J is for Journal

Way back when I began writing this blog, its sole intention was to be an online journal.  I wanted to write about my experiences on this adventure and be able to share them with family and friends that were being left behind.  A record of events.  A historical narrative.  Proof.  I look back on old postings, especially the early ones leading up to leaving Australia, and I am instantly transported back to the feelings of anticipation and excitement of the unknown.  I reflect on what may have been done differently if I had known what I know now. I find myself wanting to talk to the John Ray from then and tell him how magnificent the future is going to be and how many adventures he will be experiencing, big and small.  This journal has become part of the adventure in its own right.

I is for Islands

One of the ambitions we set ourselves when arriving in New Zealand was to take advantage of the proximity to other Pacific Islands.  Two factors have helped us achieve this.  The first is an obvious geographical benefit of being closer to the Pacific Islands than Australia = cheaper fares.  The second is the fact that New Zealand has a significant proportion of people from the Pacific Islands living here.  This results in a lot more flights, airlines and options travelling between NZ and The Islands = cheaper fares.  First we went to Samoa, then Niue, most recently Vanuatu and in February we are off to Tahiti.  Each island has been different – culturally, linguistically, geographically and geologically.  Some had ocean caves full of colourful fish like a huge underwater aquarium; others were fringed with reefs in an endless mosaic of patterns.  Others had white sandy beaches fringed with swaying palm trees or black volcanic rocks tumbling into deep ocean cliffs.  Some had volcanoes, spewing lava and ash into the atmosphere; others were clad tightly in dense jungles.  No two islands had the same combination of elements but one thing they ALL had was an exotic charm, feeling of remoteness and loads of friendly smiles.

H is for Happiness

Happy to be here.  Happy to have done what I have done. Happy to do more of it. Happy.

G is for Grab-a seat

This is a website set up by Air New Zealand, the national airline of this great country.  Every morning hundreds of cheap seats are put up for sale giving passengers the chance to fly between set destinations for a fraction of the normal price.  It’s simply a matter of watching out for something that interests you and you GRAB it!  We flew to Auckland for lunch one day, even though it is only an hour and half drive away.  Every few months they do crazy things like $1 airfares and such. There are usually a selection of seats to various other Pacific Islands and Australia and every few weeks they include flight to almost all of their worldwide destinations.  If only we were rich……..and didn’t have to work.  Damn.  Anyway, about a year ago they added something a little different to the bargain and that is a reverse auction.  Every 15 minutes during the day a few tickets to one of their domestic or international destinations is advertised with a clock which runs backwards for a minute.  With each second, the price drops and the first person to stop the clock gets the tickets for the price that it was stopped at.  So the real gambler will wait until the minute is almost over as the price could be a mere $1 by then.  If only other airlines did this as well.

F is for Fotography

I know the spelling is wrong, but it did seem like a good match.  A little over a year ago I bought a big camera with two lenses and no idea how to use them.  I had always wanted to get in to photography but found the cost debilitating and so just admired great photography from afar and dreamed of what I would do if I had a better camera.  A few short courses later, and hundreds of hours of reading later, I finally feel that I am getting a feel for taking good photos.  I have been experimenting with exposures, getting in to night photography, and have bought an array of lens filters and other accessories.  I now find myself looking at objects and landscapes as potential photos and trying to work out what settings and lenses would be best to capture it all.  I love it.  

E is for Extinct

The most notable aspect of New Zealand for me is the silence of the forests.  Where once a myriad of bird life coexisted to fill every ecological niche in New Zealand’s varied habitats, only a few remain.  Many of the native species have become extinct since humans arrived here 900 years ago.  What native species persist are largely outnumbered and displaced by introduced pests such as sparrows and starlings.  Gone are the largest eagles ever known with a wing span of 3 meters and weighing up to 15 kilograms.  Gone are the eleven species of flightless moa, ranging from small chicken size to nearly 4 metres tall.  In fact New Zealand has lost over 47% of its bird species since humans arrived.  Given that there were no mammals in NZ prior to this apart from a few species of small bats and coastal sea lions, this is still almost half of all terrestrial vertebrates that existed around 1400 AD when it is thought the first wave of humans arrived.  The damage has been done through overhunting, land clearing, swamp draining and feral animals. The few remote areas which have remained less affected give glimpses of what may once have been an aural symphony of music filling the now silent theatres.

D is for Delightful dogs

Another animal one I’m afraid.  When we were originally only coming over here for one year we were planning to be leaving our 2 dogs behind in Australia in the care of others.  Upon deciding to stay longer we opted to bring them over to join us.  An expensive undertaking of about $4000, but one we didn’t ever consider not choosing to do.  As a result we have been able to enjoy our days off with walks around the countryside and runs along the beautiful Raglan beaches with Renner and Flinders in tow.  It has been great having this part of our ‘family’ life continued in our adopted country and they have loved it too.  Being a water loving dog, Renner has relished in all of the streams and puddles that the wetter climate over here produces.  Being surrounded by farmland and livestock has kept Flinders busy watching and trying to ‘round up’ all the neighbouring cows. Delight in the simple pleasures is what D represents for me.

C is for Chimps

Chimps have been a big part of my life in New Zealand.  From day one over here I have been involved in the chimp troop and some days I felt I was one of them myself.  Many hours, if not months!, have been thinking, worrying, feeding, cleaning, training and playing with my little hairy friends.  Some days have been joyful, others mentally challenging and a few even ending in tears.  Lots of fights and screaming, banging and bashing, mind games and politics all definitely has a sanity tax for those who work with chimpanzees.  These extra grey hairs in my beard can account for that.

B is for Black sand beaches

The North Islands beaches along most of the western coastline are remarkably different than those along the east.  Many of the rivers that drain the volcanic North Island flow out west, taking with them the dark coloured eroded sediments from past volcanic eruptions.  These sediments are very fine, almost dust like, and so get carried along the coastline by the currents and waves to form long glistening beaches.  On closer scrutiny, the ‘black’ colouring is from the moisture in the sand as the particles themselves are more of a grey colour.  The different sized particles are slightly different shades of grey and as a wave recedes, a rainbow of these shades is left behind in amazing patterns of art.