Lockdown day 26. April 20th Diary – A trip to Pompeii as expressly requested by the grandchild. A small group tour expressly designed for children aged 10 – 15 (and of course their grandparents).
Grateful, grateful, grateful. It’s not hard with what’s here in the neighbourhood. At the moment there is an ad for Auckland that’s gone viral and its titled Stop, Listen, Papatuanuku, the earth mother is breathing. If you haven’t seen it then check it out as that is what it feels like. It feels like something bigger than us. It feels like it standing at the bottom of Mauao and listening to the Tui. It feels like it standing under a majestic Pohutakawa. If feels like it when the Kingfisher pays a visit and it feels like it when the sky is painted again and again in a one of a kind masterpiece. Nature just keeps on giving.
The sun rises and sets and on any given day its great to bear witness. So today in amongst the neighbourhood travels is the discovery of old and new. One of the things that every kiwi let alone every “Maunganuiia” should visit is the tree of life. Its one of the oldest rakau tapu (sacred wood) in New Zealand thought to be around 500 years old, and unlike the photos of the rising sun you can’t really feel its awesomeness until you are standing underneath it. Its like Tane Mahuta, it has a power all of its own. It is truly majestic and a photo will never do it justice because you have to feel it for yourself.
It has its own story (500 years of it) which you can find for yourself but for a real survival story of hope the tree was severely damaged in Cyclone Bola and several branches broke away, the local iwi would not allow the council to trim back the broken branches in a sign of respect for the trees historical and tapu status, then in the mid 1990s the tree split and it was propped up with supports. Now its twisted and entangled boughs lay heavy on the ground in places, then soar above in a canopy that stretches more than 30 metres. Put this one on your list of places to go and quite literally stand underneath it and feel how small our individual place in the universe is.
Next I know its not a vey good photo as its taken through a window with a bit of distance as I didn’t want to scare this little guy (King Fisher – Whaikorero) I haven’t seen him for ages and I felt its presence. Grateful.
The last pic is some great street art which I interpret as a protecting Mother Nature but you can interpret it anyway you choose as the what art is but for me it seemed fitting for todays Blog.
Finally for the sake of history, in years to come when first I and then my grand kids or even great grandkids read my travel blog (which I print out into a book at the end of each year) we can touch base with today which is the day that its announced that in a weeks time we move to level 3. Be kind, wash your hands, stay home (or in your neighbourhood), save lives.
Mauao, waiting, listening, breathing
