Flowers!!
Hi again,
sorry if I didn't write so often last week, I have been very busy and I couldn't find any time to write.
First of all, I really enjoyed your last blog, Simon!!
My package now is in Italy, with my parents in law....I will see it when I'll go back (I don't know when yet!!).
Anyway, I have to tell you that I really don't like exams. I remember every time I had to take ones at the University...I was so nervous and, strange but true, for the few last ones I used to close myself in the toilet for a couple of day before..Ahahahha!! It wasn't funny at that time, though.
On the contrary, I love flowers, also if I don't have a green finger (is it correct this in English?). Anyway, I want to say that I am not really good with flowers and every year some plant dies.
I take advantage from this topic to show you some of the native plants you can find in New Zealand.
My favourite ones is the Pohutukawa.
Pohutukawa is a tree and its flowers are red and they have a particular shape. The bloom happens in December so, when it's Christmas time, New Zealand is completely red. There are many trees also on beaches and it's just wonderful seeing blue ocean, yellowish sand and red trees!!
Another plant is the Koru, the baby fern frond . Unfortunately, last time something was wrong with my koru symbol image. I try to show you it this time so that you can see the similarity between the plant and the Maori symbol. I hope to be luckier this time!
Kauri is the most imposing tree I have never seen. It is the biggest but not tallest species of tree in the country, with trunk diameters that rival Sequoias. They attain heights of 40-50 meters and have smooth bark and small oval leaves.
You can see me in the picture.....I am so small comparing that huge Kauri!
Gorse is another kind of plant. It is a bush with beautiful yellow flowers and you can see hills just covered by them.
And now I would like to show you the rain forest. We went there three years ago, close to Rotorua, in the middle of the North Island. The atmosphere inside the forest is just amazing! It seems to be in another planet with no noises except for birds and the wind among leaves.
And now your comments:
Marianna, I like Tiki as well, maybe more for its fertility "power" than for the other meanings. I think it could be a nice gift for new married couples. My husband gave me a couple of green stone twist earrings and I love them though!
You are right Ernesto, there are many theories regarding UFO and the Tiki!!
Hi Ana Paula! Thank you for your link, I read about the movie and I am so sorry I didn't see it. I will find it so I will find out more about it! About Maori I only saw "Once were warriors" but it is about the violence inside Maori families. This is, unfortunately, a big issue here.
Regarding "The Lord of the Rings" I can just tell you that the landscapes are just like in the movie. They shot around all the Country and there is still the Middle-Earth with the Frodo's village. Now it's just a tourist place and you have to pay to visit it. Unfortunately there are just the holes of the houses in the rock, nothing really interesting to see.
Hi Pary, sorry for your previous comment! I agree with you, our brain is complicated and it is not easy thinking in two different languages. Mistakes are inevitable I guess.
Thank you Anita for your comment! I am usually very careful about what I eat but I have to say that I am greedy as well....so sometimes I buy chips and some not so much healthy snacks . I always read the labels to check ingredients and I try to find something well balanced. Yes, I control also the substances added for the flavour and the colour and the calories as well. I usually read the name of the producer and the Country the product comes from. There are different food laws abroad such as limits and ingredients permitted.
I don't like fast food so I prefer cooking myself and I am also lucky because my husband cooks as well!! I like baking cakes, pizza and bread. I think it is very relaxing too. Our meals are always based on cereal (especially rice), vegetables, pasta, fish and few meat. There are some exceptions of course! I have to say we don't eat much fruit, especially during the Winter and we drink alcohol just in rare occasions.
I love butter and I could eat it just like that. Unfortunately it's not healthy eat it often so I usually dress my salad and cook with extra virgin olive oil.
I eat about 4 times a day but the better way should be 5 times so your metabolism works better and your digestion is much easier.
I hope I answered all your questions. If it is not so, please tell me.
I look forward to reading your next comment!
Nice to meet you, Leila! I can't imagine how was Aotearoa 30 years ago!! I guess there were much less people and it was very very quiet! Am I right? Mt Eden is very nice and the view from there is splendid I reckon!
Thank you again for your comment and, please, write again!
