Still alive, still in New Zealand. Everything is well apart from an annoyingly lingering cold. Seriously, how much mucus is it possible for one body to produce? New Zealand in midwinter is cold, in an unexpected way. The temperature isn’t all that low, usually lying somewhere between 5 and 15 degrees it’s more like Nordic spring or autumn. And although I see signs of people falling into winter depression around me, the light levels are higher than what I’m used to, so the darkness doesn’t faze me.
What bothers me is that it’s cold indoors. Even with multiple layers of clothing one is left shivering without people to snuggle up against. This is just wrong! I know it’s kind of impolite to be all “this is how we civilised people do things better than you barbaric foreigners” when visiting another country, but seriously kiwis. Did you know that double-glass windows is a thing? That insulation is pretty useful, and that building houses with radiators placed under the windows is actually rather clever when it comes to heat-preservation? Have you noticed that while you may not get much snow, temperatures actually tend to get quite low in your country in wintertime? That building more expensive but warm houses could be very well-spent money?
Oh well, end of rant. In a couple of weeks I’ll have more heat than I can handle, going back to pretty much the height of the Swedish summer. In the meantime I’m visiting Dunedin and Auckland again, to hang out with awesome people. Roleplaying, larping, playing boardgames, swordfighting, going to interesting shows and museums, snuggling. Going for some sightseeing walks as far as I have the energy for it. An excellent way of spending four weeks’ vacation in this lovely country, I’d say. There are still places I’d like to visit and mountains I’d like to climb, but that will have to wait for the future, I think. The flu messed up my physical energy levels pretty badly, and moneywise I’m almost broke. But I’m not sad about that; I am enjoying myself immensely.
I’ll be sad to leave, but that’s the way it has to be for now. I’m happy and grateful for all the wonderful memories of places and people and moments and adventures I will take with me.
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| The sun sets behind the hills of Dunedin. |
Love and vacation,
Winterdragon
