by Robin Rodig |
March 08, 2013
|
That's the Maori name for New Zealand. Or literally "Land of the Long White Cloud".
You see this word everywhere as well as many other people, place, and thing names in Maori. The Maori (pronounced like cow-ree but with a M), this country's indigenous people, culture is prominent here on the North Island. Groups of school kids crossing the street together in heavily populated Maori areas. Maori symbols for new life, abundance, or the bonding or joining of people adorn public buildings and signs. Marae, the Maori communal, meeting places, are often passed on roadways. It is clear that New Zealand honors its roots.
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Posted in
New Zealand,
North Island
by Robin Rodig |
March 07, 2013
|
Shweeb. Swoop. Zorb.
Words I had never before heard in my life. Until, that is, acquainting myself with the in-your-face extreme sports and culture that New Zealand is famous for. The above terms are names of some of the inventive, nail-biting, there's-only-one-way-down activities NZ has come up with to sky rocket one's blood pressure. In a previous post, I mentioned that for a relatively small country, Kiwis tend to go big. Well, their sense of adventure is one of those big areas. The biggest. The fastest. The highest. They invented adventure superlatives.
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Posted in
New Zealand,
North Island
by Robin Rodig |
March 05, 2013
|
Whether it's the steep, craggy cliffs surrounding the peaceful waters and white sand beach of Cathedral Cove or the stalagmite and stalactite laden caverns of Waitomo Caves, you're bound to come across many a cave and cove here. Par for the course. New Zealand screams adventure. You expect that the view around that peak will be breathtaking or what lies in that dark crevice will be worth the fright you endure. In recent days I've experienced much of the cave/cove dramatics with a particular episode, well...illuminating.
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Posted in
New Zealand,
North Island
