much more enraged.  On top of the misleading the public, was the slow response to fix or even try to stop the flow of oil encroaching the natural habitats of so many beaches.  In quick order to that problem...there were hoards of people flocking to local beaches to clean up the clumps of oil themselves...throwing welfare and the health of themselves to the wind.  Even Steve mentioned he was thinking of grabbing the kids to go and help clean up since they were only a short drive from the popular local vacation/destination beaches soon to be affected.   I quickly told him of the health dangers that were involved with this type of thinking and that it’s bad enough for adults, but even worse on the still developing systems of young children.  He had no thought or idea that oil clumps and their off gases could cause major health concerns...his only care initially was to the immediate impact of wildlife and natural scenery.   That same mantra played out all over the TV as you saw locals go out and clean up the beaches without so much as gloves!  Just boots, shovels and buckets.  

Really Amazing Stuff.

All in all, it had felt in the short time we had known these people that we all were on the same page and really glad to have crossed paths.  Plus, we were excited about our plans to head to Queenstown and the south island....and they had all kinds of good info on what to do.  These suggestions took up most of remaining stay as we looked online at maps and adventures.  Steve had helped us prioritize what we wanted to do and get the most out of our 4 days down in the south island....obviously we were thankful, and wanted to stay and drink late into the night....but just like every day of the week, the next was a work day for Steve and Kylee so we wanted to respect that and get out of their hair.  Meanwhile we hoped to see them again and would gladly give up any help, boarding, or anything else should they ever make it over to our countries to visit....after all they had provided us with what seems to be a country wide proud, and constant sense of welcome hospitality.

As they say "Good on ya"...We traded our thanks gave our regards and were on our way back to the campgrounds.

The Blog Continues....

I am currently updating my page with links to my youtube channel and other gadgets, while also adding pictures to the posts from NZ where I was unable to load large pic files from my handheld. Let me know what you think of my background pic, other pics...etc.

There was obviously a drop from the 2nd week or so in October...so I will continue on with the rest of the trip as it pertains to the pictures and my memory... hopefully before any of it fades.

Subscribe by putting your email address in the box provided so when I post an update you'll be notified....or make comments to each entry or picture and that way I can communicate with you in the future.  Otherwise the Archive on the Right can obviously lead you to the most recently updated entry:  Midget Wrestling.

Thanks for the support and to those whom I don't know, thanks for following.

As Promised...MIDGET WRESTLING !!!

Seriously, what else has to be said....?  Jezues Christo...What the Hell.... Dude, What... No WAY!

Okay the list can go on and on....However, this was a must see of sorts for some of my friends....me, of course how could I not go and see, inspect and marvel.  After all I think it was a couple years ago I flew ALL the way out to Colorado to attend a friends annual Halloween Party because that year he had booked the Midget Kiss Cover Band.....Mini Kiss.  

Yep, I was amazed then and still am today what I saw that night in Fort Collins.  But this event was apparently a structured and sponsored event playing to crowds all over the country as a part of the "Micro Wrestling League"  that's right, a fully sanctioned and COMPLETELY legit operation!!!!

http://www.mcwusa.us/

Anyway, I knew none of this before I attended and apparently it turned out to be an educational trip from the way I am writing. 

I mean come on... I could have been here all night taking action photo shots but luckily my phone battery was running low, and I had seen all that I came to witness....including the wierd mix of people attending an event like this....even kids shouting at the wrestlers with their parents!  However,where do I get off commenting on others in attendance when I call this guy a friend of mine.....

Stay tuned I will add more later when I gather myself, for now its lunch time.

The Second Week of the Carnie Caravan

Monday brought more showers and crappy weather just in time for us to get on the road back into van camping NZ style.... Sweet As... NOT!

The instuctors on the boat in tutukaka were using this term  Sweet As...a lot...and i've taken notice to it since its very similar to a favorite phrase of mine.. coined by a college buddy and another Classic Individual whom I shared many great times and have tons of stories of, his term...Sweet Ass. Come to think of it he went to graduate school in Christchuch ...so maybe he changed sweet as..to sweet ass? I will have to remember to ask him when i get back. It wouldn't be out of the norm of possabilities since he also liked calling moguls on a ski mountain "ramps" which always gave much enjoyment and laughter to my friends in CO... Hell i could write pages upon pages about the funny stuff that has happened not only around my good friend Dr. Volcano (Chris Gregg)  but any one of my friends from college...as well as CO and NC.  Ive always matained how lucky ive been with friends and the pertpetuation of "making fun" again....probably sounding like a broken record with this but I barely know where I am from day to day!

More on the make fun term at a later time.
We decided to hit the maori strong hold of the north island the lake town of Rotorua. It was created and surrounded by historic volcanos responsible for some magnificant explosions through the years and the landscspe for which this territory has been a staple for tourism dating back into the early 1800's.

The rain made for a long day however, it did stop long enough to let us find and get hooked up into a holiday park near town.

We made a run to the grocery store for the week and got some food to grill out that evening. While checking out i overheard two old ladies standing beyond the cashier talking about last nights all blacks match.  Easily passable for well seasonned grandparents...they were greatly concerned about the kiwi's production and the injuries mounting as the tournament wore on....as two more veterns were lost after the quarter final win. The biggest being 100 game cap Miles Muli Ani....im sure im murdering his name but will have to look up and correct later.

