Circa 2013 You said back in 2011 that it would probably be circa 2013 before you got around to writing your own 'Rugby World Cup' entry - I'm glad we didn't have to wait too long after the New Year! Fantastic writing, loved the photos - and the other comments :-)
Hope to see you back here for the next parade in a couple of years!
It was with tongue-in-cheek when I made that prediction.
But when the year turned 2013 and I still hadn’t gotten round to it I felt obligated to pull my finger out! I had actually planned to write a lot more about New Zealand’s relationship with Rugby and more of the actual tournament itself, but the sands of time have clouded my memory of things, and all I seem to remember are how small coffees were;-) Doubtless we'll be back with or without Web Ellis!
Perspectives If I had not experienced your strong American accent in recent weeks I would assume you were a whinging Pom with your blog so coloured by the expense of basic commodities in NZ ( and OZ ). But your photos were confusing as they showed the stunning beauty of the place, why Europeans holiday there in European winters in droves, outnumbering locals. Now you are intimating you want to live there! Those in the Southern isles (OZ & NZ) like the fact we can walk without rubbing shoulders with the inhabitants of Mordor, can be the only ones on a beach, a mountain, etc, where it is great one day, better the next. So for any future blogs of this part of the World, please only drab photos, more about sand flies and driving rain in NZ, earthquakes go down well, and let us Aussies and New Zealanders enjoy one of the most beautiful places in the World. New Zealand, gotta love it, but don't tell anyone how fantastic it is. We like our solitude and, did I mention, the high prices are to keep it that way!
Perspectives David, although I think your paternalism is very sweet in coming to the defence of ‘OZ & NZ’ and in the process taking ownership of New Zealand's external affairs. I think it is important to remember that New Zealand is no longer part of New South Wales or Australia’s seventh state. They are all grown up and have their own country and everything, with their own money and even their own accent, 1500kms from Australia. Next you’ll be wanting to help them defend their shiny new trophy for them. But from what I’ve learned, there’ll be no more Waltzing with Matilda...Oh and Russell Crowe is a Kiwi.
Mount Doom! Ha, we remember driving in NZ and Donna pointing at a mountain and saying 'I think that's Mount Doom' as well! We loved NZ, the people were so nice and the scenery breathtaking. Your blog and pictures (which are fantastic as usual!) brought back some good memories of our month there 6 years ago.
New Zealand exceeded my expectations. Although we have all seen them, we are not especially fanatical about Lord of The Rings. I remember we were pit-stopping at Subway on the North Island and I looked out the window at a Mountain...I checked the guidebook to discover its name and stated to my disinterested bunch "I think that's Mount Doom over there" ... no response. Though I can do a pretty good impression of Gollum which my kids particularly dislike;-)
Since you posted your last blog in July 2012 about your time in Tahiti in September 2011... Linda and I have taken the repositioning cruise from Hawaii to Sydney via many islands, and then flew to Christchurch, the beginning of our two weeks in New Zealand. This blog about yout time there, a year before us, brought back to my memory many of the same reactions you had to the country. We also found it very expensive and desolate...where was everyone? And there we no wild animals to add depth to the country side. Although beautiful, something was still missing. We really didn't interact with the people who are supposed to be some of the friendliest people in the world, but we found Australians to be more outgoing. So although we enjoyed our visit there, I can certainly relate to comments in your blog. Thanks for continuing to blog, and for your perspectives.
Right about the time scale... However we loved it there, truly. The 'friendliness level' and the cultural quirks sit just right with me; after all I am originally from England. As a further gauge, Jennifer who hails from California and Wisconsin in the USA, similarly loved it. New Zealand certainly sits amongst our shortlist of possible countries to settle down one day, forever. If we had the money we'd do it tomorrow. As for the wildlife...I think the sandflies dealt with that.
William Webb Ellis Well there I was, enjoying reading your blog and observations about my homeland, admiring the photos, and then you ruined it all with that terrible sentence, "It is also a possibility that New Zealand may never again win". My heart stopped beating for a moment in time. Then I realised that of course you are wrong!! Here's to our successful defense in 2015.
"My heart stopped beating..." It was a powerful argument that also served in motivating my wife to chase Web Ellis around Hagley Park along with the entire population of Christchurch on our penulaltimate day in New Zealand. The next World Cup is in England...Rugby's coming home;-)
Memories The photograph made me do it..scary but often true..often rewarding...hopefully. Also reminds me what I really saw, so my memories are forever. If the photos are also truly part of what I really saw...all the better.
Something to Keep in Mind I am a Macedonian/Croatian living in Canada and, even though several years have passed since this has been posted, I would like to leave my own comment in case someone out there stumbles across this as I myself have. First off, I would just like to say that I appreciate your opinion since this is the internet and everyone does have the right to express themself fully. However, I feel that some of the comments thrown in are very insincere toward the country and its citizens (myself included). As you have mentioned, you can't truly experience a place while on holiday. There is so much to see and learn that vacations do not permit us to (even many natives have yet to experience their own country). You have to keep in mind that you visited Ohrid, which is a travel destination. Many of the people you have encountered during your stay (including the provocatively dressed women) were tourists on holiday as well. I also have to agree with some points made by Gorian and Stefan SERB, however I do think they could've been said in a more civil manner. The school system in the west is nothing compared to the school system in the east, I've met Canadians who believe that Germany is a province within Canada...The West receives all the glory, however I think that the East is always being dumbed down and represented with a bad light which is very unfair. Every country has its own unique culture and heritage, regardless of how you may interpret it. Your experience in Macedonia was not long enough to fully reflect the Macedonian culture and lifestyle. Yes, there are many downsides but if you look, you will find plenty of under-estimated beauty. As someone posted long before me, it is truly a great quality to take the time and travel to various places worldwide. You gain knowledge and perspective, and for this I admire you. Just please, next time do understand that there are people who may be sensitive to such blunt comments. Everyone has the right to express themselves freely, however you have to keep in mind that there are people who call Macedonia their home.
All the best :)
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Poobritney
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Awesome
Good article to read. Keep it up!