December 27, 2006
Mashup Christmas
This year we've been drawing inspiration for our Christmas from this guy... I don't think this is Buddha though, it must be some happy Chinese saint that brings prosperity and happiness. This Christmas we would have been hard pressed to locate the real hero of the occassion (baby Jesus, obviously).
We are on the opposite side of the globe, so no wonder that things are slightly different. For example, Santa's little helpers take funny shapes here.
Lots of food on Christmas lunch table, but... Rice balls and soba noodle salad? Hmmm...
Many people around the table, looks almost like Christmas is supposed to look?!?! But no familiar faces? Look! What is this guy in shorts and Tshirt is doing? Looks like a BBQ! Under a winegrape vine...
The closest we got to baby Jesus this year was this cute baby Santa helper.
This year our Christmas was a complete mashup of traditions and different people, and a very happy mix indeed!
We went to Endless Summer Lodge in Ahipara just to get out of Auckland and, hopefully to do some surfing. We found a completely flat ocean, but a happy bunch of people and a real Christmas lunch party organised by the wonderful hosts Anna and Blaine.
The weather was great and we had lots of fun. It has been our 4th Xmas in Tshirts and with no snow. Although it never feels like "real Christmas", because its not cold and dark outside, we're not with our family and we're always in places where we don't have friends, but have to make new friends, all the 4 times Christmas was something to remember.
So yes, there are good people on the other side of the globe and Christmas can be quite a special thing, although with no kuciukai, poppy milk, lantulaatiko or Christmas ham/goose. BBQ and beach somehow still goes cross in my mind with Christmas. But if you think about it for a while, you'll realise that it is also a very nice thing to do!!! :)
To add more insult to all things traditional, Santa himself makes his rounds in Ahipara with fire brigade on a real fireman's car, throwing candy at people. First you hear the fire alarm from far away, then Santa comes with 2 cars flashing red and blue lights and then you get bunch of "lollies" raining over your head. Spectacular!!!
And against all odds we managed to find half-decent surf on the East Coast of Cape Renga.
So we spent a few hours on the Christmas day paddling in crystal clear greenish blue water, catching some waves. As the waves were rising and crashing, I saw a fish of my arms length swimming along the wave. It was pretty unbelievable, the water was so transparent, I could almost see the sky on the other side of the wave. And most likely it wasn't a shark, but a kahawai, an ordinary fish... :)
Choice! A beautiful Christmas! The first day we were the only 2 people with surfboards in water (I don't even want to imagine how Auckland beaches must have looked on Christmas!!!)
And if we're lucky, there will be more of this... :) And for everyone out there, we send our greetings and best wishes for the New Year. I'm planning to make a list of resolutions for the next year and it is likely to contain: diving in Poor Knights Islands, trekking the Tongariro crossing, going to Womad festival, etc.. Hmmm.. Does it have to be about self-improvement, slimming down or giving up bad habbits? I do intend to self-improve though: I wouldn't mind becoming a better surfer.. :)