Regerdless the concern and the commentation comming from these two old gals was classic...its just yet another testiment to the all encompassing support and love for the all blacks.  I had also meant to write about this topic before...the matches we've attended you really notice how many women not only attend the matches but know their rugby.  It far out weighs anything i've seen before... and is altogether amzing in its own right.  Its the polar opposite of what goes on in the US where girls are programmed to know more about fashion or entertaiment versus sports which is a guy thing...which is intresting since SO many more girls are active and play sports in the US than anywhere else in the world....but i guess whats around you...here its Go The All Blacks all the time... in the states its marketing and selling goods geared to age and sex specific groups....ever read what is headlined in magazines in supermarket lines or constantly on TV?  My favorite is the newest marketing stategy by the NFL to sell EVEN more gear/make more money  by offering Women Specific Jerseys, Sexy Cut Off Tee Shirts or Pajamas with their favorite team logos and of course the NFL insignia proving its authentic!  There are definitely no fantasy football leagues for women here in NZ! Hey maybe there's a marketing idea for the NFL world wide folks?  Anyway the suport and knowledge down here is impressive by the women and they would have no problems in a fantasy league of rugby.

The next day we planned to hit up the authentic maori village known as Te Puia which means fortifeid village. Probably by the many geothermal hotsprings that dotted the town and added to the rugged lanscape.  We were happy to see the rain subside for a while as it would allow for easier treking around outside. It was expensive for park entry but  we figured worth the full day of touring and history that it would provide.

I will have some great video to add to youtube of tradtional maori song and dance as well as the haka  and my favorite the welcoming. There is a special process visitors must go through in order to enter the villages gathering place which is like a town hall. Used for meetings and celebrations it is also sacred and taken seriously. You have to first be courdially invited then offered a fern leaf....sized up by one of the warriors then given acceptance. they then sing and blow horns welcoming you in...you have take your shoes off then sit and enjoy.

The performances were amazing and well worth the price of admission.  We were pretty tired and needed some fueling up, so decided to hit up the cafe and eat some lunch before embarking on the rest of the tour and site walk.

Afterwards feeling much better we got in on a tour of some the cultural teachings and active workshops onsite that educate and keep going the marori culture not only to those who visit, but also certain students that are awarded the chance to study here.

These carvings were just as amazing in person as they are in pictures. The coolest part I thought was the oyster shells they used for the eyes.  These staffs and poles all tell stories, and I can only imagine the coolness and depth to which they illustrate the morals and ways of living back then... and I guess even today for this really vibrant island people.  I constantly was thinking of another buddy of mine from college who is extremely talented with wood carving and art... he would love to see this and have a great experience down here... I will definitely have to email him and tell him all about this place.   Check out his work which is bought and posted all around the world. 

http://www.bradsells.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

Pretty cool to think Rugby is pretty much the way I met Brad at Tennessee Tech, his older brother was the teams player / coach... and brad and i hit it off immediately sharing the same sense of humor as well as love of sport.  Come to find out later he was this crazy artist...and I ended up taking some clay / studio art classes with him off campus at a wonderful facility that almost no one knows about....

http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/home/

I guess that's because a top notch engineering school isn't supposed to have such a kick ass art facility...but the nature of area lends itself to nothing else.  We had a blast those couple of semesters heading up there to take class... it was a nice break from campus life and the town...it took about 20 minutes to drive to and among some of the most beautiful vistas and turns that led to the site on a lake in the middle of the Cumberland Platau Escarpment!  

Guess Im a bit off topic, but its cool how trips of this nature take you back to other places and times...that you may have not thought of as a trip or a vacation....but maybe they should have been!  The further I get away from it...the more I appreciate and the more I understand how great my time was in college...much of it was a vacation, come to think of it... in terms of my life early and late.  It was no doubt one of the best times in my life....and much like this vacation or set of circumstances for which I am traveling will no doubt produce similar memories down the road and later in life.   I think a lot about the people I have met along the way... and how I am in a different phase of my life... maybe from those that I met...or just in general.  Like the friends made on the surf tour.. I think what I am trying to explain pertains to them mostly.  Its really cool to think about their journeys and how they see things.  I appreciate it, because I was in that same mode of opperation not so many years ago.  Only difference... I was at university in Cookeville, TN... or out of school in Denver, CO.   Two places that are very far and very different from Austraila or New Zealand... but .... Are They???   It's all in your memory or in the way you see things.   I will have to explore this more and explain in greater detail later... as I think I may be repeating some of my thoughts covered while writing during and after the surf tour...   anyway...

I enjoyed the cultural experience thus far and learning cool things about how the Maori people lived and survived.   Simple things like making cloths from Flax plants.  Which I thought may be the same thing where Flax seed /oil comes from... regardless, it was cool to see how they used an oyster shell to strip the palm and then work it to get the fine hairs seperated only to combine them all in a fashion which to use for weaving or sewing.   Amazing how simple something can be yet work so funtional...and be used for so many different things!

This was becoming a long day since we had gotten up pretty early...but Hanky and Roffe wanted to soldier on...there was plenty of outdoor stuff to see and experience...and the weather was cooperating.  Lots of Sulpher springs and boiling mud pits... and you could see this was important and/or spirutual place for the Maori's.

