船靠紐西蘭北島娜匹爾鎮/莊峻華

船靠紐西蘭北島娜匹爾鎮/莊峻華

娜匹爾鎮在北島中部東岸，有很長而美麗之海灘，這海灘有很完善之海浴設備，我在下接駁車後，車站就在鎮中心，隨便瞄下環境，然後就長驅直入南向，海灘是有灰黑色卵石和白色沙灘，我相信待我走到精疲力竭，也只能完成一小部份海灘，可見夏天遊客之眾。這海灘線，其實是一公園，有幾座花園，美麗花朵安排佈置，先是尚肯花園，廣大面積，隨時可見園丁工作，黎夫花園附近，就有大停車場，有許多紐西蘭青年，在此露營。

露營使用車輛，不是美國大型之車屋，而是袖珍型廂車，如豐田時髦型，打開後蓋，露出精緻木工設計規隔，有單床可擴張成雙，有飲水桶，有烹調設備，有冰箱等，有年輕姑娘，擺上折疊座椅小桌於車尾，電腦寫作，整個海灘公園，都是網路連線，有位年輕男士，參加一古帆船操作，該船需要九人，平常他就住在小廂車，一切都方便，我相信如此安排，至為經濟實惠。

走過紐西蘭國家水族館，我進入使用廁所，再使用免費網路連線，送出家書，然後繼續沿海灘南下，一直到一海岬盡處，我已無雄心穿越，回程走上大海行列路，這是海岸大道，另一面就是商住區，有些住屋，有美麗花園，我都一一穿越拍照，走過水族館，我仍不想搭接駁車返郵輪，繼續前進，走到鎮中心，中心上有許多古典汽車出租，美倫美奐，這天生意興隆，我又回尚肯花園賞花，也到鎮中心逛了一下，有一克里夫廣場，也是座花園。

Family bank 2020/Carlos Pueblo

Family bank 2020/Carlos Pueblo

Our daughter Michelle in Austin, Texas had invited us to visit her several times at the end of last year. There were several reasons that we could not make it due to our son Arthur and myself took turn to catch cold. Finally, she asked for a small loan to help her to purchase a small rental house in San Antonio, Texas; therefore, I had been very busy to gather fund among our family members in Houston to meet her need and our practice of family bank. We first did it in 2011 to help her to purchase two foreclosed houses in Austin and were very fruitful as a matter of fact and she paid it back quickly. These are reasons why we do it instead of going through regular banking system.

She has an excellent credit with a very correct idea of money. She like to invest in both security and real estate. I don't see any problem for her to get a regular loan for this small investment. By doing this family loan, she will help us as well to resolve no interest on our cash saving and save some time and money for herself.

First, I gather cash at hand from Amy and myself and deposit it to her checking account at Houston branch and inform her right away. She checked her money balance on her account momentarily. Second, I requested two bankcards balance transfer, one directly electronic done directly to her and one to my checking account and I wrote a check to deposit to her account. Third, I waited till January 2, 2020 to request my RMD, the requirement minimum distribution of all my pension funds. All banks involved to these transactions are very efficient than before that check deposit or balance transfer can be cash available over night.

A last check from my annuity fund was in last Saturday. We went to broker house to deposit to our accounts to purchase back some of the security which I sold. I have a final RMD account to redeem in March and sufficient fund to cover two bankcards balance transfer within a year.
I pay 3% transfer fee out front while she give me 3.25% annually for 5 years.

家庭銀行2020/莊峻華

家庭銀行2020/莊峻華

去年底，從紐西蘭郵輪旅行回家，因著涼咳嗽，無法北上探望琳兒，原來她是來貸款，購置出租房屋，我因為手上尚有一小筆存款，一口答應，然後就在年底撞錢，撞台語音總，就是走撞錢，籌款是也，愛美答應幫忙一萬，元兒五千，其餘我需覓法週轉。我先變錢，向兩家信用卡貸款，交3%手續費，琳兒將付3.25%利息，5年還清，信用卡債期一年我不怕。然後活期存款開張支票，存到她支票帳戶，然後等到新年初二，開始領年度規定退休金最少領出額，我大蓋領上兩帳戶，再加上一普通帳戶，就已滿額，於是完成第三宗家庭銀行業務，過去，約是九年前，我幫她過一次，在奧斯汀購買兩棟法拍屋，效果很好，她也投資成功。

