At The Core

Ever since I heard the word Coromandel and saw the look on the peoples faces that mentioned it, it was in my mind as the final destination.  Not far from Auckland the area is a peninsula.  You can take about an hour and a half ferry there and arrive on the bay side to Coromandel town.

I arrived in my car and just before reaching town, I saw a handwritten sign, fresh oysters.  I had 12 shucked for me as well as had a bowl of mussel chowder as I starred at the bay. 

Cathedral Cove

I attended the Buddhist retreats for three days and then went scouting for a location for a photo shoot.  I visited first a beach off Black Jack road, that Salli at the retreat mentioned.  It was  beautiful secluded beach down a dirt road.  I was then on to Cathedral Cove which is a famous post card beach. On the way I passed a sign that said "Organic Fruit."  I actually passed it and turned around to go back.  The place, just a shack looked closed, but when I went around back, saw that is was open.  The guy inside had an American accent and said to me, "I know you, you are from Miami." I said, "I know you from Miami?"  He said, "no, I was on the glacier hike with you."  Well the glacier hike, was on the South Island and maybe 300 or 400 miles from this place. I have bumped into or had coincidences with people around 10 times on my trip.

Cathedral Cove

I arrived at Cathedral cove and It took around a half hour to hike the beach and it was magnificent.  I got on the phone to the modeling agency to set up the shoot the next day.  Coincidentally, I stumbled upon this modeling agency on my way home one day in Auckland.  In fact, I could see the agency from my apartment window. I decided on the beach off of Blackjack Rd as it was more secluded and you could park right next to it.  

My friend George, from England, who I met at the retreat went with me on the shoot.  We stayed at a camp site.  George stayed outside, he didn't even sleep in a tent, but just a covering with open sides.  I stayed in something like a tool shed with a bed and electricity.  The lady who gave me the key, told me not to lose it and I promised I wouldn't

The next day we were to meet the model who would take the ferry from Auckland.
I woke up, packed my car, met George and then proceeded to look for my car key, which incidentally was attached to my shack key. 

We looked all over and the key was lost.  I did not have another set but remember seeing another set attached, underneath the seat of my car.  We found the camp director and she new a garage near by.   They came out within ten minutes and opened the door in less than one.  It cost $10 or $15 NZ dollars which is around $7 to $12. 

We arrived at the ferry just in time to pick up the girls.  The shoot went great.  George assisted me and shot video.  The model, Kendell, brought a friend who helped with the make up.  George and I swam in the ocean to take a break.   The shoot went great and on our way back we stopped at the camp ground as I wanted to give one more shot at looking for the key, after all I promised I would return it.  We went back near the shack to look.  George cam up to me with the key in hand.  It was in the door to the shack.  I asked George why he thought we found it now and not before.  As we had just come from the Buddhist retreat, everything became highly symbolic.  He said, the reason was that the key was not important, what was important was getting to the shoot.

Life is full of obstacles but do not get hung up on the obstacles and lose sight of your goals.

Afterwards, we drove the girls back to Auckland and ate Indian food.  The girls told us that they nickname and shorten all the words.  University is Uni, Australians are Aussies, and New Zealanders are Kiwis.

I have done two model shoots on this trip and both were amazing days.  I had the feeling of being young again which sure beats feeling old.

More photos from swimwear shoot here at Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/29795088@N07/sets/72157625776221091/