One little wonder that we never knew we couldn't live without is a authentic Kiwi Spoon. We have been eating more Kiwi, makes sense right?, and it's really cheap. On one special day at the super market we found a tub 'o' kiwi and for a limited time only KIWI SPOON included! We saw it and both without speaking a word grabbed a case each but did put one back, which was a mistake since we are going back for another one right now. This thing is great knife on one side and spoon on the other and since getting it has made our kiwi eating much more efficient and safer now that we have the proper equipment. Maybe a kiwi spoon could be in your future......?

p.s. picture of the spoon is on its way, something that cool takes a while to upload ;)

mk

This one is a little later than I had hoped but better late than never I always say, and Bob keep quiet I can hear you now ;) Since we are on this little (biggish) island we just had to see the cool little surf towns that are spread throughout the country and we had just found a place so we took a great drive as a treat for working so hard to get settled. Even on the van ride from the airport people had been raving about a little ocean town called Raglan, even one offer to couch surf there from a lady..... with no house!!!! This was also the 3rd or maybe the 4th time drive a great distance and it was like I just got my license at 16 again, butterflies, anticipation, freedom, and pure FEAR. It is tough to get used to the other side of the road and the car so I always just say "stay on the left" to help remind myself and with my great co-pilot with me we got it under control......somewhat. Ok enough about the driving but seriously the drive so fast and fly around the round abouts and sharp curvy roads and the posted speed limits are 100KPH or 60MPH, they are both some of the best and craziest drivers.
Alright back to the point here, we start out on the drive and the landscape here is just stunning. The views are amazing and the amount of open unused country is just incredible. You drive and drive and all you see is farm land with cows and sheep then out of nowhere boom you hit the town with no warning. The greatest way to see the people and culture is to hit the farmers markets, so we went straight there and grabbed a little lunch and bought some pictures from a guy that he took of places here all over the country and he went on and on about what we should see and do and he kept saying the south is even more stunning and if his pictures are an indication then he is so right. A good trip already and we hadn't even gone to the beach or the town yet so off we went and were greeted by helicopters and cars flying through town for the World Rally Championships. Not that we are car people but it's just one more thing that makes a day great.
We hit a few surf shops and got a couple lessons set up for a few months down the road and to the beach we went. It was a black sand beach too, which I had never seen and is really soft much softer than white or our gravel sand back home. First thing Laura does is rip her shoes off and go running towards the water, I must say she does keep it fresh and fun so I had to follow suit. After playing in the water for a bit we started our walk down the beach and couldn't help but see these beautiful shells everywhere and started picking them up and well since Laura was carrying her shoes they became buckets for the shells. Most people wouldn't even think about filling their shoes with sand and water but not LB and we found out just how much a chuck taylor aka "The Travel Shoes" can hold and now thanks to her we have a huge vase full of shells for decoration :) I know I rambled a bit on this one but it's all the little things that don't cost money that you don't plan and let yourself do that make each day great and exciting. Next time you're at the beach don't hesitate to fill your shoes with shells and walk barefoot the rest of the day cause you'll have a great time and we are all better off when we let go a little bit. Love ya'll and missing you guys.

mk

I think I read somewhere that all travel journeys should include the following elements... "Eat, Pray, Love." I am pretty sure I have managed to accomplish the Pray and Love part, but the "Eat" part has proved to be much more difficult in NZ. I have never considered myself a "foodie" or anything close to it, but I have been blessed with a husband who loves to cook. Michael, is the king of spices and for the last few years I have been able to rest assured that every meal will be packed with flavor. Michael can be seen on most occasions tasting a bite of dinner and then adding heaping piles of crushed red pepper to his plate. I hate to admit it, as lovely as NZ is thus far, it truly is lacking in the culinary arts. So far, apart from our family and friends, we are most home sick for FOOD with any sort of flavor. On multiple occasions, we have ordered meals that taste a lot like paper. This is the first experience I have ever had where a meal can actually taste like nothing. Since we have been without a kitchen for our entire traveling experience thus far we have reverted to eating Bananas for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (Well... Bananas and Tam Tams the most delicious cookie ever created). This is all OK, because here in NZ calories are refereed to as "Energy" and you can never feel badly about consuming too much Energy. So, as Michael and I try to survive the foods of NZ we pray you will have pity on us and ship us some items on the craving list: Me: spray butter (Michael says he will destroy any spray butter that arrives, as he is detoxing me for the benefit of our future offspring), ketchup (real ketchup not the sweetened stuff), STEAK, and sugar free red bull. Michael: Hot Sauce, Crushed Red Pepper, COSTCO size version of Chicken Breast and basically anything at all from Costco (including any samples one is able to aquire.). We love you all and felt it was necessary to warn you of the food "situation" before you arrive to visit. With much love and a little bit of hunger... LBTK

