Whangarei Trip - part 3

Just like all good things, all wonderful journeys come to an end.

This is one of the lookouts.  I feel the views would have been more spectacular had the sun been out and proud. 

On the way home, we passed by Whangarei Falls, which was a stunner!  All thousand and one views around it!

Again, we were unprepared for this short trek, but who cares?  We're happy, the trees, rocks, waterfalls, and all creatures are happy!

Happy 5th, my lab!  More travels!

Whangarei Trip - part 2

At the side of the house, there was a sign that said "beach" and it led to this path.  Beaches always mean good news so we gladly followed the track even if it meant we had to do a semi-hike in wrong attires and wrong shoes - or the lack of shoes.  

Happy!

This is the NZ silver fern.  I learned from Mike that this plant, native to NZ, has a silver hue and is useful when planted along tracks for night walks.  Bongga!  Silver!

Finally, the beach!  

Don't be deceived by the seemingly powerful glares of the sun.  The water is still ice-cold if we were to use my standards.  No swim, just dawdaw the feet.  All good.

After inhaling the glorious beach scent, we went back and drove further to Matapouri beach - a white beach!

And hopped to the other side of town to check out more beach views.

As we missed Keyla, we did this and sent her the photo :)

I love happy paths that lead to beaches :)

I know I will never get tired of walking along beaches, it fills all my senses!  I could bask under the sun the whole day - sunblock or no sunblock, migrai..... no migraines, please!

Dinner was take-away pizza and lots of beer and wine.  Wine has been a necessity for me... for reasons I'd rather not discuss!

The day was a success.  One of our most memorable travels :)

Whangarei Trip - part 1

It's been almost a year since Mike and I went on a road trip.  Last weekend, we made an advanced anniv trip up north to Whangarei.  It's a trip that never disappointed.  Perfect in every way :)

Weather forecast was promising - it promised there will be rain, winds, and don't-even-try-to-make-plans-this-weekend kind of weather.  We made plans anyway.  We figured we'll sleep all day in Whangarei if weathers turns really sour.

On our almost 3 hour journey, there was an ongoing battle between the sun and the clouds.  It was good in a way because we've discovered that since we've moved to NZ, extreme sunlight triggers our migraine - and it pretty much moves us into a worthless state.  So some cloud bkanket is really good!

It rained indeed.  This is the entrance of the b&b, all doomed and lonely (I associate rain with grief).

And with a little luck, the above pic magically turned into something like this:

The bathroom - with the pikachu (peek at you, get?) window.  It was very neat and maselan-approved.  I pray that nobody ever walked outside during the times I took a bath and used the loo for whatever reason.  I pray.

The bed with a mosquito net (aka kulambo).  The owner had been very honest, she said she saw 1 mosquito the other day so she attached the mosquito net.  So thoughful!

Loved these outdoor hot tubs!  Took away all the stress and exhaustion.  I liked it scalding hot!

We had burgers for lunch!  Si misis matipid!  Nagbaon ng burgers!  Hahaha!  I swear I craved for adobo and wished that we brought adobo instead of burgers.  This was reminiscent of our Turi Beach (Indonesia) trip when we brought packed lunch of lumpia and rice.  Kailangan laging may baon!

Loved these pictures on the wall beside the tubs.  If I were to name this picture, the name would be "Talikod".

Since the weather turned fab, we went outside and let our hair down!  Explored the exterior of the house and we found paradise.

This is the view from the garden:

This is the b&b, hosted by Susy and Brett.  Such lovely hosts!

And more take-my-breath-away views!

What I'd do to wake up every morning to these views!

Transformations

Kuya told me that Keyla is now transitioning from our baby girl to a full grown 5 year old kid.  

The other night, she assembled her toy tent in their room and excitedly asked if she could sleep in it (vs on the bed with her parents).  The dad said no.

Yesterday, she asked if she could walk alone to her classroom from the school entrance (vs being accompanied by April all the way inside).  The mom said no.

When I heard the stories, it broke my heart.  Maybe not as painful as what her parents felt, but it pinched, more of punched, my auntie-heart.  Haha!  Sounds exaggerated but mostly true.

I wailed and acted crushed and asked her, "Why?????  Don't you want to do things with us anymore?  Don't you love us anymore????" 

She laughed and answered, "I love you auntie, but I want to start doing things on my own."

Enough said.

Nothing could have prepared me for that reply.  Haha!

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