Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween from New Zealand!  I hope you all had a wonderful day with lots of candy...we had this...

A delicious chocolate raspberry brain cake!!!

Love
Chelsea
xoxoxo

Fiji...we went to South Pacific!!!

Hello all,

I know if has been a long time since our last post, we have been holed up inside for the winter.  Chris' family visited in May/June with his brother staying with us for an extra few weeks.  I hope they enjoyed their trip as much as we enjoyed having them here.  Living as far away from home as we do can be hard and family visits are always something to celebrate!

As I mentioned we are finishing up winter down here.  Spring will arrive on September 1st.  Although we have already been here for a year I am afraid I have still not gotten used to the reversed seasons.  The winter here is do mild (although damp and rainy) that it just feels like a cold summer and then when the summer here hits it throws be off because the warm weather and long daylight hours do not match the calender.  Maybe in 2016 I will finally 'get' it.

We decided that this year we wanted to get away for a bit and go some place warm.  After much deliberation and lots of help planning from Chris' mum we went to FIJI!!!!!

The sunset from our resort.

We stayed at a place right on the beach just outside of Nadi.  The resort was lovely with a great restaurant and an amazing section of beach.  We never once went swimming in the pool because the ocean we so warm and refreshing.

We went into Nadi town to check it out the next day and found ourselves being offered kava.  This is the local drink made from grinding down pepper plant roots.  Plants should be 12 years old for the best kava.  It is non alcoholic but it makes you mouth numb where it has touched and it looks like muddy water.  Not the most pleasing drink by far but it is local custom to try it as they welcome you to the village.

Chris drinking kava from a coconut

 The population is Fiji is just over 800,000 people with half of those being native islanders and the other half consisting of Fijian Indians.  The Indian food here was not our favourite but the dosa and coconut based chutneys I had on our last day were absolutely divine! The native food is very seafood and coconut based so you can image the heaven Chris found himself in.  We learned how to break apart dried coconuts and harvest the coconut milk form them.  They use the milk to cook everything in.  If they need oil, they just boil down the milk to get coconut oil.  The shredded coconut is thrown out after they have squeezed the milk out.  I like this place!

On our second full day we took a trip to the other side of the island (the wet side) to visit a local village and swim in a waterfall.  We got into four long boats and made our way up the river.  There are 14 villages up the river but only the first two have access to roads and electricity.  After that the only mode of transportation is the river itself.  Locals build bamboo rafts and ride them down the river using a pol from propulsion along the bottom.  This can take a few days depending on how the river is running and they know every twist and turn in it.  To get back up to their villages they use the long boats we were in.  These drivers know the river like the back of their hand and even in the wide parts they never went straight because of the shallow spots and logs.

So up some rapids we went, around a few corners and then another few rapids and we truly saw some
amazing things.  There were waterfalls everywhere you turned.

After a short hike we made it to the waterfall we were able to swim at.  The force of the water was so strong that swimming up to it was incredibly difficult.  The wind off of it took your break away and if you stopped eggbeatering you immediately were pushed aside.  The water was cold and refreshing.  A once in a lifetime opportunity for sure.

Struggling to get close...

On the way back down the river we travelled by bamboo raft.  Our raft was more luxurious than the ones we had seen tied up earlier.  These rafts never move back up the river, one way tickets only.  They build more when they need them.  Ours was starting to disintegrate as it was nearing its three month life span but they view was fantastic and I couldn't think of anything better to do in the world than slowly let a river in Fiji carry me down on a bamboo raft.

SS never comes back they called it. Don't think they realize what SS means

We rode down to a village we were treated to more kava and our first lovo (food cooked underground).  The lovo had been prepared earlier but we were able to see them take it out.

The kava ceremony was performed by men wearing traditional outfits.  Chris and I both got to drink our second rounds of kava.  Just like the first time it makes your mouth numb and it really does not taste good.  We noticed some of the villagers were making faces after drinking it so we were not alone in our feelings towards it.

