Saturday
Nov102007
Fizzy Sunshine
Saturday, November 10, 2007 at 12:00AM Mrs. G. 
In 1993, Mrs. G. saw a movie called The Piano. The movie tells the story of Scotswoman Ada McGrath who is sold into marriage by her father to frontiersman Alistair Stewart. She is shipped off with her young daughter Flora to live with this new husband in his native New Zealand. Ada, who has not spoken a word since she was six years old, communicates through sign language (interpreted by her daughter) and her piano music. The arranged marriage doesn't work out so well and tragedy ensues, resulting in a gruesome amputation with no anesthesia.
Ouch. But it is also a tender love story... directed by Jane Campion and starring Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel and a little country called New Zealand. The Piano was filmed there. When the movie was over and the credits rolled, Mrs. G. staggered out of the theater fond of Keitel's naked bum, but head over heels in love with New Zealand. Beautiful lush green sky blue New Zealand.
New Zealand is located in the southern Pacific Ocean, approximately 1,600 kilometres (995 miles) south-east of Australia. New Zealand is comprised of two main islands.New Zealand's geography includes spectacular landscapes: the vast mountain chain of the Southern Alps, the volcano region of the North Island, fiords, glaciers, lakes, rain forests and extensive grassy plains.
Mrs. G. can already hear her family saying, "Oh here she goes again about New Zealand...what is with New Zealand? Enough. With. New. Zealand. But, reader, if you don't know by now that Mrs. G. is unwavering in her passions, well then, just take her word for it. She is. If Mrs. G. could choose to visit anywhere on God's green earth? Let's see...yep, it would be New Zealand. Where She would...
eat a lot of these, because they taste like fizzy sunshine. Did you know kiwis were once called Chinese Gooseberries? They're full of vitamin C and fiber. Mrs. G. would pop back a couple of more of these green babies, climb on the back of a wagon and head over to
visit good old Bilbo Baggins at the Shire or throw back a pint or two
with these dudes. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy was filmed in New Zealand, directed by Peter Jackson, a New Zealander. Granted Peter Jackson has won three Academy Awards, but he is not the only famous New Zealander.
There is Xena, the Warrior Princess and...
famous mountain climber Lyle Lovett Sir Edmund Hilary. They both have a keen sense of adventure and excellent hair.
Whether it's to play the piano, ride a horse, lose a limb, or wrestle that ring from the Dark Lord Sauron, Mrs. G. wants to do it on the beaches of New Zealand. Mrs. G's friend Urban Cowgirl recently wrote a charming post on how to speak like a true Kiwi:- Pissed aside: insect-killing chemical
- Min: not woman
- Lift: departed
- Bun button: been chomped by an insect
- Sex: one more than five
- Pug: porcine
One day Mrs. G. will dip her toes into this water. Reader, where on God's green earth would you like to go? And Mr. G, if you're reading this, Happy Birthday, husband. I love you.
tagged Family
Family
Reader Comments (47)
Lovely! I would like to go to Alaska someday...and the Scottish highlands...and Africa.
I'll go, too, but only if Xena Warrior Princess can be our tour guide, because wouldn't that make the trip even more unbelievable? (Dream big, I've heard.)
If you think the green kiwis are good...just wait until you have tried the gold ones (http://www.zesprikiwi.com/goldkiwi.htm)
I'd like to go to Egypt and see the pyramids.
Happy birthday Mr.G!
Oh - those last two photos pratically made me weep they were so beautiful.
Three places I would love to visit: Nova Scotia, Iceland, and Denmark
And a big Happy Birthday to Mr G.
I'd love to go to Dal Lake in Kashmir but it would mean travelling in time as well as in space. I'd love to go to Dal Lake in Kashmir before Pakistan hated India and India hated Pakistan. Maybe before Pakistan existed, maybe before the days of the British Raj when you could stay in a beautiful houseboat and travel about on gondolas watching the herons fly, startled by the sound of your oars. Although looking for a http://www.asiaexplorers.com/india/dal_lake.htm" REL="nofollow">site to show pictures from meant discovering that Dal Lake now has wifi along with armed guns.