I was pretty much exausted and burned out from a full day of walking around and sight seeing, so when It came time to leave I shut down a bit... I think the tour / vacation is starting to wear me down.  Hanky and Roffe wanted to hit another park... and nature preserve that had kiwi birds running around.  We saw a few kiwi's in Te Puia but it was in a small dark cave that had them behind enclosed glass... you had be very very quiet and still to catch a glimpse of them....and still the Chinese that were on tour couldn't resist to squak loudly and take photos...even though there were signs everywhere forbidding these actions.   Tired grumpy and clearly not in the mood to deal with this ridiculous squakers anymore....when we left I decided to bail on the plans to see the other kiwi birds and nature preserve. 

Instead I got some more food a pint and then watched some provincial boys academies play rugby in the park in the center of town.  It was a good break and enjoyable as always to watch kids play rugby.

The two squads one from North Shore...up by Auckland...and the other a local outfit in Rotorua were faced paced and put on lots of points in the muddy conditions....not much interest was paid to tackling, so...the game went by fast.

Soon Hanky and Roffe were back and met me in the park.  They informed me they had gotten touch with one of their Swedish friends who was visiting (apparently he used to live in this area and play rugby some years ago) and they were going to meet us here.

That sounded nice and entertaining....and as it turned out, there was a local with them who ran a local river rafting company, who offered for us all to go to his house to eat diner.  New Zealand is a good place!

The Quarter Finals

We were excited to be on the road back to Auckland and watching rugby since we had been talking it about all week. Plus I had at least grown used to watching pool games during the week for the past month...so the lapse was a bit noticeable.

A couple hours into it we had to stop of course to get Hanky's pie fix.  The crusty delights had become a staple dietary option of late as they were everywhere and quick and easy to both pick up and eat...usually with some tasty beef or chicken inside they were much better than the gut bombs you seemed to get in the Enlish isles.  I liken them more to a small homeade pie crust with some of mom's beef stew inside... well maybe not that good!!!

Regardless we had figured out that the bakeries were the place to score the freshest and thus the best pies...plus they were usually cheaper...always a plus.  In doing so we noticed a small sign on the window of the shop we were ...there was an Alumni Rugby match being played today...and it was on at the moment.  COOL.   We all thought this was a good idea and a welcomed diversion from the van and the road.  It was being held at the local college up the road.  Rodney College...which is our equivilent to High School... was located in the town of Wellsford.  So we made our way up to the college campus and roamed around until we found the Rugby pitch.

We were immediately impressed with rugby...naturally, these kids are young 15-17 years of age....but already have been playing longer than any of us!  Plus from the young start....its evident how well these kids ball skills are...meaning they off load or pass and catch the ball so well and make it look easy.  Lateraling a rugby ball on the dead run with a hard tight spiral is very much harder than it looks.  Not to mention these kids kick  the ball very very well.  The only thing lacking is the physical side of the equation....but that's the beauty of the sport...the Alumni being older men obviously ruck and maul  with ease...and the scrums were not even a question.  However, if you play a fast pace game by going to the ground at conctact, ruck and protect the posession and then get the ball out quickly...then you can run as many cycles as long as you keep posession....picking your spots to advance the ball down the field.  Obviously younger kids have a bit more natural stamina then the oldies...but it was fun to watch regardless.  The old guys were obviously taking it easy on them...making it a good game and one to learn by....after all....Rugby is one of the few sports I can think of where Youth isn't always served up better than Experience.  In rugby experience and knowledge always wins out....now obviously there's always points where that tips the other way ...and athleticisim and youth will make its presense known.  But for a Fit and Strong man in his 30's with 20 or so years experience under his belt....youthfulness and athleticism is usually no match.  As many of us know...those days go by quickly and there certainly is a time when it comes apparent when the experience just can't keep up with time...for some like many sports its hard to let go, because it is such a beautiful sport and unmatched in its TEAM principles for succeeding and winning....which makes it only harder to give up.

One of the local was nice enough to make friends with us....apparently he is the jack of all trades around the school and does a little bit of everything...mostly involving maitenance.  Like most clubs there's always one guy like this and they usually can't survive and prosper with out him.  In this case dudes name was Randy....and he was quite talkative...I can't begin to cover all the things we covered but no doubt he was full of information.  He of course had a son out there playing...and he had grown up and played at rugby college when he was of age as well...nice!  Apparently the kids here and in the country usually play rugby for school during the week of the school year...usually on to two games per week against other schools....but then on the weekends they play for clubs as a party of league similar to what we have in the states as a part of little leagues when we were younger.  I guess AAU would be a better description.  Anyway, it's apparent that playing rugby all the time like is done here is why its such a supeior sport in the region.  There are other sports...but they just aren't that popular.  Softball is quite big with the girls...but so is rugby and apparently Rodney College has a pretty darn good girls side as well.

Soon it was apparent that there are some pretty good players on the field. We learn that Rene Ranger who was an Ex All Black member of the japaneese 7's squad... and current longtime member of the Auckland Blues, a professional team which is a part of what is called the Super 15. There are 3 countries with 5 teams each in this "NFL" of sorts league for Rugby Union.

So...when you are an All Black...whether you played one game or hundred... you are reveered as royality...and for good reason...as you can imagine the amount of competition and the chances of selection in this rugby crazed country must be like...still, unlike gods they are just humans and not different than you and I...again, especially in this country where being humble is taught at a very early age and reminded to one through various ways as you grow older.

So, all in all a great pit stop.. after an hour and a half or so...and a thousand stories....we said good bye to Wellsford and Randy.