因為銀行無甚利息，所以領出退休金餘款，無處可安置，非常可惜，這貸款利息，比七年年金利率好，而且可以幫她投資儲蓄，何樂而不為？剛好，我多領一筆年金，準備一年後，償還信用卡，這錢剛到，我準備贈送元兒今年個人退休計劃款，餘款一併購回領出股票，這些賠錢表現不佳者。

如此，我是移出一小部分股票和退休基金，存款稍有利息，不會遺憾，基金仍在股市奔騰，存款貸給女兒，又小助元兒一臂，家庭小銀行，發揮功用。

Visiting Wellington, New Zealand on a raining day/Carlos Pueblo

Visiting Wellington, New Zealand on a raining day/Carlos Pueblo

We left Picton on the north tip of the north island eastward to Wellington on the southern end of the north island in New Zealand. Wellington is the national capital of New Zealand. It was raining on that day windy and miserable. The shuttle bus took us to the city center and I got off at the first bus stop. A beautiful classic building with a crown mark on the top level on the left, I thought it was the National Congress Building and I managed to take some pictures. I started my march on a main street called Lambton Quay where classical and modern high rise buildings spread out. It is nice to have a cover of eaves between buildings to avoid direct hit of the rain. I saw the Deloitte building across the street and some other famous international mega corporation, banks and hotels, etc. I was walking two main avenue away from the Wellington Harbor toward the Museum of New Zealand direction.

I entered a Burger King Restaurant on my way to use its toilet and free WiFi to send an e-mail home and made a right turn not far away on the opposite direction of the Harbor. There is a public library and I enter for a use of desk top computer, most of the libraries worldwide do provide such service., however, the library only provide domestic internet connection. I was lost when I exit from the library. I asked a street civic worker about the Harbor and he put off his work and pointing the direction nicely to make sure I got it. I have had a very impressed impression of the kind and good manners of the English speaking people, England,
Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, etc.

After my cut in to the Civic Square and the City to Sea Bridge, I ran into an old gentleman with a hiker's appearance, backpack, rainy coat, hiking boots, and water bottles on pockets and hanging, etc. He told me proudly that he was just coming down from a mountain top camping during a sub zero temperature. He adores the beautiful scenery and fantastic experience. He also recommended me visit the Museum of New Zealand to get all information about the nation. The Museum is a new fashion style building with a big square in the front. I saw many visitors who had already gathering inside. I ran into Jenny and her daughter Sesame from Taipei, Taiwan and we took pictures together then they became my adopted daughter and granddaughter. Sesame is attending a home school in Taipei. They were on the cruise with a group of the family.

I didn't visit the Museum at all and exit right away due to uncomfortable outfit that I ran out of my trousers could only dress short pant on a raining day, plus a dacron cotton fabric jacket was not warm enough and it was miserable. I located the shuttle bus stop 2 and rush back to the ship.

落雨日逛紐西蘭首都威靈頓/莊峻華

落雨日逛紐西蘭首都威靈頓/莊峻華

威靈頓市已在紐國北島南端，很不巧抵達日落雨，所攜帶換洗衣服送洗，僅存一短褲，和西裝毛織長褲，僅得撐傘搭車外出，這接駁巴士送客到城中，首站就是一古典華麗之大廈，屋頂有一皇冠標誌，我以為就是紐國國會，下雨天十分狼狽，天氣又冷，狂風陣陣掃來，小紅傘僅能暫時保護相機，這蘭普頓碼頭大道，盡是古典高樓大廈，也有新摩登建築，充份展顯紐西蘭之實力，很像英國倫敦街面，紐國行政體系，十分特殊，她之元首，仍奉英國女皇，女皇仍派一總督，但國政交給單一民選國會，多數黨選出總理，執掌國政，整個首都就像倫敦之美麗氣派，我興奮看到琳兒服務公司之大樓。雨天早上人少，我連忙躲入一漢堡王餐廳避雨，也送出一家書，其實就是平安簡訊，下樓後又是一陣逛街，逛入一圖書館，我想使用其免費電腦，觀閱時事股市，但館員告知，網路僅達紐國境內，出來後就迷失方向，只好詢問路旁工作者，這是國際旅行者經驗，尤其在澳紐兩國，這些人非常和藹親切，我問的是，如何走向碼頭？固然我手上有張地圖。

 我是走向威靈頓海灣方向，雨稍停，走過者皆為有趣活動中心和商店，遇見一位老者，身背背包，頭頂扁帽，一付行者打扮，也是遊客曰，剛從山上露營下來，推薦我過橋，過一小拱橋曰城市到海橋，旁邊就是市中心廣場，過橋參觀紐西蘭博物館，說是紐國自然歷史，可一目了然，此博物館新穎宏偉，我在館內，遇見來自台北石牌天母之年輕母女，我就自我介紹，當場認收為愛女和愛孫女，媽媽是小寶，孫女是小芝麻，小芝麻是正在家庭學校中，更正我之錯別字，芝麻不是芝蔴，蔴是蔴布，蔴繩，草字頭，人活到老，也學到老，後來在船上，偶遇自助餐廳中。

