Seaview Lodge Napier

... in the 1930s and has been rebuilt in Art-Deco style. It's really beautiful, you sometimes feel a little like in Disneyland, with all the colored houses. We also met Mira and Kerstin again, the 2 German girls we have been travelling with for a while.
As here are lots of orchards we hoped to finally find some fruit picking work, but the season still hasn't started, so we went back to Taupo on 4th November.

... Roses on the nose. Very light palette.

2008 Te Awanga Sauvignon Blanc - Gooseberry nose, no passion fruit this time. Good refreshing acidity with more gooseberry on the palette.

2008 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc - Seven months on seasoned oak. Gooseberry but richer this time. Richer palette with greater length.

2008 Semillon - Lemon zest nose. Lemon zest palette - very refreshing.

2008 Unoaked C******nay - Lemons and ...

... We stayed in Archie's Bunker, on Herschell St just off Marine Parade (the beach area) and 2 streets down from Emerson/Hastings streets (the main thoroughfare of shops and cafes) Doug and Julie are the 2 owners and a more helpful couple you won't meet. They picked us up from the bus (our first pickup in NZ) and on numerous occasions provided useful information about the town, things to do and where to eat (as well as some good banter). The ...

... voi hyvinkin tehdä varaukset vain päivää ennen lähtöä. Ei tarvi stressailla, kaikki toimii täydellisesti! Maanantai aamu aloitettiinkin sitten kello 07 komealla aamulenkillä James Cook hotelillilta Wellingtonin rautatieasemalle. Wellingtonista Aucklandiin kulkeva Overlander juna ja pitkänmatkan bussit lähtevät siis täältä rautatiesemalta (et varmaan olisikaan arvannut, että junat lähtee rautatieasemalta). Bussimatka Wellingtonista ...

... Haha!! I got home and the guys just got back from work, the fragrance of dinner filled up the whole house, Chinese food, I went to the kitchen and see what the auntie is cooking. Vegetable fried with oyster sauce, I thought she put wine in it, I told her it will be marvelous if there is, she ask if I have any with me.....haha.....it reminded me of my mom cooking. Nowadays western food do not have the usual appeal to me anymore ...

Woke up late this morning and frantically made my way down to the YHA to get picked up by the Magic Bus. It was really cloudy/misty when we left Wellington. Not too many people on the bus, maybe 12? As usual, the bus ride made me drowsy so I slept for a lot of the ride to Napier. We stopped at Mt Bruce bird center, I had a hot chocolate there, didn't do the bush walk. The bus driver said we'd get to ...

I got up and had my breakfast in the sun room at the front of the house overlooking the ocean. It was so idyllic. Chatted with Cafer for a while. He's originally from Turkey. He was saying how quiet trade has been this year, but not just for him, but other businesses too. He was also saying about the cost of living spiralling and the weather is going crazy! Same problems everywhere eh! Every country I've been to on this trip has reported the exact same issues! I ...

... girl from the pop group 'Liberty X' (don't know her name but she's dating Kevin Pieterson) So after the two weeks of cricket, I am glad it is all over. This game goes on for too long! I am also glad to be departing from my old school friends, scared at how little we have in common now...... have we natural drifted apart or is this travelling changing me and my views of life. I wouldn't have flown half way around the world for a two week vacation to ...

... John Hancock) at Boulevard one night and had talked to him about the winery where he is a wine maker called Trinity Hill. We arrived at Trinity Hill, a super modern, rather large winery that was packed!! We started to try their extensive collection when I saw John emerge from the back of the building. We told him about how Andrew's Aunt and Uncle had sent us here and how much they liked his wine and with that we spent the next hour and a half with John talking about ...

... gradually tipsier and tipsier. Here's what we had: 1. Ginger Spin Cider - Traditional with an exciting zing of ginger to tantalise the taste buds. Our comment: Very Xmassy! 2. Special Reserve Beer - Citrus flavoured ale infused with honey and cinnamon. Our comment: Not very beery beer according to Jo, "mmmmmh", very smooth 3. Red Cider Irish Style - Full strenght cider. Our comment: Looks like Magners... smells like Magners.... Tastes like ...