Raglan Beach.Middle Earth.Rotorua

As I've blogged before...the beach is a way of life in Raglan...I got to spend an afternoon at the surf beach over the weekend.

Surf boards ready to rent...

Surfers heading out to catch the waves...

This bit made me think of Hawaii...I used to live there as a kid...

I got to go roadtripping with my friend. We drove to the east of North Island...through Hamilton and Cambridge...and on to Middle Earth. Yes...that's correct! I actually got to go to the movie site that they filmed Hobbiton at in the Lord of the Rings trilogy! but unfortunately I signed a paper that said I wouldn't post any photos or stories of my time there on-line. So just pretend that right here....you'd see a lot of really cool stuff and read about a lot of really cool stuff. sigh. sorry. We stayed over night in a hotel in Rotorua and enjoyed a good night sleep after an eventful roadtrip.

Today we headed to Rotorua (a region and town) where there are Maori cultural centers and a thermal park (much like a smaller version of Yellowstone National Park in the States). This is a traditional Maori design.

Here is a Maori warror welcoming us in to see a traditional cultural show of dance and song.

the Maori people are a beautiful tribal people with rich heritage. I truly enjoyed the dances and songs and the stories told.

I really like the Maori artwork...

After the show we walked along trails to see the mudpools and other thermal attractions in the area.

It smelled of sulfur...very reminiscent of Yellowstone! The geyser shot up 90 feet in the air!!!

Then we headed back to Raglan ...and tomorrow we will visit a Kiwi House....where the National bird is featured. What an amazing few days!!! Lots to process still...

Raglan: a bohemian lifestyle

I really love the town of Raglan. It's everything I imagined...it's small, it's friendly, it's main street is filled with art galleries, coffee houses, surf shops, fish n chip shops,...and it sits right at the water. I could see myself living here if I had that sort of opportunity. The people are my kind of people...surfers, artists, hippies, granolas and those who love the relaxed bohemian lifestyle that Raglan offers. I fit right in!!!! yes...that's me laying out on the beach after going for a swim in the ocean.

This is the house I'm staying at. My friend's husband built it (he does construction for a living). It's in an ideal location with a view of the water and plenty of outdoor deck space for BBQs and parties. I've met a few of their friends and neighbors and they are all lovely.

It's about a 20 minute walk from the house to the heart of Raglan. Yesterday I had the chance to explore on my own for the day...so after a leisurely morning (breakfast of Mueslix and toast, and a wonderful cup of cofee) I set out on foot to have a look around the town.

As I walked along I passed this mural that was painted on a water tower. Being an artist that does a lot of mural painting...I admired the design and thought about how many hours and how much man-power it would've taken to do something of this scale. Being a full-time artist and business owner (www.revelatorart.blogspot.com)

and being a leader (and gallery curator) in a large artist community called VineArts in Boise, Idaho (www.vineartsboise.org) I am always interested in the art scene wherever I travel. So armed with my business cards and informational brochures I decided to do some networking. Raglan has quite a large community of artists for being such a small town. My friend knows a lot of the gallery owners, so I popped in on several to have a chat...artist to artist, and gallery curator to gallery curator. I went into the Matapihi art gallery and they had artwork displayed from Ragland artists and artists from all over New Zealand. I enjoyed chatting with the curator Ardre Foote about the art styles of New Zealand (the artists like to incorporate the native Maori symbols and patterns into their art). You can see more about the Matapihi Gallery at www.raglan.net.nz

I stopped into the Combined Artist Studios+Gallery (www.artistsgallery.co.nz) to talk with artist & curator Amanda Watson (she is a really good friend of my friend). The Combined Gallery is a studio collective that has studio space for three artists to work and then a gallery to display their work.

Here is a painting by Amanda Watson. One of the styles she does are these amazing abstract seascapes in oil. Being a lover of water as I am...I love love love her stuff!!

I also stopped into the Tidal Bottega art & floral Gallery (www.tidalbottega.co.nz) owned by artist Yvette Harry-Wright. She is also a good friend of my friends.

She does these mind blowing acrylic abstracts that have hidden meanings and symbolism. This painting (a 3 piece series) tells the story about Creation to Christ to Revelation...all covered in the blood of Christ. Amazing stuff!! She covers her paintings with a thick layer of acrylic resin to get a glass-like shine.

After I took a couple of hours to look around I found my way to a coffee house that serves Raglan Roast coffee...this one is called Bobo's. After getting my white coffee (espresso coffee with milk)I joined a few other afternoon chillaxers and sat down at a picnic table outside of the shop to drink my coffee, do a bit of journaling and painting...and chillax.

This is the coffee house. Yes...I know...it's so...ME!!! Palm trees and a surf shop next door...tribal tattooed surfers and dreadlock wearing hippies hanging out inside and outside.

