First Glimpses (part 2)

Terry and Dan's Ear

Hi Everyone!

We're sitting in a coffee shop in Whaingarei (That's "Fang•a•ray" to the locals). We had a warm and lovely time with Dan's mom's cousin Grace who was so kind and gracious and slowly cooked such delicious food. Her good friends Robyn and Terry spent another entire day shuffling us around and pointing out interesting items of New Zealand landscape and culture. They even took us on an exotic hike through huge trees and rivers and birds with strange voices.

We finally ate meat pies. Heavenly. Simply scrumptious. It's basically delicious stew encased in flaky pastry. Like a fancy Hot Pocket made by bakers instead of machines and served with a smile. Dan had mince, and Kim had Steak and Cheese. Our poor bodies are still trying to digest them 3 days later . . . in fact, excuse me, I'll be right back.

Phew.

Here's a lesson for Kim's Whole Body Hoochie-Mamas: Manuka Honey (you know, the super fancy expensive kind that we sell at Whole Foods that everyone asks us why it's so special and costs $21 a jar) comes from the Manuka tree (see photo at right), and Manuka is what the New Zealanders call tea tree... where tea tree oil comes from! So the reason it's so good for you is that it carries a lot of the properties of tea tree, and has a lot of immune building goodness. Also, it is pronounced just like your name, lovely miss Monica! I still don't know why it's so expensive.

The next day, Robyn and Terry took us to the ferry that goes into Auckland so that we could pick up our campervan. Kim felt terribly ill that day, so I did what any of you would do and broke down crying in Terry and Robyn's car in the ferry parking lot. Robyn was so sweet and kind and took care of me while Dan and Terry stayed back and talked about football or cars or something boring. I was so touched by their kindness.

We picked up our campervan. The sweet Spaceship Navigator. Please visit (spaceships.tv) for full product details. Dan got angry at Kiwis who kept jaywalking as he attempted to keep the spaceship on the wrong side of the road. This was made much more exciting by the fact that Kim was the navigator, and repeatedly guided the spaceship into the most congested and confusing parts of Auckland, which turns out to be a major city, full of people who refuse to use crosswalks and or common sense. It was stressful, and I think that if Dan didn't love Kim so much, he would have kicked her out of the van, and left her stranded in the middle of Auckland. Lucky for me, I'm still by his side (*fingers crossed*).

In the campervan, we have been going to sleep at nightfall (which is around 7:00 pm), and waking up at dawn (which is about 7:00 am), so we've been getting some lovely sleep! Dan's skin looks beautifully moist and well-rested. Yesterday, we went into a town called Matakana, and they were hosting a most fantastic farmer's market. All kinds and sorts of beautiful organic vegetables, home-brewed beer, crusty bread, duck eggs, olive oils, pates, jams, and really nice people who let us sample all of it! (Note: vegetarians should skip the next couple sentences.) We smelled the most delicious greasy meaty smell emanating from one of the food stalls, so we went to investigate. These folks had homemade sausages that they were selling, and they cooked one up for us, and put it on soft bread with greens, tomatoes, and pepper jam, and every bite exploded into our mouths with juicy porky heavenly goodness!

Now we're off to the north. The Bay of Islands. I doubt we'll scuba dive, but hey, stay tuned to find out!

love, Kim&Dan

David posted on 2007-08-21 at 11:16 am

Mmmm...Kiwi Sausage

---

Nona and Poppi posted on 2007-08-09 at 4:00 pm

LOVED! LOVED! LOVED!Seeing all the pictures, and reading all the captions that go with them.You both look like a perfect match for each other...so keep having FUN! FUN! FUN! All our love

---

Sprock posted on 2007-08-09 at 11:49 am

Please include naked pictures of Dan next time.

---

Anna posted on 2007-08-08 at 7:33 pm

LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing pics and video - you guys inspire me. THANK YOU for letting me live through you in your travels to marvelous places and experiences of eating exotic and oh so naturale foods and seeing oh such beautiful sights. you really look terrific. have I told you yet how happy I am for you - that you are doing this, together, enjoying, living, loving, learning... ?? I am! :)

---

Robyn and Terry posted on 2007-08-07 at 11:19 pm

Hi Dan and Kim - its great to read all about your travels this type of website is a new experience for us. We enjoyed showing you around Auckland glad you have survived the ghastly weather of last Saturday - it rained all day here and I wondered how you spent the time or were you driving thru it all day. Today Wed sun at last so hope you are getting some as well. When we go to USA won't have access to computer except in cafe so won't be catching up till we get back to NZ and you may be in Aus by then. Hope its all going well. Robyn and Terry

---

Jane posted on 2007-08-07 at 8:44 am

I miss you. Thanks for the loving video. The countrysise looks wonderland. Kim your silll teaching Whole body from soooo FAR AWAY Everyone I take to see the house Loves it (and Glaydes too she's a gem)I hope Dan's finger is better,esp.since you took him all the way to the waterfall to cool it off. Loved you First, Jane

---

Nick posted on 2007-08-06 at 1:08 pm

was the marmite really good dan ? ewwww

---

Grace Rowland posted on 2007-08-06 at 2:45 am

The house is empty without you, it was so nice to have you stay over, you are welcome to come back. Love looking at all the photos and read all the places you visit. My new emplyee started today her permit arrived on Friday. Horrah off to the mountain on Friday.

---

Kay Harrison posted on 2007-08-05 at 10:46 pm

Hi I'm Grace's Daughter, The photos and video are so awesome. I'm pleased you got to the Farmers Market at Matakana, it's one of my favourite places. Wanted to say the biggest hugest thank you for the gifts you brought Jamie and Cara - they absolutely love them. We would love to see you if you want to stop in on your way through Orewa, for a coffee or dinner, Phone (09) 421 0841, address: 19 Spur Rd, Silverdale. e-mail dave.kay@xtra.co.nz

---

rus posted on 2007-08-05 at 6:48 pm

videos are good. you guys look wonderful together. i like that grace laughed after she told you what she was cooking for dinner. on a dork note: are you using h264 compression. its good and small. and do you know how your video starts playing before its fully downloaded. some of mine do some don't i can't figure it out. ps i have a lot of new videos up and a reel keep the movies coming rus

---

RSS Feed Subscription