After living in a country that held exams on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I've been apprehensive to celebrate Christmas out of the Caribbean. But I have to admit to you all that New Zealand has yet to disappoint. A Kiwi Christmas is quite the celebration, starting with a Kiwi Christmas Tree, complete with jandals, sunglasses and wingless angel at the top.

In Palmerston North, we enjoyed the Christmas Parade featuring social clubs from all throughout the Manawatu region; including a Brazil samba posse and a Bethlehem float. The whole community came out to support, the kids especially to catch flying candy which reminded me of Halloween repackaged. There was even a mobile snow rink to stimulate a winter wonderland.

It may be a summery Christmas for most of us, but Wellington was yet to get the message. I spent most of my time there covered up in down jackets and the warm voices of Wellington singers. As I walked into the lobby, I heard perfect minor harmonies for "Mary, Did you know?" causing my eyes to instantly well up. For the next 30 minutes I listened each rendition beautifully echoed through the acoustics of Wellington Central State. TakeNote may be a group of volunteer singers, but they sing with all the passion and effort of a very real choir. 

The following night was with a performance of Handel Messiah. I wasn't aware of this concert until I checked my Facebook feed in the city and saw the ad. Thanks Zuckerberg. Being here was a no brainer, even though that ticket costed a pretty penny. As an old choir head, I know Hallelujah note for note. But hearing the entire concerto was a new experience for me and actually quite emotional.

Dinner with friends is wonderful. But dinner with family is an absolute necessity. My new family welcomed me for the weekend with a traditional Swedish meal on the 3rd night of Hanukkah. These are the kindest folks that I have ever met and I have a feeling that this dinner is the beginning of a lifelong relationship.

The real reason that I visited Wellington, however, was to attend a cricket match - West Indies vs New Zealand. Before you say anything, yes they lost and it was sorrowful. Actually, it was a record breaking win for New Zealand. But I didn't have high expectations. What I did not anticipate was the feeling of losing amidst thousands of Kiwis. It's a different level of embarrassing when you don't have a bucket to drum or a big cooler to hide behind.

Sure people drink there, but the most that happens is that they wear dresses. Additionally, most persons came with their family and hit the field during lunch for a couple catches. We made the most of it but not sure I'll be headed to another test match soon.

In the city, there was a whole different turn up. I was already shook by the many restaurants that were still open. Palmy could never. But I ended up in the middle of some skater night tour and well it went something like this. 

Me? I found a quiet place to enjoy the Christmas lights and people in their Ugly Christmas sweaters. Then I taught myself how to use a Uber scooter and after a couple twirls around the block, I headed home. I did all this without the fear of being attacked and wasn't. So it wasn't that bad after all.

I miss the ocean so much. I just didn't realise how much. But I apparently I miss it "take-my-loafers-off-pull-my-jeans-up-and-wade-in-ice-cold-shallow-waters" much. 

I discovered this on my recent trip to Castle Point, home to one of NZ's twenty-three lighthouses. We drove almost 3 hours, with a brief pit stop in Masterton, which allowed us to arrive as the sun chased the clouds behind the rocks. Since Daylight Savings was the next day, we cherished the sun with light treks through out Castle Beach.

This weather has been a stark difference to the high winds, thunder and lightning that we have been experiencing for the last couple days. It doesn't help that there is a snow storm in the making headed for the South Island that is messing with pressure system up North. All the more reason to make the most of this beachy weather.

I may have gotten a bit carried away with walking barefoot on the sand, which quickly began the hardest fossils I had even come across. But that is totally understandable given how stable this cove is.

I wish I had this guy's alternative but after seeing him drive up a track of the same width and almost tip over, I quickly changed my mind.

I found out later that he was running maintenance on the lighthouse which is has been automated since 1988, which meant there was no entering the house for us. Instead, we enjoyed as much as we could from different vantage points.

I didn't see any whales but I did enjoy these real time waves. Due to an assortment of sunken rock formations, these waves created the most mesmerizing pattern of foam I had even seen.

I mean sure I have seen them in tourist commercials but those are colour-graded using computer programs. Our seas rarely look that rich and blue (spoiler alert). But this was the real deal.

It totally made sense that animals would congregate here to be massaged by the waves. But what you couldn't see or feel were the massive winds helping to make this possible. Nothing about a 50 foot drop into the rocks sounded attractive so it was just matter of find a sweet, hidden spot to take it all in.

Of course on the other side of the cover was Castle Point Rock whose summit could be reached in 40mins but time wasn't afforded to us.

We settled for Castle Point Beach, even if we had to share it with seagulls, motorbikes and and security chasing dog. Don't ask. Adventure finds me where I am. We were just grateful that we didn't walk with food because if you haven't seen those videos were people have their lovely fried fish snatched out of their fingers and into the air, at least now you have been warned.

I sort of envy the persons who get to experience this everyday. Sure it's quiet, there is like one supermarket which doubles as the café and restaurant. But  there is also a level of quirk and class which tells me that they are found a way to enjoy the salty breezes. 

I have twenty-two more light houses to go but I won't be surprised if I'm back here soon. See you on the next one.