Lunch was by far the best meal we had in Fiji.  The lovo was absolutely amazing.  Our favourite dish was taro leaves steamed in coconut milk.  I have asked every other native islander we saw after that how to make it so I can replicate it at home.  The jist of it is:

- Milk a coconut it must be fresh (I will use canned milk)
- Take your taro leaves and layer them in tinfoil
- Pour in your coconut milk
- Fold up the tin foil so it everything is enclosed
- Cook in oven for an hour

Alternate options include adding onions and garlic in with it.  Although I appreciated the corned beef suggestion I have decided not to replicate that version.

This dish is sweet and delishous.  The taro leaves are waxy before cooking but after cooking they had the consistency of spinach leaves.  They were just amazing.  Everyone we spoke to just loved this dish.

The next day we relaxed and both got Fijian Bobo massages.  It was a cross between a Swedish massage and a deep tissue massage.  And the pain was worth it for the ultimate relaxing feeling when it was over.  We both smelt like coconut oil and cookies after.  Not sure where the cookies came from but I wasn't complaining.

We took a day trip to Tivua Island from some snorkeling and island time.  To get there we boarded a beautiful tall ship and headed off.  Once again the weather was perfect and the day turned out to be absolutely perfect.  They anchored off the island and we were brought in on smaller boats. 

Islands ahead!

Tivua Island (with the wharf being built off to the right)

Straight away we went snorkeling to see as many fish as we could.  The reef was lovely.  The fish were so curious about us that they would come up from the reef to check us out.  This was the best snorkeling I have seen in a while.  The corals were such beautiful colours and the fish were plentiful and curious.

After snorkeling we had a lovely BBQ lunch and I took the time to walk around the island.

The boat we came in on with the main island our hotel was on in the background.

This little island really is a tropical paradise.  The birds and flowers were beautiful and we were surrounded by reef and other small islands.

We then took out the stand up paddle boards to check out the reef from above.  I even saw a sting ray! The tide was going down so we couldn't go directly over the reef.  Even where we stayed if we fell onto fire coral we would not have been happy campers.  This really was heaven though, standing over crystal clear waters and seeing all the starfish and see life.

On our last day we went back into town for some Fijian Indian food and enjoyed Long Island Ice Teas back at our hotel on the beach.  We had a wonderful relaxing holiday and are already looking forward to coming back and exploring some of the islands.  There are 330 or so of them so we have 2 down, plenty left to go!

Fiji was amazing and we are so lucky to have to opportunity to live somewhere where Fiji is only a three hour flight away.  Can't wait to check out more islands around New Zealand.  So much exploring to do, such an amazing planet.  From Fijian fire shows and beautiful dancing to the autumn leaves and tastes of the harvest back home to the volcanic action here in New Zealand.  Chris and I are lucky people.

Love,
Chelsea
xoxoxo

Mum's and Omi's Visit!

Mum and Omi (my grandmother) came to visit us recently.  Words do not describe how wonderful it was to have family here with us.  I was so excited that I spent nights looking up "How to Host Over Night Guests" blogs.  I hope they felt welcome at our home away from home.

We started their visit with what I am calling the "Best of Auckland in 4.5 Days" tour.  I made up the name but I think it really is the best Auckland has to offer.  We specialised in places which show NZ nature and animal life.  Can you tell that is what we enjoy the most about living here?

We started our tour by having lunch where Chris and I work followed by a quick drive to Mount Eden.  A volcano with a great view of the downtown.  They were troopers, jet lag can be hell but bless them, they kept going!

The view from Mount Eden, this is the biggest smile I have had in a while.  Pure joy.

The next day we visited Hanua Falls which lies south of Auckland.  Here I got to introduce them some Silver Ferns and native birds.

Strategically standing to hide the people and sign behind them.

On the way back we stopped at what would be the first of many wineries.  This one was the Turanga Creek Winery.  This organic winery is only 15 minutes from our house, score! I will have to bring Chris there some time.  Poor guy, while we were enjoying delicious wine and cheese, he was bring home the bacon.

On day three we went to Piha beach, in West Auckland.  This beach is a haven for surfers and is the star of a local reality show called Piha Rescue which focuses on the rescues by the surf lifeguards. The dry sand was so hot I thought our feet would burn off but once you got through it and your feet hit the water it was perfect! We didn't swim as I know the surf is a bit too strong.  We may be strong swimmers but the ocean is stronger.

