Wellington welcomes the Chinese year of the rooster

On a windy Wellington day it cannot have been easy to keep the dragons and flags under control.

Thanks to all the participants who help us celebrate our city’s cultural diversity.

the wind encourages the dragon to escape if it can!

On my way to watch the performers prepare for the parade I come across some non-parade  action outside some Chinese food shops.

. . . and then I went a round a couple of corners to watch the parade assemble

. . . then left to go to the waterfront to watch the parade go by

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See more I’ve written about the year of the rooster

Confucius Festival on the Wellington waterfront.

The web page of the  Confucius Institute at Victoria University  says it “is dedicated to promoting artistic, cultural and intellectual exchange between China and New Zealand. Through exhibitions, concerts, festivals, lectures, workshops and courses, we bring you closer to the heart and mind of one of the most important and enduring civilisations in the world.”

Recently I went to Confucius Festival on the Wellington waterfront. I love attending events like these: it’s sort of travelling when you’re not travelling! (I’ve never been to China so these are a bonus)

Wellington high divers

I love the Wellington waterfront … however, you will never see me doing this high dive or jump!

Wellington weather

Wellington poet Lauris Edmond writes on one of the writers walkways blocks

“It’s true you can’t live here by chance, you have to do and be, not simply watch or even describe. This is the city of action, the world headquarters of the verb.”

On a cold wet day like today, this reminds us all, no-one lives in Wellington for the weather, it has so much else going for it, it is the city of action as Lauris said, and no matter the weather, just get out and enjoy the city!

The Wellington Writers Walkway is a fabulous walk around the waterfront and is an initiative of the local branch of the New Zealand Society of Authors

The kiwitravelwriter beside the Lauris Edmond quote - photo by Mallory

Hi from a wonderful day in Wellington

Just wanted  to say ‘hi’ from a wonderful day here in Wellington – spring has certainly sprung so here are some blue sky pictures to celebrate that.

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Also, a ps,  did you note I have a new blog too? It’s calledMy Inner City Garden  and has mention of a few birds too!

The coolest capital in the 2nd best country to visit in 2011

What happens you move to another city, know very few people, feel down after a bout of giardia (an unwanted souvenir from India) and are sick of the still unopened cartons in the office-cum-spare-room.

Just one of the features on the waterfront

Well, if you have just moved to the ‘coolest little capital in the world’ according to Lonely Planet in the country  that’s second on CNN’s list of  the world top destinations for 2011, you put the blues away and go for a walk – after all, ‘you can’t beat Wellington on a good day’, and it’s a good day today.

It takes only minutes to walk down Cuba St (and Mall) to arrive at the Civic Centre and there, in the sunshine, a message awaits me from Lauris Edmonds, one of this cities favourite adopted daughters.

It seems appropriate as I once had a poem published –  A Message to Lauris and now, standing on the over-bridge, leading to the waterfront, I read her words as selected for a plaque on the Wellington Writers Walk

“It’s true you can’t live here by chance, you have to do and be, not simply watch or even describe. This is the city of action, the world headquarters of the verb – ” . From ‘Scenes from a  small city’ 1994

There’s my answer – be active: after all I’m a travel writer so must travel around this city and write. Already I have a list of Wellington places and events to write about (starting with Zealandia and the Carter Observatory;  so there is some of the action I need to do: thanks Lauris, I’m ready to become an active Wellingtonian – 1st January 2011