Akaroa

Click here to view the Akoroa Album

Saturday we drove about an hour south of Christchurch to Akaroa. We desperately needed to see some the landscape that New Zealand is known for and to just get away from the city. Akaroa is a city that was built inside the rim of a volcano, which is spectacular in terms of views because you have to drive the winding roads up to the rim and then begin your descent into the lush and scantly populated town. The street names are French and there are some landmarks that allude to the early French settlers, but the town is decidedly Kiwi.

We were there for just a few hours, but you’ll see from the pictures that we were able to do some hiking. I’m thinking that next time we’ll have to do a whale watching or dolphin swimming tour. We’ve heard from others that these ventures are not just tourist ploys and that you can take a dip with hundreds or even thousands of dolphins at a time.

Also, I shot a couple of short videos that are in this album, not so much for the scenery as the sound of the birds in the trees. Although the bird populations here have suffered from colonization and the introduction of foreign species, I found the birds here to be quite lively as they sing through varying pitches.

On another note, I innocently asked a Kiwi whether or not Kiwi eggs were edible. After a few moments of flustered guffawing, I received an answer, “Well, no, that would be like eating the eggs of an American Eagle!” I’m certain this is just one of many faux pas that I’ll commit here.

Today I’m trying to take a break from Kiwi culture and I’m curling up on the couch at the motel with a paperback. Perhaps later this week I will venture out for a day walk. I’ve heard that I can catch a ferry from the Lyttleton harbor and disappear for an entire day on a small island, but I’ll have to research that a bit more.

Tasty Marmite Snack Crackers

Marmite (or Vegemite) is basically a yeast extract that’s derived from the beer brewing process. It’s a savory paste that tastes like a bitter tamari. You can eat it plain on toast or crackers, but I like to dress it up a little. (I also hear that Marmite is a good additive for hamburgers!)

1. Make a spread with some Marmite and soft butter. This will enhance the taste of the Marmite while mellowing it out a bit. The proportions are up to you.

2. Spread on wheat crackers. I tried it first on a peppered cracker, but found that to be a little strong.

3. Top with thinly sliced cheese and cucmbers. Also good with smoked salmon, but just a little because you don’t want to lose the flavor of the marmite.

4. Enjoy!

Day 1 – Riccarton & Christchurch

We’re here! I read every positive and negative thing I could get my hands on about Christchurch, NZ and lo and behold none of it applies.

First, there are tons of Asians here and they really don’t seem like a lower class to me. So I’m letting go of that fear.

Secondly, I don’t think the city is so great for walking unless you are smack dab in the center of Christchurch and you want to people watch or trek from historical monument to historical monument. We walked from Riccarton through Hagley Park to Christchurch Center and I really think Hagley Park is a trip unto itself.

We just got off the plane, but there were just these few things that we had to get out of the way. Like the public transportation system. That’s right, the gondolas
are for romance and hoofing it loses it’s novelty quickly.

In downtown Christchurch at Lichfield and Colombo, there’s a bus depot with metrocard sales upstairs. We wouldn’t have found it if not for the kind woman that saw our confusion and offered to help us. If you’re going to bus around the area, get this card. You get a seventy cent discount on every ride.

get this $10 NZ, so easy

So far, the foods I’ve had are sweeter than I expected. I had a chicken pasta with tangerine in it as well as a little cottage pie that was something like mashed potatoes with meat and barbecue sauce. I also tried “Kiwi As” chips that claimed to taste like ketchup and mince meat pie, but I think it mostly tasted like ketchup.

That’s it for our day’s adventure. We’re looking through Sky TV and just listening to the accent and language. And Oprah- turns out she’s global

This weekend- perhaps horseback riding?