接駁車次站，就在博物館廣場旁，已經有長龍等候回船，威靈頓真美，回程我幾乎重複行程一遍，寫回憶時，參照地圖，始知錯過威靈頓植物園內之花園，下次再來。

Visiting Picton at the north tip of the South Island in New Zealand/Carlos Pueblo

Visiting Picton at the north tip of the South Island in New Zealand/Carlod Pueblo

The ship Jewel took us sail at night from the lovely garden city of Akaroa to another beautiful port city of Picton on the north tip of the South Island. It is shown Marlborough(Picton) on the map of the cruise liner which means the Marlborough Sound, the same as those three fiourds
on the southeast side of the island, Milford, Doubtful, and Dusky sounds. I do not join the extra excursion to visit this site of the world heritage instead I do my regular hiking of the town center.

I pin the rosa petit gift flower on my baseball cap on the pier and another one on my jacket after getting off the shuttle bus. The small roses were provided by the friendly city folks to welcome the visitors. After a brief stay with a free WiFi to send out e-mail home with my new i-phone, I walked by a lovely playground with a golf putting track with a lovely rose garden in full blooming. A wood ship is on the ground for children while it is too new to be the famous teak sail site in the city. There is a six streets city center right above the playground with a unique gate entrance. The center is famous for shops of various kinds. I
walked by the Picton Foreshore Beach, Town Wharf, and across the Coathanger Bridge to the Picton Marina  by the Victoria Domain Walking Tracks. I had been attracted by the colorful home gardens not far away.

A two story duplex is at the corner of a street while its young owner is doing lawn mowing and two beige color British Bulldogs are barking at me from the balcony. I sweet talk to both honey and alert the lady owner to come out. Bull dogs have unique face and people won't forget. I kept on going toward a nice rose garden of a small inn on the Waikawa Road, the main road to the Waikawa Bay. The inn is on a higher ground of the road with an excellent arrangement of roses and a small garden pavilion. I walked on the opposite direction of the Bay toward the city center. A noticeable garden is on the hill in front of a luxury building later I learn that is a hotel. I went to visit a garden of a mansion on the second street above the road and chat with a couple doing the garden work. They were doing a house sitting job for three weeks for the owners. From the door step of the mansion, I can have an excellent view of the area, the bay, the rolling stone hills, and the lovely city center, etc. They told me the lady distributed the small roses to us was a big landlord of the town.

I kept on hiking toward several sections of the residential area by the road. I ran into fellow passengers from the ship, Lily and Olivia, Chinese Australian from Sydney in front of several unique houses with round balcony and nice garden. We took some photos together. Later, they came to visit their daughter and sister in Houston and I met them again. Before entering an intersection of the city center, I ran into Mariz and her co-workers on the ship and we took some pictures. Mariz needed to go back to the ship for duty and I ran into the other two in front of the city gate. It rained and stop for the rest of the afternoon and I decided to go back.

船靠紐西蘭南島北端匹克頓鎮/莊峻華

船靠紐西蘭南島北端匹克頓鎮/莊峻華

匹克頓鎮在紐西蘭南島北端，也是一美麗之海港，附近也有一懸崖峭壁曰，瑪爾波羅灣，是需要再搭船參觀，我的健行如舊，先是在碼頭搭小鎮安排之接駁巴士，到鎮中心，上下巴士，都有當地婦女，贈送有大頭針之小薔薇，針在胸前或帽上，十分別緻，小鎮也是花園到處，郵輪旅客，結集在訪客中心雜貨店，使用免費網路連線，郵輪上網路，不甚光靈，連電子郵件都有困難。巴士站旁，就是一遊憩中心，有高爾夫球綠嶺花園，玫瑰花正怒放，也有一小孩爬用木船，這和介紹中之古柚木帆船古蹟有別，我先錯過鎮商業中心之六街，直接邁向沙灘，小魚港碼頭，在小帳篷商場，越過一拱型橋，這附近都是新穎商區，和遊艇碼頭，看來就是一非常富裕之小鎮。

