Easter weekend

The weekend started with a full moon bonfire party at the beach, complete with dancing under the sea cliffs to Manu Chao on a generator-powered stereo. You can see from the pic how soft the sand was - I'm not even digging my heels in there, your feet just sink that much naturally. It makes walking around barefoot mandatory. The party just confirmed that marine biologists really know how to have fun... especially the Chileans!



Saturday I went out for a hike at Soames with some mates. It was historically the quarantine island for immigrant arrivals to Wellington, as well as an interment camp during war time. Despite its nasty history it's a beautiful place just out in the harbor. There were plenty of local flora and fauna, including little blue penguins and tuatara. It was a bit chilly for the tuatara, though, so I can't offer visual confirmation. The little blues were in a little nest box, though, and one of the volunteers showed them off to us.

Sunday and Monday were spent driving with my workmate up the coast and back for Jack Johnson's show in New Plymouth. It was brilliant - the drive was gorgeous, and Jack is just a talented musician. There is definitely something to be said for the understated beauty of a band that can come out in bare feet, play a brilliant show, and then quietly walk off again. Having the Southern Cross and the full moon shining down on the natural amphitheater was absolutely perfect. Matt Costa was a great opener (check out the youtube video for 'Mr. Pitiful' to get a taste), and he came out and performed a couple songs duet with the headliner. There were well over 15,000 people at the show, but it felt really intimate once the music started.

Tomorrow it's back to work but tonight I'm dreaming of waves on the beach...