The big New Zealand holiday blog.. A parallel universe.
Posted 13-05-2008 at 15:17 by lettie
We dragged our tired feet to the Airport Express bus stop, jumped on the bus and got off at Kowloon Station. We collected our hand luggage, packed away our shopping and jumped on the train to the airport. The flight was on time and before we knew it, we were back in Blighty. 
That's the thing about going to New Zealand, I hate coming back home. Somebody asked me a couple of weeks ago "What's so great about NZ?"
"It just is......" I replied.
New Zealand is like a parallel universe. Roughly the same size as the UK but only about 4.5 million people as opposed to our 60 million +. The weather is basically the same too, they can have good summers or bad summers, plenty of rain, the first time I came here was in November/December and it peed down every day for 3 weeks, but I loved it anyway. The winters can be cold, not quite as cold as the UK but still a tad chilly.
New Zealanders worry about the same stuff that we do. Mortgage rates, petrol prices, energy costs, crime, domestic violence and disaffected youngsters. The overall culture is similar to home but with a very definite relaxed twist, Maori culture is drastically different but the two cultures sit fairly comfortably side by side, for most of the time.
The languages in NZ are predominately English and Maori although, there are many other cultures and languages here too. People drive on the left and the road signs are familiar. The public transport systems are a bit unpredictable, or even non existent in rural areas but it's no big deal. All in all, if you are from the UK, you will feel pretty much at home whilst holidaying here so........ Why bother travelling 13,000kms or so to feel at home?
The answer to that one is pretty simple. NZ is one of the most beautiful countries I've ever seen. I happen to think that we have some wonderful countryside here in the UK, The Lakes, The Dales, Snowdonia, The Scottish Highlands and Lochs but, NZ will always surpass our wonderful countryside because........ there is hardly anybody there.
On a Bank Holiday weekend here, our roads are snarled up with miles and miles of queuing traffic, all trying to get to the same beauty spots. In NZ, you can arrive at a lovely sweeping sandy beach and there may be nobody on it. Once you get out of the cities, there is hardly any traffic on the roads. Things seem to look cleaner, pavements, countryside and beaches have a remarkable lack of Aldi bags blowing around.
Most of all though, the people make your holiday. Kiwis seem to be more trusting in the nicer side of people than we are. They will gladly offer help if you are in a predicament and mostly expect nothing in return. They are kind, funny and down to Earth with a fierce passion for their own country which they are more than willing to share with visitors.
Many people assume that NZ is the same as the UK, but abroad........
These people, of course, are right......... but only if the same, means different.
So why is New Zealand so great?
It just is.
Here are some pics taken by Sparks. Kiwi John's apples, me and Sparks at the Crows Nest, A fantastic photo of the Sperm Whale, playful dolphins, The Smokehouse at Mapua and me and P (drunk).
That's the thing about going to New Zealand, I hate coming back home. Somebody asked me a couple of weeks ago "What's so great about NZ?"
"It just is......" I replied.
New Zealand is like a parallel universe. Roughly the same size as the UK but only about 4.5 million people as opposed to our 60 million +. The weather is basically the same too, they can have good summers or bad summers, plenty of rain, the first time I came here was in November/December and it peed down every day for 3 weeks, but I loved it anyway. The winters can be cold, not quite as cold as the UK but still a tad chilly.
New Zealanders worry about the same stuff that we do. Mortgage rates, petrol prices, energy costs, crime, domestic violence and disaffected youngsters. The overall culture is similar to home but with a very definite relaxed twist, Maori culture is drastically different but the two cultures sit fairly comfortably side by side, for most of the time.
The languages in NZ are predominately English and Maori although, there are many other cultures and languages here too. People drive on the left and the road signs are familiar. The public transport systems are a bit unpredictable, or even non existent in rural areas but it's no big deal. All in all, if you are from the UK, you will feel pretty much at home whilst holidaying here so........ Why bother travelling 13,000kms or so to feel at home?
The answer to that one is pretty simple. NZ is one of the most beautiful countries I've ever seen. I happen to think that we have some wonderful countryside here in the UK, The Lakes, The Dales, Snowdonia, The Scottish Highlands and Lochs but, NZ will always surpass our wonderful countryside because........ there is hardly anybody there.
On a Bank Holiday weekend here, our roads are snarled up with miles and miles of queuing traffic, all trying to get to the same beauty spots. In NZ, you can arrive at a lovely sweeping sandy beach and there may be nobody on it. Once you get out of the cities, there is hardly any traffic on the roads. Things seem to look cleaner, pavements, countryside and beaches have a remarkable lack of Aldi bags blowing around.
Most of all though, the people make your holiday. Kiwis seem to be more trusting in the nicer side of people than we are. They will gladly offer help if you are in a predicament and mostly expect nothing in return. They are kind, funny and down to Earth with a fierce passion for their own country which they are more than willing to share with visitors.
Many people assume that NZ is the same as the UK, but abroad........
These people, of course, are right......... but only if the same, means different.
So why is New Zealand so great?
It just is.
Here are some pics taken by Sparks. Kiwi John's apples, me and Sparks at the Crows Nest, A fantastic photo of the Sperm Whale, playful dolphins, The Smokehouse at Mapua and me and P (drunk).
Total Comments 3
Comments
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Struth Lettie...you humped those apples all around the south island to Nelson !! Bet they were bruised by then.Has our govt. been in touch yet re making you Brittian based cultural ambassadors?
Glad to have met you and glad you enjoyed yourselves,just a shame 'bout the cricket outcome |
Posted 13-05-2008 at 19:05 by Kiwi John
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Thanks for sharing your NZ adventures lettie, absolute brill read with some great pics that brought the blog even more alive
great stuff |
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Posted 14-05-2008 at 00:29 by harwood red
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Lettie, I have loved reading your NZ blog....and I just know how hard it is to come home and settle back down to the daily slog....but hey, when it gets too tedious you have some really great snaps and memories to lift your spirits.
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Posted 16-05-2008 at 20:43 by Margaret Pilkington
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Recent Blog Entries by lettie
- The big New Zealand holiday blog.. A parallel universe. (13-05-2008)
- The big New Zealand holiday blog.. A fast paced day. (08-05-2008)
- The big New Zealand holiday blog.. Leaving (30-04-2008)
- The big New Zealand holiday blog..Back to the City of Sails (29-04-2008)
- The big New Zealand holiday blog.. Cricket and reunions (22-04-2008)
