So many sunrises...and grapes...and barrels and tanks...

 Barrels perched lovingly in the tippy tank yard, followed by dozens of pairs of 50,000 liter tanks and then 100,000s.

 This is Christian.  We work together in the crush...and thank goodness. He is a giant German and his family owns vineyards/a winery in Germany.  At least someone can get something done around here/move these hoses in less than ten minutes like me/know what the heck that noise is!

 Sauv Blanc...its tasty, even in 25 tons.

Sunrise over the vineyard.  Its nice...because I know I am off soon.  

Winery cellar hand, that is my job...and what that means is that I am the winery's bitch.  I run around dragging hoses, switching lines from 50,000 liter tanks to other 50,000 liter tanks, I participate in warming tanks, inoculation of yeast, yadayada.

But, mostly, I look at grapes get dropped and crushed and sent to be pressed.  It is quite dramatic when 15 tons of grapes drop into the stainless steal 25 ton capacity 'hopper,' as its called.  This is where the fruit hits the winery and starts its way to becoming wine.



And, this is what I get to look at all day...wait...all night. Yup, I work from 7pm to 7:30 am...fancy, eh?  Its not so bad, just sticky...all the time sticky.

Actually, on one of my first days a couple weeks ago, when I was cleaning up grapes, sweeping and scooping, squeegeeing and shoveling massive amounts of spilled grapes into piles to go into the conveyor to go out to the massive mound of waste grapes one of the winemakers called down to me: "Working in the winery is real glamorous, eh?"

Just what I was thinking, Darren, thanks.
 
Its sticky, its industrial, there are grapes everywhere, I don't know what the heck that machine is for, its dangerous, grapes, climbing up and down stairs, crushing grapes, hanging out with truckers and scooping grapes, grapes, grapes. This is what I do.  And its so awesome.  My 'crush' team is so fun; the night shift crew is so fun.  We all do our best to keep good spirits and so far so good.  We are making memories as funny things go wrong every night...tanks over flowing and hoses blowing off lines while pumping grapes and thus grapes fly around everywhere...its quite a crazy place this winery setting.  And many more fun stories to come...we still have three weeks or so or 24/7 action at good ole Dryland's winery, Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand. 

Riding through Marlborough...

Riding through Marlborough, this is what I see

All sorts a sheep a-looking at me

The sun it sets in the most amazing ways

Even when the skies are grey

One sees the flowers even brighter

The sun, the moon, we all have big party!

The vines grow in rows of green

Soon we will see the fall creep in

As I ride my bike I will keep my eyes

Open and loving on the fields which give

Such amazing fruit and then drink.



I enjoy my stay.  This is what i say.  Everyday.
I am making new friends.  Staying on the fun side of things.  That is til work really begins and the grapes start coming in.  But through and through I will stay true to have so much fun no matter what.

Until next time, enjoy your life, make a big smile and think to yourself all the while...This is what life is, adventure and fun, no matter where you are and who you meet there is always potential for big memories.

I can't wait to show you more, stay tuned for big fun!

Coast to Coast...

 There certainly are some pretty things to look at on the west coast of the south island.  The pancake rocks of geologically mysterious proportions here are made of limestone and are ever changing in the beautiful but powerful and unforgiving sea.

And, here some tall grasses between the pancakes and the mountain forests on the same west coast blow in the wind.  I think the wind never ceases here.  Some of the trees in just a light, light breeze look as thought they are blowing in the fiercest of hurricane wind.  Everywhere you look, here in New Zealand,  there is something quite beautiful and something quite comical as well.

I hitchhiked from the west coast to Marlborough about a week ago now.  It was a fun adventure, met some nice people but, since then, I have gotten a new mode of transport.  I borrow a nice road bike from a friend and have been doing many-a-many tasting of the wine with this puppy!

This is what I bike through and past everyday....beautiful Marlborough and its wonderful...everything...

This is where I am: Marlborough

 Distances to my favorite places/people/dogs as the crow flies:

Knoxville: 8366 miles
Tahoe: 6970 miles
Phoenix: 6986 miles

So far!

Beijing, China: 6431 miles, but it sounds better if you put it in kilometers because it sounds further: 10,349 km.  Oh, so nice.

Life can be oh, so tough.  Here is a map and the 411 on my location.  I am outside of Blenheim in a tiny village called Renwick in the province of Marlborough on the northwest of the south island of New Zealand.  Life is good here.  The sun shines, though this summer has been fairly cool I am told, and mountians loom in all directions, the sea is close and the grapes are growing.  Yum.  Work in the winery starts tomorrow so my life will change a little bit but, I will still be loving every minute.  I hope you are too.

I ride through vineyards on flat straight streets, taste fresh picked pears and laugh at funny sheep in this small horticultured town.  This area is the most famous for grapes in NZ and touts a fairly reputable name as a wine growing region throughout the world.  I feel lucky to have this opportunity...and to drink it too! Cheers, mates!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlborough_Region

Now that I have left good 'ole China, one really gets a nice perspective on things. So here it is: my last love to Beijing #1：the food...煎饼 JianBing...so freaking good

I have been in New Zealand for over three weeks now.  I am happy: the food is fresh and delicious,yummy things grow everywhere, vegetables grow everywhere, fruit trees everywhere (especially the grape variety!)...but even so I am still thinking about my favorite Chinese street snack.  I fled China without posting this "number one" thing from Beijing entry.  Gotta give China a little love for feeding me so well.  Enjoy!

The traditional egg and spring onion pancake is by far the best street food in Beijing.  It makes me happy.  And yes, I do believe happiness can come in the form of food.  Because for me in Beijing, everyday, I find happiness in the delicious textures and fragrances and fillings the street carts and food stands have to offer.  This, I will miss.  

JianBing.  Whoa.  Though similar, no two are ever quite the same.  Equally delicious, yes, just different in small ways.  For example, I had one in Gulou hutong the other day that used three sauces instead of the typical two.  Don't really know what those sauces are, I can guess, but I don't really care-it is so freaking good.  I had one in Chengde, where the imperial summer resorts are, it was the first one I tried where the chef used two eggs instead of the typical one.  The batter in that one was also a little sweeter.  Was it good?  Absolutely.  

The best ones have an unexpected vegetable (or seed, or sauce) added to the mix while cooking.  Once, near the Yonghegong Lama Temple, I had one with black sesame seeds.  There has also been occasion to have tou dao si 土豆丝 added to the mix.  This is julienne sliced potatoes cooked in too much oil (yum!) with a little spice.  MmmmMm.  

Really, there are just so many options here.  But the classic is what got me hooked.  Simple and magical: plain batter spread over a hot flat iron skillet, an egg cracked on top, spread out on the batter, two thin spatulas flip the big thin crepe-like cake, toss a little spring onion and parsley on top of the hoison and chili sauces, add the fried rice wafer thingy, fold it up, put in a handy carrying device/plastic bag and you have got a classic Jian Bing for all of two minutes and 4 yuan.  Told you: happiness can be bought...

Even though I love me some mutha-luvin' Jian Bing, this is more my style:

These mushrooms were growing on the side of a mountain overlooking a gorgeous blue lake, Roturua Lake.   

NZ, it ain't Tennessee, but its the place to be.