Auckland #2 - Family Pause

Apart from the cockroach - which at least provided us our educational moment of the day - the double decker bus headed from Tauranga to Auckland was luxury.  It was even complete with wifi that somewhat worked! We enjoyed passing views out of the giant windows for quite a while; winding turns along riversides, rolling hills speckled with sheep & cows and wide open vistas.  

After the novelty of the sights wore off - due to our little encounter earlier - Melody was full of questions about cockroaches, wondering how they defend themselves, how long they live, and so forth. So, since we had wi-fi that somewhat worked, we read up on them!  Among a whole host of defense mechanisms (like running, flying, playing dead, smelling bad, etc), it turns out they also can defend themselves with a sort of karate kick!  They can hold their breath and live up to 30 minutes underwater, and for the grand finale of gross information, they can live up to a week without their head! They accomplish this by breathing through holes throughout their body, and end up dying only because they are unable to drink water. 

Fascinating gross little critters that they are. 

Anyway...

After our education, we all plunged into our own things for the rest of the trip; movies, games, reading, & writing.  Towards the end of the ride, I got talking with a lady named Emma in the next row and learned about the organization she’s a part of called Steiger International. It was encouraging to learn of creative movements and intentional conversations they are seeking out with young people in regards to faith. 

When we pulled into Auckland we caught an Uber back to the basecamp of Steve & Therese's home. 

Throughout the recent season both pre & post wedding, they were really having a revolving door.  Liana & Matt were actually there and about to head back to The Mount (where we had just come from)! 

Celeste was also in town, so we unexpectedly got to have some more time together. That evening we settled around bowls of curry, and the kids played in the back yard & dove into stacks of books. It felt sweet to be in familiar space again and have a home environment to take a big breath. 

The feeling of “home” brought with it a lingering sense that we ought to get the kids brains formally engaged in the math and reading department for a moment as well.  I sat with the kids, who begrudgingly did some work, despite the rusty gears in their brains.  Meanwhile, Corey ventured on several busses to the airport to pick up a rental car for our last week in New Zealand.  He returned successful and joined us and helped Melody and I gain some success on getting through math. 

We then packed up and headed across town to Takapuna Beach & playground with Celeste & Steve.  We chased kids around and tried out the impressive playscape which included running in a gigantic mind-dizzying hamster wheel. 

Celeste, Corey, and I went out for a swim in the bay.  Slipping across the unusually muddy bottom and then diving in, it was the perfect temperature and so refreshing.  

After a leisurely walk through a strip of stores, we headed back to join up with Therese who was just getting home from a Meditation class.  After a roasted dinner we all sipped Therese’s signature ginger-turmeric lattes and chatted late into the night.  Fully soaking in the comforts of home, familiarity, and family. 

The next morning was slow going, and we had a short face time with Rob & Berta back home.  The glowing smiles and sharing of family memories were a treat; Mel snuggled on Aunt Therese’s lap, it was all a lovely sight to see family joined together across the world. 

Therese headed off to the market, and since Celeste woke up feeling sick, we headed off on our own to explore Auckland a bit more.

After attempting to navigate the puzzle of expensive or overly saturated parking, we ended up at the grounds of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. There, we came upon a majestic tree with the most fantastic maze of thick roots and nooks and crannies. The kids were in absolute heaven and naturally, we played hide-n-seek together.

After some time, Corey and I were ready to “get going” when we hit one of those frequent dilemmas that it is to travel with kids. You see, there is always the “unknown possibility” of the unseen things “just around the corner” which propels one to keep going, even if they're a bit road weary.   

But for kids, playing in one of the coolest trees ever, the here and now is the “absolute best place to be!”  Kids are amazing at being present and absorbing every detail of a place.  Their ability to turn even a patch of grass into a dream world is one of the greatest gifts children possess, a gift that us adults can be quick to miss in our hurry and need to “get going.” 

So, Melody and I continued to play hide-n-seek in the tree while Corey and Danforth went on to find parking for the car.  Laying in between the roots, looking up through the leaves, and that giddy anticipation of knowing I would soon be found by my grinning daughter…reminded me that slowing down and being where you are, is often just as important as searching out the great peaks of the world.  I hope I can keep this sentiment alive even when we reintegrate with our routine back home. 

Satisfied by some time to linger and play, Melody was ready to continue and find the guys.  

In trying to find Corey and Danforth, we ended up cutting through the heart of the Memorial Museum accidentally without paying. So we quickly passed to the other side, catching quick glimpses into some of the Maori heritage and history on our way to find C & D. 

They were hanging in the lobby on the other end of the building with Peter and Barbara, the T-Rex skeletons.  These are two of the most complete specimens in the world that include real fossilized bones. (If you’re curious for more of the science or a time-lapse of the construction of these skeletons check out this link.)

Our kids joined in droves of school children dancing and running around on the immersive history projections on the floor and walls of the lobby.  We lingered for quite some time relishing in the joy and full abandon of children. 

After some burritos at the New Market mall and shopping around in a thrift store, bellies full and treasures in hand, we continued on exploring the streets. 

The highlight of the day (and arguably highlight of the trip for Corey) was when we came upon a “Catfe”.  Get this: a cafe in which you pay a hefty entrance fee, to enter into an area full of…I kid you not…cats.  

We peered through the plexiglass divider at a whole spread of humans lounging with cats.  

There were all kinds of lounge areas; massage chairs, a towering tree with clear bulbs for cats to climb and nap in, a little drink bar, etc.  We stood STUNNED. For the novelty of it we may have actually considered paying the steep fee for our family to go in and lounge w/a complimentary drink for an hour with cats…had it not been for the fact they were so busy it was RESERVATION only! And their next opening would be the following day.  Unbelievable! 

Apparently this is a thing around the world (not just in Auckland), & is especially popular in Japan. The backstory to this Catfe in particular was that these cats were rescues and available for adoption, so you could come spend time and bond before officially adopting them. What a thing! 

 

After gawking for quite some time, we then headed out to overlook the ports of Auckland.  And while Corey and the kids were in the bushes exploring and poking around…they came upon…a cat colony!  There were several little boxes and a sign posted that it was maintained by the city. Though we didn’t see cats here, we were laughing again at the joy of stumbling upon the most unexpected things in the most unexpected places! 

After dinner with everyone, we took kids to the playground, the highlight of which was chasing rolling hula hoops along the sidewalks there and back with utter delight and belly laughter. 

The morning of our departure was another slice of paradise in the calm stillness of Steven & Therese's home.  Celeste hung with the kids playing yard games while Corey and I packed up and prepared for our last week in New Zealand. 

We snapped a family photo in the beloved avocado tree and said farewell, feeling so grateful for the growing sense of family to have gained in this trip. We could tell Melody's little cup had been filled to overflowing, her songs filling the air as we hit the road again, towards our last leg of this adventure down under…

-M