Coromandel Peninsula

"Awesome", "fierce", "sweet as" and "lush" are just some of the more colourful words and phrases that adorn the New Zealanders language and when you have experienced some of the countries most fearsome and beautiful natural elements it is easy to see why these words are used so frequently. The long weekend consisted of exploring the coast for exotic beaches, walking some wonderfully scenic tracks and battling against the most powerful waves I have ever come across (not that I have come across many violent wave formations, but lets just say I now know what it must feel like to be in a giant washing machine).

The merry trio this time was Myself accompanied by my trusted companion Raphael and extremely likeable workmate (and Taupo native) Nick. We stayed in the quiet town of Whitiainga (pronounced "fu-ti-an-ga") in a very peaceful house owned by Raphaels ex host family. They were incredibly hospitable and very interesting. The host father, Leadham, happened to be very clued up on various sciences (especially ecology and zoology) and it seemed we were reading the same book regarding evolution and genetics. All in all it was a joy to spend time with them and their somewhat excitable dogs. We also met up with many fellow trainees along the way sometimes without even knowing they were in the vicinity.

Which brings me to a very important point. Either New Zealand is a very small place or somehow we are all connected by a huge metaphysical web that transcends time and space (or something like that anyway). Last week from a choice of 20 possible bars and pubs along the arty waterfront of Tauranga we decide to pick the one that was also being frequented by 3 other trainees just randomly visiting the area. Coincidence?.. possibly. However the whole Coromandel trip was littered with these little coincidental meetings. Raphael met many people from his old language School in NZ, Nick met a couple of his friend who live south of Taupo. And we met two separate groups of trainees at various stages of the weekend armed only with the knowledge that a few people were going to The Coromandel for the weekend an area that is 100,000 km's squared. There are some pretty strong magnets in this small world of ours.

Anyway enough mumbo jumbo, here are some pictures of what could possibly be the best place I have visited in new Zealand so far, including "fierce" waves, "awesome" beaches and "lush" (6 meter circumference) Kauri Trees... "sweet as bro !!!"

PS. Alas ,whilst we did scare ourselves silly on one particular isolated beach (conveniently titled Lonely Bay), we did not come across any sharks, it appears they knew we were coming...