Toured the Bay of Islands to the Hole in the Rock with Dolphin Discoveries. Found a pod of dolphins early in our voyage. What a majestic creature. We could watch them all day, all night, forever. We weren't able to swim with this pod - they had a baby. :) In New Zealand, it is illegal to swim with wild dolphins who are nurturing young under two years. Stopped at one of only two islands in the bay that still possesses an old time farm. The rest have been long vacated and are now under government protection as a national and historical park. Took a hike to the top for a 360 degree view of the bay. Side stepped sheep poop the whole way. Stopped in the shop for a coffee and asked to buy some bread (to feed the fishies, of course!) and she refused our money. Where are we?! What is this place?! You mean not everybody is in it for profit?! Took our bread to the dock and watched as Snapper fish showed their spots of excitement! Twinkled in the sun like stars in the moon light.
Facts learned: Average life span of a dolphin in the wild is 50 years. Many can live as long as 80 years in good health. Average life span of a dolphin in captivity is 6 years. Many factors contribute to this statistic but concrete pools damage the psyche of this intelligent animal. Pods of dolphins come and go through the Bay of Islands staying no more than a few days. The Bay of Islands is home to 144 islands and the Maori culture.
Walked the streets of Paihia. Spoke with several shop owners. Like Sergio in Bora Bora, Laene in Tahiti, and our skipper on the boat, not one of them is FROM here. And every one of them happy. Inspiring.
Interesting conversation with a mother of three high school daughters. She is from South Africa but raising her family here. She described her daughters education in Kerikeri, about 20 minutes drive from Paihia, as stimulating. She shared with us an early memory of her girls going to school shortly after relocating to New Zealand. She remembers all of the children running into the schoolhouse barefoot, through the mud in the rain, without a care in the world. Children here learn to love life, love themselves and value people, not material. These are the words of a woman who left wealth in South Africa to live in a 100 year farmhouse in New Zealand - simply and happily.
Another conversation turned us on to Alaska. Shop owner from Holland, whose lived her fair share of places, and donated her time to para athletes one summer in Alaska. Happiest woman - loves New Zealand. She mistook us for Canadians - second instance of this - bubbly female, sporty guy as it was described, so we took it as a compliment!
We love New Zealand.
Myth Busted: Not everybody cares about wealth.
Myth confirmed: Money does not equal happiness, New Zealand does!
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