Fiafia Fa'asamoa!

It's official... I just bought my flight to Samoa for the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts (Su'iga'ula a le Atuvasa) from Friday, July 18 - Sunday, August 3. So... if you would like to visit New Zealand, don't plan on coming during these dates (meet me in Samoa instead). The festival takes place once every 4 years and brings together Pacific Islanders from Samoa, Palau, New Caledonia, the Cook Islands, Australia, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinnea, New Zealand and Fiji to share arts (tattooing, wood carving, print making, culinary arts, film, literature, music, dance, architecture, and traditional medicine) for two weeks. This offers a great way to see the best cultural offerings from the Pacific Island countries in one central location.

Dance magazine wrote an article reviewing the 2000 festival, which provides a nice overall description of what can be expected. If you are interested in coming to the festival, look for flights to Pagopago, American Samoa (PPG).

Interested in Coming to New Zealand?

I have been tracking fares for March/April and there are still some available from the East Coast USA to Wellington for under $1700, but they may not last long! The best month to visit would be March. Check Sidestep for flights (it searches Orbitz, and 600 airlines). I know the prices seem high, but the trip takes nearly 30 hours (24 hours of flying time), so that's just over $70 per hour of flight. Flights are likely to go up as time passes. [NOTE: Also check flights into Christchurch or Auckland, if that's any cheaper, but I live in Wellington, and it is a central location to start a New Zealand holiday].

If I Could Turn Back Time...

Since I didn't make proper entries during the past few weekends, I am going to take you back in time....

On the weekend of October 13, I spent time in Wellington with Teki (Tongan), Ben (Aussie) and Gustavo (Venezuelan). All we really did was walk through the city, try out some cafes, pubs and visit the Botanic Garden.

Last weekend, October 20, was Labor Day weekend. In addition to a barbeque, I went for a great hike, originating from my backyard and ending at the ocean (see photos - click on photo to enlarge).

Lost in Windy Wellington

I'm a terrible blogger.... This is about the easiest way to keep in touch and share pictures with friends and family at home, yet I have only made two entries during my first four weeks here.

In hope of redemption, I can tell you a funny thing that happened today: I saw a woman get blown over in the wind! Seriously. Winds can gust up to 130 km/hr (80 mph) on a somewhat-regular basis this time of year. As I was on my way to work this morning, I saw a young woman topple over in the wind. I had mixed feelings. Naturally, I wanted to laugh, but then I felt bad, and then I thought to myself, "that's some wind!"

House and a Beehive

This morning, I attended a committee briefing on a report issued by the Auditor General titled, Sustainable Development : Implementing the Programme of Action. Without having had a chance to read the report prior to the briefing, I assumed that it covered topics of development in the Pacific or Southeast Asia. I was pleasantly surprised to realize that the report addressed sustainability in NEW ZEALAND! With a focus on the energy and water sectors, the report looks at the New Zealand government's response to the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. Although one key finding is that the government has lacked accountability on this front, I found it refreshing that the whole notion of sustainability is being considered in a country that many would prize for its pristine state and its environmental awareness.

After work I went for a run and happened to pass Katherine Mansfield's birthplace, Te Puakitanga. Although she didn't live or write for long in New Zealand (she found life in Wellington to be boring and complained that people in New Zealand “…do not know their alphabet”), she is considered New Zealand's most accomplished writer. (She redeemed herself somewhat with the Kiwis by writing fondly about New Zealand in her journals and in letters to her father; but she never returned after having moved to England as a young woman).

10 Days Down

I have been in New Zealand for 10 days now. Here are 10 things I like about the place so far:

(1) fish and chips, wrapped in newspaper
(2) bike-friendly Wellington, with many mountain bike trails
(3) the wind turbine and hiking trails near my house
(4) views of Wellington Harbour (Pacific Ocean) from my office
(5) the weather (a little windy, but summer is just around the corner)
(6) kiwis (nocturnal, flightless birds and fruits). Incidentally, the name also refers to New Zealanders.
(7) cafes with great coffee
(8) the Office of the Auditor General provides its employees with coffee in French press, a variety of teas, Milo, bananas and apples
(9) karori wildlife sanctuary and native forest just behind the house
(10) easy access to the Pacific Islands