Long bay beach, NZ

Me and Amit drove to long bay beach, about 15-20 minutes drive. It was overall unimpressive but since both had a kind of urge to get out of the house and see the water, I guess it was worthwhile. They might as well have called Dog Beach because I guess it is one of the few beaches where people can bring their dog/s. I'd say more than half the people there had dogs at least. The most interesting part of the trip was exploring the cliffs. Initially I went to investigate it alone, as Amit seemed hesistant about the idea. But eventually he saw fit to join me as evidenced by this photo he snapped of me with his camera: Once there he saw the unique vantage point from the cliff's perception and took the chance to take a couple of photos himself. The sun was setting with it's long lasting twighlight, whick takes about an hour here. There is something unique about the light and the twilight evening dusk in NZ. It looks magical to me for a period of about 15 minutes, when the sun is set but it's not yet dark. The beach was a bay beach as you might assume from it's name but it was still pretty scenic it's own small way: There are these wierd trees isn NZ that look like Christmas trees to me, except a lot larger. Anyway, they are perfectly symetrical as shown by this one silhouetted: Amit looks peerplexed at the idea of the public toilet? It's kind of funny that over here they call them simply "Toilets", where as it maight come accross as somewhat crude to say to someone in the states, "Can I use your toilet?". I especially enjoy going to some posh upscale resturant and asking the waiter in my most sophisticated tone, "Pardon, but where is your TOILET?", and it being perfectly acceptable. Really, I've been made fun of for saying "restroom". On the drive there we stopped by Burger Fuel in Takapuna. I was kind of tired of Asian and Indian food as that is what I've been eating four or five days a week since I got here. Burger Fuel kind of completed my re-initian back to the New Zealand of my memory. I had a Piston Peanut Burger, which has some kinf of peanutbutter sauce. It was delicious. I also ordered Kumara Fries. Kumara is a kind of sweet potato. Delicious as well! Well, that's pretty much my Sunday. Just been lounging around besides that. Back to work tomorrow. It can be a pretty full-on job witht he tensions of TV deadlines and whatnot, so I like to make the most out of the weekend. All in all New Zealand is perfect for me at the moment. I am really loving it here, just being here and breathing the air and walking the twilight. I hope it's not an offense to say to my family and loved ones, but I've never felt as much alive as when I've been in NZ. Maybe it's a state of mind. But I think it's more. Firstly, I've never met an american that's lived here that didn't want to stay. I went to a party on Sat. night at which two other Americans were present. One of them is already a resident. The other is applying for residency. I wouldn't mind the same. It's a small corner of the world with a good feeling.