Without looking at the picture below, can you tell me what a wheelie bin is? We didn’t know either. Now, without the help of a photograph, what would you expect a chilly bin to look like? You were right, only if you guessed an ice chest.
We noticed the first time we went to the grocery store was how expensive the trash bags were. They cost over $1.50 each. Then we found out that the cost of trash pickup is included in the cost of the bag.
The more bags you use the more you pay for trash pickup – pay as you go, not a bad idea - those who generate the trash, pay for the pickup.
Another idea that most of us would support is the ability limit the delivery of junk mail (the postal service actually honors these signs). That alone reduces the number of trash bags.
Some people prefer to limit their "junk" with a touch of class; "No advertising material,
please." This mail box seems to be a very popular design. Newspapers and circulars (if wanted) go in the open space below the roof and first class mail goes in the slot just above the house number. All street addresses start with the number 1 on the left hand side and the number 2 on the right hand side. Buildings are numbered consecutively. Since street names change often, the street addresses don’t get very big. It is rare to find an address larger that 50 or 60.
We’ve talked some about driving on the left. I think I’m getting used to that now. But to continue that theme, what do you think of a P 180 sign? This one is in front of our flat.
We seldom see STOP signs, but Give Way signs are at almost every street corner. You must always give way to vehicles on your right,
regardless!
This sign isn’t hard to figure out. But without a little help a left hand round-about can be tricky.
Fortunately for me (or for them) they mark the round-abouts with lots of blue arrows, that way I don’t get confused about which side to stay on.
There are blue arrows everywhere. For a new comer they are very helpful, but I think they carry it a bit too far.
Diane and I have been fascinated by these beautiful red blossomed trees.
They are called the New Zealand Christmas tree because they are only indigenous to NZ and they bloom in December.
Close up the blossoms look very similar to the Bottle Brush shrubs we had in California.
But these native trees live hundreds of years and get to be very large. They are absolutely beautiful.
When the blossoms begin to loose their “bristles” the streets and sidewalks almost look like they have been painted.
I’ve also been fascinated by the Norfolk Pines. They too get to be quite large. At more than 100 feet tall, they tower above all other trees and most buildings.
Up close the needles are large, stiff and blunt – not soft or prickly as you might expect.
Continuing our theme of the beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers, we have seen some of the most beautifully landscaped yards.
Although most of the yards are quite small – similar to what we would expect with a garden home – they are packed with flowers of all kinds.
Brightly colored ground covers and fragrant Asian Jasmine provide sensory accents ...
... to flowering shrubs and vines.
A discussion about tropical plants would not be complete without at least mentioning the Bird of Paradise.
On our Saturday morning walk we came across this pretty little brick amphitheatre which is used for community programmes.
But on closer look, we noticed that fence was growing nodules of fuzzy moss. Most wooden structures are covered with either moss or lichen of one kind or another.
Both of us were really in awe with all of the beauty we saw in our morning walk. Diane was particularly impressed by this beautiful rock wall laden with bougainvillea.
After our delightful walk through a couple of beautifully landscaped neighborhoods, Diane and I finished with a breath-taking stroll along the beach on the Pacific Ocean side. This picture helps illustrate why the Maori’s call New Zealand “the land of the long white cloud.”
Not all of the homes along the beach front are quaint little cottages. In fact, as you would expect, hardly any of them are.
The owners of this "bungalow" didn’t want to miss out on the ocean view. The “home” is made of all stainless steel and glass.
Looking to the north are the tree-shrouded cliffs of the little town of Milford. Notice the Norfolk pines above the roof tops.
Not too far off the eastern coast is the island of Rangitoto. Like much of northern NZ, it was formed from volcanic activity. The rocks in the foreground are from the volcano Pupuke.
I didn’t get in, but a local swimmer told us that the water was pretty warm.
After walking well over 10 kilometers (6 miles) I was ready for a little rest before returning to our flat. --- Have a good week.
