BanAnna and G.E.

We're just having a fabulous weekend here in Auckland!!  My wonderful, amazing, inspiring friend Anna, better known as BanAnna arrived last night.  She is here to begin her graduate studies in Wellington.  The weather today was quite flash so we made our way to the beach!  Couldn't resist a stop at Hallertau for a beer tasting.  Raaaaiiiightttttt??  

Looking down on Piha beach from Lion's Rock 

True story

Paul and I ended our day with a real treat.  Roger Waters performs The Wall!!!  
3 words = G.E. Smith

Chopsticks

Life is pretty sweet today!  My beautiful mom and her beautiful sister, Aunt Patti have arrived safe and sound.  We've spent the day acclimating, touring and just loving one another.  I'm so excited!!  

Heart n Soul

Year of the Dragon

Last night Paul and I ventured down to Albert Park in Auckland city centre to check out the Lantern  Festival.  It was a visual delight.  So many beautiful lanterns hanging from trees, scenes set up on the lawn, delicious Asian food (we tried veg dumplings and a durian roll), arts, and even a reggae band from Beijing!  This display marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations and is said to have begun as a show of respect to Buddha by an emperor of the Han Dynasty.  Modern day festivals seem to have an emphasis on celebrating people, families, nature and higher beings which Auckland embodied to the fullest.  To the Dragon!  

Not really sure ...

Ode to New Zealand

For Kris

I write this with the heaviest of hearts.  We lost a truly special woman on Sunday night.  My Aunt Kristin passed away at hospice after having spent the last 5 years fighting to get her life back after a leukemia diagnosis.  Although she became cured, unimaginable side effects from her disease slowly yet ruthlessly claimed her body.  There is no end to the mental and physical trauma that she endured along with her family these last 5 years.  I know she no longer suffers but I’m left feeling utter despair that someone as genuinely beautiful as Kristin has been taken away too early.  What did my Aunt give me?  She gave me humor and selfless love.  She showed me how to not take myself so seriously and that although life is full of choices, sometimes there are higher powers calling the shots.  Her magnetic personality could warm a room and made you just want to be near her.  She also had a way of making you feel like the most special person in the room, even these last few years.  I am honored by her life and will feel an indefinite humility at the grace with which she accepted her fate. 

She leaves behind her loving husband, Frank and two beautiful daughters, Maja and Kai Le, 3 devastated sisters and a slew of adoring family and friends.  Ultimately we cannot be sad because Kristin wants us to live our lives out loud and with the courage and strength she taught all of us by simply being herself.  

Rest in Peace Kristin Norland Becker.  Kristin's obit

Oh, the Beauty!

This post could be broken down into about 20 but I'm too anxious to show you some of the South Island!  We spent the first night in Arrowtown which is near Queenstown, then drove down to Milford Sound for an overnight cruise on the Milford Mariner and ended up in Dunedin.  All of it absolutely breathtaking.  I will let Paul post about the super cool (sketchy) train ride and super cool (stinky) big birds we saw near Dunedin!!!  :)))

Mt. Cook (longer peak just left of center) & Mt. Tasman (small sharp peak on the right) taken from the plane to Queenstown

Lake Pukaki and Mt. Cook at the base as seen from the plane

Wine tasting at Chard Farm in Gibbston Valley near Queenstown

Lola!  Made completely out of old wine vines.  

Arrowtown at sunset

Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown

Waiting for our boat in Milford Sound

Milford Sound = Unreal!

Mitre Peak behind me

Harrison's Cove where we docked for the night.
Snow covered Mt. Pembroke in the distance.  

Early morning cruise out to the Tasman Sea

Patagonia model

Winner for Cutest Couple on Board!

Those are fur seals on the tiny rock bottom right!

A lively bunch

Legend has it that if the spray from this waterfall hits you then you'll wake up looking 10 years younger.  Or your expensive camera breaks.  Life is a gamble!

A peaceful exit

Fiordland National Park

The Chasm

Eglinton Valley

Bye Bye

Gannet colony on Cape Kidnappers

We visited the world's largest colony of gannets on Cape Kidnappers earlier this week.  We had probably the best day weather wise of our entire time in NZ . . . and it was of course a great day for pictures!  The gannet chicks hatch in November/December and they remain in the nest with their parents for 3-4 months so we were lucky to have prime viewing.

That's someone standing with arms crossed at the very bottom of the frame-
these are big birds with wingspans up to 6 feet