TE Wai  Pounamu

This was the old Maori name for the south Island before it became part of Aotearoa, which includes the North Island of New Zealand. Te Wai Pounamu means waters of the greenstone (nephrite), a sacred stone for Maoris and to be found in difficult-to access places on the West Coast. And there is water aplenty in the South Island - I know,  'cos I have just been down to Dunedin, South Otago.
For those not in the know, the Scots were the first Europeans to settle here and proceeded to build a city that was once called the Edinburgh of the South and everywhere in this small city, one sees the evidence in the old banks, old churches and warehouses, etc. I love it. It's hilly, reminiscent of Wellington, windy, ditto. And the two days I was there, the wind was straight out of Antartica and was not a respecter of persons.
Now my first book Memories in the Bone featured Dunedin in the New Zealand part of the tale - that plus the gold fields of Central Otago, east of the city. Oamaru, a gracious small town further north is also featured in the story, in that Pita Hohepa's marae was situated north of it, by the banks of the beautiful Waitaki river. The main part of Memories' New Zealand story is played out here. And well satisfied I am too, that I set Memories in the Bone in these gracious, gorgeous part of New Zealand.
Kapai!

Bird Kill!
There I was in the United Airlines plane, sitting contentedly with all the other passengers, having a great conversation with my seat mate, chin-wagging about her wonderful experiences and her parents' in New Zealand when we were told by cabin staff that maintenance crew is working on cleaning out the engine. A pesky member of the avian class had flown in and committed kamikaze suicide when the plane was landing  for our pick-up.!
Blast and all that, and the wait went on and on and on. We were dehydrating, water was served. Waiting,waiting and then after an hour and a half, we were de-planed. And that was when hell broke loose. We had all missed our connecting flights. And all flights were full for the day.
Anyone ever been in that sort of frustrating situation? End result was I missed my flight out of San Francisco for New Zealand and now am re-booked for the earliest available one -- next Wednesday at an extra cost of $500! Thank goodness for insurance. So I am now going to fly to SF on Tuesday, giving myself a day's leeway before flying out the next evening. And will go on to Christchurch, unfortunate earthquake city, to spend time with Tim (ex-hubby) and gorgeous ZhuZhu, (present little dog on loan to the ex) and we shall take it from there. Thank goodness for friends in the right places -- in the town and near the airport.
Friend Ray who picked me up also took me to the monthly do at the Art Gallery. What a turnout! Fabulous smorgasboard of desert and fruit  (and wine) and the place was full of people. A painting competition has just been judged, with all the exhibits hung. More than the Art Gallery in Big Auckland could ever hope to muster on a similar occasion. We get blasé in big cities. We get spoilt with too many of everything. Like young people who don't appreciate their youth and natural beauty. In small towns like Grand Junction, people are so much more enthusiastic and so grateful for what they have. I like it here.
Adios till next time. It will be from New Zealand then.

How many people know about the Delicate Arch in Utah? Or been to this marvelous place called CanyonLands? It is one of the most amazing places on the planet.The  red mountains and mesas leave the Rose Valley of Capadoccia for dead. I am one for the architecture of Europe but nature's architecture in this region is a sight to behold. The Colorado river flows through it, every bend brings up astounding rock structures -- cathedrals of red, castles on top of rocky mountains, all sculpted by nature. I highly recommend a trip. Hire a car or take a tourist coach, though there are not that many of those. You can really feel the wilderness here.
We hiked up to see the Delicate Arch, resting to rest in the shades of stunted ceders, going easy with or water, and when we finally round the band, there she is! Huge, graceful arching red formation standing high besides the rocky fall. It is a three mile hike there and back to the car park and worth every step.
Also! The lovely chipmunks who inhabit this place, fulfilled my childhood curiosity.
Truly  CanyonLands is  one of the wonders of nature. Hope you can get there.