On the Road Again.

We were glad to see Chris, Jo and Fam after a week on the road...we showered and did some laundry and made plans for our weekend of Rugby.

We had decided that France was the lesser of two Evils...and would cheer for them as England the Evil Empire needed to be sent home just like they had been for much of thier world history!  Plus it was too much having them around for the 2007 cup when everyone knew they didn't belong with the squad they had...So.. Le Le Bleu it was....that just sounds so ridiculous!

We all wanted Australia to beat the South African's as well... and I was pulling for the Irish while everyone else wanted Wales to win.  Obviously the NZ Argentine game was a no brainer... I think a remaining cup w/out the all blacks would be devestating....not only for the country but just for the atmosphere of it all.

As it was... Everyone won that we wanted...except for the damned Irish.  In typical fashion, they were shut out of YET another semi final by a young Wales squad that beat them at their own game.  So such a spledid cup where the Irish really played beyond expectations and gone undefeated in pool play for the first time ever....was lost on handling errors, and some breakdowns on defense ....if only momentarily, long enough for Wales to make them pay....so give it to the Sheep Herders from the North, they were steamrolling towards a matchup of the Sheep hearders from the South!!!

The Atmoshphere at the England France game was Electric and really awakened us to the fact we were at the WORLD CUP OF RUGBY.  The pool matches were no match for this... Eden Park in all its Glory and History being the perfect backdrop.  Everywhere you walk are the Homages to the past legends and greats of the game.  Its definitely a cool atmosphere and only building towards tomorrow nights game for the Kiwi's turn.

I will give France this.... they play some hell of rugby.  I can't stand their country...most of their people and their fluffy language...but their style of rugby...and the players they produce to play the game are Magnificant in their own right.  I have become a Huge Fan of Maxi Blah Muh Blah Fluffy Fluff... that's better than me attempting to say or spell his last name.  But Maxi is a Great Fullback and played a Hell of a Game.  He has some ridiculous Wolverine-esk looking beard chops...but otherwise this little guy is a beast running, kicking and defending his quarters.  As much as I hate to admitt it... I love watching him play and love his game.  Le Le Blue... ehh puke!
 http://www.espnscrum.com/france/rugby/player/27446.html
yes, espn covers rugby, although you'd never know it here in the USA where they find it more interesting to show national spelling bee's and poker games....is there anything more boring?

some good footage of him in action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPLaGTEx9PQ

The Frenchie fans as well, have to be given some props... although It pains me enough to tell them in person...it's easy enough because Most if not all of them speak so poor of English... the conversations are short... and even the sweeter in this case.  But they do party and have a good time...they make the game better by their support...and of course their enjoyment at beating the English at their own game.  Which Hanky reminds us all...is the only reason as a country they started playing rugby.  But Back in 1987 when they made it to the very first Cup Final... it help explode rugby in the counry and make it what it is today....in fact they have been to as many finals as any other country with only Aussie and South Africa...maybe England being in More... and they've ALWAYS made the Semi's... in every tourny since it started.  I think that speaks for itself.

So.. Now, history always tends to repeat itself...and it's pretty cool in this case...since the last RWC here in 87...now it has returned...24 years later...and again we have the same four teams in the Semi Finals.  The only difference being the matchups.  Wales to Play France instead of NZ. and  Australia to play their bitter rivals NZ ....Yes this Assuming a Victory over Agentina, but lets face it Im not a humble or disaster fearful believing kiwi... they'll win and face Australia for the Tasman Sea Bragging rights that everyone is well aware of here....the famous words caught on tape, where George Gregan (Aussie's famous halfback) was shouting "Four More Years, Four More Years BOYS" around the last scrum in their Semi final Defeat of the Kiwi's back in 2003.   That was later brought up again and the video footage shown when the ALL Blacks lost to France in the last world cup.

So.. not as if it needed any...but the papers have all the story lines they want to choose from...and it gets no less daunting for the kiwi's.  It's literally do or die....you laugh, but not most...ALL here would rather do so then loose to the British Convicts.

As if all the story lines were enough to make the kiwi's sweat and doubt their chances the bigest news was the loss of their captain and super man number 10, fly half and quarterback of your team... Dan Carter.... to a groin injury suffered earlier in the weeks practice.  He would be done for the entire cup...it was that bad...and the reaction was equally deminishing.  Among all the discussion would be the proper choice to replace him...

Well the game was finally here and we were definitely excited to watch someone else play...seems like I had seen too live Northern Hemisphere rugby....and Englands case, it's really boring rugby.... I guess you can say it's about as ugly as an average English set of teeth!!!  Good lard what is it with the Brits...damn,  Add Flouride to your Water!!  Anyway, maybe its just in their genes... whatever the case.  They didn't have much to smile about anymore so that was in all angles and cases a good thing!!!

Im sure I will have a warm reception from all the ex pats back in Raleigh after reading all this...but really Im giving no more than any of them or anyone down here gives me or other Americans.... and trust me the brits are EVERYWHERE down here.  There are tons that have realized their paltry existence in the Vitamen D deprived skies of the Isles and left for sunny times and better locals in Australia and New Zealand...but they haven't left their smugness behind or the love of making fun of the US.. so i just see it as my Red Blooded Amur-ikan, hell yea Right...to make fun of them... constantly!

Besides, its too easy!

I remember leaving out a story when we were at our first car park/camp at the Hot Water Beach of the first week.

