One of my favorite things about travel are the surprises you find. Such was the case when we arrived at the tiny seacoast town of Oamaru on the South Islaqnd of NZ. It was Waitangi Day, a national holiday, and all around us were artists dressed up and bicyclists riding those huge wheel old English bikes. That night we attended a concert in the park led by a very large Maori opera singer accompanied by an 80 year old playing the world's longest paino. While she sang Italian opera, 4 school kids danced around here wearing huge white butterfly wings. It was surreal! We could not stop laughing! It is so typical of New Zealand, where time stopped in the 60's and the people are quirky and have lots of time for fun and art. Love it!
Here is the latest edition on my Kiwi/American English dictionary (Kiwi phrase and definitions):
Flat White..................................coffee with milk
Cheeky.......................................fresh or arrogant
loo..............................................toilet
trolley.........................................shopping cart
"Happy as a box of
fluffy ducks!"...............................very happy
"Happy as a Sand Boy"................happy as a beach boy
Tramping in the Bush....................hiking in the hills
So, now we are off to the big city of Nelson. We'll stay in a Backpackers hostel, probably surrounded
by kids who are 30 years younger than we are. Granma and Grandpa!
I will be home on March 8, hopefully to warmer weather. Chuck returns March 28, after trekking some big treks (He is wearing me out!)
