Random observations from the “Northlands”

Tuesday, February 02, 2010 – Thursday, February 04, 2010

New Zealand has a “holiday surcharge” policy. Restaurants and other service industries post a sign saying “Holiday Surcharge in Effect” and all prices are 15% higher than posted. Helps cover holiday pay for employees.

The speed limit outside of towns is 100 Km, on freeways, state highways, narrow curvy mountain roads, dirt/gravel roads, the beach!

Wine bottles don’t like to tumble out of the mini-firdge onto tile, sorry Fat Pig.

Beautiful waterfalls, and easily accessible. Wonder how they looked last week without the 5 inches of rain they just received?

Contrasts

- driving through arid farmlands (the drought is hitting them hard up here) with more cows than sheep, and suddenly finding yourself on a steep windy road through lush tropical forests.

- west coast sandy beaches with surf and beautiful blue ocean, east coast rocky shores, choppy brown seas

- sun and humidity, pouring rain, wind – all within 5 minutes.

- Homestay hosts – from an overwhelmed hostess standing at the breakfast table with a frying pan in each hand trying to figure out how she was going to dish up the food to a perfectionist who had never had coffee requested before breakfast, but rose to the occasion with a tray with 2 plungers of different strength coffee (Dave had mentioned liking medium strong coffee and Chris had said strong simultaneously), a couple of cookies and china mugs, followed by a breakfast of homemade bread, muffins and jams, fruit, cereal, fresh-squeezed o.j., … From a closed door to be knocked on if we needed anything to an invitation for a glass of wine and nuts before dinner, and an invitation to be sure to come up after dinner for some tea or coffee and chocolates. Spent last night at a motel, large well equipped self-catering room and welcomed with a glass of wine/beer. And everyone very friendly.