步行中，看到遠處有許多家庭花園，於是我朝這些家庭花園邁進，這是一遊艇停泊區，有大型停車場，一些愛犬主人，剛好攜帶愛犬，從愛犬奔跑場公園回來，我習慣與愛犬打招呼，也開始想家，沿途拍攝花朵相片，遇一雙合院主人，正在割草，兩隻白色公牛犬，在二樓洋台，對我吠叫不停，把年輕女主人喚來，我就不斷甜言蜜語，稱讚雙犬，然後離去。這第一家花園，在公路旁，是一旅社，有很美麗之玫瑰花園，而且有一涼亭，我前前後後，拍上許多花照留念。然後沿著公路，走回城中方向，這公路曰外卡哇路，是通往外卡哇灣之徑，沿路兩旁，都是美麗住宅區，都有美麗家庭花園，其中有一華廈，在山坡上第二街，剛好有兩位夫婦，正在整理庭院，我特別走上讚美其花園，他們謙虛曰，僅為人看家三週，從屋前可以眺望遠近海灣海島美景，真是人間天堂。

回大路，我繼續鎮中心方向，仍舊為美麗花園所迷，這時遇見船上一對澳洲來之中國母女，我幫她們拍照留念，回家後，她們剛好來休士頓探親，我也特別寄相片給她們留念。這些房屋建築很特殊，是圓形二樓，都有花園，有一大飯店在山上，有很顯目之花園，只不過我不敢造次，因懼血糖過低，身上又無糖果。

公路直接進入市中心，我在街頭巧遇瑪麗斯，和她兩位在房間餐廳工作之朋友，於是我推薦她們逛馬路，參觀我去過之幾處家庭花園，她需趕回船輪職，兩位後來在城中心門旁再遇，我們合照後，她們都是我之愛女，我旅行郵輪多次，認收愛女約三百八十位。

這城中心，有很多商店和餐廳，多半是為外來遊客所設立，我在街頭休息，後有陣雨，我就打起小傘，準備回船。

Visiting the garden city of Akaroa, South Island, New Zealand/Carlos Pueblo

Visiting the garden city of Akaroa, South Island, New Zealand/Carlos Pueblo

The ship sails northeast direction at night toward Akaroa on the central east part of the South Island, New Zealand. We had had tendering services to transfer us ashore. The city is surrounded by rolling stone hills with large green field and forest on the valley and lower steps of the mountains. The colors of the landscape, light green for the lawn while woods forest spread out in between. I walked toward the right hand direction as usual toward a light house. Quickly, I was attracted by a mansion above the ground level of the main road. Its flowers over my head on a corner of a street entrance with colorful attraction. They are roses, dahlias, and some other pretty flowers. The mansion is on the right side with ladders lot of garden and pretty lawn. I could see roses on every corners of the mansion. The lady owner overheard my question to a maintenance about the name of an attracted flower invited me to come upward to have a better view of the house. It's called the geranium which she spelled it for me to write dawn on the city map. I compliment on her home garden while she tries to get rid of the morning glory, she recommends me visit a street at the city center to view some fantastic garden of the city very famous over the entire nation.

There is a city garden up on the hill right by the mansion. I entered from the main road. The garden is actually a city park on a forest with huge trees. There is a public cemetery, children play ground, and a viewing post facing the bay. I ran into two local families visiting here with good conversations. From the out look post, I can see the city is still planting trees in memory of some significant events like previously done for the end of Wars, the Queen's coronation, etc. I can reach a little bit farther away with my binocular. I turned after reaching the light house back to the city center.

The garden street is a street above the main road and I believe that there is more. Almost every house has a very attractive flower garden full of colorful flowers. The city has been built by the French immigrants; therefore all names of streets are still in French. I have had a very good collection of photos on almost every house on the street. While I was taking pictures of flowers, a pretty lady tried to write down the same flower's name, geranium on my i-phone. Her husband was jealous and attempted to drag her away yet she insisted to complete her instruction. She told me not to be afraid the modern technology. The street came to an end with the main road and I kept on going along the coastal line, the beach, toward another city center.

There is a rose garden, very attractive one, on a War Memorial right by the road before the other business center. I went to take every roses picture on every lot. It's amazing. I have had very found memories and collections of roses gardens where I have visited worldwide. It's almost 4 hours of my hiking and I was exhausted.

