From Christchurch to Dunedin

My husband wanted to go and I offered myself up to accompany him. We have been out a few times this year. We prefer to collect memories instead of things ;)

 Riverstone castle A house build like a castle just before Oamaru

Riverstone gift shops

Shag Point is at an hour before Dunedin and home to a big fur seal colony.

From the picnic area at Shag Point you look down at the rock formations were many seals were

View from our stay in Portobello on the Dunedin Peninsula

Night sky

Dunedin Peninsula

Walk to the pyramids in dunedin peninsula

Basalt rocks

Victory Beach is the longest and most beautiful beach in the Otago Peninsula. On this beach a ship named Victory was grounded in 1861. 

Victory Beach

At the settlers museum in Dunedin

Amond Blossom

Prompt Poets United: Almond blossom Vincent van Gogh

Almond blossom by Vincent van Gogh

Almond Blossom

Almond blossom
Pretty petals painted with 

graceful, gentle brush strokes
The fuel of love poured out on
canvas, creating a blush of bliss
The alchemy of paint turned into
artistry by Vincent van Gogh
A man feeling so deeply that
it overflowed into his work
emptying all of his soul
A man feeling so deeply
his light disappeared
into a black hole

Almond blossom
a tribute to Vincent’s brothers
new born child, a pure presentation 
delicate with white delightful flowers
An awakening to all sweetness
of Spring. Twisting twigs
reaching out towards the world
calling you to adore them,
contrasting against a turquoise sky
so pleasing to the eye, 
that heavens open,
wind holding its breath and
joy sprinkles on the souls
witnessing this work
Depicting love and beauty
are at the core of life

Vincent has always been one of my favourite painters so here a treat for me and hopefully for you.

First of all a link to a YouTube video about Vincent's life  The story    

Secondly a beautiful song by Don McLean, very poetic, with the title referring to my favourite painting 

   

Abel Tasman Track

Last Friday we walked the Abel Tasman Track in the North of the South Island of New Zealand. We were dropped of by a boat at the end in Totaranui. We walked first an hour loop further West as we had plenty of time. The rest of the walk was only 2 more hours. We had to wait for a barge who brought us to Awaroa as it was high tight.

Awaroa Bay has a gorgeous beach and I owe a handful of sand of it. The beach was bought by the people of New Zealand for all to enjoy so it wouldn't fall into private hands.

We stayed the night in a lodge and the next day we walked 6 hours resting on beautiful beaches.

It was not easy as there is lots of up and down walking on hills between the Bays

On the last day we walked the high tight walk around Torrent Bay than down to Anchora Bay and from there the long way to Marahau. I can't walk for a while though having a big blood blister but it was worth it as it was most enjoyable and beautiful.

We walked along the coast line from Totaranui to Marahau

Split Apple Rock

Clear blue water

Medlands beach

Anchorage Bay

Lots of Wekas on the track, beautiful bush and beaches

#WATWB Veteran takes bus to join anti-racism rally

A post for the Blogfest Community

We are the World

This is the 22th celebration of the WE ARE THE WORLD BLOGFEST #WATWB which is carried out every last Friday of the month, and which aims to spread love and positiveness in this vulnerable world. A celebration of heroes who can still restore our faith in humanity, especially in this period when our world seems to be full of endless series of horrible happenings.

link to Veteran story  Radio NZ

You all now about the tragedy which happened in Christchurch NZ, my city. I was absolutely taken this week by the story of the 95 year old veteran John Sato, who took several buses to Pakuranga, Auckland to see the flowers of support at the Mosque. He also went to the city centre to take part in the anti-racism rally. He was supported as you see on the picture and brought home by the police.

"I think it's such a tragedy, and yet it has the other side. It has brought people together, no matter what their race or anything. People suddenly realised we're all one. We care for each other."  John Sato 

John Sato had a need to speak out and to reach out. As we say in the Netherlands 'shared joy is double joy and shared sorrow is half sorrow'. And the latter is what we did. We shared our sorrow and cared. Even a 95 year old did this and stood up for what is right. The community has shown that it is possible to live together in peace and give full support to those affected in this tragedy in every way possible. People have volunteered e.g. by preparing meals for the Muslim community, gifted items, and millions of dollars were collected and many, many flowers, messages and drawings were laid at several places.