Thank you Cristina, Jorge, Naweed, Felicitas and Silwal for your comments and compliments! I hope to read more about you next time!
Well, that's all for now.
Have a wonderful day and see you soon!!
Rosi
Comments
Haremai Rosi, if I remember correctly, when I lived in Auckland, NZ had approximately 3.5 million inhabitants and if I am correct, the population now is just over 4 million. When I last visited Auckland – about 20 years ago – I did noticed that my favorite city had changed a lot. But the nature and ocean I believe are still the same. I would really appreciate if you went to the Auckland War Memorial Museum and took some pictures while approaching the building, it looked always so amazing to me. Another place, that was truly startling to me, was Piha beach, Titirangi was also my favorite places and of course Ponsonby in Auckland has it own charm. And I must not forget to mention 90 mile beach… and I also love Pohutukawa!
Hello Rosi, thank you for the nice photos of the plants and the enormous tree. I like flowers and all sorts of plants very much and I think , that I have the so called " green thumb". My mother buys plants only for one season, when it is autum, she throws them away. Sometimes, when I recognize it, I save the plants, give them a place for the winterseason and enjoy myself, when they bloom in the next year. I also like the Maori jewellery , you have shown in the blog before. I've looked up the population density of New Zealand in the atlas: only 19 inhabitants / squarekilometre. How do people live, mostly in their own houses, because of the huge space? Are there a lot of earthquakes ? Have you seen the snow-covered mountains in the south of the island? So, enough questions! I'm looking forward to you next blog. See you soon...
hi, i hope you're well. Here, we say to have a green hand and not green fingers. Monday, it's our national holiday like the 4th of july for the US.Is there a national holiday in New-Zealand?
Hi Rosi! You´re welcome :-)! Thanks for the information about the locations of The Lord Of The Rings. Well, I haven´t seen 'Once Were Warriors. However, I´ve googled on the Net for this film and I´ve found some information about it. The film´s plot is quite interesting. I´ll include it on my list of films that I must see :-). Anyway, once you told that the violence inside Maori families is a big issue in NZ, do you know the reason why this violence happens? Do you know if the Maoris suffer any kind of prejudice and because of this they have more difficult in finding job opportunities? Oh, I hope I haven´t overloaded you with many questions. Have a wonderful day too, Ana Paula.
Dear Rosi, It is glad to know that you love gardening though you don’t have green fingers. Pictures of natural flowers and tree are very attractive. It is very difficult to locate your picture standing under tree. I magnified it 800 times to find out your picture. Though I was successful but picture was completely blurred. When I imagined the scene as you described a beach with yellowish sand and trees with red flowers. This time we are really lucky to see the symbol of koru along with koru plant. If you kindly post photo of you husband, it will be nice to have a glance on that. Though you post photo taken in deep forest, it is not much clear.
Hi Rosi, Uhmmmm, looking at the blue sea, the yellowish sand and those red trees sounds like being in a paradise. By the way, I agree with you about being careful with the food you choose. As you, I always look for the expire date, the ingredients and the country where it has been produced. Besides, I'd rather cook myself than buying cooked food. Apart from that I try to eat pasta, fish, few meat, fruit and vegetables. By the way I can eat at least 5 times a day. Changing the subject I find Koru plant amazing. Tell me Rosi, what is the typical food New Zealands eat? Do you find any differences between Italy and New Zealand? Have a spectacular weekend. See you, Cris
hi rosi, it's great to look at the picture of your country. actually it's nice. i also would like to thank you for ur good presentation. i will tell u something about my country if u wish. have a good time. sagar
Hi Rosi, Lovely pictures. New Zealand seems to be a very beutiful country. There must be some pretty amazing plants there!!! My mother loves to grow plants. She says it does good to her heart. Thank you for your blog. See you and go on with your stupendous work. Bye.
Hi Rossi, wonderful photos, specially the forest one, where you are surrounded for a deep vegetation. Surely nobody will be surprised if suddenly would appear a dino at the background. This kind of photos are impossible in my country. To be here is the best way for free traveling. Go on and surprise us again.