Its a good thing we bought a car we can sleep in..... We decided that the 3 days we have until we get our keys to our new place that we would just drive to a couple of spots on the Bay of Plenty and just see what all the fuss is about. We got into Tauranga at 830pm or so and got denied at every backpackers and since we are bringing back the cheap knapps, and don't want to pay for a hotel we just crashed in the back of the Vectra. We went to a grocery store and bought a single sheet set and a fleece blanket and made quite the palace in the back. Though not a move everyone may choose to take, we did pick a great spot, right on the water and next to a TRAIN TRACK!!!!! After the first train went by at 11:00pm, while we were sipping wine from the bottle and just enjoying our time together, Laura looks at me and says "will that happen all night?" I said "I hope not..." Boy was I wrong, 6 trains later and one at 630 am for a perfect wake up call, we had a good nights rest and went about our day of hiking Mount Maunganui and sitting in the salt water hot pools at the base of the mount. Another beautiful setting to spend a few days in, even if we continue to sleep in the car.
See above picture for the view from HOSTEL DE KNAPP.

Oh I know bathroom talk is not appropriate but what about bathroom fixture talk. ....? I know what everyone back home is dying to know, "which direction do the toilets swirl?" THEY DON'T! The water comes flying out of two spouts front and back at break neck speed and never swirls just straight out to sea. I was perplexed and tried a few experiments, try the half flush , the hold the button the whole time flush, added clean paper and flushed, no change just scary amounts of water. So, and this hurts me to say it, the water doesn't swirl the other way, it doesn't swirl at all!

So we bought a car.... A Holden 1997 Vectra Wagon. What is that you ask? Well, We don't really know. It is made only in New Zealand and has been quite popular among Kiwi natives. Perhaps, the car will gain us a little street credibility here. We purchased this beauty at an auction. Auctions are quite popular in New Zealand and you can acquire anything from a house to a large freight of doll pieces or even ten tons of shampoo at this event. People come by the masses to bid on cars and as the only Americans in the room this was quite intimidating. WE made two attempts to purchase a car before we were successful, but got so scared when it came time to raise our bid card that we ended up with a car not exactly on our top ten list. Nonetheless, we have acquired a car that has plenty of room in the back for visitors and for us to spend the night in. We are truly homeless for at least three more days.. so as you can see, this will come in handy. I would like to note that this vehicle is a 1997... so clearly, an upgrade from the 1996 Camry we were previously driving. Also important to note.. We could have bought the 1996 Camry at the auction except this version was in purple (Classic)!

One of the first things most Americans will notice when they come to New Zealand is how kind the people are here. I am not sure what exactly has taught us Americans to be leery of strangers or suspicious of people offering to help us, but regardless of that perspective, when in New Zealand you can't help but embrace this way of life.
Michael and I began to notice this the second we stepped on our flight to Auckland. The steward on the airplane found out we were moving to NZ and automatically befriended us. Towards the end of the flight he brought us a bottle of magnificent wine (told us to discretely hide it in our hand luggage) and demanded that we cheers to our new start as soon as possible. Thank you Air New Zealand, we did have quite the cheers!
Exiting the plane towards security, Michael and I continued to awkwardly finagle all of our belongings (he with one leg and me with no excuse). It is quite surprising how quickly we acquire stuff and how much stuff we feel we can't simply live without. I would like to note, that I have only opened one suitcase since I have been here and have worn the same outfit most of the time. When in route to our hotel with over 500 pounds of luggage, I would have been quite happy to dispose of every last clothing article I own (minus my converse adventure shoes of course).

