Day 26, Level 1: Matakana Market, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Pakatoa Island

Boy, this year is going so fast. 

Did a bit of reading and sorting in the morning. A bit overcast but perfectly nice.

Headed into the Matakana market late morning. Wore a light coat and that was all that was needed. No wind, no rain, mild temperature, middle of winter ...

No live music at the market today (although perhaps I missed it), but a nice atmosphere. I prefer to go to the market later rather than earlier. Everyone gets there early and it's seething. It closes at 1pm. Getting there around midday is perfect, esp for locals who know what it's all about. 

Matakana Farmers Market by the river

Had a long chat to a local winemaker - Oleg from Kazakhstan. Interesting story and nice guy. 

Oleg and his wines

Oleg and his wife have been in NZ since 2012. He has a diverse wine-making background. 

He told me that Kazakhstan is about to lockdown again - quarantine restrictions were eased mid-May but it's all turning pear shaped. 

STATS:

Kazakhstan population 18.1m.

12th May - 5,279 cases and 32 deaths (went to Level 1 scenario on this date).

15th June - 14,809 cases and 81 deaths (a month later)

As at 1 July - 41,000 cases and 188 deaths. 

And now back into lockdown. 

NZ population 4.8m.

9th June - 1,504 cases, 22 deaths (when we went to Level 1 - and a month later than Kazakhstan).

4th July  - 1,530 cases and 22 deaths (a month later)

NZ staying in lockdown longer was a good move! Let's hope our stats stay good.

Oleg did say he was absolutely unprepared for the horrific cost of living and housing and low wages here in NZ.  I've been lamenting both forever. He wished he'd done more research but was lured. Had a great discussion about his home country, which I'd love to visit some day. I think Borat dissed it and made it sound like a dire backwater, but it's a huge country and highly affluent, with lots natural resources and beauty, and huge history. Oleg was brought up in Almaty and skied at Chimbulak resort since he could stand. He hasn't skied in NZ. The snow has arrived here, that's for sure. We may get skiing at some point ... but I'll be rather rusty, that's for sure. 

We also talked about nearby Georgia which is a country he absolutely loves. I was in the country's capital Tbilisi in 1990, running a conference - it was under Soviet rule back then. Nothing was as it seems - what an experience! Several things struck me - one was the language and alphabet ... the script looks like a vine and it's one of the oldest languages in the world. Oleg told me today that Georgia is where wine production began which I think I learnt when I was there but had forgotten (maybe I had too many of those wines!) 

It's a very ancient civilisation. And a stunningly beautiful country, mountains to ocean. I'd love to return. In fact, I aim to return.  

The architecture there is fantastic. And the cultural dancing is incredible.  The men dance en pointe - without pointe shoes. We had a private show by the Georgian State Dance Troupe. It blew me away. I also saw them here in NZ in the early 1990s - because I knew how fab they were and needed to see them again. I wasn't disappointed and those I went with couldn't believe their eyes. 

And the wine ... well, they do know what they're doing. I do remember sampling a vintage or ten when I was there, in between working, dealing with exploding lightbulbs, non-working lifts, rats and airline horror tales. 

Georgian dancers

That two-week conference provided a novel's worth of experience and enlightenment (which I wrote up at the time, it makes for intriguing reading!) I also have some fab photos of Tbilisi - but they're on my desktop computer at home. Will share at some point. 

Meanwhile ... that gorgeous vine-ish alphabet ...

Back in Matakana ... Went for a wander along the river. There were ducks. Bought a few supplies. Walked past the lovely Matakana pub ... where I did quiz a couple of weeks ago - and will be back for more of that when in town on a Wed night.

The Matakana Pub

Popped into the sports bar to watch a few races with the regular Saturday pm crew - although not many there today. I do enjoy bantering with the locals about racing and learning a bit about them and the area. I learn something new every time, way beyond the racing. Good fun. 

Back home I did some sorting of books and shelves and whatnot. Tested out the stair rail, up and down. Although, when I'm here by myself, I really don't need to go downstairs unless I'm leaving the house or in the laundry. 

Brett was playing golf back in Auckland today. And playing in a golf tournament tomorrow. 

Enjoyed pottering around tonight cooking a yummy pasta meal while watching Jamie Oliver's Keep Cooking and Carry On, his lockdown show. So cool, with his many kids popping along and taking part throughout. He made some delicious things, I made some notes. Go Jamie, you're a cooking institution as good as they get. My style of cooking. 

Fettuccine - with parsley, garlic, capsicum, pine nuts, olive oil.
With caramelised aubergine chips and parmesan on top

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:

Pakatoa Island ...

This island is for sale, it has been on and off for a while. But with a price tag of $30m it may take some time to sell. 

It's a small (24 hectares) private island in the Hauraki Gulf, on the far side of Waiheke Island, not far from Auckland city. We had a few fun joint-family weekends there years ago, in the 1970s. The island was a sort of resort, with cabins dotted around and a central hub with bar, restaurant, entertainment, bingo and a pool. It was great fun. To my young self (around 14 or so), it felt like we were miles from home but in fact we were a mere 38kms from home. 

I remember flying over on SeaBee Air - a new amphibian air service that flew to the various islands in the Gulf. Such fun. A hovercraft service started taking people out to the islands in 1978 but it didn't last long - I think the weather and waves were not conducive to guaranteed sailings. There was also a ferry, which was the normal transport.

Anyway, I remember several happy weekends out at Pakatoa with a group of families. 

I'd love to revisit it - apparently it's a bit dated, reminiscent of those 70s days. 

Much earlier, in the early 1900s, it was used as an alcohol treatment facility for women. The men went to nearby Rotoroa Island. 

And there it sits - with no one even on it for most of the year. The family who own it use it occasionally but it's kinda sad that it sits out there in the harbour empty. Hopefully someone will buy it and get it up and running again. It's kind of like a secret hidey place so close to home but so utterly unknown.

So glad I got to experience it in its 70s heydays! I bet mum and dad and the other parents had the best time - while we kids were off having the best time!

Sam texted tonight to say they've just booked a holiday in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. The borders have opened up quite a bit, with no need for quarantine. Make the most of it Sambo!

Pakatoa Island, Hauraki Gulf, Auckland

Gran Canaria

Posted at 2.15am!!

While listening to Lucinda Williams!