The wanderer returns

I've just returned from spending 10 weeks over 10000 miles away on the other side of the world, travelling around Australia and New Zealand. The experiences have been wide and varied, from vino-assisted 'dancing' in the Establishment, Wellington to tranquil vistas and miles upon miles (or should that be kilometres upon kiometres) of unspoilt wilderness; from Church services to the national religion of New Zealand, rugby union; from Maori culture to West Coast cross-dressing culture- you name it, Max has been there... Travelling down the West Coast of New Zealand with my Kiwi Experience travel bag full to bursting point with the recommended four days of provisions, I spent St Patrick's day in a pub in Westport, being entertained by a band playing Irish music, before travelling down to wild, crazy, legendary Lake Mahinapua to the Mahinapua hotel run by a very old chap called Les and a woman who is almost as masculine as me, where the infamous party night occurred, cue random pictures on facebook and picasaweb (plug for my home page: www.picasaweb.google.com/maxbarnish). From the lake we headed down to the Franz Josef Glacier, where Max of course didn't walk 8 hours like most people to get 400 metres up the glacier, but oh no he jolly well took a chopper and flew to a height of 700 metres in 20 minutes before waddling around for 2 hours and flying back, la di da. The next major stop was the adventure capital of New Zealand, if not the world, Queenstown, which we reached via the arid Central Otago region, home of Merino sheep for all those cardies and of giant fruit in Cromwell. In Queenstown I eschewed the old favourites of sky diving and bungy jumping for none-the-less adventurous activities in the shape of jet-boating and luging, and the legendary Fergburger... Leaving Queenstown we journeyed for a very long time North-East wards over the Lindis Pass and down to the coast at Geraldine, where I took a fish and chip and money changing stop before continuing on, via the first set of traffic lights for days, to the hole that is called Christchurch, where I ended my trip with a personalized t-shirt and a game of super 14 rugby. In a rather scrappy game, not helped by the southern hemisphere ELVs which have reduced most offences to free-kicks, Crusaders narrowly beat the Stormers from South Africa. In conclusion, this was a very good trip, full of adventures and for the New Zealand leg, interesting (for the most part) people,  who I am very glad to have met. Below I'll include a few segments that never quite made it earlier: ie the director's cut.....

Highlight: Bay of Islands/Cape Reinga (speedboating, scenery and sandboarding)

Craziest moments: Establishment (Wellington), Lake Mahinapua and the Bushman Centre, singing national anthem after a Maori feast and trying to cover Bon Jovi Living on a Prayer in karaoke- I'm a bass right....

Most pretensious moment: Kaikoura Plus Lounge on the Interinslander ferry

A tale of two Churches

          So far, I've had the pleasure of visiting two very different Churches during my time here in Australia. Both were very sincere, welcoming (especially in Melbourne, but that was a little overwhelming) and commanded my utmost respect. In Sydney, I visited St Andrew's Cathedral, which I'd describe as formal Anglican with an evangelical bent, although the evening service was a little less formal. I heard the Dean, Philip Jensen, speak on the nature of a Church service, saying it should involve participation (of which there was little) and be 'decent and not chaotic'. The second point made an , in my opinion misjudged, thinly veiled attack on the charismatic movement, saying that that the Bible says little on how faith should feel and saying enducing a trance-like state is a characteristic of ancient animist religion. A huge overstatement not for the first time I believe. 

           In, or relatively near, Melbourne, I had the pleasure of visiting Hope Melbourne's 'city centre' branch- ironic given that it was an hour's walk North-West of the city in Kensington. Every time I've been to Churches in that network, I've felt very welcome, if a little overwhelmed by all the attention I've received. I'd have to say it's not my normal style, and long periods of beckoning spiritual experiences and people sharing 'visions' do make me  feel a bit awkward. The complete lack of order for the first half of the meeting was a bit challenging for someone as naturally structured as me, and it's hard to follow when more than one person is speaking at a time, but I really respect the freedom of expression in an age when a lot of services are sterile and formulaic. The talk on Gideon, change and overcoming fear through faith was excellent. I've never seen a sermon before that involved the speaker lying down on the stage performing mime acts. I 'Hope' to have the pleasure of attending further services of that network in the future, though I'm not sure I could handle it every week. Sure people are getting used to my puns and literary/cultural references now, but there's one in  the title- Do you know what it is yet???

Max's Sports Report

Australia vs New Zealand (6/2/09) 2nd ODI- Melbourne

http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/175/175404.html

            New Zealand (226/4) overhauled Australia's total of 225/5 with seven balls to spare on a sluggish pitch at the MCG, which while offering little for the bowlers, made it hard to score quickly. After a shaky start, Australia's innings was held together by measured innings from acting captain Michael Clarke (98 off 133 with 7 fours) in the unfamiliar opening role and Mike Hussey (75 off 94  with 4 fours).  Oddly, the sluggish MCG pitch, which seemed much faster when used for a state match a few days earlier, suited the generally accurate but not especially fast Kiwi bowlers more than the home side. Iain O'Brien took 2 for 48 in his 10 overs, whilst Kyle Mills (1 for 37) and captain left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori (0 for 35) were economical. Had it not been for some wayward bowling from young seamer Tim Southee (1 for 57), Australia's total would have been much lower.

              New Zealand slowly accelerated through their innings, Grant Elliott scoring a personal best 61 off 75 with 6 fours after playing himself in carefully.  The supporting cast was provided by uncharacteristically watchful innings from keeper-opener Brendon McCullum (43 off 75 balls with 3 fours) and Ross Taylor (47 off 74 balls with 3 fours). A fine mid-innings spell from seam allrounder James Hopes (2 for 30), whose first 7 overs yielded only 12 runs, had put Australia in the box seat. However, this iniative was conceded through some hapless support spin bowling from Cameron White (3 overs for 18) and Dave Hussey (2 overs for 14), the nadir coming when one delivery went down the leg side for 5 wides. This brought the asking rate below 6 an over, and from there on in a New Zealand victory looked assured, especially when finishing the innings against the wayward Hilfenhaus ( 0 for 58 off 9.5). Having lost the series against South Africa to concede top spot in the one-day international rankings, Australia found themselves 2 down after two matches of this series. However, they did recover to draw the series and retain the Hadlee-Chappell trophy. This is clearly an Australian side in transition, following several recent retirements. However, several useful younger players have been unearthed, this combined with the return of several experienced players from injury will lead to a very strong Australian side coming over for the World Twenty20 and Ashes this summer.