The more I see and do here, the more I think I was born in the wrong place

OH CREPE!! - 

Darcy and I were so down to see what Rangitoto was about but before that we swung by the French Festival at Queens Wharf. I wish I could have jam jarred the patisserie scents wafting throughout the stall-packed, former cargo shed. The air smelt so French with the tasters of sizzling chicken and bacon saucisson, the most pretty and dainty macarons and home made crepes of chocolat! My crepe and I were busy loving each other as the miracle worker cooks whipped up crepe after crepe for the hoards. 

Somehow I had carelessly lost my ferry ticket at the festival and Darcy stepped up to make things right, pretending hers was gone as she had proof of receipt on her cash card and I had paid with cash beforehand. We didn't need to cry or lay on the charm with the cashier *PHEW!!* The ferry over Hauraki Gulf was blustery on top deck despite the sun beaming above Auckland and the hole in the Ozone. 

LIVING MY LIFE OUT LOUD - 

Rangitoto, meaning 'bloody sky' in Maori, is a pest-free, treasure island measuring 5.5km wide and is an extensively visible natural attraction. The symmetrical shield volcano rises 260 metres and is a brand new one (geographically speaking) as it's a youthful 600 years of age. My research has helped me understand the grand backstory of the most recent and largest of Auckland's volcanic field of 50 volcanoes. It came forth from the sea in a fountain of lava and showering ash; rock solidified in 1400 AD according to fragments of shell and charcoal which have been dated. 

As the island practically doesn't have any streams, its biodiversity is heavily dependent on rain. The Department of Conservation officially declared Rangitoto free of pests in 2011 after eradicating them with poison. 

HOW CAN YOU SAY 'NO' TO RANGITOTO? - 

The scenic reserve is radiant with scores of scoria, lava fields and forest. We scrambled across the uneven black, heat absorbing rock, passing more than 200 species of fern and flowers - some as old as 250 years. Our ears were gratified with bird cuckoos, tui warblings and fantail flutterings and I cheekily took home a memento of volcano rock from the rugged terrain. 

We'd planned to pay for a shuttle upwards but learnt this was reserved for Fullers Volcanic Explorers tour only so we had no choice but to ascend the 800 metres above sea level. Our worry was that if we missed the final ferry back, we'd have to survive the night somewhere when no inhabitants can live or stay overnight and there's no source of food, running water or toilet facilities. On a rest stop, Darcy and I found a perfect shelter (as would Bear Grylls) just in case and it provided shade from heat. Had we known we were a mere 3-5 minutes from the top, we wouldn't have taken the break. Alas, this frail, ol' bag o' bones made it in one piece. Congrats to us!!

WHEN ARE THE VIEWS GOING TO START TOOTING THEIR OWN HORN? - 

The crater crown is a staggering 60 metres deep and 200 metres in width; it's made quite the imprint in the land and were it still active, we'd rather possibly have been burnt to a fiery crisp! Another special feature is the world's largest Pohutukawa forest but that's not something we had the time to inspect very much. After an hours trail and 300 steps to the summit, we picnicked looking out at the attractive landscape. 

I stacked it at one point, bashing my knee on a rock and grazing my skin as we clambered inside lava caves. These dark, narrow tunnels formed by old lava flows are best explored using a torch but it was more thrilling without although this is ill advised. As way of reviving our energy levels, we hit up Fokker Bros for freakshakes. Mine, the Candy Mountain strawberry milkshake mayhem - an artificial overload of obscene sweetness. The drink was an explosion of gummies and horrifyingly artery-clogging but the sweetie adornments were joyful. 

PUGS ARE A PHENOMENON OF CUTENESS THAT TAKE YOUR TROUBLES AWAY -

The first Saturday of September, Zani, Kalolo and myself attended Parnell's Hug-a-pug event but we'd vastly underestimated how popular the event would be in the rain. When we walked up, there was already a queue snaking around the block with an hour's wait time just to enter with a gold coin donation. We decided not to bother joining the line as there were plenty of puggies outside to meet and greet for puggle huggles with the poochies who look like grumpy-faced old men. It became apparent that they were overwhelmed by all these strangers petting them and thrusting mobiles in their face for selfies so this began to bother us morally. It became a circus of anxious pets :( 

Zani recommended that we grab a bite for lunch at BBQ King back in the city centre and I had an awesome, ginger chicken stir fry. I feel we don't make a big enough deal of stir fries and this must be changed for mine was gloriously gingery. Pud was also pulverised at Melt in the shape of a berry chocolate, ice cream cupcake - the ultimate cupcake of celebration. What delusional reality are you living in if you don't want to SCOOP one up?? 