I was sitting and working on my journal entries in the common room betwwen the kitchen and the tv room / laundry facility...and Hanky came in from doing laundry to chat and see what was up.

By doing so, we caught the eye of a group of brits sitting next too me.  They were Welch supporters and having a good time after their slaughtering of the Fijians they night before.  So naturally the talk turned from rugby to where we were from and what we were doing.  Hanky and I both explained. There was plenty of questions and it was a plesant discussion.  Since I had been to Aussie they were interested in hearing what I thought of the places I had been...since one of the more talkative couples was living in Sidney currently.  I of course gave my approvals of the country and the wonderful times I had in the brief time spent there.   However, I made the comment that I thought...at least portions of the East Coast were Much like, if not exactly like The USA.  From the standpoint that you see excess in building, and there is a standard consumer path to building strip malls and such...everything there was recagnizable as the same things you can get in the states and life was very similar.  But before i could get that explanation out, the English wife of one guy said... "oh I hope not, I live there" meant as a slight to the US, she let her polital views or feelings slip for that moment that she hoped she hadn't moved to Australia and it was exactly like America...that would be after all be almost treasonistic towards the crown...right?  I quickly remarked that my statement Aussie was just like America...was meant as a Compliment!

Ha gotcha....

Hey listen  We all know the problems that exist in the US and how dispicable things can get there in politics and in life in general... but the more I travel the more steadfast in my believe that the US is still the Best Place on Earth...all the way around in every comparison and on any level... we do it best and get it right more often than not.... although that margin is sliding away at times and getting close to going the other way... we still have hope to change things and make them right...and do so quicker and with more impact than any other place on this planet.  Besides, that's why everyone always looks for our approval or help in times of need.

Most of this is just jiberish and things we already know.  But people like this lady...dont, so right or wrong.. I never pass up a chance to tell her about it.  As if I needed any objectivity, her husband agreed, since he had spent time there for work... imagine that.... she hadn't been to the states....

Some moral issues then became the topics of discussion... and I am constantly amazed how quickly the world has now become less and less different.  I find it good in a develish kind of way that now other countries are dealing with the problems that for so long they put off or blamed on us...as being greedy americans or whatever....   The simple fact of it all is... now most countries are a part of a global fabric connected and economy wise dependant... the same problems are croping up everywhere....  why?   Because we are all human...simply said.   Humans are greedy by nature so that's where things go wrong...even on the most simple of levels.  For instance they were talking about the problems with the Bullying in schools...and how Facebook has made social problems worse.  So.. to me it shows that even beyond the Economic crisis of one persons greed tricking another into making questionable decissions and thus putting a countries wealth and standard of living into jeaopardy.... the same rational develops and happens on lower levels of basic human nature with kids growing up and making bad decisions, using greed or power or whatever to promote themselves or bring others down.   Sure these things have all been around since the dawn of man...

But my point is now more evident to stubburn Europeans that like to blame our way of living and our society for everything...  Now that they are dealing with these issues... BIG and SMALL in every from or fashion.. maybe they'll stop making excuses and see that its a human problem and take some responsibility...  and in the case of the French, stop giving up, running away and letting someone else fight their wars or solve their porblems....   Sorry, just had to put that in there...again just too easy!

So...the good news from around the world and other people I talk to is...that regardless of how ineppt our own citizens think President Obama is.... the world still loves him and other country's have hope for us and like us more with him at the Helm...  so not all is lost right?

Okay, enough serious talk, politics, world views and social plagues of our youth....it's way beyond my pay grade anyway!

It was a long day leading up to the Kiwi match and Chris wasn't feeling good.  Didn't seem like he was too drunk the night before...but now seems there is a bug going around, as his daughter Reese just puked and wasn't feeling well... uh oh.   One thing you don't wanna do while traveling is pick up a bug... I know that... as well as most of us do... all to well.

So Chris gave us a ride down to the game...as we would take the 12midnight ferry back to his game after the match...that would leave us some time afterwards to have some drinks and celebrate what would be a Kiwi Victory and a berth into the Semi's.

However, the game was less than spectacular ...coming from a kiwi's point of view at least.  We thought it was an Amazing game...but the atmosphere was completely dead!  Its like the kiwi's expected a complete blowout and dismantling of the team that placed third in the last world cup!!!!

Sure at one point early in the match the Argentine's were up by one point...but that didn't last long.  As Dan Carter's replacement Peri Weepu had a marvelous perfromance and kicked the hell out of the ball too... think he made 5 penalty kicks or something... he was just automatic....additionally he led the team like he had been their captiain for a decade.  Surely the kiwi's would be thankful...and now more confident...  they weren't  Most complained of somthing or another.

I was astonished... i think all the rubbish they were reading and hearing was really becoming a reality to them....when in fact it wasn't.   I think the game was great because the kiwi's took it too the Argentines, and didn't let up.  Granted they didn't bust any long spectacular runs score insane highlight reel tries...  but they kept pounding their centers and wearing them down.  I give credit to the Pumas for not breaking.... they are a magnificant side that is only going to be more and more of a force in the years to come.

Besides you never know the real game plan...or what goes on in the locker room.  The kiwi public was complaining of their ineptitude to break the Puma Defense....but maybe the pounding of the centers and the vanilla play was simply a conservative and steady approach....  seriously...maybe that's what they wanted from within.... and the phases that went long from sideline to sideline late in the second half and produces the goal scoring tries late in the match were the result of that approach.  I personally thought so... and enjoyed it...  but I was getting the sense that the Kiwi's were a bothersome bunch who had too much english blood in them and were never going to be happy with any result.

