Saying "I Love You, Mom" in NZ

Oh, God- Thank you for my friend Lala and Bethels beach on April 25... 2 years after I lose my momma, and here I am at one of the most beautiful places on Earth...

ABEL TASMAN COSTAL TRACK!!!!!!

AMAZING!!!!!!! This is a trek of a lifetime. So beautiful, I want to come back and camp for 3 or 4 days... I did this in one day, and it was so stunning. One of the most beautiful places in NZ and perhaps the world!

Waiting at the beach for the water taxi to take me to the costal track!

Split Apple Rock!!
Woods

Cool mossy rocks in the bush of Abel Tasman:

A crazy tall tree:
Cool hollow tree along the trek:
Beautiful...

The tiny beach I stopped at for a picnic lunch (it was high tide, so the beach was small, but I took a swim around the rocks, and acted like a mermaid for a moment!)

Beach, rocks, water...

Even at this distance you can see how crystal clear the waters are!!! Incredible!

Swing Bridge!! Woah!

Looking down from the swing bridge!!

Me crossing the swing bridge!!!

Rotorua

Rotorua was crazzzy... we went to Hells Gate, a boiling mud spa which was really sweet.
Mud Volcano!!!!
REAL BOILING MUD! Like in the movies... but REALLY REAL! haha

The entire town of Rotorua smells like
A. Sulphur
B. Eggs
C. Farts
The smell followed us to Napier... I don't miss Rotorua, but the mud spa was wicked...

Castle Rock Hike

Mimi and I hitched and hiked to Castle Rock on our day off...
Here I am, at the top of some hill... maybe the sleeping giant... I don't really know, but from this hill you can see both sides of the Coromandel Peninsula! WOWEEE!

Here is one side...
Mimi is a shortie, but this tree is also massive! Made for an excellent perspective shot...
We made it to the top! Over 10K for sure of rocky road hike to a great view!
When we got back down, there were practically no cars to find a ride back... We stumbled across a flock of pigs! Hahaha
Eventually, we got a ride home, and boy was I hurting the next day! But it was a great sight in Coro....

Chicken-N-Beer

Cora took me to her friends place. They have chickens. We drank beer... I drew the chickens... it is good to do life drawing again... I love drawing! Love love love it.

Art Hut/ happenings in my new Studio

I made this small painting... about my waterfall day!!
Here is a sneek peek of the new drawring... you can't tell but its much bigger...
...its about volcanoes and the Tall Poppy Syndrome...
And I got visited by Yaki this morning while starting a new volcano picture:
Good Times...

A Countryside Walk in Coromandel

So gorgeous... Hey Look! Sheep!
Hey Look! Ocean!
Trees!
Windy Roads...
Hills...
Picturesque...

Chrismas Dinner at Driving Creek

We spent the night before Christmas at New Chums beach... Caroline and I went to town for Christmas Mass at the tiniest country Catholic Church... then back to the cafe, for coffee and a little arm wrestling between Cora and Caroline:

And I sipped on a mocha while I watched...
We took a short trip to the beach and about a 15 min swim to a small island, laid on the volcanic rock in the sun and soaked in Christmas...
Then back to the kitchen where I made from scratch, my famous Potato Pot Pie... first time ever HOMEMADE crust! Success! Look:
Our fantastic spread of foods, everyone made something : Potato Pot Pie (Me) Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread and Sangria (Caroline) Lemon Meringue Pie (Rayne) Cabbage, baked veggies and Leafy Salad (Cora) German Pasta Salad (Celina) and Cinnamon Cookies (Chris) YUM YUM YUM YUM

BEACH DAZE

Wow! We found New Chums beach, and what an adventure, seriously, to get there! Caroline (fellow American) and I hitched a ride "over the hill" from Coromandel Town to the East side, We arrived at this beach:



But this was just the beginning!
We hiked down the beach, THROUGH THE WATER, with our shoes in our bags, which were on our heads, and then over a field of stones:




Then we found a little path, through the BUSH- pushing back leaves and ferns, following a narrow path, over roots and trees... until...




...this beach was only accessible through this hike! And this photo does no justice! Around the corner was an enormous cliff and rocks... and the water was crystal clear- I was up to my neck and could see my toes!!!!!!!



(By the way, we decided that we are now a band called "Bikini Tramp" since we tramped literally through the bush in our bikinis...)

Another Day in Paradise!!