Hi Rosi ; How are you doing ? I read your Blog avery day . It is very rich and intersting . My English is not too good but i try improve it with reading in BBC Blog . I don't have opportunities to practics the talking instead i read and lesten . Today it was incredible! I saw a film about the Maori poeple it's "THE RIDER OF WHALE" . It was ammazing , I have undestood the Kiwi culture . This poeple is very close to the sea . They love the Whale . I have seen différent tatoos , différent symbols . The actors talk sometimes in Maori Language . It was a beautiful film . When the film was finished , i changed the channel . A big Surprise i meet a documentary talking about the telivision in New Zeland . It's very beautiful , all ethnies participate in programs and films. I am sur you follow the film about the family of bandit or swindler that they decide to return ti normal life . The mother found a job in a compagny of inssurance . But the problem this compagny is also a swindler . They swindle theire customers . I am curious to know what it happens in the futur episode . In 2000 , i was travelled to Mauricius for 2 weeks . In Mauricius , the poeple speak more french than othrs language . The Mauricius people is very différent than Maori Poeple , i didn't found a specific culture. I have met a lot of ethnies ( chinees , indian , afrifan , europeen ,....) but any poeple original of mauricius . See you Later Sorry for my bad english . My vocabulary is very poor . Redouane
Hi Rosi! I love your blog. I have always dreamed going to New Zealand. With your blog I can learn a lot about that country, thank you!
Hi Rosi I should say that I read your blogs with a pleasure. I like your subjects and your writing style. Whenever I read your blog I feel your enthusiastic.I found your blog about Maori people very interesting.Your writings make me think about aborgines and another natives living in America. It is accepted they are barbarian but showed more respect to the nature than others. We needs more respect to the nature than it was. Come to flowers or trees, whenever I go to the another country I realise first it's vegetation like culture. They change from country to another country, depending on their needs. The nature of a region decides what kind of flowers will grow up. Because It depends on soil, heat,light, wind and the like. These conditions have also big impact on human behaviours. Maybe, The geography we live on have a impact why cultural differencies and the varieties of vegetation are Another thing, The plant called "koru" also grows in my country, very very old plant, their first existence based on 300 million years ago. Basic coal field to be used today has been based on the koru which grown up at that time. . That is all today. By for now. Take care. Thank you Rosi! :))
Hi Rosi, These trees are so strange with me. I have not seen them before. The landscape in your place is very beautiful. I saw them in some magazines. I was impressed with Koru symbol and the similar plant. Your English is so good; you writing as if were done by a person from speaking-English country. Good luck to you.
Ciao Rosi! I enjoy reading your blog. It must have been a big step for you when you moved to NZ. By the way, where did you live in Italy? Do you ever get the blues? Thanks for the pics. Bye for now!!
Hi Rossi¡nice comment about the tipical flowers in New Zealand, What beautiful are¡. You could change the butter by "aguacate" or "palta", it´s healthy and delicious, I hope you can get there. best wishes
Hi Rosi,Thank you for the interesting blogs. those photos of the flowers and plants remind me of beautiful NZ. There were a lot of plants that was unique to NZ and I had never seen them before. Do you know Eden Garden? It's a small garden at the foot of Mt.Eden. you have to pay the admission fee $6, but you can see and enjoy a lot of kinds of flowes and plants. of course warm seasons are better. I like the photo of you and your hasband in the forest, it's lovely! Looking forward to your next blog! bye!
Hi Rosi, your blog about the Maori symbols was great. The symbols are so beautiful and and the meanings are amazing!It was the first time I've ever heard of them, thank you. One question, Rosi, is the jewellery made by hand? Your shots of the flowers is very beautiful. I'm really pondering seriously on making a plan to visit your place. wish me luck...
Hi Rose! thank you for your nice pics alot! I love it! and thanks for your blog too. :-) You said "I think i could be a nice gift for a new married couple". it's wonderful! I hope when i get married, i will have a honeymoon there!
These trees are so strange with me. I have not seen them before. The landscape in your place is very beautiful. I saw them in some magazines. I was impressed with Koru symbol and the similar plant. Your English is so good; you writing as if were done by a person from speaking-English country. Good luck to you.
Hi, good post. I have been wondering about this topic,so thanks for sharing. I will definitely be coming back to your posts.
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