THE BEST SATURDAY NIGHT I'D HAD IN WEEKS - 

After deciding in haste that Vinos Wine Bar wasn't a suitable venue as masses were to descend for a PJ night at the bar and the lads weren't permitted to wear hats inside, we relocated to Albany Karaoke to rock the mic right. I get along best with the girlies when we're being silly and I'm so lucky to have found the kind of friends who sparkle with sunshiney energy. Syndi smashed song after song with some Mariah, Leann Rimes, Miley, Michael Jackson and the Lion King. Lin was a surprise pop starlet with her renditions of T Swift's 'Love story' and Frozen's 'Let it go'. 

Pocket-sized Pen serenaded her fiancée Brayden with Bruno Mars 'Marry you' in her voice of silk and The Carpenters 'a kind of hush' a beautiful song I never knew existed before. Brendan and Anthony are amazing vocalists; they entertained with 'You raise me up', 'Wherever you will go' and Queen. My karaoke jam 'You're so vain' always has the power to get me on my feet belting out the song badly. Finally, thanks to Syndi's joyous, Whoopi Goldberg gospel stylings to Sister Act's 'OH, HAPPY DAY!!' with us as the choir of rapturous nuns, the management added extra time for us. Lin, Brendan, Anthony and I went onto Denny's for a pre-midnight feast of coconut and cranberry French toast por moi. Declarations of love should be written for it!!

EVERYONE KNOWS ME AS THE GIRL WHO LURVEEEEES DESSERT  - 

Pen organised for some of the girls and Brendan to have a catch up at Paper Moon in Mairangi Bay, for a grand dessert. The chocolate bomb, a milk chocolate 'dome filled with vanilla bean anglaise, forest berry nut cluster & honey comb pieces, served with oreo crumbs, hot chocolate sauce & vanilla bean ice cream'  kissed my mouth and lit up my world. No one will think any less of you for trowelling the lot as it's an exquisite work of art. 

On my last day of work for Gallagher Bassett, midway through September, my lovely colleagues had organised a morning tea with a card and some unexpected but thoughtful gifts. Some of the ladies also took me out to Snowman for a wintry lunch of strawberry shaved ice juiciness and another heaped mountain of Oreo shaved ice - which we spooned through collectively as best we could. 

AUCKLAND, YOU HAVE GIVEN ME SOME DELIGHTFUL SNACKS - 

After running some errands, Tastehouse Bakery along K Road hooked me up with a Pieffee; a steamy, novelty baked good I'd not encountered before. It's essentially a hot chocolate inside a biscuit crust (in place of a mug) with a rainbow sprinkle rim, NZ fern-stencilled foam and marshmallows on the side. A really weird concept that you drink and then eat but somehow it kinda works, pleasing the tonsils. Love certainly soared! 

Before tidying, cleaning and room swapping on my move out date, all the roomies came out for a sweet farewell brunch at Hello Friends and Allies. The red velvet and fairy floss hotcakes with lemon berry coulis embodied everything I could ever want in a stack of pancakes. I would be doing the world a disservice if I didn't express how extraordinary these chefs are with a pancake. Then I abandoned the broth who have become a dysfunctional family to me and bussed up to Paihia for a few days in the beauteous Bay of Islands. I shall miss my little nut jobs!! 

With every day that passes, I fall deeper and deeper in love with this land

'WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU RAINY DAYS, WEAR CUTE BOOTS AND JUMP IN THE PUDDLES' (as seen on a Collectibles shop blackboard) - 

By now it is early August in Dunedin for the last day and a half of my winter break and I spent it hitting up areas I had missed beforehand. Walking down to the harbour was worth the trouble; I was really grooving on the way, as I do, singing out LOUDLY into the wind and secretly hoping nobody would come past unannounced. Now I'm sorry but what kind of loony, dingbat sculpts teeth?? The Harbour mouth molars were made of limestone and concrete to combine 3 Dunedian elements 1) harbour mouth 2) NZ's eldest dental school and 3) geological history. 

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. 

IT'S ALMOST LIKE PORTOBELLO DOESN'T KNOW HOW PRETTY IT IS - 

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!

AN ETHNICALLY DIVERSE, FEEDING FRENZY - 

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. 

I DOTE ON DESSERT - 

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. 

THERE'S SOMETHING INHERENTLY 'WRONG' WITH ANYONE WHO DISMISSES PUDDING FOR NO VALID REASON  - 

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.