Monday 15 March 2010

aWhitu



in the faerie tales there are plenty of warnings
about staying too long
eating magical food
and letting places get under your skin


oops.


not for nothing does the name of this place
mean
'a longing to return'


i stewed cauldrons filled with harakeke bundles
and
was permitted to ride a horse
around the country in these pix
and even
along that beautiful beach [above]

they let me plant a tree
and not just any tree
but a Kauri

and i now know who mixes the world's best Margaritas
[not telling, word gets around anyway]
i didn't even mind being eclipsed
[THAT good]

but
what a coincidence
that the one crumpled piece of paper i found
[and pocketed]
while walking the windblown road with my friend
thinking it might be interesting
to use as a page for a book
turns out to be this...


it's not quite
'of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world'
but it's getting close.

16 comments:

  1. When you mentioned Awhitu in a previous post, I thought it sounded familiar, couldn't put my finger on it though. We used to go there for family picnics when I was a kid, probably because it was a fairly short drive for us. We used to have great fun there, next time I'm in Auckland I must make the time to go there again.

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  2. Ahh, don't you love it when the universe lets us know it's listening...or perhaps it's the faeries with their magical margaritas?! Gorgeous photos, I think I want to live there!

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  3. I love the beautiful somewhat abstract quality of the photos. What a grand mix. -j

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  4. In the short time I've been following your blog, India, I've read about several such *encounters* (coincidences? magic?) you have had with places and objects, things that bring such richness, more meaning, to wherever you happen to be. When you share them here I find myself saying to myself, "That's what happens when one is fully AWAKE!"

    I love to stop by here. And now I've got a terrible hankering for a margarita :>]]

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  5. it looks so prachtig there!

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  6. Horsebackriding trough paradise!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    No wonder you long to go back.
    XXXm

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  7. beautiful photos...how fortunate you are not only to be where you are, but to KNOW how blessed you are to be there! (not everyone realizes that in their own lives)

    gentle steps

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  8. Beach, horse riding, and perfect margaritas. I want to go there too.

    xt

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  9. Greetings India,

    What a magical place it is. I am glad you shared it with us, as it brought not only a big smile to my face, but also filled my mind with inner peace.

    Thank you,
    Egmont

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  10. Beautiful place and your adventures there sound just as special.

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  11. wow! a horse AND this place? and color alchemy? beautiful.

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  12. i long to return...and i havent even been to this particular magical place yet.
    years ago i rode horses around new zealand and hope to do so again
    enchanting photographs India, thank you x

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  13. beautiful landscapes-- and that piece of paper is serendipitous.

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