Chrismukkah

Beautiful Becca!!

Chrismukkah on the Beach was quite an experience!  Our accommodations were lovely and had an incredible view of the Tasman Sea.  Kiwis in that part of the world like to hit the beach no matter what the conditions - 4 wheelers, motorbikes, horses, cars, trucks, tour buses - you name it, they got it.  It was a blast!  

Our view included these 3 beauties    

Ahipara Bay

Pohutukawa

Grillmaster

Santa & reindeer (?) on Christmas morning - escorted by blazing sirens of firetruck

Christmas Day tramp

Dominating the sand dunes

Bubbles courtesy of Aunt Priscilla!

Okahu Winery

Happy Chrismukkah!!!

NEWS FLASH!

Santa and a reindeer have been sighted in Ahipara, New Zealand.  We think he is likely to be headed across the Pacific to North America.  Hope he is as good to you as he has been to us!

Births

JC isn't the only important December birthday in the Davis household.  Happy Birthday Pauly!!  
And our guest just had a birthday too - Happy belated Birthday Cousin Becca!  We've had a couple of days for jetlag to subside and are now packing for our Chrismukkah on the Beach 2011 Extravaganza which begins tonight.  !!!

Birthday boy

It takes Becca so long to dry her hair she reads her Kindle to pass the time!

"My first volcano!"

Deeeeeeeeep thoughts 

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens ...

Christmas is almost here although it's pretty hard to tell here in Auckland.  Mostly the town is abuzz with everyone's vacation plans as it seems most Kiwi's migrate to the beach for the holidays.  Not too shabby!  The days are becoming longer, the sunsets more enchanting and the stunning Pohutukawa a/k/a New Zealand Christmas trees are brilliantly blooming.  We are patiently awaiting my cousin Rebecca's arrival next week!  Can't wait to have a piece of home here to feed my soul.  Everyone be safe and hold each other extra tight as you celebrate this Christmas, Hanukkah and New Years!  All our love!!  

Rangitoto at sunset from Hobson Bay

Pohutukawa in Wynyard Quarter

It's tough to get lost in China . . .

because the roads are so well marked.

I'm following THAT guy!

Shanghai Surprise

Last up on our trip was Shanghai after an overnight train ride from Xi'an.  We shared a sleeping compartment with 2 Chinamen who spoke less English then we spoke Chinese.  After one of them made us both speak to his little girl on his phone and sample his bai jiu a/k/a Chinese fire water we jumped up onto our bunks and slept the ride away.  Shanghai was truly magnificent.  Again old meets new but this time masterly crafted.  I would go back in an instant.

A city to be seen at night.  This view of Pudong from about 6 stories up
behind the front row of the Bund.

The view as seen from Vue on the 33rd floor of the Hyatt.  Pudong on the left, Huangpu River in the middle and the end of the Bund on the right.  

A city also to be seen during the daytime.  This picture hasn't done justice to the colors of the Pearl Tower or World Expo site both in middle of the view.  

The Bund - colonial Shanghai.  

After having a cocktail at the famous Long Bar, we took a moment to soak in the beauty of the Waldorf Astoria.  

Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art.  Whatever that says is made of the ingredients
for a s'more.  It smelled delightful!  

Yuyuan Gardens circa 1559.

Our final Chinese supper happened at Sichuan Citizen in the French Concession.
That is lotus something or other.   It was scrumptous.  

Zaijian!!

Xi'an (SheYen or SheAhn?)

The day following Thanksgiving we hopped a flight to Xi'an which is where Paul's conference was being held.  Being one of the four ancient capitals of China, Xi'an is a history buff's dream.  Nothing about this city could not be called awe-inspiring - good and bad.   I'll let the photos do the explaining!  

Drummer boy 

This was one of our favorites - the Folk House in the Muslim Quarter.  Historic residence of a Qing bureaucrat.  

That is smog NOT fog.  yep 

Forest of Stelae Musuem

Dude from Qing Dynasty - 16th Century

If you want to stay fit, take a walk along the ancient city wall - grab a
stationary bike and work it out!  

Is that a hobbit?  

Xi'an is one of the few cities where the old city walls are still standing - circa 1370.  

Ruins from the Terracotta Calvary

The kneeling archer - the only warrior found completely intact.
According to our guide, the "lucky dog".    

Generals

Infantry

Army of Terracotta Warriors - built underground 2,000 years ago to guard Emporer Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife.  Discovered in 1974 by a local farmer digging a well just outside of Xi'an.