Regardless we had a good time...all be it not at the hands of the entertainment downtown after the match. I realize it was late sunday night after a big weekend....but Come ON... its the World Freaking Cup....

We did however, catch a Zamphir - Ron Burngandy jazz flute performance in the cloud by the port. Seriously...I was wishing that some of my friends could have seen what I was witnessing...just completely, ridiculously HILARIOUS.  There were only 5 of us in this Giagantic performance area and this band with a dude in a Blue Party Jacket was getting down with the electric flute, Im sure he was musically a genious on the side of Jethro Tull...but come on...  I wanted to know who booked this guy for a performance after the Quarter Final Match in downtown Auckland....that's a real jump around type performer sure to get your blood pumping!   Anyway, I was glad to have witnessed it and got some great video, as there was no one to fight past to get to the front of the stage!!!

Vive Le Blu...this guy was no doubt French!

Don't miss his performance on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQF8r1Vm6xs&feature=colike

Needless to say after a long day of Rugby and Laughing ourselves into a Side Ache at the post game entertainment...we gladly hopped on the ferry back home for some sleep and to get ready for another week of travel.

First week caravan cont. Poor Knights Islands

I forgot to mention some of the pics in the last post...of various rugby teams, players and such. It’s not at all uncommon to see shrines set up glorifying the all blacks. We had stopped in a little town along the way to grab lunch and in the back of the restaurant were a small shrine of old pictures...so I thought I’d take a few pics. This person had photos of the early 1900's teams and some "all century" teams which must be like a voted collection of all stars. Again all together neat since this is done quite regularly in the states with any of the given main sports. One is constantly reminded by the passion and support of rugby here...and examples like this illustrate that it goes well beyond world cup facades for visiting countries. Every single kiwi you meet asks if you are in town for the cup and upon confirmation starts talking about match ups, chances and their hopes for the all blacks. Being a humble bunch there is never a since of over confidence or cockiness from any one person...but it makes you understand and very much appreciate why NZ lobbied so hard and eventually got everyone organized to hold the very first world cup in 1987. They knew this segmented island (in a geographical since only) had the best rugby being played among its countrymen but being an isolated country...even present day they want to prove their point. They know how far removed they are from the rest of the world and even though they like it when it pertains to politics, crime and other issues....not so much with their all blacks.

The immense pressure is applicable with every passing week and match being played. The long draught only gives the antagonists from the rugby elitist...i.e. England and their unsavory outcasts from long ago Australia more ammunition to poke and dig deeper with each game that is subpar or lacking perfection. The newspapers and some well documented rugby writers do what they do best...play to their audience and sell papers with controversial topics. The players from any team (but especially the All Blacks) are under a constant microscope on the field and off. Getting caught out at night in a bar or smoking a cigarette is almost an international incident. So when something like Mike Tindland...and English player who is married to some royalty...gets caught kissing a girl at a bar....you can imagine the fallout! The bouncer that made it evident and allowed the media to check out the bar's video tape was subsequently dragged through the mud. It really is a three ring circus down here 24/7... Super bowl week for 7 weeks!

Now that the pool play has been completed and the quarterfinals set the knock out play of one game and you're done only adds to the pressure...especially since the last world cup produced a quarter final exit from the kiwi's at the hands of the dreaded host country...the ever fleeting French!

I guess it is like everyone loving hockey and not having your country that it mattered to so much ever win a cup...sorry Canada! ok well maybe they've won a gold medal finally in the Olympics... anyway I try to remember and bring up as many storylines as I can to inform the non rugby following readers and family reading this...but I think even some of us that do follow, including myself really hadn't thought about it too much until I was amongst it all for this amount of time. The focus of these players is even more immense that I had imagined...and garners even more respect than their skills on the field.

Needless to say, with all the circus atmosphere and the competition presented on the field itself... we are pumped to have tickets to the quarter final match and go see it live for ourselves it really is a huge honor. I compare going to Eden Park and seeing the All Blacks perform their Haka live and watch them play game speed in person to something like going to one of the old cathedrals of baseball and watching the giants of baseball warm up and play on hallowed ground…Yankees not Red Sucks...sorry Red Sox. But on that note I have missed much of the playoffs in MLB to this point, but as it stands it’s probably just as well.

For now however, we had made the decision to venture out to east coast town of Tutu kaka and go diving. since it was Wednesday and the points of interest in the far north of the island were not obtainable in time for us to turn around and make it back to Auckland by Saturday...we figured this was the best option available....besides it was a Jaq Cousteau top 10 dive and as hanky says "it must be done" yes it has to be done.

A good read with some video of the site:

http://www.doc.govt.nz/publications/conservation/marine-and-coastal/marine-protected-areas/protecting-our-seas-dvd/poor-knights-islands/

So we took out of Whangarei. Pronounced fang-ga-ri....since the wh at the beginning of words here produces a ph sound...yeah I know ...what the fark or phat the phuck down here... we sound Asian! phatch out for signar and turn reft at the right! We've been having non stop fun with that one....and since there are a boat load of Chinese people in New Zealand it seems to pass! The locals here and around make it very well known about their dislike of their country being invaded and what they call over run by foreigners....hmmm well since there's only 4.5 million people total in the whole country so I don’t know about over run but hey I’ll let them vent.