While we were in line picking up our multiple bags off the carousal. A friendly little dog and security guard approached my bag. Here in NZ they are mostly concerned with people bringing foreign species into the country through fruit and poultry. The security agent asked me multiple times, "Are you sure you don't have a sandwich in there?" Are you sure you don't have just a little piece of fruit or beef jerky?" I didn't, but couldn't help but laugh at the questions or the cute little basset hound licking my purse. I can also guarantee if there was a sandwich in there I would have devoured it prior to it reaching "Bruno." Even the security guard was kind in her pursuit of hidden lunches and offered a "Have a good day mate," prior to following Bruno's lead to the next tasty treat.
It seems as if here in NZ random acts of kindness are a way of life and not the exception to the rule. We have seen it in the random stranger sharing a shuttle ride with us and offering to let us sleep on their couch, the auctioneer who felt so bad we got outbid on a car we wanted he drove us all the way back to the city ( so we could avoid a taxi charge), the hotel worker who has looked up endless car auctions, bank information, and continues to ask us daily how we are getting along. It is the pastor (who knows us through at least six degrees of separation), locating our hotel and phoning us to say "WELCOME to NEW ZEALAND and "Would you like to come for dinner?" What all of this has taught us is there is always an opportunity to extend your hand and offer others kindness. Perhaps, if we could all send our children for a brief stent in New Zealand the world would be simply, a friendlier, happier place. So thank you New Zealand for welcoming us into your country and reminding me daily of the kind of person I always want to be. - LBTK

Alrighty, so we have been in the country for about two hours and are very tired. We get checked in 8 hours early to our hotel and already love the people for allowing us to do that. We have had the nicest bell hop or guest help.... whatever you wanna call him. He could tell we were wiped out and insists he helps us to the room with our half a metric ton of stuff. His name is Adil, he says, in a thick kiwi accent that I hadn't heard much of yet, "what room number?". I hear "whats your name?" and put my hand out to shake and say "Hi there, my name is Mike!" Confused he says "Oh thats nice....". Laura falling over laughing says "Honey the room number not your name. Not awkward at all..... hahahahaha GREAT start.

Adil (said AH-DEAL) or as we call him Advil has been so kind to us. He has frequently called various car auctions for us and gives us hot restaurant tips. Were planning what we want to do to pay him back for all he has done but here its not customery to tip all the time. Thanks Advil! You are the best!
-The Knapps

Ready or not here we come NZ!

Hey ya'll we made it safe and sound with literally 500 pounds of stuff. CRAZY!!! It was an adventure just trying to get me and my brace through security both at seatac then again in LA, o yes we had to go outside and start all over again there. But you know what we worked as a great team and got to new zealand in great spirits. We loved the flight, I know crazy right? The two scardy cats who have to be medicated to fly actually enjoyed the plane ride. The first flight from seattle had a tail wind and got us there 35 minutes early. Then one more trip with our WONDERFUL TSA agents that dont understand "ow ow ow yes those are the screws in my knee that I keep beeping from!" We grabbed some drinks and headed to the plane and got the star treatment and litterally got let on early because I am a cripple. Laura was in heaven on the plane with all the chick flicks she could watch and I could watch the silly action movies, we loved it!! We both took our medicine and were able to sleep for about 6 hours on the plane and with our mis-understanding of the flight time (it was actually 12 hour flight) we ate, slept, ate, watched 1 movie and were landing in our new home. Customs was real nice with my situation and got us through rarely quickly. Laura kicked but gettting our bags all on the carts and me pulling them off the carosel and super wife grabbed a shutttle and convinced the front desk at the hotel to let us in a room at 6 am here so 10 am @ home. we got a shower and a lil relaxation time alone. Its a pretty interesting place already and we havent seen all that much yet. Every time the driver took a free left we both cringed and laughed, were not in Kansas anymore Toto.