Resting, relaxing, sitting in the sun – the last few days have been low key, easy in all ways. The sun is so bright that a hat is needed at all times – and the NZ slogan to combat skin cancer – slip, slap, slop (cover up, put on a hat, put on sun screen) – is worth following. I was surprised to get a sunburn in about 30 minutes. Not that I'm complaining – did I hear that some parts of the U.S. are experiencing a fierce winter storm?? How about Canada? Does it please you to read that we're expecting heavy rain this week-end?
Went for a bit of a walk today along the shore of Lake Taupo. Much of the shore near us is very steep, and covered with trees and bush. Look on Google Earth, for Omori, NZ, and you'll see what I mean. But there is a public trail that goes along the lakeshore, then up some stairs to go along the hillside. Some animal traps are set along the pathside – rabbits that evidently are taking quite a toll on the flowers and other plant life, though it doesn't show at all; and ferrets take a toll on birds – saw lots of broken bird eggs along the pavement today, but no other evidence.
We're hoping to find a bird book, so we can identify some of the many different ones we see and hear. So far we've identified a Tui (also known as a parson-bird); and a fantail. Another we think is a chaffinch; and attached is a picture of a quail-like critter.
Other 'wild-life' include sheep and beef from a near-by farm – we can hear their bleats and moo's on a quiet night. One lamb is definitely a split-personality – see the photo of him, with his black front-half, and white back-half.
The farm provided the land-based for the Omori community which is a high-end housing development.. The development is sort of strange – most of the 200 homes are very up-scale – huge, for the most part over 2,000 square feet. Lawns, grounds, houses well-kept;. But, 90% of them are unoccupied – they're summer homes, don't know who owns them. Summer is just beginning, and now on a Friday afternoon we're seeing some families drive in. A few retirees are here year-round; fewer local workers (the one corner store; the one property-manager. . . .) But the community is pretty much empty. Very strange. There is NO commercial activity (other than the tiny corner store); no real estate offices, no community facilities such as community hall or churches. The nearest town is Turangi, about 10 miles away. I can't think of a similar example near any place I've lived. How about you folks?
The house we're staying is NOT one of the upscale examples; it's a fully-furnished 2-bedroom, large living room, medium sized kitchen; large porch. Very comfortable, nicely furnished, used as a summer retreat by our host Graham, who has just married Marg's friend Rosemary. As with most of the houses here, there's a 'batch', behind the house – a self-contained bachelor apartment attached to the garage. We have TV with 3 channels; a golden oldies radio station, no internet, cell-phone access if we stand in a certain spot 200 yards down the street.
We have everything we need (other than internet).
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