Throughout the course of my writing of this blog there has been plenty of things I've wanted to write about and forgotten. Every sort of thing you can imagine. Random thoughts etc. that have slipped between the cracks. I'm going to use this post to write about a coupe of them
First, and long overdue. Kiwi roadworks. Some people may be under the impression that the subject of roadworks doesn't really warrant a post (or even an extract from a post). You have not experienced Kiwi roadworks though. It's a very unique experience. To begin with, half the time when you meet a 'works start' sign. There will be no roadworks. You will slow down expecting them but they won't be there. Other time you'll find 'works end' signs at random intervals even though there was no works started (or even evidence of any recent work). When you are actually lucky enough to find some work in progress, the approach the workers take is somewhat unique. Well at least I haven't come across it anywhere else. It's a kind of D.I.Y operation, after the 'works start' sign you will usually find a variety of different vehicles splayed across the road. Some there for no apparent reason only to obstruct the road. There will usually be about workmen to machine ratio of 4:1. One thing they have in common with home is that most of those workers will more often than not be standing around doing nothing. But here even the ones who seem to have been given jobs don't really bother. How you navigate the obstacles of the machines and cones etc. is left to your discretion as the guy with the sign, who is supposed to be directing you sits around having a chat/tea/smoke while lethargically waving his sign. I think this more to fan himself rather actually make any attempt at directing traffic. It's a lot of fun trying to get through these roadworks especially when there's one side of the road closed and traffic coming both ways. Also on the subject of roads. They have an insane amount of one way bridges here and I don't know why. Could they just not afford to make them two lane bridges? Outside of towns/ cities I think I've an entirety of two two land bridges. The positioning of the bridges often leads you to question the sanity of the civil engineer responsible. When you come to these bridge you'll meet a sign. 'One lane bridge, Give Way' but most of the time due to the unfortunate positioning of bridge (there'll be either a sharp bend or steep hill at the other side) you can't actually see what's coming. This can often lead to very aggravated drivers on both ends. It's pretty dangerous too...
Next, food products.
Juice; New Zealanders have a warped notion of juice here. Yeah, you have to have your wits about you if you intend on purchasing juice here. You see that large bottle that says "Orange Juice". You'd think that there would be orange juice in there wouldn't you? Well no. All the juice is actually apple juice in disguise. I know this sounds a bit crazy but it's true. You get proper orange juice, but it's terribly expensive. I think it's a class c drug here. Your typical orange juice will have about 80 % apple juice. The only indication of which is a picture of an apple lurking ominously in the background on the label and also "with apple base" in tiny darkened writing on the bottom. My favourite was Tropical juice (90 % apple) how do they fit the other fruits in?
Next on the food list, sausages. When you think of a sausage you picture something made of pork right? Or is that just me. Well here sausages are most commonly made of chicken, beef or venison. Feckin venison sausages! Madness. It's weird. While on the subject of sausages. Hotdogs*. I ordered a hotdog recently. What I received was a monstrosity. Battered sausage, on an stick, lathered with tomato sauce. I looked upon it with some disgust. How exactly did they derive such a thing from the idea of a hot dog?
One more thing on the food list. They put BBQ sauce on EVERYTHING. Even breakfast. Why? Why would anyone put BBQ sauce on a breakfast. Make no mistake about it people, the Kiwis are weird race.
So Kiwi's, the people themselves. Not really very much I can tell you about them, I've met very few. An unfortunate consequence of spending most of my time in Backpackers.What I know of them, they are loud and unabashed. Have met quite a few while they were drunk, too drunk to have any sort of significant conversation but interesting to talk to to say the least. On the subject of Maori. Now again I haven't met very many but I think my image of them was off somewhat. I believe many people share it though, the romantic image of an aging race of tribal warriors? Not quite the reality, I have met one or two older ones who live up to this image (one a chief no less, who blessed me and my group). The younger ones are strange though, they appear to occupy the same place that 'skaters' etc. do at home. Then bizarrely there are the slightly older ones. Mid- Late twenties. Who are completely camp. It's a sight to behold, when a big mean looking maori guy flicks his hand and starts speaking like a kiwi Graham Norton.
Now for the last thing on my list, the wildlife.
There is a wide array of wildlife here. Well when I say wildlife I mean birds. They don't have many mammals and the ones they do have they either kill indiscriminately or farm and then kill en masse. But the birds are quite amazing. A few highlights. I already told you about the Kea, the crazy sheep eating parrot, in a previous post. There are also Weka's and Pukekos. My personal favourites. These guys are very odd looking and quite simple. The Weka a flightless brown bird that likes to strut around the middle of road and then take it's sweet time leaving them when a car comes and pukeko is basically the same only it's bright blue with a red beak and huge feet. It can fly but when you see it in action it does occur to you that it would be better for all concerned it it didn't bother.
Thats all I can think of for now, if I recall anything I'll come back and edit this post...
