'WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU RAINY DAYS, WEAR CUTE BOOTS AND JUMP IN THE PUDDLES' (as seen on a Collectibles shop blackboard) -
It was neat (do people still say neat??) to see hidden corners of the city before I went home very happy and smitten with the best island in creation. Groovy art of Dunedin is somewhat dysfunctional but it all grabs attention; my favourite being 'love is in the air' mural by Natalia Rak of a sweet little girl kissing a boy with a rainbow lollipop on a bench. I simply couldn't knock back a brownie with berry compote and nutty bits from the Dog with 2 Tails café. Not to gobble every last crumb would be a depraved, unspeakable act and it soon had me under its choccie spell.
This idyllic peninsula named after a locality in Edinburgh, Scotland is SUNSHINEY and would be on a cloudy day too! I went to Penguin Café specifically for the penguin patterned biscuits that the internet raves about but they'd sold out super early that morning; who doesn't bake back up biscuits?!! I was offered pancakes shaped like penguins as an alternative, drenched in a sea of syrup and an overly, adequate squirting of whipped cream; these soon had me smiling.
Walkies along the Peninsula was unnerving as it was mostly unpathed and cars raced around the bends. The harbour within the heart of Otago formed 'from drowned remnants of a giant shield volcano'; this country is ferociously volcanic. Portobelloans seem to savour a leisurely, laidback lifestyle making the exquisite and captivating region a swell part of the world to retire in. Boldly coloured bus stops complete with painted crabs, seals and seagulls etc. are the coolest ever created anywhere!!
CHASING DOWN A MAGICAL PERFECT THOUGHT TO NOT EXIST -
Pudding Island, a two acre scenic reserve emerging from the water, was glowing out like a beacon, touching my soul. At low tide you can walk out to explore the island but it was high tide when I traipsed past Titeramou (as it's also known) *curses!!* I also spotted Quarantine Island, a disused station where historically passengers coming into the harbour with infectious diseases were detained. Some of whom didn't make it so there's a cemetery for all those who died while secluded. On a cheerier note, Southern right whales have used the calm waters to nurse their calves there.
The beauteous beaches of Edwards Bay and Oysters Bay prove that 'no one's dreams are in Dunedin' to be total tosh! It was perfect from where I sat/stood/strolled. For anyone overly fixated on pineapples, like SpongeBob Squarepants, Portobello has a rock shaped exactly like the tropical fruit and is aptly named - Pineapple Rock. Soon after I went back to AKL, having put more memories in my heart and considering myself one of the luckiest, little women on earth.
NOTHING GOOD EVER HAPPENS BEFORE 5PM-
Amber, Darcy and I had a reunion in Auckland before Amber's NZ holiday ended and we took a gentle ramble up Mt Eden. All of us wanted to roll down the sacred crater as it looked so inviting but obviously we wouldn't be so disrespectful. At the summit, a French guy rudely pestered me endlessly and would not stop insulting and hating on England which led to a quarrel with me defending the greatness of my land. The pink sunset playing peek-a-boo behind clouds was a treat for our eyes.
The three of us had an overwhelmingly jovial afternoon and evening; just think we wouldn't have met if it weren't for Fox Glacier. At Aotea Square, we literally painted the town at Aotea Square with the pop up light-writing screen. It was actually water light writing as water was sprayed onto our paintbrushes so we could draw or write on a black screen which lit up our graffiti instantly. Such fun!
I'd suggested banqueting at Elliott Stables as there is infinite international choice and we lucked out with a table for 6 on a Friday night!! Between us, we purchased food for the same amount of people as the chairs at our table; I feasted from Bonz Cajun kitchen on delicious cornbread, chicken and chorizo jambalaya with curly fries. It's like I *think* it and they cooked IT!!
Dessert was next on the menu, at an Auckland institution - Giapo: ice cream of the masses, as nobody should leave Auckland without partaking. After a few free samples, I picked a cup of Chocolate Evolution - a blend of cocoa nibs, chocolate mousse and dark Dominican chocolate which tantalised my taste buds cheekily. The decorations and embellishments of a tempered chocolate moon were GORGE and with a single flavour, I had no trouble finishing the way I had last time. I was not disappointed whatsoever by my selection of goodies. I really hope life brings the three of us together again as I've enjoyed their company immensely. At least Darcy and I were able to have plenty of pleasant outings in and around AKL as she lived close by in Epsom.
Who needs a handsome, available man in Auckland when there's chocolate with my name written all over it at Chocolate Boutique Café in pretty Parnell? Jess and I had been trying to organise a dessert date here together for a while and it was fun to have Kalolo's sister, Les join us putting our sweet teeth into serious overdrive. My life has been shaped by powerful desserts such as the one I decimated; the smore sundae and I more than deserved each other after not being a happy camper from the uneven layered hairdo I had fallen victim to earlier. I'd also ordered the Italian Denso - now this is no basic, boring hot chocolate beverage; I start eating with my nose as the rich aroma wafts up my nostrils and I was soon chocolate wasted on this liquid of indulgence.
Jess had also wanted to see the Light Path, the city's neon rose cycle and walkway on an old motorway ramp linking Upper Queen Street to Quay Street; GPS took us somewhere cooooompletely different originally. Once we found the $18 million dollar, pinkly-lit path, we got to be silly on it together with a photoshoot, creating Boomerang videos and singing Spice Girls uproariously whilst 300 programmable lights flashed awesomely.
On one of my sweet treat days, I sought out the OKO volcano from OKO Desserts and I will have you know that it is the PORSCHE of puddings! It was my imagination come to life in the form of milk chocolate mousse, orange cake, crunchy choc rock, hot hazelnut choccie sauce and orange segments with dry ice. When the miniature jug of sauce is poured over the main element there's a volcanic erupting effect of chocolate and for that alone, it has to go down as one of the greatest desserts in history.
One Saturday in August, Darcy and I met up after the rainy storm had passed over for deconstructed hot beverages at Cornwall Park Café. I now legitimately believe that all hot chocs should come in the form of : a tray holding a dinky jug of frothy milk, choc syrup and powder, marshmallows, flake and a few Jaffa sweeties. I emotionally drank my feelings with pretentious passion. Joyous, spring time flowers sprang forth in the park; there were tulips and daffodils of hot pink, orange and yellow for days. Magnolia blossom trees of piggy pink also made for fantastic scenery. It was lambing season so it was heartwarming to watch the cuties with their Mummy sheep. Deep inside. I pretend they're just as happy to see me! A cracker of a day concluded with a look out at the land below from One Tree Hill and a happy meal NOT from McDonalds - we went to Happy Boy, a brand new fast food joint kitted out in oodles of futuristic UV.
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