Omi and I enjoying the beach

Mum at the Blue Pools with the Smashy Crashy waves behind her

On day four Chris was now off work so he took us up to Tawharanui Bird Sanctuary to check out the sights north of Auckland.  Here we had a lovely picnic complete with sparking wine, Dinnie's chicken curry salad, blueberries, cherries and macadamia nut chocolate.

A wonderful picnic with wonderful people!

Since any good day would not be complete without a hike and some birding, we managed to squeeze that in too.  This is my favourite forest in NZ and I felt so lucky to be able to share it with my family.  We also saw both a Morepork (owl) and a Kaka (parrot).

Morepork, years of looking in tree holes have FINALLY paid off!!

The Kaka Chris spotted!

The next weekend we visited the Waitomo Glowworm caves and the Kiwi house nearby.  The caves were spectacular and due to a very, very old couple on our tour we got to spend twice as long with the glow worms!! Fun fact about glow worms: the worm is the larva of a fungus gnat. Glow worm has a better ring to it.

After we left the cave.

Outside the kiwi house.

At the Kiwi House we saw little Atu.  She is not that little, she is a Great Spotted Kiwi and turns out that species is quite large.  They keep the room dark during the day so tourists have a better chance of seeing them while they are awake.  Turns out Atu is a very aggressive bird and she spent her entire feeding kicking and pecking the poor girl feeding her.  They have to wear chainsaw chaps when they feed her because she has ripped through everything else!

Now no trip to New Zealand would be complete without a pilgrimage to Matamata, home of Peter Jackson's Hobbiton.  Dad and I visited the summer I turned 16 and wow has is changed since then! Back then it has almost entirely been dismantled after the filming of the Lord of the Rings movies.  It had a slightly melancholy vibe and adorable sheep were all over the place.  They were hiding in the Hobbit holes to avoid the rain.  Since then The Hobbit films have been made and they have left the set so that people can visit it.  It is absolutely beautiful!!!

I would like to thank Mum for taking over 400 photos so that I could geek out and run everywhere and see everything!

Omi outside the Green Dragon

View from Bag End over the Lake to the Green Dragon

I wasn't allowed into Bag End this time but I knew what it looked like.  I guess I wasn't there on party business this time.  I missed you Beeks!

Bag End and its fake tree on top of the hill.

Mum and I before we left.

Hobbit Crunch Ice Cream!!!

I would like to take a moment to thank my family for supporting my crazy and tolerating my Lord of the Rings facts on both the three hour drive there and the three hour drive back to Auckland.  Note to all future visitors: I think you should all come here because this place is awesome.

On a separate note, the sheep that were roaming the area when Beeks took me are now kept outside an electric fence.  Kind of a bummer, it added a little something extra to see them hiding in the holes.

On our last outing from Auckland (we were gone for a few days) our first stop was the Zealong Tea Plantation for High Tea! How I am unsure about you guys but if you ever want to make the females in the Buchholz family happy, you serve them High Tea. And if you want to make us really happy, you serve us a kick-bum fancy High Tea that will make us not want to eat for the rest of the day.  Zealong managed this feat.  Omi had the Classic High Tea, while Mum and I had the Signature High Tea.  The Classic was just that, a wonderful assortment of wee sandwiches and scones, five savoury and five sweet.  The Signature was five savoury and five sweet dainty little dishes each tea infused to perfection.  It was spectacular.  Therefore, should anyone else come for a visit, if you like, we shall come here.  I will have the High Tea, if you don't want to come, I will go without you because you are clearly a party pooper and I am cool.

One of the brass pots in a long line of fountains at the Tea Plantation.

From here we made our way to Rotorua, the volcanic capital of NZ.  Chris and I have driven through it before but this time I was here to visit and I couldn't wait!

We started our journey to Rotorua at the Whakarewarewa Thermal Village were we watched a cultural performance and explore the thermal area.  This village is right in the middle of a massive thermal region and the ground below you is warm.  It is a little bazaar.

Mum's eyes fit in here!!!

We got the last corn of the day cooked fresh for us in the thermal pool.  The local Maori use these pools to cook everything.  You just adjust the length of time you leave it in the pool or steam vents.  Fantastic and economical choice of cooking really.

From the villiage you have an excellent view of the Te Puia geyser which erupts approximately 20 times a day.  The locals know when it is approaching because the Prince of Wales' Feathers geyser beside it will start about 15 minutes earlier.

