The Wellington I Saw

Wellington, July 18-19th 2015

Although on July 18th I took a  Hop-On-Hop-Off Guided Tour, I'd like to warn you that this is not going to be the touristic point of view.

It was raining that day. But my driver's wit and cheerfulness brighten up Wellington for me.

Bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi in front of Wellington Railway Station

If I remember correctly, my driver said that this statue was to commemorate the immigration of Indians to Wellington. But according the references I found on the net, such as this one,

it acknowledged "the commitment of the people of New Zealand for setting an example to the world of a tolerant, open and inclusive society"

From Te Papa Tongarewa Museum.

Call me silly, I don't care. What impressed me of all that glory in Te Papa Tongarewa Museum, was this doll. When I was a kid, Dad's friend in America gave this doll to me. I couldn't believe how everything was exactly the same.

Batik making!! Batik.

And then a book about batik making... wow. I'm thinking, maybe I should make a collage of photos related to batik from the countries I have traveled to. Whose national heritage is batik actually? Aye.

A memorial to Paddy (He is a dog.)

About Paddy the Wanderer, I learned from Museum of Wellington City and Sea. Paddy is somewhat like Shibuya's Hachiko. Copying from the information board at the museum:

Paddy the Wanderer was an airedale terrier who became a popular waterfront identity in the 1930s. It is believed he was originally called Dash and was owned by a little girl whose father was a seaman. When the little girl died of pneumonia in 1928, Paddy began wandering the wharves, perhaps looking for his lost playmate. He was soon known and loved by watersiders, seafarers, taxi drivers and carriers, all of whom took turns at paying his annual dog license.
.......
When Paddy was about 13 years old his health deteriorated and he took to a sickbed in a shed on the wharves. He died on 17 July 1939. Obituary notices were placed in local newspapers and a fleet of black taxis formed a funeral cortege to carry his coffin for cremation.

A commemorative drinking fountain (which has a likeness of Paddy, a fountain for humans and two drinking bowls for dogs) was paid for by Paddy's friends and admirers in 1945.

The book of Paddy's biography can be purchased at Museum of Wellington City and Sea.

I recommend this book for all dog lovers. You just need to prepare a tissue box next to you. There are two editions at the museum's souvenir shop. In this one, the extended edition, there are stories about the city itself, a little politics and sports. Maybe in the non-extended edition it's just Paddy. However, the non-extended edition has no photos.

The Hope Gibbons building, an old valued landmark.

 There's more than just a building here. It's about Hopeful Gibbons, the founder of one of New Zealand's largest family businesses. Interestingly to me, "Hopeful" was a christened name after the character in "Pilgrim's Progress". Uhm, that's a book. Not a movie :D

St James Theatre, another prominent landmark in Wellington.

 Too bad, there were no opera or ballet shows during my stay. The Russian tour is coming in September, I read. I wish...

Cabbage Flower by the side of Wakefield Street.

Later on I discovered that cabbage flowers are common 'street flower' in New Zealand.

These ones were just in front of my hostel, YHA Wellington.

Mount Victoria Lookout on July 18th 2015.

Weather wasn't good. My ferry to Picton scheduled the next day was said to be in high possibility of being suspended. And that night the wind worsen. I thought my window was going to fall off. Of all my winter storm experiences, that was the worst. No snow but worst. Maybe because my room was on the 6th floor and facing towards the sea? I spent the night with "Paddy the Wanderer." Forget about the ferry. Who can sail?

I read until 2 past midnight, woke up at 8, thinking I'd be spending the day reading and sewing. I drew my curtain opened.

I gasped. Am I still in Wellington? Unbelievable. In a hurry I grabbed my towel....

See you at the Sunday Market!!