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New Zealand: Hamilton Gardens – Alice in Wonderland in New Zealand

You never know when you might bump into Alice and Wonderland depictions as you travel around the world. This one was in the Hamilton Gardens in New Zealand. It is truly amazing that this story from centuries ago, has resonated so far and wide. 

New Zealand: Gordonton – Dancing with Captain James Cook in Zealong Sculpture Garden

Captain James Cook (1778-1729) was a British adventurer who explored New Zealand. The indigenous Maori introduced him to the manuka plant as a medicinal tea. It reminded him of home.

New Zealand: Gordonton – One Dragon Teapot in Gordonton, NZ

In Asia dragons and teapots are very popular for centuries. At the Zealong Tea Estate sculpture garden you learn about oolong teas and teas around the world.

New Zealand: Gordonton – Tea Pots Dragon at Zealong Tea Estate, New Zealand

A favorite sculpture in the Zealong Tea Estate sculpture garden was this long tea pot dragon with the estate building in the rear.

New Zealand: Gordonton – Sculpture of Famous Tea sage in Gordonton, NZ

It was a surprise to us to learn that there were tea sages. Here’s a sculpture of Lu Yu who performed this work way back in 733-804. Since he lived to 71, unusual back in those days, perhaps the tea is anti-aging?

New Zealand: Gordonton – Tea Worker Sculpture, New Zealand

You get an idea of the work involved in bringing tea to the table at the Zealong Tea Estate in Gordonton, NZ. Here the sculptures are getting some help from the travel media.

New Zealand: Auckland – Graphic Art by Colin McCahon, New Zealand

Born in 1919, Colin McCahon was a driving force for art in NZ. The Auckland Art Gallery set up an full exhibit of the breadth of his work, McCahon said of his work, “My painting is almost autobiographical. It tells you where I am at any given time” He lived in 3 different geographic areas of New Zealand and you can see his art shift when his eye meets a new location.

US: Rocky Mountains – – Flying West to San Francisco

Rocky mountains and glacier lakes are always thrilling to see from the window of an airplane.

US: Seattle, WA – Rubbing a Pig for Luck

We saw this for the first time in Florence Italy’s market in about 1991 – and it was a pig there too. Many objects around the world are now there for you to rub and receive good luck.

US: Seattle, WA – City Fish at Seattle’s Pike Place Market

City Fish’s fish throwing fish mongers are one of the reason that the Pike’s Place Market is on the map. We’ve visited many food markets around the world but these guys are the only ones flinging fish across the fish stand and putting on a fun fishy show.