Not much really changes in New Zealand after two years. Sure a rugby world cup has been won surmounting to added pride of being kiwi; while a major disaster struck, an earthquake has decimated the country's 2nd biggest city. To me however it is still how I remember it. The air is still clearer; things are still cleaner; everywhere is generally cleaner; my friends still the same (just a bit more grown up); my family routine is the same; and most importantly my perception is still the same: NZ is a beautiful place but it is just too far from everything else, and though it doesn’t have the stressors of living in somewhere such as Europe – there just isn’t enough going on for me as a ‘young person’. Nonetheless it isn’t a bad place to be in the summer; even in Auckland the biggest city: beaches, forests, and other nature things are within a 30 minute (drive-time) radius. Moreover you have a pick of great art and music festivals, with the most incredible locations, in areas that are sparsely populated. WOMDAD (World Of Music And Dance), takes place on a lake in the town of New Plymouth, while I was lucky enough to go to the Splore festival for the 2nd time. 
Splore a music and arts festival really was indicative of the beauty and open psyche of New Zealand. It takes place every two years at the amazing Tapapakanga National Park, with beaches and forests flanking the activities taking place in the various venues. Two years ago it was one of my last experiences before I initially left New Zealand. Now I’m leaving again but more the wiser and I appreciate New Zealand even more after being overseas. It is such a great festival to be at, while you feel most of the 10% of the Green voting electorate is here, New Zealand’s biggest small party and 3rd biggest in the country. You had families young and old, with punters and couples young and old – it was a festival that didn’t discriminate something for everyone. Dancing to great Djs of all sorts, and listening to great singers such as Eryka Badu was just one facet; there was yoga and meditation workshops; and live art sprawled everywhere.
Here is a video, whereby on the 0:15 second mark is a bunch of mimes that were promoting the ‘Fluxus Funhouse’, an event company whom my friend runs; I volunteered to get in to the festival at half-the-price to take part as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGQzkr7cUfA&feature=share
Now as I write this in my parent’s garden with the birds and secadas chirping away, in North Shore surburbia, I know I’m going to miss facets of this beautiful place. There are many places in the world where New Zealand’s beauty can be matched but in different ways, but there are few places in the world with such a civilized small population that sparsely populates beautiful areas that are not commercial and over-priced. For example, unlike the Cote d’Azur or Lake Como Italy, we have beauty that can match such iconic spots, like Russel and Lake Taupo but in New Zealand they’re not nearly at the same market value whereas they are emptier in comparison. And it is this fact that I believe why New Zealand is special. Nonetheless, my next venture to Europe is for a five year period, as opposed to the two year period previous; this is what I’m looking forward to most, to make my mark and continue my euro adventure.
