A couple of years ago an old friend of Mr A's and his lady friend came to stay with us for a while. He is Austrian and lives in Klagenfurt, she is Chinese and lives in Shanghai. They borrowed Mr A's car and set off on a road trip to see New Zealand.
Some of you will know that the majority of our small country consists of two narrow islands which run north to south (ish). Generally speaking, the beaches on the east coasts of both islands are calm, smooth, sweeping, with light, often golden, sands. Those on the west coasts have black sands, wild surf, rugged cliffs and lots of driftwood.
When our visitors returned, all Ms Shanghai could talk about were the 'dirty beaches' - how nasty and unpleasant they were, and how they needed 'cleaning up'. Needless to say, they had spent most of their trip driving along the west coasts.
These are examples of what Ms S was criticising:
Poor Ms Shanghai. She missed out on a lot. I love (and respect) wild beaches and find their charm infinitely more invigorating that the golden stereotypes. Both have beauty, but one stirs my soul.
ReplyDeleteYup. I'm sure you can guess which Coast I love more!
DeleteI love driftwood!
ReplyDeleteAs do so many interesting little creatures.
Great pics, Alexia.
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Thanks. I'm always careful picking driftwood up, though - it's a favourite spot for our only poisonous native spider, a close relative of the Australian redback.
DeletePersonally, I still think those are beautiful coastlines, partially because of the driftwood. It may not be the "clean" glistening white beaches people generally think of, but the gnarled white wood on the dark beach is beautiful in it's own right.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, Max!
DeleteI would have been baffled by her complaints. Did she dislike driftwood? Because some of those shots look set to host a party of sitters. Gosh, it's gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteShe was a rather unusual person...
DeleteYou're right, John - gorgeous is the word!
I agree that the black beaches have a beauty all there own, and I would have carefully picking up driftwood as I also enjoy its special beauty ,too
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteIf you have nothing but miles and miles of wild ocean ending on your beaches, then you will get driftwood! Funny woman! What did she want - someone to go and bleach the sand as well??
ReplyDeleteI love wild beaches - but I think I'd be careful about picking up your driftwood!
I think she would have been happy with the bleach idea, Gilly! As for all that untidy driftwood...
DeleteI truly enjoy these moments into your lovely country! I had no idea of such beaches and I can imagine a visit out here would be most relaxing!
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful photos. Your west coast beaches look like our Oregon beaches, some of them, wild surf and lots of driftwood. I would not like to think of a poisonous spider hiding within. Some are expansive, with very little driftwood, but lots of partial shells, broken by the rough churning pounding surf, mainly of claims, crabs and sand dollars. Also torn shards of kelp and seaweeds.
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