How’s your day? Blog 104, more Coromandel
© Peter A Taylor, 19, April 2013
My new blog address is http://peterataylor.blogspot.co.nz
Putting on my magnets
(my cochlear implants) I delight in the glamorous birdsong of the Tui, about
the size of a black bird. This nectar feeding beauty with a long curved beak ,sleek blue / black is identifiable by the two fluffs of white
feathers at its throat. Previously called the Parson Bird due to these white wattles
were plentiful among the bush surrounding our camp site. Already warm at 8 am this
would be another hot day.
Over 700 people had
invaded the camp site by Easter Saturday. For sanity if one needed an excuse,
we ventured to the Hot Water Beach shop for a Flat White Coffee. The jury is
out on how good it is but miles from a cafe on a windblown beach, it beat the daylights
out of instant substitute.
The slob of the shop,
a large red Labrador cruised to stare at us looking for a tasty morsel. Clearly
a cup cake or end of a sausage roll was not falling from the generous table. So
what’s a fellow to do? Next trick is to roll over on his back , legs both front
and back spread , exposing his bulbous tummy for a good old scratch. He looked
like the sort of old Codger who frequents the Returned Services Club. Chortling
with mirth making his multiple chins wobble, entertaining stories of dubious
credentials all for the wish of a free beer. Moving from table to table his
standard operating practice was finely tuned.
Opposite this display
of shameless behaviour, is the only Art Gallery in the area. We love art,
especially outdoor sculpture. Crossing the empty road we entered the world of Moko
Art, www.moko.co.nz . Breathtaking was my first response. From the corner
of my eye, among a group of Bromeliaeds, red ceramic flowers on steel rods
appeared to belong to these alien looking plants.
Koru stems again ceramist,
(young fern fronds still curled at the tips) sprung from the white stoned
pathway. A group of stainless steel Stingrays suspended on rods appeared to
swim across the sleeper posts and white gravel, ready to settle under the great
glass bird bath hosted on a huge piece of sleeper. Among the two meter high
steel cacti, ceramic depictions ranging in height of up to two meters stood
powerful Nikau Palms. Indoors was an amalgam of extraordinary art prints, jewellery
made from cutlery with the dessert spoon cut in half to make wings of a beetle
and curved forks for legs. Jewellery, exquisite blown glass bowls and vases, semi
precious gems and much more took our delight for over an hour. Another room
displayed original art paintings, miniature wooded surf boards of stunning
grained woods and unique walking sticks on lace wood with deer antler handles.
This gallery grown in a mature garden of Dragon trees, huge Nikau Palms, succulents
and fragrant Daphne and Gardenia bushes enhanced the display of unusual and
unique pieces of sculpture. Mokau Art became the highlight of the art on offer
for the eastern Coromandel.
Avoiding the other travellers,
we made our way to the closest beach called Ha Heir. My first time on this
coast line was a triumph as we drove to a classic scene of safe turquoise
coloured water in a half moon shaped bay
on a hot cloudless day . All this landscape of natural beauty is framed
by the headlands and Pohutakawa. Rodney found a magnificent piece of drift wood
to carve a new walking stick or Druids staff. I remained sitting near the shore
line, sifting white fine sand through my fingers and absorbing the Ozonated air
from the gentling lapping wavelets as Rodney climbed rocks for wood and photo
vantages.
Food was not as
available as city slickers like. We searched in Ha Hei village shop but the
Pies were gone. To my seafood fancier delight I found the best Mussel Fritter
ever in the ice-cream shop, come taka way. Rodney was satisfied with a fresh
frozen berry crushed into an ice-cream. With our bellies full, our tan factor
complete, it was time to return to the camp for an afternoon restorative Nana
nap and follow with the delightful and
tasty Bombay Sapphire Gin and Tonic.
My new blog address is http://peterataylor.blogspot.co.nz
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