One of my good friends up at the Mountain house is from NZ. I love to talk to her.
Yesterday NPR had an interview with two fellows from NX (can't remember their names) who are in a show/band with the name "Concords" in the title. I have to go look it up because I thought they were funny and talented.
I'll go most anywhere if you send me a ticket :-)
Darla
OOPS - the two fellow are from New Zealand not NX... wherever that may be.
Maybe I need to travel into the kitchen for more coffee!
Darla
I remember The Piano--a haunting film.
My daughter went to New Zealand this past summer with People to People and absolutely loved it. She stayed on a farm with a local family, went to school, toured places and now wants to live there. I hope you get to go someday.
Ok, here's the link to the radio show referenced above.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16148274
Didn't mean to hold your comments section hostage. I'm out of here!
Darla
Umm ... Sweden, Sweden, and Sweden. That's where I am when not consciously thinking. Always.
New Zealand, yes, I'm already there in my heart.
Piano, though...bum cracks and endless angst....I was ready for everybody to drown. Could be an age thing.
It is good to have a geographic goal. I think I would want to go to Japan. Because of the shrines and pagodas and pottery and mountains. Not because of the anime.
I love that movie. The Piano that is, although I also love the LOTR trilogy.
Where in the world would I go? There are so many places I want to go, I want to hike more of our National Parks, Alaska, Ireland, Italy, Africa...fun will be had when the chicks leave the nest and I have more disposable income.
Well, after reading this post, I think I'd like to go to New Zealand with you! The country sounds beautiful and I think traveling with you would be a hoot.
(And I would love to stay at Bilbo's place.)
Well I'm living in the place I dreamed of visiting and living in for the last 10 years or more ...
I married Dick and hes from London but hes dragging his feet taking me home to visit! (5 years and counting) anddddd I really want to go visit Scotland and Ireland!
Happy Birthday Mr G!
I would absolutely love to visit New Zealand! I also strongly desire to go back to Europe--particularly Greece, Italy, and Spain. And anywhere in South America---but particularly Chile, Brazil, and Argentina.
Arrg! You've got my travel bug going again!
Happy Birthday Mr. G!
And two tickets to Ireland please
There are many places that I'd passionately run to the the airport to get to. New Zealand is on that list. Anywhere on the Dark Continent, Antarctica, Greenland, Iceland, The Yukon, Northern Canada, anywhere in greater Russia. There is a them here, with the exception of the Dark Continent, I'm a sucker for the top and bottom latitudes.
I want to go back to Europe and stay for weeks. Months, even.
Speaking of New Zealand and Peter Jackson, have you seen Heavenly Creatures? If not, queue it! (Although, tell Mr. G. that it's no Bladerunner.)
Oh man. When I was younger (like... in my mid thirties) I used to watch Xena Warrior Princess every Saturday afternoon. I lived in a studio apartment in Manhattan. I loved to sit in bed with my cats (do you see that there's a theme in my life of laying in bed with my cats?) Anyhoo... I loved to watch Xena and then take a nap and then I was ready to go out and about.
Oh thank you for that trip down memory lane.
It's so difficult to say where I would go if I could. I am dying to get to Italy. Would love to see Marrakesh. Have been fascinated by China.
Hey, I have distant relatives in New Zealand. Anyway...
I would probably go to Italy. Or England. Or Paris. Or all three. Or somewhere else.
I went to New Zealand and loved it! You will not be disappointed. Africa is the first place that comes to mind when I think dream vacations. Followed closely by Scotland, Spain, India, Japan, China, Thailand, Ireland... Well, hell, sounds like I need a Sugar Daddy with a plane.
We're considering moving to New Zealand some time down the road.
If I wasn't afraid for my family's physical safety, I'd love to go to Africa, Patagonia, Mongolia...
Oh, don't even get me started!
New Leezand...that is where my neice spent a month if you asked her...when she was two...my brother had to go...and took his other two kids out of school for a month...the principal said it would be more educational anyway...Here you can hear her play violin: http://cdbaby.com/cd/maggieestes Do you like bluegrass?
Anna Paquin...you forgot to say she was in that movie...
