(W)WP ~ Te Aroha

Last weekend we hiked Mt Te Aroha. Jacob and Sam had never done it, I'd done it when I was, like, 8 or something. And man, I am proud of my 8 year old self! It's not super long. It maybe took us 2 and a half hours to get to the top or something. But shish, it's quite the climb. 

Anyway, it was such a nice day. We could see so far once we got to the top. Oceans and islands and farmlands abound. 

After we had fish and chips with my Nan, with obligatory whiskeys as well of course!

I'll be missing this weekend as I'm visiting my brother, but I'm excited for our next Waikato Weekend Peak! Woop!

xx

(Waikato) Weekend Peaks (WWP)

 We've been tramping/hiking on the weekends! (also omg we are back in New Zealand). We're trying to do a tramp a week. Jacob only has Sundays off, so thats the day. 

Our first week back we walked up Wairere falls. Such a cool spot! And doesn't take too long, though it is pretty steep. It's so nice and peaceful at the top, and with a cup of peppermint tea from the thermos in hand it made for a satisfying first "peak" (note; it is not a peak but I'm going to be lenient with the word)

I'm pretty excited about the impending summer (even after 5 weeks in the Philippines....more on that later when I have photos to show), I've got a bit of sewing to show case. So good to be back where I can sew and bake and do things I love. Even though I miss kimchi like made (but don't worry we have some in our fridge hohoh)

Peace 

xx

So much time spent hiking in our Daegu days. 

We were so lucky, the hills/mountains were so close.

Not that one should complain when we now live on a small island with the sea nearby and a massive volcano to hike a stones throw away.

From a hike around the little island. So amazingly warm that day. It felt like spring.

Korea is full of pretty good hiking spots. They get pretty crowded, by people wearing full on hiking get up. But it's nice to escape the city life, especially one where you feel a little polluted at all times.

This was the beginning of spring. The first nice warm day. 

There were some majestic views on this hike. We were supposed to be going for some quite time in the bush over a 5 day holiday coming up. But all the cabins were booked out in a matter of minutes. Which kind of means we wouldn't have wanted to be there anyway, these cabins hold almost 200 people...not my idea of a bush get away!!

None the less, koreas forests are beautiul.

Island Hopping

Not really island hopping. Just one island. Which we camped at what seems an age ago. 

It was so beautiful though. And I night of debauchery and singing from the lifeguard tower. Or should I say vocal jamming. Which ending surprising early leaving us fresh faced for a moderately warm day of spring beach time.

So lovely, I hope we get back there.

Down by the Riverside

Back when it wasn't too hot to do outdoor things at midday we went walking along the river. It felt amazing. Like we were outside the city. Away from everything, bar the looming apartment complexes in the distance. I've grown to love them. Those complexes. When you see then in the distance it's like being in a science fiction novel. These tall building all squished together, often in the midst of nothing.

But anyway, the river was a welcome escape.  

My last weekend in Wellington I had the most lovely picnic with some girlfriends. It was so sunny and I found the perfect secret garden.  Which we took over and napped under the trees.

My friend Alice was down, which was tops and we played many games of cards and drank many ciders in the sun.

And, how could I forget, cuddled with the cutest wee dog, Jimmy. 

(also, there's a cat in that mass of flowers in the third photo down. Little Girl Cat. She was becoming our new best friend just as we left.)

Mum and Dad's farm has the most amazing trees. They look incredible whatever the season, catching the sun's setting and rising lights with the most perfect beauty. The view out the kitchen is always a winner but I thought it might be interesting to catch them from an angle they aren't normally seen from.

These photos definitely capture the magic that seems to be sifting around the farm.

Of course, they also have the most adorable black lab, Toby. He used to love sitting in the boot of our car, until we sold it, much to Toby's disappointment. 

These are from, like, a year ago. (wince) so bad. BUT aren't the lovely? Top one is from Waikanae beach near Wellington. We had such a lovely day, albeit having to hide from the wind in a huge rock. Where we picnicked of course.

The other two are from the Milford Sounds trip with my parents/whole family. It was so moody and amazing. These really capture how it felt. 

Things have been pretty busy here. I finished uni and graduated and we got accepted for teaching jobs in Korea. We are pretty excited to leave and join some good friends over there but goodness we leave so soon! We leaving Wellington in 3 weeks and New Zealand in roughy 5 weeks. Yikes! So soon. I have so much sewing I want to do before we go, but I'm (trying) to be realistic and realise I can't do all the sewing I want. So will just have to go shopping in Daegu (where we will be living), where the shopping is apparently of the Richter amazing.

Anyway, I have a few films to develop before I go. And apparently it's cheap to develop over there. So you can be sure things will be coming, even if gaps between updates are large.

xx