Te Puia Geyser, our first geyser!!!

This is another pool used for cooking called Korotiotio which means grumpy old man.  Beeks this one is for you!! This is hotter than the other and can be used to cook entire pigs in approximately 3-4 hours.

'Reheating' our corn

On our way to our motel (which had a private thermally heated pool!) we stopped to visit a local park which had thermal areas fenced off.  Amazing that such a place exists on the earth.  It was amazing.  The bubbling mud was more of an annoyance for the lawn mowers than anything else. For tourists like us though, it is pretty darn fantastic!!!

Crater Lake

View across the lake, so mysterious!

Also in the park are two foot baths, thermally heated of course.  Naturally we stopped for a nice soak.

The next morning we visited the Adult Section of the Polynesian Spa just beside the lake in Rotorua.  This spa uses the waters from two springs.  The Priest Spring and the Rachel Spring both are said to have therapeutic benefits.  One is more acidic and the other is more alkaline.  We were there right when they opened and for quite a while we were the only tourists.  The rest were locals there for treatment. I loved this place, so relaxing.  Good call Omi!!

The original Priest Springs which are still bubbling today.

This is why you should never trust me.

The Alkaline pool

After were were nice and clean from the Spa we went to two natural springs and got all dirty again.  The first one we went to was Kerosene Creek.  Although it was nice I would not recommend it to anyone who owns their car.  The road was a complete nightmare!!!!

Mum enjoying Kerosene Creek

We then went to Hot and Cold Water Stream.  This is where a hot stream and a cold one meet.  Mum and I went swimming and each found a nice spot to sit for a bit.  It was quite funny because the temperature in our spots kept changing as the streams mixed.

Before heading up to the Coromandel Peninsula we went to the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.  This is where Chris and I had been before but we hadn't left the parking lot.  We should have, this place is amazing.  It truly is a wonderland, with all the colours and aromas.

As you walk around the park the features have such wonderful names.  These included Devil's Home, Devil's Ink pots, Devil's Bath Tub, Inferno Crater and my favourite Artist's Palate.  All the colours around the places were caused by different minerals, the most common being sulfur (yellow).  Rotorua has a distinct aroma to it.  It is sulfur, sulfur with a steaming side of sulfur.  

Devil's Ink Pots.  There is crude oil being pumped up to the surface here.

In case you are stupid, do not walk on the steaming vents.

Sheltering from the rain.

At Artist's Palate with the Champagne Pool steaming in the background.

Look how many colours Mum got into one picture!!

The Oyster Pool

The pool at the farthest point of our walk. Odd colour.

Thought the girl taking this picture was going to fall into a pool.

The Champagne Pool

It even bubbles like Champagne!

After we left the park we stopped by the Mud Pools down the road.  Those are some active pools.  The Mud was flying everywhere, you would think it would have been easy to take a picture of it flying.  Turns out our reflexes aren't the best, but we did get some great shots!

Check out the bubbling mud beside Omi!

Before heading back to Auckland we stopped at Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula.  Chris and I had been before and I thought Mum and Omi needed to experience it too as we had seen in on Piha Rescue.  We arrived nice and early and claimed our spot. We claimed a good one because it quickly become full of people.

Getting impatient and starting to dig.

This beach has a hot water spring below it which is accessible for two hours on either side of low tide.  Also, even though we all reapplied sun screen I ended up with a fantastic burn across my legs.  See those pasty bad boys, they were red for the next week. They are now nicely tanned.

Enjoying the hot water.

We drove back to Auckland after a quick stop at the Coromandel Smoke Shop to buy Chris some smoked fish.  It was our way of saying thank you for letting us use the car the entire time my family was here and riding his bike to work every day.  He was such a good spot, gotta love him.

Having Omi and Mum here was wonderful.  We made some memories that will never be forgotten and solved all the problems of the world.  There is nothing that can't be solved with wine, cheese and an amazing view.  Thank you so much for coming, you are both truly amazing women and I am so proud to have you in my life.  Please come back, my door is always open.

Back to the grind, sorry for the long post but I had to fill it with all our wonderful explorations!!!

Miss you all, please visit soon!

Love,
Chelsea
xoxoxo