Cheers!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Full circle
Cheers!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Paua...a follow-up
I ate from this shell and kept it as a souvenir.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Stone, anyone?
Friday, August 28, 2009
Taa Moko
I did a lot of research, looking for someone who would give me a taa moko, a Maori tattoo. I wanted it done the traditional way, with a chisel, something organic and spiritual.
I found Rangi Kipa, a well-known and well-respected carver and tattoo artist. He, along with a few of his friends, brought about the resurgence of traditional chiseled taa moko 17 years ago.
Below are some of Rangi Kipa's carvings.
Whale tooth carvings
After chatting for a while, Rangi being very patient and answering all my questions (and you know how much I can talk!) we started.
Rangi just started drawing on my shoulder, knowing what I wanted it to represent and then took a picture of it and waited for my okay.
Below: The uhi at work
Me and Rangi Kipa post taa moko
To see more of what Rangi does, check out his website: http://www.rangikipa.com/
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Herbs
Dave Dobbyn
Taranaki
Mount Taranaki
In Maori legend two mountains, Taranaki and Tongariro (the latter located in Taupo) both fell in love with Pihanga. They battled over her and Tongariro won the battle, sending Taranaki off and down to the Western coast of the north island where he now rests outside of New Plymouth.
I headed to this area in New Zealand, the last place I wanted to see before leaving this awesome country. Mount Taranaki greeted me with its majesty and I was compelled to stare at it for the hour it took to get from Hawera to New Plymouth.
Waitara
Waitara is a suburb of New Plymouth, about 20 minutes away.
This marae is the only marae I have actually been to that is as carved as this one. Most marae are simpler, and the more detailed ones are often found in museums. We weren't able to go inside, but when we peeped through the window, we could see a lot more carvings gracing the walls.
Below, different shots of the marae.
Siena with warrior
Bell Block Beach
Bell Block is another suburb of new Plymouth.
New Plymouth
Little wind
Stronger wind
Fur seals can be found in this area too.
Sugar Loaf Islands
The next day, I took a walk around town and went to St. Mary's Church, which is the oldest stone church in New Zealand. Though I didn't go inside, I was really charmed by the grounds. They have a nice grove of beeches that lent a really special atmosphere to the area.
Above St. Mary's Church is Marsland Hill, which has a nice view of New Plymouth.
Below: 360 degree view from Marsland Hill
Exposed Corillian
Later in the afternoon, Katrina came to pick me up and thought we should go back to Marsland Hill to see if we could see the mountain that time and it was as though the gods were listening because the clouds had parted and the view was exquisite.
Mount Taranaki
I would not be allowed to leave New Plymouth without going to Pukekura Park so we stopped in and took in the sights. From this view below, you can also see the mountain in the background (though not in this particular picture).
The next day I was to take the bus to Auckland, but we first headed over to Parihaka, a very important community for Maori people. Parihaka was the area where Maori people, led by the prophets Te Whiti and Tohu, staged a passive resistance against the Crown for the confiscation of their land. They were jailed, abused and killed, but the resistance continued. Today Parihaka is a symbol of resistance through peaceful means and is a greatly respected place.
Many families still live in this community and they still uphold the concepts of their predecessors. Te Whiti and Tohu's passive resistance strategy was used by Ghandi 60 years later.
It's a beautiful place, somewhere I'd like to go back to in the future and spend more time at.
Parihaka
Monument to Te Whiti
View of Mount Taranaki from Parihaka