Sonntag, 13. Januar 2013

Why we actually went to the wharf...

.... was because we wanted to see the Rainbow Warrior anchoring there, for the first time after she (or her antecedent) was bombed there 1985. Since then Greenpeace see Auckland as her "spiritual home" they said, and that New Zealand should build on it's reputation as environmentally conscious country..
Furthermore, by chance, we got to see a performance of "MIXIT", a very interesting integration project for refugees. We were amazed by the confidence and joy of the performers (mostly between 14 and 40 years).
www.mixit.co.nz. 
The weather was splendid, and people were so friendly and smiling that I sometimes asked myself whether I looked funny or what that the people smiled at me. Probably I was smiling myself most of the time... 

Freitag, 11. Januar 2013

Green Christmas Holidays

Oh, this was beautiful! Almost three weeks as tourists in "our own country", with the nicest company, the family of my brother. It was also wonderful to see how well the kids connected to ours and viceversa.
Ankunft

Beim Aussuchen von Wasserschuhen

Still in jetlag

View from our balcony: we don't get used to it...

In our garden


At Hamilton Gardens: The Chinese Garden, with Ester








Our teens

Picnic in the Italian Garden, Hamilton Gardens


Father and uncle, with Leopold, Daniel, Ester


American Modernist Garden



Auckland CBD, view from One Tree Hill



Thames to our feet

Typical "Waterhole", Karaka Valley


This year's Christmas Tree


"Bescherung"

God is blessing Thames

Karangahake River

Luis mit Charlotte

Waterfall near Karangahake Gorge


Thornton Bay


Happy Family, at Kauaeranga Valley Info Centre



Hoffmanns Pool, Kauaeranga Valley

Opoutere Beach


Opoutere Beach

Whangamata






Waiomu Beach

Waiomu Beach




Katikati Bird Gardens




Beach Fireworks at Mt Manganui


Mt Manganui Beach
Mount Manganui

Cathedral Cove
Cathedral Cove
Hot Water Beach - you dig a hole in the sand and get a hot pool

Kuranui Bay BBQ


Micha and Rani





Coromandel mountains








Whakarewarewa, Rotorua




Charlotte and Daniel

At Kerosene Creek (40°C)




FlipFlop Country

Our agenda: Coromandel West: local lookout, bush, creek and waterhole (Karaka Valley), local beaches (Thornton Bay, Waiomu), Karangahake Gorge, Katikati Bird Gardens, New Years Eve in with friends at Mt Manganui, Coromandel East with Opoutere, Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, Rd 309 through the bush, Rotorua: Whakarewarewa Therma Village, the 40°C hot Kerosene Creek South of Rotorua, Rotorua park, city, Hamilton Gardens, Auckland: One Tree Hill, CBD, and last not least, our churches.