Excited to get into tutu kaka we got our camping spot walked to town and lined up our dive trip for the next morning and were ready to eat and drink.  Hanky had a full belly so he was happy and posing for the camera in front of the shop with an anchor found from a shipwreck.

Hanky led the charge as he seemed in the mood to get his beers on. This was only made easier by two fellows I struck a conversation up with who had phoenix rugby shirts on. The quick note that they were familiar with the classless side from red mountain made things that much easier. Red mountain was a rugby club that ran rough shot over most of the western division II rugby throughout the decade they were certainly good enough and urged to move up to div I but they wanted to stay and keep pumbling their opponents...besides for as good as they were they had been to the semi / finals in 3 straight years before they ran into Raleigh rfc in 2007... Well the rest is obvious and they had to wait another year before they made it back to finally win a title.

see 2007 Div II champ bracket....for teams and scores

http://www.usarugby.org/#goto/Mens_Club_Sevens

....side note, the 189 points that Raleigh scored during its 4 matches in route to winning a national championship may still be a record in any division of USA men's club rugby.

So Raleigh RFC did the natural thing and the proper move by bumping up to Division I the following year.  Its the only way to improve and expand your club by promoting better play and competetion.  Sure its A LOT tougher....the club is going to take its lumps, travel longer distances....pay more and struggle.  But ultimately that's what you do to get better while honoring the sport.  Well unless you are just in it to win it and self promote.... call Red Mountain the the USC or NFL of rugby.

Red Mountain and their classless fans (who had a middle finger drawn on the back of shirts with Raleigh Vipers underneath it)  had very few supporting or cheering their conquest in 2008.  I think as a whole the Rugby Community, especially out west, was glad to see these guys win, then slowly disband by veterans retiring.  After the loss in 2007, there were plenty of comments out on the message boards and closet Raleigh fans all over the US to prove this point.

Anyway these guys from Phoenix RFC seemed cool and it made for easy drinking and conversation. By the end of the night the owner of the bar was the only one left. He was super cool and gave us a lot to be excited about as he was a very experienced diver.

I had paced myself not wanting to get hammered before getting on a boat in rough seas going to dive seemed like a good idea to me but hanky seemed to forget this discussion earlier when we decided on only having three or four beers. Regardless on the walk back to the camper we were happy to have some left over Chinese to devour before bed.

We had so much left over food from our venture into unknown chartered waters that is communicating with Chinese people WHO LIVE IN AN ENGLISH speaking only country yet speak little if anything recognizable to English...phat the phuk?

Quite comical actually but altogether a part of an American’s daily life really when you think of all the different languages you here from time to time or lack there of when you think about it. Thanks to Hanky's enormous appetite and teenaged metabolism we have to stop every four hours to eat or someone gets a little grumpy...and I thought I was bad!

During one of these episodes we were heading through Auckland on our way to finding beach camp north of the city when he stated his need for food....and something quick. Knowing his love for KFC and the eminent danger ahead I found one close by with the help of the trusty iphone google maps. When pulled off thinking we might want something a bit healthier we opted for a Chinese place across the street. We were all in.

Hanky needing food quickly and loving egg rolls immediately gets to business. This was a sit down restaurant however, so we had to be seated...at least there was another couple there...so somehow this made things more acceptable and comfortable. There were many round tables dressed with linen and gold chairs...something out of a bad 80's prom dance or reunion. But again we were hungry and the WAS someone else sitting and eating.

By the time we sat hanky had his order of spring roles in... The lady not understanding English or even Swedish English called over the other waiter… who had jogging pants and a t-shirt on to come over and translate. How many do you want the kid asked hanky...hanky answers back with a question...which we all know now is not the thing to do...well how many eggrolls come with an order? The boy replies three...hanky says ok that good. The boy says you want three? Hanky...yes.

Easy enough right? Right. We then look at our menu...just one that we had to share! Hanky decides he wants the beef chow mein then gets up to go wash his hands. Not a problem now Roffe and I can decide. He orders some beef and vegetable item...only problem is they are out of the vegetable item. Now there is three people standing around our table two of which can’t speak English one boy in a jogging suit trying to translate and Roffe very serious and down for none of these shenanigans just decides to order what hanky ordered. Easy enough.

now it’s my turn...after seeing that last snafu I just point to my item beef and dry noodle....I figured since they didn’t have whatever vegetables Roffe ordered prepared...I would just stay away and order something without vegetables. Easy enough right?

Not so much ...seems during all that discussion, one of the ladies who couldn’t speak English was pointing over at the other couple saying botchoy which I knew or understand as to be like broccoli...I shook my head yes I saw what they were having and no I wanted what I was pointing at on the menu. Well again hind sight here is twenty so they say.

When hanky came back the egg rolls were there to greet him...very nice very quick makes for happy hanky. Problem was there was only two...not a big deal pretty standard we thought it made sense. Then they brought two more orders out....we started to laugh because now we understood the questioning by the kid and the number 3. Oh but wait...suddenly we realized maybe this kid didn’t speak such good English either? Oh well...

The entrees followed shortly after...all but mine...when it did come it was a massive plate of botchoy with some strips of beef. We all started laughing as I had told hanky what I had ordered and it certainly wasn’t this...oh well.

