Ruawai, NZ
The countryside here looks a lot like upstate NY with its rolling green hills. The only thing that makes me realize I'm in NZ are the palm trees and Toi Tois (like the plant on my bike).
Stopped by the Kauri Museum today. Kauris are giant trees much like our redwoods. But many of them were cut down by the early settlers. I'll see some of the big boys when I get further north. They've even found trees buried in swamps still preserved after 45,000 years. The other thing was the sap of the kauri, called gum, and harvested out of the swamps for turpentine and other uses. Today it's a polished stone called amber and used in jewelry mostly.
Tonight I pulled into town and found a green patch near some johns. I needed to find a wind block because I was tired if being hammered all afternoon. Three campervans were parked there, so I asked if the minded if I cozied up with them. They're Aussies. Been interesting learning a bit more about Oz. Did you know they have intense gun control laws? They must be licensed and only the licensed individual can have access to the locked up firearms. And they must be locked up and hidden away. No gun racks in the back of trucks.
As I've been traveling this tour, people are always giving me tokens. Someone asked why I carried these trinkets and I said because they come with good energies for a safe journey.
Some examples are:
Necklace from around a Maori woman's neck
Metal snowflake
Medallion
Business pen
Laminated photo
Poem
Religious writings
Chocolate bar. Here, take this. I didn't know why I bought it, but now I do:)
And I'm sure there are more but I can't remember them.
BagLady
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
