Akaroa

Confession:  When we have a day off we are in a very great place to be tourists.  April 25th is ANZAC Day, New Zealand's version of Veteran's Day.  When there is a National holiday we are required to close the Institute building (A of F 12).  We took the opportunity to drive 80 minutes to a French village of Akaroa.  The land formation is called Banks Pennisula, (hope you look all this up on Google Earth). It was formed by a 12 million year old volcano, one theory is the last eruption was similiar to Mt. Saint Helen's and had a sideways blowout and let in the sea.  While we were there we took a two hour tour of the habour and saw Hector Dolphins that are only four feet long and weigh about 120 lbs.  We also saw a white-flippered penguin, the smallest and rarest penguin in the world.  They weight approximately one pound.  The New Zealand Fur Seals were plentiful.  Their fur is so dense that in just one square inch there is enough fur to cover a small dog.  The weather was perfect and our sunhats and sunscreen worked splendid!

Tourists with name badges...

Beautiful Bay

Old Maori village

These sea birds are drying their wings after diving 100 yards deep into the ocean

View of Pacific Ocean

The seals against the volcanic rock.  Notice the layers of lava.

Seals are very awkward on land

Sea Cave

That little black spot is a penguin, remember he only weighs only one pound

This seal never did wake up

Lighthouse that was removed from mouth of bay, replaced by automated one.

Little River Giant Pumpkin Festival

One kid inside each bubble running around and they stay completely dry.  Notice the big zipper to get them in and out.

This and That

Riccarton Bush

Interesting roots

Can you find the Pakeha? (white person)

Sister Matthews and her Cashmere Seminary Class

Sister Grichard and her Asburton Seminary Class

Brother Bell and Minnie

Farmers Market

"Bee Stings"

Tasmanian Blue Gum. Planted in 1857

Market goods

Country Side

Plains looking towards Southern Alps

The first two pictures are of the Riccarton Bush.  It is located about two blocks from our flat and has been preserved as it was in the beginning.  It is very beautiful, with many different kinds of trees and bushes.  You can take a scenic walk through the bush, but must stay on the path and not touch anything.

The next picture is of our YSA group swimming at Hanmer Springs.  It is a beautiful little tourist town with some natural hot water springs.  We had thirty people go and they all bring food and do a big potluck.  It was the end of summer outing that the Stake paid for.  The kids love it!

The next two pictures are of our early morning seminary teachers with their students.  ( We supervise ten seminary teachers and have training for them every other month)

Brother Bell and his wife Minnie (she picked her own name from a book of names because she was from Taiwan and they couldn't pronounce her name) are shown here at his retirement party at the Institute.  Brother Bell was the coordinator for the mission and his replacement lives in Wellington.  One of our duties, we found out driving from the airport to the Institute, was that we would take over his duties from Christchurch to the south.  We grew to love these two people very quickly and will miss them very much.  They promised to stay in touch and we have Brother Bell on speed dial and talk to him nearly every day.

The market is held at the Riccarton Bush every Saturday morning and we were able to attend because everyone was at the chapel watching conference (which we had already seen) so my piano students were cancelled for the day.  It was very festive, with live entertainment, and lots and lots of food.  They were probably fifty booths with everyone's specialities.  We were tempted by the quich, the sourdough bread, cornish pasties, and finally the wonderful Bee Sting.    (it is a huge doughnut, baked, sliced horizontally and filled with custard)  We had heard about these and they truly lived up to their reputation.

The last few pictures are of the countryside just outside of Christchurch.  They plant trees close together and trim them like hedges and use them as windbreaks for their animals.  They are everywhere and are quite manificent.  We are guessing that they are high maintenance.  Their farms are neat as a pin, no piles of rubbish or old equipment lying around rusting away.  They take pride in their farms and gardens (yards).  There are flowers everywhere, even along the ditchbanks.  The ladies shopping in the grocery store all have a bundle of fresh flowers in their basket.