Shortly after we started eating another massive plate comes out and....wa-la my beef and dry noodle. Sweet we now have enough food to feed a group twice our size. Looking over at the other couple I was just glad they didn’t bring out the life sized fish they were eating...head and all! Yes enough botchoy to make one pea green for a week was plenty on this occasion. At least we were able to take away the leftovers with too much discussion...I was wondering if I would be better off using a tactic used to explain the ill communication efforts I had experienced in Prague trying to speak Czech words...whereby I said it would be easier if I just dumped out a box of matches and hoped the sticks formed a word! Sometimes that’s the hoplessness you feel with different languages.

Regardless our mishaps were providing some humor and filling our stomachs late we pondered what the next morning’s dive would bring.

Big Seas! As it turned out the weather hadn’t gotten much better since our start of this week. The on and off again rain was somewhat take able since we were in a van most of the time but now we were on a boat....a bit more miserable and not to mention cold. The seas were so rough (about 4-6ft swells) that you had to stand and hold onto something or risk spinal fracture and compression. The boat was much smaller than either of us had been on before...

Needles to say it was a long ride out to the poor knights and we were both exhausted. However the coldwater would no doubt wake us up...sorry they call it "subtropical" yeah ok...I have a 5mm thick suit on head and booties cover...somehow tropical doesn’t factor correctly in any word or phrase. Regardless once you're in and you adapt, it was fing... I was really mad I hadn’t brought my go pro HD video cam along to capture it all...but in the spirit of lightening my load, I left it behind in Auckland as I didn’t think I would need it... and had no idea we would make plans to go diving.  I had to make due with my Iphone above water.

All the fish life, kelp beds, sting rays and eels would remain I. memory only as this diving experience was different than the Great Barrier Reef. First off it was colder 50 degree water..plus no reef...just large boulders with some different colored corals growing on them...but the abundance of fish life was much more apparent here than our spot out on the GB reef so that was really cool. Plus seeing a ray...eagle ray to be exact was unbelievable...floating around down there with difficulty then seeing something like that float and swim off with such ease is almost magical.

I was able to stay down under for 42 minutes which I am told is good for a beginner...it was also good that there was just myself and another girl diving with our instructor. However, she did come up and vomit at the end of the dive. Hard to explain after all we had been through with the ride out and the rocking boat while waiting to jump in that she got sick at the end...? But come to think about it...there is some real difficulty staying oriented while under the water with the drifting tides, waves etc all sloshing against the massive lava rock island that is the Poor Knights...so maybe all of that added to her condition. Either way I was glad to be up as well and took the time to float on my back and breathe real air and fresh humid oxygen...staying upstream of the floating vomit of course!

So the next dive after lunch (also much smaller than the aussie dive, the supposed "big sandwich" promoted at the shop upon setting up the dive was hardly that...one slice of ham with a bunch of lettuce and veggies on a med sized slices of bread hardly got me rejoiced for a second dive) It was now just me and the instructor which was more the treatment the PADI certified divers got...and usually more of an expense if set up by a beginner such as myself.....so I guess everything evened out from the disappointing feed at lunch! We had a good time exploring all the rocks and kelp beds... Really Bummed I didn't have my video cam to capture the golden eels we saw....they are just so evil looking but still beautiful. Since they are blind they tend to hull up and hide in the rock crevices...sensing your presence they just hiss with their mouth open... scary enough not to get close for me...especially since I am having real difficulty controlling my floating. With these huge / thick wetsuits and the colder water= salinity etc... I am all over the place.... constantly running into rocks and getting caught up in kelp beds, which is a little freaky at times! Anyway, I was thankful that you didn't have to worry about touching the rocks as any of the small organisms growing weren't like the corals of the GB reef...and you were okay to touch without damaging.

Much like the 2nd dive in Aussie, I got a massive headache and feeling it only get worse, I decided to tell the instructor to go up. We relaxed a bit while floating on the surface...and he said it may be that I am not breathing enough...or simply the dry contained air I was breathing. I think all of these things along with a bit of dehydration were probably the cause. Either way he was glad to have dove with me and really encouraged me to do more and get certified as we were able to stay under longer and see more than usual so...for him it was equally fun.  Plus there was always much to see and cool wildlife...

It’s weird, as I told hanky on the boat ride back in...I’m not so sure that I am gung ho about doing all that with certification and what not. For some reason, I like idea of diving with a group or instructors...and think it would be way too much to handle diving with friends or by myself....just way too much respect for everything that goes on down there and not really my cup of tea as far as enjoyment when the stress of all that can go wrong is involved. I think I'll go as I am today or in the future. If I happen to travel somewhere where something cool can be done then I will consider it....but I don't know if I am hooked on all the effort and expense it takes to take "dive" exclusive trips and to see what's out there. Who knows maybe that attitude may change in the future, but for now I have REALLY enjoyed the opportunity and what I have seen to this point... will always have the memory of the sights and feeling...and now can enjoy even more when I WATCH incredible dives on TV...with the key being on watching!

For now a huge dinner and massive amounts of sleep are in order before heading back to Auckland Tomorrow. I think getting back to Chris and Jo's place will be welcomed after our first week of cramped quarters in a small van and operating around the wet conditions.

All in all not bad though and worth the effort for all that I've seen this week and been able to do...this country is definitely immensely beautiful...and the weekend break only allows us to recharge and enjoy another excursion all over again.