On another level things have become more humane, like restrictions have been put on hate-speech and on guns. Discussion are now possible about discrimination and solutions are being sought as the ground is fertile now for us to grow and become better human beings.
Connections are made which normally never would have been made and gives people the possibility to learn about each other. Most important we are all one and They are Us

Oh if we only could always be like brothers and sisters. As happened after the earth quake things got kind of back to normal after a while. But as I said the good thing is we have grown As I can only speak for myself I will try to explain in some of the ways I have changed in the last 2 weeks.

• I would now more easily connect to the Islam community, and it didn't occur to me doing that before.
• Before I wouldn't quickly be involved as people engaged in hate speech From now on I am going to speak up if anybody does. 
• I am also more grateful for my life and learned that stuff isn't important. People are.
  I believe that living for fame and fortune doesn't make you happy but becoming your best possible self does.

Let's hope that this will be a catalyst for all to grow and when a 95 year old can stand up for a better world everyone can  😃 

This song, peace train, was performed this morning by Yusef Islam/Cat Stevens 

at the remembrance service in Christchurch this morning

From the speech of PM Jacinda Ardern:

"Our challenge now is to make the very best of us, a daily reality.Because we are not immune to the viruses of hate, of fear, of other. We never have been. But we can be the nation that discovers the cure."

As-salāmu ʿalaykum Te rongo ki a koutou katoa

Peace to you all from New Zealand/ Aotearoa

Thank you and spread the love ☮

A friend of mine

for poets united 

A friend of mine

I introduce you to a friend

she makes me travel widely

inside the space of my mind 

where I count the clouds

where cloudy thoughts clear

where clear streams flow

where a flow of words dance

Some people don’t like her
fear she infects them with loneliness

but she keeps out the crowd

and the noise and the voice

of the world of sadness and 

madness and bursts of busyness

I love her peaceful presence as

I’ll snuggle up, with coffee and my cat

a book and a pen and some paper

after I wander through the forest

smell the earth, soak in the air

oh yes we two are quite a pair

Now I think about it
to mend my mood

I have to see her more often

My silent friend named Solitude 

Empowerment

An incredible wave of sorrow and pain has invaded our community in Christchurch after the horrible events on 15/3/19 which will be carved into our minds for a long time.
We feel the grieve as our whanau has been deeply hurt. We feel almost useless and want to do everything to ease that pain of the Muslim community. Giving money, flowers, support. I am proud of New Zealand and it’s caring and strong leader Jacinda Ardern as the opportunity has been taken by all to not be divided by hate but to be united in love. This empowers us to deal with this
Some of the beautiful words of Jacinda

“To the families, we cannot know your grief, but we can walk with you at every stage. We can and we will surround you with aroha, love, manaakitanga, kindness and all that makes us us.”

 “He asked what offer of support the United States could provide. My message was sympathy and love for all Muslim communities.”
(phone conversation with Donald Trump)

Endless flowers, messages and drawings from
the people of Christchurch as They are us

Prompt Poets United Empowerment
Empowerment is one of my values so I had to write something   I don't have taken the time yet to edit it. That time will come.  Also wanted to be part of this loving community of Poets United. Aroha nui to all

Flick your switch

Dear friend

Some days you will cry
but don’t let the world weigh you down
you have immense strength

Your tears won’t wash out your vision

your vision is carved into your soul
That’s were your sage lives

That’s where your warrior is

A warrior of peace and love
which will overflow into the world,

if you open your heart

You came here with a purpose
listen to the whispers inside

they will tell you who you are

Tell your tale, fill the pages
carve your life out in your image
that’s what you came here to do

Flick your switch, turn
your attention to your power

Enjoy oh yes enjoy.

Be that wild flower
dancing in the wind among
all colours and shapes

in beautiful harmony

Be that wind

Which can’t be hold

by cupped hands
because it is free
thinks independently

Seeks the truth
under boughs of trees

under the canopy
and in the open sky

Most of all Be you
and let others be the
image of their soul
Empower them,
by giving them a voice
give them the chance
to live their story

Admire their strength

Embrace the exotic
Excite in new ideas

Soften into acceptance

Meet people where they are

And the wax of fear will
drip down the candle
till only freedom is left