ABC's....Aotearoa, Baristas, and Coffee
I'm just back from three weeks in New Zealand. Wow, what a place. Full of culture and contradictions. Manicured hedges vs wilderness. Fish 'n Chips vs. gourmet cooking. Incredible wines vs. great beers. English vs. Maori. Sheep vs....uhh...sheep.
No contradictions on the coffee though. It was universally excellent. Every little roadside stand did espresso and did it well. Not a Nescafe packet in sight (unlike their more barbarous Aussie neighbors). Nor were there any drip machines. Nope, it was all about the Barista. It took us a few days to figure out that a "Long Black" equated out to an americano-style pull, but once we got over that hurdle, we were unstoppable. My 5 traveling companions and I looooooved that coffee on the chilly Fall mornings.
Six of us South Kona women were in Aotearoa for the World Sprints championships. The biennial event showcases the best of outrigger canoe racing and my team at Keoua O Honaunau Canoe Club was blessed enough to qualify from the Hawaii Region. We were part of 1500 athletes from 23 countries competing. The Tahitians, as usual, were the showstoppers, but the NZ team wasn't far behind. Its beautiful to watch the Polynesian culture thriving in this way.
Outrigger racing has two components, the 6-man canoe, and the 1-man canoe. Both have long traditions in the Pacific Rim. A number of island nations still use them as a means of transportation and for fishing. Here in Hawaii, we just race 'em now but if you listen closely, you can hear the drumbeats of the Hawaiian warriors on the water.
Once the races were over, we took off in our campervan (the only way to travel in NZ) and rolled all over the countryside. The people were wonderful, the scenery was incredible, and each moment was perfect. For those of you who might believe it's impossible to fit 6 women and their luggage in a campervan only 20 feet long AND we'd all get along for three weeks.....well all I can say is that miracles do happen.
E noho rā, Aotearoa! I will be back. Keep a Tall Black warm for me.
No contradictions on the coffee though. It was universally excellent. Every little roadside stand did espresso and did it well. Not a Nescafe packet in sight (unlike their more barbarous Aussie neighbors). Nor were there any drip machines. Nope, it was all about the Barista. It took us a few days to figure out that a "Long Black" equated out to an americano-style pull, but once we got over that hurdle, we were unstoppable. My 5 traveling companions and I looooooved that coffee on the chilly Fall mornings.
Six of us South Kona women were in Aotearoa for the World Sprints championships. The biennial event showcases the best of outrigger canoe racing and my team at Keoua O Honaunau Canoe Club was blessed enough to qualify from the Hawaii Region. We were part of 1500 athletes from 23 countries competing. The Tahitians, as usual, were the showstoppers, but the NZ team wasn't far behind. Its beautiful to watch the Polynesian culture thriving in this way.
Outrigger racing has two components, the 6-man canoe, and the 1-man canoe. Both have long traditions in the Pacific Rim. A number of island nations still use them as a means of transportation and for fishing. Here in Hawaii, we just race 'em now but if you listen closely, you can hear the drumbeats of the Hawaiian warriors on the water.
Once the races were over, we took off in our campervan (the only way to travel in NZ) and rolled all over the countryside. The people were wonderful, the scenery was incredible, and each moment was perfect. For those of you who might believe it's impossible to fit 6 women and their luggage in a campervan only 20 feet long AND we'd all get along for three weeks.....well all I can say is that miracles do happen.
E noho rā, Aotearoa! I will be back. Keep a Tall Black warm for me.
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