principleintopractice

Bell Birds Sing,

Are you listening?

Tuis ring,

Did you miss them?

The Sandflies may bite,

But the evenings are light,

Walking in a Kiwi Wonderland.

Cathedral Gully on Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas!

The last three years in Utah we’ve had snowy Christmases (and they’ve had another this year!). Christmas in New Zealand this year was sunny and hot. With Jamie and Anastasia of AHSNZ I just spent a couple days in Kaikoura, a beautiful coastal town north of Christchurch. Kaikoura (Maori translation ‘Meal of Crayfish’), was struck by an Earthquake just over a year ago, and the main road that connects Kaikoura to Christchurch was only recently reopened.

“Meal of Crayfish”

Kaikoura is a gem, with activities including scuba diving, fishing, whale watching flights and cruises, and opportunities to swim with dolphins or explore the coast on foot. We spent a great couple days camping, tramping (that’s hiking to many of your), kayaking, and wildlife spotting.

Kayaking to visit one of the Seal colonies.

Wildlife spotting: a Shag in the foreground and a Fur Seal in the background. Not pictured: the huge pod of Hector Dolphins we saw on our drive out of town.

Tramping in the bush.

The seabed rose up with the recent earthquake

Exploring the raised seabed

Not exactly roughing it- a delicious camp breakfast!

It’s not wintery, but New Zealand certainly is a wonderland…

The beach at our campsite: a nice place for an evening drip after a hot day!

I’m not the first to rethink this Christmas classic. This Air New Zealand take is ‘Sweet As’.

I hope you all find some joy and fulfillment this holiday season, whatever season it is where you life!