Farers of sea and land: "True friends stab you in the front"

I didn't believe her, though she reassured me for months. Yeah, yeah... hush... we've all got trust issues. One slightly uncomfortable transit later and here she was, in this land of the long white cloud. I was probably thirty minutes tardy but she didn't care. All greetings should begin with an embrace. Oh, and coffee (:

Getting lost, or was it, being lost is an adventure? Is one of Kirst's favourite sayings. For even as planned as we are, wrong turns are bound.

Driving away towards home was refreshing as I felt something I had forgotten K makes you feel. Ever exuberant and capable of bringing that out in you, Kirst leaped and reached forward to snap a sign of Auckland, proceeding...sporadically over the next hour to exclaim, "I'm hereeeee! Hellooooo Auckland!"

And over the next week, I saw her love for this city grow and I must admit, it made me love this City of Sails just that bit more. Cool, no? How people do that..?

In all the time that we've been friends, we've been honest, sharing and supportive. And wow, we've come a long way since that first meeting (in a cab! hehe). Physically, we were in such a small environment but we ventured Singapore together and now, well.. this friendship's space has certainly grown.

So, champagne and a cheeseboard later, we called it a night. Probably, the best thing between us is how easy-going we are together. Might be hard to believe, but that was the approach I took with our trip which included some obsessive map checking and pre-booked activities. Hahah

I don't know how else to describe it but I was strangely nervous about K being here. Whether she'd like the place, attempts at decor.. etc. Was I seeking approval or validation or just nervous about the opinions she'd form seeing an extension of me in how I placed a chair. How I positioned certain frames? Home habits??? Sounds thought out now but hmmm, it wasn't back then. Then again, I can be a little bit crazy.

Anyway, all of that fell away as she eased into respite and enjoyed home cooked meals (especially breakfast). We also, of course (!) meandered to one of my favourite cafes: Little And Friday

We were full, however... we've always had eyes too big for our tummies and so greediness got its way that 11am.

Love this setup.

Caught you, peeking out...

One of the things we did on nights we stayed in was old movies (: Grace Kelly, how lovely you are. And Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face was just perfect! Coincidentally, Nath, who was in Africa at that time also watched Funny Face that same night although we never discussed old movies or what we were up to. All I got the next morning was, 'Hello sunny funny face!'

Kirst reckons we're just so in sync with each other we end up doing similar things although many time zones apart.

Grace Kelly in High Society

This New Years Eve and we found ourselves together again. I had decided that Kirst would love to see Pauanui and so, we made many sambos (??? sandwiches), and off we went! With a detour to Karangahake Gorge before meeting up with some Vinks at the beach.

Wasn't kidding about obsessive tracking hehe.

On the way, we stopped at Paeroa for some L&P! Not a personal fan but they've got this giant bottle errrrrbody takes photos with. Across from said giant bottle, I saw this mural which I think was painted by a little girl. Unfortunately, I can't remember her name. Cool huh! (could be totes wrong about it all... oppsie)

At the gorge...

1km train tunnel walk...

Just had to!

Turtle....

Zee swing bridge (: someone was terrified (; Not saying who!

Later that night, as the whole town walked to the beach, we found a little place to sit and watch the fireworks. How bright they danced and leaped into the sky... All I thought was, wow! And we both agreed that it could contest with Singy's. Except, this was special since it felt communal and had the advantage of complete darkness.

It is now February and this post has run many drafts but.. I loved that feeling of watching and stillness as the New Year crackled and boomed in.

So, on new year's day, I awoke feeling inspired and itching for some stretch, I suggested a hike up Mt. Pauanui. We huffed, puffed.. but kept going... check out the snaps below (:

Up the mt!

It was looking rather grey actually (01. 01. 2014). Still, we made it!

A lengthy rest and we were off the next day to greener pastures of The Hobbiton! With a million tours running each day, we arrived at Matamata (Nath's birthplace!) in time for lunch and managed a layout under shady trees in the park. At that time, I had been reading Keep The River on Your Right, a much recommended book and felt that being in nature was the most peaceful way to its last page.

Hobbiton is really something. If you'd like, you should visit if only for the wander at Peter Jackson's obsession with perfection in realistic capture. I don't know if I'd say it was absolutely worth it- maybe they should have 'local' prices?

I enjoyed the walk throughout though (: