Week 1 Catch up

September 1, 2011
Morning! We spent most of today getting our cell phone and bank account setup. Torre had a meeting at the Practice and I finished unpacking at the house. We decided to drive down to Otaki Beach to look at a few rental properties and get some dinner. The real estate office was closed by the time we got there but after dinner we were able to find one of the rentals we saw online. It's definitely an option but it's gonna depend on how much the owner is willing to come down on the rent. Remember how we said we'd be happy with a shack on the beach? This comes very close! Hahaha...
For dinner we got “takeaway” from a local Fish and Chips place. A lot of people have asked us what kinds of food New Zealand is known for and so far it seems that Fish and Chips and Meat Pies are the big NZ treat! The restaurant was takeaway only and run by an Asian family. The deep fryers and large round fry baskets were up front behind the counter so you could see your food being cooked, seasoned and then wrapped up in several layers of butcher paper. We had the Blue Cod with a scoop of fries and a Muscle Fritter. Yum! Granted, this is not a meal you should eat every day, or every week for that matter, but it was the perfect treat to have while sitting in the car watching the sun set on the Tasman Sea! Oops! I almost forgot The Original L&P! This is a Lemon & Paeroa Soda, “World” famous in New Zealand. I'm not really sure how to describe it...it's not that sweet or carbonated...it's flavor it very subtle. I think this is going to need a little more research. :)

August 31, 2011
Torre walked over to Main Street this morning to get the internet card for the ipad and research cell phone services. After settling in a bit more at home and following up on communication with friends and family from back home we took a long walk at Hokio Beach. It was so beautiful...completely empty and scattered with drift wood and shells. The tied was so low it felt like we could've walked a half a mile into the sea and still only been ankle deep. In the distance is Kapiti Island surrounded by thick low hanging clouds quickly blowing across the evening sky. Deep gray storm clouds are in the distance covering the Tararua Range and the sun is heading for it's end-of-the-day dip into the sea.

August 30, 2011
Today we spent the day exploring the coast but not before going by the Ford dealership to get the break light that was out in the rental replaced! 
As we were driving down Hokio Beach Road we came across a herd of cattle being moved  by herders and cattle dogs! 

We then visited Hokio Beach, 

this is Levin's town beach,
Waitarere Beach,

 

approximately 10 minutes North of Levin, Foxton Beach, less than 20 minutes North of Levin, Waikawa Beach, approximately 10 minutes South of Levin, and Otaki Beach, 

less than 20 minutes South of Levin. We stopped in Foxton for an afternoon snack and shared a delicious bowl of pumpkin soup and toast. It's still the end of winter here so the weather can be very cool and Cafe's are still serving yummy winter favorites. For dinner we tried a local Indian restaurant called Rangoli. 
“Do you know what sounds good?”, I said to Torre. “Ginger Ice Cream?”, he said. “Nope! Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies!” I think at that moment I was thinking it would be something “homey” to do. We found a different grocery store down the street but they didn't stock chocolate chip cookie dough, and it was too late to make it, so we ended up with something even better! New Zealand's sweet and creamy claim to fame, Tip Top's Hokey Pokey ice cream, “A real kiwi favorite”.

We read about this ice cream before we got here and let me tell you the Kiwi's do not disappoint! This is one of the best ice creams we've ever had. Made in NZ since 1936 with fresh milk and cream, the only thing I can think of to describe it's texture is if you've ever had frozen whip cream. It's thick, creamy, sweet and to top it off it has little bits of buttery toffee. :O Yup...it's THAT good!


August 29, 2011

We are finally back in the air coasting along above Auckland. The major metropolis now reminds me of the game board “LIFE” from high above as busy highways slowly become winding back country roads surrounded by sheep...lots of sheep! We will only be in the air for about an hour as we make our way to Palmerston North, but it's amazing how diverse the terrain is as we move along. The land fades back and forth between farming country to national forests and mountain ranges. One mountain particularity stands out, looking at the map it's probably one of the mountains located in the Tongariro National Park, still covered with a heavy blanket of snow. Our friendly flight attendants are quickly providing our inflight service of mineral water, coffee, tea, chocolate biscuits and black gummy plains in honor of the “All Blacks”, New Zealand's Rugby Team. Did I mention the Rugby World Cup starts next week in Wellington? :) “We are now beginning our decent into Palmerston North. Please make sure your seats and tray tables are in the upright position”, one of our flight attendants cheerfully says, “We hope you've enjoyed your flight and welcome to Palmerston North!”.
Upon our arrival we were greeted at a very small airport by the Horowhenua Community Practice Manager and her Husband, Kirsty and Bruce Woolford. Our luggage is quickly unloaded from the plane and as we collect it they comment on how few bags we have compared to others who have come. We laughed and said we wanted to bring as little as possible! :) After signing for the rental car we are finally heading South on State Highway 1 to Levin! Kirsty drove us in the rental and Bruce followed behind in their van. To the East of us lies the Tararua Range and either side of the highway is sprinkled with herds of sheep and cattle...simply beautiful countryside!
After arriving at the house they are putting us up in the next few weeks, and looking through the beautiful welcome basket from the Practice, Torre and I set out in search of a very important piece of machinery...a hair dryer! :) We found a full size hair dryer and travel size flat iron set for 30NZ$'s on Main Street at a local electronics store. Not a bad deal! We then picked up a few groceries at New World Market, which is similar to an Albertsons in the US, and headed back to the house for dinner and early to bed. Night!