Back in Sydney, Melbourne, Travel: Australia, Travel: New Zealand
Islands
Coming to you live from a very small island nation that is extremely good at rugby and claims the pavlova as their own. New Zealand. It’s good to be here. And it’s as good a place as any to get writing again, having been wifi-on-a-laptop-less since arriving in Australia two weeks ago.
Our family gathered on Waiheke Island this past weekend, for the wedding of my cousin. Waiheke Island, covered in vineyards and hemmed by expansive bays and little beaches, hosts something like 64% of all New Zealand weddings.
And, you know, you can kind of see why.
Wine flowed, family danced – it was spectacular, and everything you fly halfway around the world to get to.
Melbourne and Sydney prefaced our NZ jaunt, and Sydney will come around again after our time in NZ. The weather on both islands – Australia and NZ – has been stunning; big blue skies, hot sun. Jetlagged in Melbourne, we caught some fantastic Aussie Open matches and a curry at our favourite Indian place. We breakfasted with dear friends and met their new baby. In Sydney, we were overwhelmed by family and friends, seeing who we could, while helping Mum and Dad pack for their own international move. Change, huh, the only constant we have.
The German is sinking more and more into Australianness – he asked me to explain the rules of cricket, and now watches it intently – and I am realising more and more how much Germany has influenced who I am, now, at 29 (that also happened in Sydney. Aren’t I still 25 and trying to figure out the Münsteranians?) several years after I first moved there. There is always something in flux, and that something is usually us.
It’s another beautiful summer’s day out there. The cicadas are singing, the sun is waiting to get its hands on my pink nose and burnt shoulders – one forgets how bloody strong the sun is down here. I am going to go out into that day, start it with a fantastic coffee – one doesn’t forget how good coffee is in Oz and NZ.
I’ll see you guys very soon.
DCTdesigns
2 February, 2014 at 10:26 pmUgh! You’ve managed again to both sate my wanderlust and enrage it all at the same time. Now NZ must be added to Australia.
Liv
2 February, 2014 at 11:01 pmIt is a beautiful country, and despite being so close to Aus, is so very different. Am glad we got here, SG is really enjoying it. And I am finally changing my skin tone from German Winter White …
DCTdesigns
2 February, 2014 at 11:09 pmLove it German Winter White. Pantone’s should make that the Fashion color of the Season.
Liv
4 February, 2014 at 9:05 amThe German says ‘cheesy white’, which has a more … repellent ring to it.
Lutz Mowinski
2 February, 2014 at 10:57 pmSounds like you guys are having a wonderful time 🙂
Where are your parents going to? Are they leaving Australia?
Liv
2 February, 2014 at 11:01 pmLeaving Aus, bound for Asia for a few years – exciting times ahead!
Lutz Mowinski
4 February, 2014 at 11:22 amThat sounds like an adventure, and if they like asian food, they’ll be sitting right at the source. What could be better than that 😀
Verena Davies
3 February, 2014 at 7:48 amOne has to go to OZ or NZ in summer, go to a wedding and an island , and do all the things you describe to really, really know what it is like.
I have done it in December and my German brother with wife came too, it was a big experience for them. Changed their outlook on NZ for the best !
Liv
4 February, 2014 at 9:05 amOh it has just been wonderful, especially to introduce the German to this part of the world and these people. Such a precious experience.
Annton Beate Schmidt
3 February, 2014 at 10:59 amgreetings to one of my most favourite places on this planet!
Liv
4 February, 2014 at 9:04 amGreetings back!
Jeremiah Niekamp
3 February, 2014 at 7:58 pmFantastic pictures! Lots changed since you were last back? Or does being home slide on like comfortable shoes?
Liv
4 February, 2014 at 9:04 amHmmmmm. That’s a big question. As much changes as stays the same, it is the strangest sensation. Definitely worth a blog post …
Nathalie
4 February, 2014 at 1:05 amsounds like paradise!! I hope you get to enjoy it to the fullest, NZ looks absolutely beautiful. I hope I can visit that side of the world someday.
Liv
4 February, 2014 at 9:03 amIt has been absolutely lovely – the perfect pace and weather. You absolutely need to check out this little pocket of the world.
Weekend ~ 2/7/14 ~ Livestrong, Luck, Love & Anja’s Art | DCTdesigns Creative Canvas
7 February, 2014 at 6:54 pm[…] Islands ~ This week’s wanderlust fix thanks to Liv Hambrett. Waiheke Island, New Zealand. […]