I had a plan. I had a very clear plan for what I would be writing about in my self-imposed solitary retreat. But here I am, sitting on the terrace of the small house, situated in the heart of Puhoi Valley, and my thoughts are completely elsewhere. I am surrounded by giant ferns that look like palm trees to newcomers. Just outside grow Tōtara, Pūriri, Nīkau and other native trees. Behind them are fields, more woods, and hills. And far at the back, I can see a silhouette of a volcanic island called Rangitoto. Tui just flew by. One bird that I can…

It was another hot and steamy day in Whangarei. People, young and old, were searching for any body of water to dip in. It is a pity that the nearest beach is at least half an hour away, depending on where you live.In our desperacy, we decided to take a plunge in local waterfall, however unsettling this idea was. You see, Whangarei Falls look truly majestic, but the plunge pool underneath is slippery and unpredictable. There are mud, rock formations, and plants that could easily tangle around your feet. Worst of all is a flat plate that commemorates a poor soul that drowned…

A couple of days ago, I watched a YouTube video by Tea and Tarot, Robert Farrah — don't you love how it rhymes? Robert is a Warholian-looking British artist living in Berlin, interested in creativity and spirituality. And if you still don’t know who I am talking about, then stop right here and check out his channel. You won’t regret it, I promise. Anyway, there I was watching his video about the 5 Best Tarot Shops in London, reminiscing about our time living in an old Victorian flat near Richmond Park. I sort of lost track of time. I paused the video, stood…