This sign sums up the feel of Raglan...am I "home" or what?!!!! This is like the signs we put up in the VineArts Studio!!!

Here is one of the surf shops...lined with surfboards. I might have the opportunity to go surfing while I'm here in Raglan. I'm hoping I get to...it all depens on the waves and weather. My friends surf a lot and they tell me that right now the waves have been quite big...ideal for experienced surfers...but not so ideal for those who have never surfed before. .Raglan seems to live and breath surfing...everywhere I go people are talking about surfing.

Here is a colorful artistical van I saw in town.

Here is a sticker plastered surf board in front of a surf shop.

Here's another painted truck with surfboards attached to the top.

After my coffee time I headed to the beach to enjoy some time at the water. I did a little bit of beach combing for shells. There are heaps of them everywhere!!! I found my way to a spot on the beach where I saw absolutely no one else...yes, I was all alone on the beach!!! Talk about living a dream!!!! O. My. Goodness!!! So with the beach towel poised perfectly on the black sand, sunblock lotion applied, and my bathing suit ready to get wet, I headed into the warm Pacific Ocean.

You see...for most of my childhood I grew up on both the east coast & west coast of the States (my father was in the Navy)....and for part of that childhood I lived in Hawaii. These days...living in Idaho, I sometimes feel like a landlocked seafarer...and I need the occasional reminder that I am still a lover of water. So this artistical-sunworshipping-bohemian-hippified-beachbum is happy as a clam today to be on this tropical island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean half way round the world. This is exactly what the doctor ordered for me...this holiday is perfect timing. My heart is breathing in the warm breezes, tasting the salty sea, feeling the soothing sun, and swimming in the depth of the waters.

Revive. Replenish. Refresh. Renew. More of this Lord...More!!!!

Wainui (big water)

I'm surrounded by water here!!! The Pacific Ocean is vast and wild!!! Raglan is located on the west coast of the north island. It's about 5,000 people with a small surfer-hippie-artist town feel. It's known for both it's black & white sandy beaches and it's championship surfing waves. Today I did a little touring around the town and along the water with my friend. It's beautiful here! It was very comfortable as its the middle of summer...lots of sun and tropical breezes. Tomorrow I'll go back to hang out for the day on my own...get some coffee and lunch, visit some art galleries, do a bit of shopping, enjoy the beach...and soak it all up. I'm still blown away that I'm actually here! Can't wait to explore!!!

I'm in New Zealand!!!

Kia Ora! After nearly 18 hours of travel time I finally arrived in Auckland, on the North Island of New Zealand! My friend collected me at the airport and we drove 2 hours to Raglan by the ocean where I will be staying with friends. I'm a bit jet lagged but ready for whatever comes my way on this adventure in Middle Earth. Today (which is Thursday in New Zealand and Wednesday in Idaho) we will kick back and chillax around Raglan. It's been wonderful to catch up with my friend (whom I met in 2001 when I was living in Scotland). I've already had a coffee from the Raglan Roasterie at Te Uku, eaten a bowl of Mueslix for breakfast, and set my sights on the water.

I can sense the freedom my heart has longed for...it's just moments away!

and so it begins...

the New Zealand National Anthem

God of nations! at Thy feet In the bonds of love we meet, Hear our voices, we entreat, God defend our Free Land. Guard Pacific's triple star, From the shafts of strife and war, Make her praises heard afar, God defend New Zealand.
Men of every creed and race Gather here before Thy face, Asking Thee to bless this place, God defend our Free Land. From dissension, envy, hate, And corruption guard our State, Make our country good and great, God defend New Zealand.
Peace, not war, shall be our boast, But, should foes assail our coast, Make us then a mighty host, God defend our Free Land. Lord of battles in thy might, Put our enemies to flight, Let our cause be just and right, God defend New Zealand.
Let our love for Thee increase, May Thy blessings never cease, Give us plenty, give us peace, God defend our Free Land. From dishonour and from shame Guard our country's spotless name Crown her with immortal fame, God defend New Zealand.
May our mountains ever be Freedom's ramparts on the sea, Make us faithful unto Thee, God defend our Free Land. Guide her in the nations' van, Preaching love and truth to man, Working out Thy Glorious plan, God defend New Zealand.

i hear my name being called from across the water, being carried upon the winds...

"Arise my darling, my beautiful one...Come away with me..."

~Song of Songs 2:10

Yes...I can hear my name being called...and I am bound by my heart to answer.

Soon this artist & world traveler will be flying yet again across the ocean to a land far far away. This time it won't be the mighty Atlantic that I cross...but the vast Pacific. I'm heading to a set of islands that have the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Tasman Sea on the other. It's a land of Kiwis and Maori, a land of sheep and surfing, a land of endless beaches and snowcapped mountains, a land of recreation and adventure, and a land of Narnians and the peoples of Middle Earth.

Next stop: New Zealand.

"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." ~Bilbo Baggins