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Terry Ambrose

Writing is like a good barbecue sauce, if it ain't bold, it ain't worth doing.

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You are here: Home / Archives for New Zealand

New Zealand

Friday Fotos – Russell pillory — fun now, not then

January 29, 2021 By Terry Leave a Comment

Russell pillory is definitely not the place you'd want to hang out.

It’s been more than a hundred years since anyone actually was punished by being put in the pillory. In some cases, offenders had their heads shaved. These days, the town of Russell uses their pillory on the boardwalk as a great tourist attraction. And, by the way, Kororareka means “how sweet is the penguin”. Kororakeka was the name of the colony that eventually became Russell.

In today’s modern society it seems almost impossible that the pillory was once a form of corporal punishment. The sad truth is that when we consider what’s been happening to society in recent years, we haven’t progressed nearly as much as we think we have. The physical pillory of days gone by has been replaced by a virtual one on which a cyberbully can castigate or dehumanize another at will. Let’s face it, there are plenty of 21st Century citizens who are still living in a 19th Century world.

Let’s hope 2021 brings with it an incremental move toward a more enlightened world in which the pillory, both the physical and the virtual ones, are a thing of the past. (Oh, and just in case you’re curious—I did not try out the Russell pillory!)

Check out the history of Russell, New Zealand here. Want to see more photos from our trip? Here’s a link where you can check out all the entries in our travel journal.

Filed Under: Friday Fotos Tagged With: New Zealand, russe

Friday Fotos – Auckland skyline at sunset

January 15, 2021 By Terry Leave a Comment

Auckland skyline at sunset
This was our view at dinner as we sailed out of Auckland. Normally, I wouldn’t shoot through glass, but the view was too good to pass up.

Ordinarily, shooting photos through glass just isn’t my thing. But, when you’re in the dining room of a cruise ship and the food’s about to arrive, that is definitely not the time to leave your wife at the table to try for a better Auckland skyline photo. As a result, there are some orange streaks reflected by the glass. The great thing was that I still got to enjoy dinner, didn’t get myself in the dog house, and got this Auckland skyline photo. What could better?

Want to see more photos from our trip? Here’s a link where you can check out all the entries in our travel journal.

Filed Under: Friday Fotos Tagged With: New Zealand, sunset

Friday Fotos – Maori welcoming ceremony in New Zealand

December 18, 2020 By Terry Leave a Comment

Part of the Maori welcoming ceremony
While small, this Maori welcoming ceremony was well done and they were so friendly!

One of our interests while traveling to New Zealand was to learn more about the Maoris. Fortunately, we had several opportunities to visit historical sites or events such as this Maori welcoming ceremony. And though the experience isn’t the same as it would be in a remote area or perhaps a hundred years ago, it’s as close as a modern tourist can get.

The really nice thing about this particular ceremony was that it was done by a small, local group and was not highly commercialized. I attended another of these ceremonies at a larger venue and, while it was extremely well done, it reminded me all too much of a commercial venture. This one, on the other hand, felt authentic and real.

Want to see more photos from our trip? Here’s a link where you can check out all the entries in our travel journal.

Filed Under: Friday Fotos Tagged With: 2020, Friday Fotos, New Zealand

Friday Fotos – under the shade of the kiwi vine

December 11, 2020 By Terry 1 Comment

Under the cover of kiwis
This is, quite literally, one of the coolest places to be. The valley where this kiwi farm is located was very warm, but the shade of the kiwis was very pleasant.

One of the coolest places we visited during our 2019 trip to New Zealand was a kiwi farm. It was a hot day in the valley where this farm is located, but under the shade of the kiwis, it was cool and pleasant. We weren’t allowed to pick the fruit, but we did get an education about kiwi fruit and how this golden kiwi is one of the best.

By the way, the kiwi is actually a Chinese gooseberry vine. Even though we didn’t get to pick right off the trees, we did go to a local store where there were all kinds of products to tempt the palate, including ice cream!

Want to see more photos from our trip? Here’s a link where you can check out all the entries in our travel journal.

Click here to learn more about the story of New Zealanders and how they came to be called ‘kiwis’.

Filed Under: Friday Fotos Tagged With: 2020, Friday Fotos, New Zealand

Friday Fotos – Picton Harbor calling

November 27, 2020 By Terry Leave a Comment

Picton - harbor showing some of the boats in the harbor
Boats in the harbor at Picton, where tourism is big business

During our 2019 tour of New Zealand, we had the pleasure of visiting beautiful Picton. This gorgeous small town is located in the Marlborough Sounds and is reminiscent of days gone by, a time when it was easy to walk around and stroll from shop to shop. The locals in this area say the harbor has more boats than there are permanent residents.

The thing about this small town is that tourism is big business. Without it, the town would be much smaller. There is skiing nearby, but when the cruise ships stop coming, the town becomes quiet. Learn more about the area on the Visit Picton website.

If you want to see more of our trip to New Zealand, check out last week’s post, Friday Fotos – Zealandia is a wildlife refuge for the future.

More photo from New Zealand

Plenty of places to sit and have some tea

Outdoor tables are common and the atmosphere is relaxing

Oldest church in New Zealand

Established in 1836, this is the oldest church in New Zealand, and it's still beautiful inside.

Art in the town garden

Here's another of those beautiful pieces from the central garden

Strings first, then glue

Once glue had been applied to the binding, the pages set

MS Noordam in background

Just beyond the anchored sailboats is the MS Noordam waiting for all of us to see the sights.

Sunrise as we arrive in Russell

This was an early morning shore excursion, so we had to be up bright and early!

Napier - Art deco 5

Art deco is king in Napier.

Filed Under: Friday Fotos Tagged With: 2020, New Zealand

Friday Fotos – Zealandia is a wildlife refuge for the future

November 20, 2020 By Terry Leave a Comment

Zealandia took over this structure
This “lake” is actually part of a dam, which became part of Zealandia when it began.

Welcome to Zealandia wildlife refuge!

Don’t get this Zealandia confused with the continental shelf by the same name. This one is in Wellington, New Zealand and we visited during our 2019 trip to New Zealand. This was a great experience. Much like all other organized tours, there simply wasn’t enough time to see everything we’d have liked.

The Zealandia wildlife refuge is a fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary. They have a 500-year vision to restore the valley forest and freshwater ecosystems as closely as possible to their pre-human state. An organization with a 500-year vision is very unusual, but they are intent on reintroducing species of native wildlife, some of which have been absent from mainland New Zealand for more than 100 years.

Check out last week’s Friday Foto, Friday Fotos – Hawkes Bay Express is a stylish ride.

More photos from Wellington, New Zealand

Zealandia took over this structure

This "lake" is actually part of a dam, which became part of Zealandia when it began.

The Beehive

This building is called the Beehive. It's where the Executive Offices of the New Zealand Parliament are located.

One of New Zealand's endangered

Unable to fly, these birds fall prey to mammalian predators.

Terracotta Warriors exhibit was on display

This is a very popular exhibit and requires separate tickets, which we didn't have. It was also sold out!

Te Hono ki Hawaiki - Maori meeting house

Our guide told us she was bothered by this interpretation of a Maori meeting house for several years, then one day had an epiphany and now understands it.

Stained glass at the museum

This beautiful stained glass was in the same area as the Maori 'house'.

Filed Under: Friday Fotos Tagged With: 2020, Friday Fotos, New Zealand

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