Starting the New Year in New Zealand

As the weeks go by and my Dream Year with AidCom continues to bring me to new and exciting locations, I have to admit I have completely lost track of time. I tend to have no clue what day of the week it is, let alone any real notion of the season. So when trees, lights and garlands started decorating the many malls of Kuala Lumpur and Christmas music began playing in our elevator, I actually felt genuinely surprised that we were indeed nearing the end of the year. 

My whole life, the last few months of the year have been met by dwindling daylight hours, subzero temperatures and waking up to snowy rooftops in the morning. However, I am not exactly experiencing winter as I have always known it this year. No skiing after dark on the lysløype with my father, no getting giggly on hot gløgg with my mother, no baking yummy pepperkaker with my two younger sisters by our kitchen fireplace… Although I have certainly missed these traditions, I have to admit enjoying hot sunshine by the pool in December isn’t all that bad! I was also very lucky to get some time off work to actually spend the holidays with my family – on a long dreamed-of and talked-about trip to New Zealand. 

St Heliers Bay (and unpredictable NZ weather - storm or sunshine today?)

Lots of artsy cats on a container in Auckland

... And a real one! Definitely considered hiding him in my backpack and taking him home.

Walking along Auckland's beautiful coastline on a cloudy day

Roadtrip stop number one on our way to the the Bay of Islands

Decent roadtrip view

Flagstaff Hill in Russell, overlooking the Bay of Islands

Last evening of 2013 in Russell, one of the first places to celebrate the New Year!

Last sunset in Russell before heading back to KL

As it turns out, New Zealand actually reminds me of some of the places I have been lucky to call home over the years, as well as a few other travels. The sailing boats floating on the inlet surrounded by thick, green forests and hilly landscapes in Russell reminded me of the Oslo fjord at home in Norway. The streets lined with small cafes and charity shops that took us down to the bay in St Heliers were similar to those in my parents’ hometowns of Dinas Powys and Norwich in the UK. And the lovely people, interesting birdlife and fireworks show by the water made me think about Vancouver and Nelson in western Canada, while the bright blues of the sea with a rising volcano in the background reminded me of Hawaii. New Zealand has it all, really! Although it might be far away from basically everywhere, it is definitely worth the trip.

Next stop? Bali, Indonesia – tomorrow morning! Winter can wait till next year.