We noticed the first time we went to the grocery store was how expensive the trash bags were. They cost over $1.50 each. Then we found out that the cost of trash pickup is included in the cost of the bag.
The more bags you use the more you pay for trash pickup – pay as you go, not a bad idea - those who generate the trash, pay for the pickup.
Another idea that most of us would support is the ability limit the delivery of junk mail (the postal service actually honors these signs). That alone reduces the number of trash bags. 
Some people prefer to limit their "junk" with a touch of class; "No advertising material, please." This mail box seems to be a very popular design. Newspapers and circulars (if wanted) go in the open space below the roof and first class mail goes in the slot just above the house number. All street addresses start with the number 1 on the left hand side and the number 2 on the right hand side. Buildings are numbered consecutively. Since street names change often, the street addresses don’t get very big. It is rare to find an address larger that 50 or 60.
We’ve talked some about driving on the left. I think I’m getting used to that now. But to continue that theme, what do you think of a P 180 sign? This one is in front of our flat. 
We seldom see STOP signs, but Give Way signs are at almost every street corner. You must always give way to vehicles on your right, regardless!
This sign isn’t hard to figure out. But without a little help a left hand round-about can be tricky.
Fortunately for me (or for them) they mark the round-abouts with lots of blue arrows, that way I don’t get confused about which side to stay on.
There are blue arrows everywhere. For a new comer they are very helpful, but I think they carry it a bit too far.
Diane and I have been fascinated by these beautiful red blossomed trees.
They are called the New Zealand Christmas tree because they are only indigenous to NZ and they bloom in December.
Close up the blossoms look very similar to the Bottle Brush shrubs we had in California.
But these native trees live hundreds of years and get to be very large. They are absolutely beautiful.
When the blossoms begin to loose their “bristles” the streets and sidewalks almost look like they have been painted.
I’ve also been fascinated by the Norfolk Pines. They too get to be quite large. At more than 100 feet tall, they tower above all other trees and most buildings.
Up close the needles are large, stiff and blunt – not soft or prickly as you might expect.
Continuing our theme of the beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers, we have seen some of the most beautifully landscaped yards.
Although most of the yards are quite small – similar to what we would expect with a garden home – they are packed with flowers of all kinds.
Brightly colored ground covers and fragrant Asian Jasmine provide sensory accents ...
... to flowering shrubs and vines.
A discussion about tropical plants would not be complete without at least mentioning the Bird of Paradise.
On our Saturday morning walk we came across this pretty little brick amphitheatre which is used for community programmes.
But on closer look, we noticed that fence was growing nodules of fuzzy moss. Most wooden structures are covered with either moss or lichen of one kind or another.
Both of us were really in awe with all of the beauty we saw in our morning walk. Diane was particularly impressed by this beautiful rock wall laden with bougainvillea.
After our delightful walk through a couple of beautifully landscaped neighborhoods, Diane and I finished with a breath-taking stroll along the beach on the Pacific Ocean side. This picture helps illustrate why the Maori’s call New Zealand “the land of the long white cloud.”
Not all of the homes along the beach front are quaint little cottages. In fact, as you would expect, hardly any of them are.
The owners of this "bungalow" didn’t want to miss out on the ocean view. The “home” is made of all stainless steel and glass.
Looking to the north are the tree-shrouded cliffs of the little town of Milford. Notice the Norfolk pines above the roof tops. 
Not too far off the eastern coast is the island of Rangitoto. Like much of northern NZ, it was formed from volcanic activity. The rocks in the foreground are from the volcano Pupuke.
I didn’t get in, but a local swimmer told us that the water was pretty warm.
After walking well over 10 kilometers (6 miles) I was ready for a little rest before returning to our flat. --- Have a good week.
1 comment:
I loved all the pictures. What beautiful foliage!
I had noticed in the past two posts that there were hardly any cloudless pictures. So is the island of the long white cloud perpetually overcast?
Thanks for the update!
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