Solidarity

I don't know if this is being done elsewhere in the world, but it is in New Zealand. During this mandatory shutdown, people are being separated from one another. Therefore, if people in their homes could reach out in some way to those passing by, it might make for a more caring attitude in everyone.  

It was suggested that putting a teddy bear in a window might be a good idea. Children walking with their parents on the streets could take comfort as they passed friendly teddies waving to them.  

You'll see in this post that some folks had other ideas than teddy bears, but it all works.  Enjoy. 

This picture is actually always up there. It is our dentist and dental hygenist. (sisters) 

Okay, I admit it, I'm cheating with this one. But who has a seal balancing a ball as a lawn ornament?   

I'm adding some additional shots that I took after publishing this post yesterday. And, I'm attaching a Youtube video I just took of a tui.  

On the sidewalk near the train station.

Espalier Park

Sorry for the shaking on this video. The wind was pushing at me a bit, and I had quite a bit of zoom on the camera. (and I'm 68) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7L2n0frbfs                  -djf

I wonder if the Henderson's night market is still going on?

(3/24/20  - I took the pictures and wrote the text for this post a couple of months ago. I haven't checked recently, because we're staying home, but I think that this first photo IS the view of the market during the pandemic of 2020.)

BTW, I have five more posts 'in the pipeline' that were done before all this trouble started. 

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It occured to me the other day that it has been a couple of years since I toured (and tasted at) the Thursday Night Market that sets up each week in the underground parking garage below K-Mart. Then I wondered, with just a hint of panic rising in the back of my mind, "What if it shut down?" I thought I had better check it out. This is what the car park looks like most of the time. (before the cars show up that is) 

Turns out that I needn't have worried. The Market is bigger than ever.  

Let me show you just some of what's available. 

Back in my working days, I used a sound level dosimeter to develop a map of the factory's hazardous noise areas. I often wish I still had one of them. With all this concrete reflecting the crowd noise, the decible level would have been way up there. It would be interesting to see just how high.  

(ear plugs must be worn above 85 db) 

We have a friend, originally from Iran, who makes baklava.  I have been forever spoiled after tasting hers. They make you want to close your eyes and smile. 

I tried one of these in the picture and was aghast at what this vendor was calling baklava. Her sign should have read, 'baklava?'  

You know the difference between real fruit juice and fruit drink? Well, that's what I thought of this baklava wanna-be.  

 Grilled mussels on the half-shell. 

That's a terrific price.

 These are Korean fish-shaped waffles with either red bean, chocolate or vanilla flavored paste inside.  

I like these. They cost $5 for three, but the lady gave me four.  

 This guy is rapping for these girls. He is raising money to travel to a rap contest somewhere. His sign said, "You pick the subject! I rap about it."  

 The last time I came, I bought several skewers of various meats. 

 But who could resists a squid-on-a-stick?

 A fried rice burrito, talk about cross cultural, huh? 

Just as I was about to leave, I caught sight of this pot of pig's feet. 

I had eaten dinner at home before I came, so this didn't tempt me at all, but part of me says I missed something by not pulling out a couple of $2 coins.    

It reminded me of the time I was visiting Mary in San Jose and we were walking along the beach. Friends of Mary's had a big pot of beef tripe and chilis simmering above a grill. We had just eaten a bowl of fish chowder with crusty rolls, so we weren't at all interested, but, in hindsight, I wish I had tried just a bite.  

I think I need to go back again to the night market.....                 -djf

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3/24/20...

Once again, New Zealand is taking a pro-active attitude during a crisis. Here is an example from the business sector.

Lion Red, the beer manufacturer, is filling fewer kegs with beer in favor of filling more individual bottles, and switching from deliveries of kegs to bars and restaurants to home delivery. It has been listed as one of NZ's 'essential' industries. 
Good on you Lion Red for being there for all of us during this emergency.  You're helping to make our self-isolation just a little bit more bearable.  

There's a beach in Ponsonby? Who knew?

So, I was walking along past all these fancy homes in Ponsonby and I came across a sign that announced, "Beach."  It pointed down the hill.  And it was a big one, the hill, that is. You saw the picture that closed out my last post. 

Now, I have to admit; there was a time when I resisted the idea of carrying a phone, but when Allie got me one anyway and I discovered that it had a map feature on it, I realised how handy such a device could be. 

When I saw the beach sign, I popped open my window to the world and sure enough, discovered that I was about two long blocks from Hamilton Beach. Well, I just had to go down there. Despite the substantial slope of the hill and the fact that I'd have to climb back up the thing again. I can't pass up a beach. 

Today's post then, will share this very modest beach with all of you. I didn't find any treasures along it. Because it sits in one corner of Auckland's harbor, there is essentially no surf and nothing very interesting had been washed ashore there. 

 I noticed this view as I crossed a street. The beach is a couple more blocks to the left of the marina. 

 Jacarandas smell very sweet.

 There is no vehicle access to this beach, just a set of stairs. 

 Mainly sea grass of some sort on the sand. The pohutukawas are blossoming. 

That's the Chelsea Sugar Factory across the bay. 

I can't help but throw in a few pictures of trees and roots growing out of a cliff face. 

 There's the Harbor Bridge.

There was a large driftwood log (you can see it in my first picture of the beach) that gave me a place to rest for a few minutes before I began my return climb.   

The Ponsonby area has never failed to impress me whenever I have explored it. This beach today was a real surprise and a bonus. I'm sure that there is more to discover yet. You'll be invited to come along.             -djf

Another wander through Ponsonby

The last time I rode a bus through Ponsonby, I noticed a bakery I had not seen before. It's a German bakery. (Ohhh, I'll bet they make pretzels. Those great big ones with lots of coarse salt on them.) I planned to come back when I had the opportunity and investigate.  

Well, today's the day. I've taken the bus in and here I am in front of the bakery. Their sign confirms that there are indeed pretzels to be found within. Let's go.

I took these pictures before Christmas.

 There it is. When I tried a piece just moments after taking this picture, I realized that this is the real deal. A proper pretzel. 

(There is a tiny hole-in-the-wall pretzel and churro shop on Queen Street in Auckland, but the pretzels they make are nothing like these.)

 Since the bakery is on the corner of the Three Lamps corner, I decided that I would walk down some of the side streets that come off Ponsonby Road and see what other interesting things I could find.  I found that there are some very nice homes here.

I also discoverd that there is a beach nearby. I walked down to it and took some pictures, and will bring you those in the next post. 

On my return to Ponsonby Road, I came across a place that grabbed my attention. Check this out...

 Morepork is a play on words here. There is a small nocturnal owl here that the Maori call a ruru. It's English name is the morepork.   

 And look at what the sign says. Low and slow American BBQ. I've got to check this out.

 It's just a little place but it sure smells right.  

This is on one wall.  

I found that the chef is from Massachusetts. She was interested to learn where I was from and when I placed a combination platter takeaway order, she threw in a free container of pickled vegetables for us. 

I chose beef brisket, jalepeno sausages, ribs, and chicken for the meats and burnt-end-bacon beans, cole slaw and corn bread for my sides.  

Allie, Jeanne and I enjoyed all of it that evening, although I think we would have liked it all even more had we been eating it fresh from the grill, rather than reheated five hours later. 

I especially liked the beans. They're the best beans I've had in NZ, but not as good as those Jeanne, Kim, Fred, or even I have made.  

(I think they used the wrong kind of dry beans. ) 

Still, they're good enough that I'd like to take Jeanne there sometime for lunch. 

This last photo is one taken on the street that leads down to the beach. Those are jacaranda trees (native to Brazil) along the sidewalks. Stay tuned for the next installment....         djf