Africa,from the desert to the savanna to the jungle and back again..just in case I missed something the first time 'round.
Happy Birthday Mr.G !
Sounds like an awesome plan. I'd go there!
I would go to Vancouver Island to wrestle cougars with my bare hands before heading to the Empress Hotel for high tea. In fact, I've already done this (several times) but just can't get enough of it.
Oh ... bot New Zealand and I thank you Mrs G for that fabulous plug (and no that is not a NZ accent for plig!!!)
Do come visit. There'd even be free accommodation for you at my place! :)
BTW NX could be NZ (New Xena?)
Duh! 'Both' not 'bot' - now you'll think we say 'bot' for 'both'
Btw you'd love the Concords, you should try and listen / watch them if you can ... rather weird NZ, but the accent'll kill ya!
I'm still snorting over "Lyle Lovett". I, took, (ahahahha typo, I SWEAR) would love to visit NZ; yes, LOTR sparked that desire BIG TIME.
I went to New Zealand in 1998 when I was pregnant with my first daughter and I cannot wait to show her and her sister all the places we loved so much. It's a gorgeous country and the people are just so friendly. I watched the Lord of the Rings movies partly just so that I could see familiar terrain.
They have a fruit there called a feijoa (aka pineapple guava) and it's only available here in the US this time of year. If it's good -- and not overripe -- it's this unbelievably creamy pineapple-y delight. If it's bad, well then it's just yucky.
NZ would be a blast. And don't forget to watch whalerider, also beautimus scenery and enthralling story.
My husband and i often play "where would we go on our next trip?" THe list is usually mellow greek islands, the balkans, basque spain, central america, alaskan panhandle, really the list is too long. Possibly an Irish two week pub crawl?
Do you read Ampersand? www.allchiara.com She wanted a change from her life in Seattle so a couple of years ago she did some research and found an English speaking country that needed people with her specific skill set so badly they would be likely to issue her a work visa. That country? New Zealand. She's just gotten an extension for a few months and sounds as though she's seriously considering staying for good and every. I think you'd love her pictures and first hand accounts of your dream country.
That last photo transported me.
I would go to Africa.
And I totally see how the kiwi can be compared to the gooseberry...brings back memories of having sour gooseberry eating contests with my sister.
AND Happy Birthday Mr. G!
Wine key: penis
Dang it LA RN I thought we had started a new thread on alcohol and men. Then I realized you were adding to the "How To Speak New Zealandishishish" list..LOL
It looks I'm the only one so pedestrian as this but since 9/11 I can't even *daydream* about flying to Greece or Italy or even Alaska without major anxiety.
That means I daydream about visiting locales within the continental U.S. Wow, is that lame.
New Zealand is high on my list. That and Australia, the Great Wall of China, Iceland and Argentina.
My top five.
Heidi
Ireland - even when I see it second hand on tv, I get tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. When I visited there I thought I had gone to emerald green heaven. And oh, Danny boy, I would marry an Irishman just to have him whisper me to sleep every night with that lovely lilt.
I would one day like to visit Ireland. I have Irish roots, but I've never been. However, I do believe I'd feel right at home upon arrival.
Yes, sweetheart, I'm reading, and thanks for the sentiment. I love you too. And I'll try to get you to New Zealand before the end of the run. And I'll get some of that Hillary hair (Edmund, not Clinton), too.
How's the accent coming along Mrs. G? Glad you enjoyed my post!
There are so many places I would love to visit. If I had to pick one now I'd say India, because it's my father's favourite and he's been to MANY countries. So I need to see what all the fuss is about: you can only tell so much from photos.
After that, in no particular order: Mexico, Norway, Nepal, Estonia and Botswana.
I'm fortunate enough to live in the one that topped the list.
The piano is my favorite movie.
Your humor is a crack up.
Happy Birthday Mrs. G 's hubby!
The piano is my favorite movie.
Your humor is a crack up.
Happy Birthday Mrs. G 's hubby!
Okay, completely late to the party, and doing research for my guest post. Yes, I am taking this thing extremely seriously. But, for the record,
Aussies say sex, kiwis are more sux.