New Zealand is beautiful, green and green and green. North Island is dairy cow heaven. More Holsteins than sheep. Most of the milk is sent to the Chinese as powdered milk. Seems like the Chinese don't trust the local milk.
Spent about an hour a night talking to a retired farmer for 2 weeks as we sailed from NZ to Australia. Here are a few of the items we discussed.
Firearms. Yes they can have them. As a farmer he had a shotgun. He had it if he had to put down one of his animals. The process to get to keep it after they started passing laws to outlaw firearms went like this: He had to show a need. He had to submit to a psycological exam. His wife was questioned about his mental stability His neighbors were questioned. The pastor of his church was questioned. Having passed all that he was allowed to have the gun and some ammo. If he fired a shot he had to document the incident. I don't know if all or any of this is true this is just what I was told. And this was before the shooting in Christchurch.
The Maori have really good PR people. Just about every activity ashore involved a trip to a village as part of the itiniary. The farmer was not so keen on them. According to him they are very tribal, sticking to their ancestral homes and if there is no work there relying on the dole. He said that when he needed hired help for his farm he preferred to hire a Tongan. He stated that there were more Tongans living in NZ than there were in Tonga. Heard this from other sources than him.
North Island wildlife seen: Wild Turkey, Pheasants, and red deer. In an attraction did see some Kiwi's and some of the flightless parrots. On an excursion from the ship saw dolphins and seals and puffins and every variety of sea bird know to mankind.
I preferred the south island to the north. More remote, more wild areas, but really liked the people. Outgoing friendly and very pleasant. The most negative thing I can say is they drive on the wrong side of the road, so I did not feel comfortable renting a vehicle and doing some exploring.
Terry
Tomorrow some insights on Australia.
First landing was in Hobart, Tasmania. Took a trip to a farm that was built by the convicts that England sent to Australia. The convict's sentence included hard labor and the farm was proof of that. There were stone stables and outbuildings. All locally quarried. In exchange for the labor the landowner had to provide room and board, clothing, medical for the convicts. At the farm we went to after their sentences were over they were free to go, most stayed on. This is according to the great great grand daughter of the original land owner.
Visited Cairns, saw the great barrier reef, was not too impressed as the place where we went looked to be all dead coral. Lots of colour full little fish.
Visited Ayers Rock, watched some people climb the rock. I didn't, had done it in '68 when I was working in VN. What I didn't remember was the flies. Had to resort to fly nets.
One of the interesting things I discovered, was bus drivers, tour guides need to be licensed, this insures that they all use the same script on their tours. My though is feed the tourists a line of BS.
After the rock, went to Sydney. We had booked a 1800's era apartment right next to the Observatory. Back in the day this dropped a ball at exactly 1:00 PM so that ships in the harbor could set their clocks for navigation purposes.
Arriving at the apartment with our 6 bags the wife obtained the key from the cafe under our apartment. As I was hauling the first bag up the steps a couple of constructions workers grabbed the rest and hauled them up for us. Offered to buy them a beer, but they refused.
We were within walking distance of the Opera house and my wife had booked 3 Operas. She likes them and there are not too many going on in our neighborhood. (none) I could take them or leave them, but she buys me guided hunts so, I went.
The Asians are one of the biggest blocks of tourists to Sydney and they seemed to take every opportunity to take pictures with the Opera House or Bridge, or a cruise ship or a flower in the background. I am not talking selfie sticks I am talking full blown posing sessions. Arms asunder, standing on one leg, head at the proper angle poses. And not just one, and then their companion would trade places and the process would start all over. The wife and I joked that the next time we came we were going to start taking pictures of the posers instead of the sights.
There was lots of eye candy there, but it looks as if the guys have gone metrosexual, with pegged pants and manbuns. Was really disappointed in Bondi Beach. We were warned before going that topless was to be expected, but saw more body suits than bosoms. It was a bit cool on the day we went so maybe it was too nippy for topless.
I did spend a few afternoons watching cricket matches on the tv. Too hot to be out walking around. Figured out the basics and could appreciate the skill it takes to be a good bowler. We walked everywhere and never felt uncomfortable even late at night walking back from the Opera House. All in all Liked all the Aussies I met and talked too, but their mass media is even more liberal than ours. Watched a lot of the political coverage as the primaries were being held a couple of days before we left and there appeared to be two themes going on. Guns are bad, and the PM is giving up his soul to the "gun party" just for their votes. The second is everything that happens is because of or in spite of or connected to climate change.
Tomorrow, I will offer up my thoughts on the islands we visited.
Terry