參觀紐西蘭南島花園小鎮阿卡羅阿/莊峻華

參觀紐西蘭南島花園小鎮阿卡羅阿/莊峻華

船行一夜，抵達阿卡羅阿鎮，又是一極為美麗之世外桃源，當年法國移民先到，街道巷名，仍是沿用法文，這是一馳名於全紐國之法國花園，郵輪使用救生艇接駁上岸，我習慣走向右方，此港也是四面環山，海島比鄰，這些山島，多半是可蓄牧用之草園，山峽谷低窪處，和一些山坡等，則是天然森林，望遠鏡四週眺望，真是美不勝收，連我相機四百呎廣角鏡，都可以取到甚佳相片。這右方有一燈塔，有些人已經朝此方向。小鎮最大特色，就是彩色花朵花叢交錯，經居民屋主市府等，常年精心佈置。

有一小坡，上有兩棟華廈，門前就美麗花園，除顯目之玫瑰花外，難得有一大叢大理花，幾種顏色，我有兩相機，派上用場，這些花朵群，我需一一查對，始得其名，有一華廈前，正在修葺工程，我好奇請問一出入男士花名，他不知，推我給注意到之女主人，我讚不絕口其家庭花園，還有小鎮之美麗，她就拼下天竺葵之英文，這是一種複瓣小花，花株茂盛成叢，花朵鑲於叢上，非常艷麗，她推薦回程參觀鎮中心之花街，就在大街上坡一兩街社區，非常箸名。繼續走向燈塔方向。

鎮有一花園，就在旁邊，這是一森林公園，有許多古木巨樹，當地人仍不斷植樹，而且標上樹名記號年紀，有些在兒童遊憩中心旁，古木為紀念終戰者，都超過百年，還有女皇登基紀念樹，觀望台附近，也有幾株新栽，我在觀望台，遇見一紐國家庭，我仍是讚不絕口，稱之為人間天堂，他們是開旅行住屋車前來，是他們每年休假計劃，車就停在鎮中心露營車場。也遇見一住附近基都教會市之女士，她是韓人為日人家庭認養，嫁到紐國多年，攜帶愛犬來公園散步。在觀望站觀看小鎮，更有深刻印象。

回鎮中心，我仍不忘再拍攝大理花叢相片，任何一街在鎮中心，都可以接上與中心大通平行之花街，我未查其真名，這花街就有兩小圖書室，提供遊客網路連線，有一女士耐心教我如何手機記下剛才那天竺葵英文，她先生在旁不耐煩，急著要拖她離開，我深覺滑稽，這位美麗善心之女士，一直到完成鼓勵我使用手機後始離去。

走盡花街，又遇見大街，往另一鎮中心，經過一該鎮海外戰爭，出征居民紀念花園，這是一稍大規模之花園，碧綠草坪，我逐一拍照留念。我再走段，已經疲倦，於是打道回船，沿著海灘，朝郵輪方向，船上員工，始開始外出，我非常滿意，這是我旅行中，印象最為深刻之小鎮，最為美麗，真是世外桃源。

Hiking at the hilly town of Port Chalmers, South Island, New Zealand/Carlos Pueblo

Hiking at the hilly town of Port Chalmers, South Island, New Zealand/Carlos Pueblo

After three days at sea, we landed at Port Chalmers on the southeast of the South Island of New Zealand. It was raining a little bit, on and off sometime. New Zealand is very unique in scenery, rolling stone hills with plenty of green vegetation such as the forest and huge grass field. The ship moors at a pier by a huge lumber yard ready to ship the log to Japan to make the paper. Most of the passengers are passing through a big hall of the Port Authority to gather their land excursion and use the free WiFi. After sending out my needed e-mail, I went hiking at the hilly town of Port Chalmers while most people went ahead to visit another larger city of Dunedin in adjacent to the port.

The township is about 1,000 residents with two main streets, George Rod and Church Rd. I started from the Church Rd by visiting the city library to get a map and chatted with a lady librarian about the city. She teases me that if there is a city after all and actually the city hall is right across the Church Rd by a small fee paid museum. I walked up hill on Church Rd toward a lovely high standing Presbyterian stony church on the lower bottom exit. I assume that the early Scots immigrant built this church. There are pretty home gardens along one side of the road with roses and some other colorful flowers. I have my Pentax regular lens replaced by a 400 feet wide angle lens in order to catch the neighbor's yard some distance away. I saw several olive trees on a backyard with green fruits on the branches like a grove. I was attracted by another beautiful home garden with red roses and turned into that direction. Quickly, I came back to the other end of the George Rd. There are still flowers in front of the apartment houses and gradually was into the city center. I went inside the library and reported my found to the same lady. She recommended me go back to the Church Rd and continue up to the second exit to a rhododendron out look post and a third exit to the city cemetery.

The flowers were still on fully bloomed. On the platform, I could have a very nice view of the island with my binocular. The sun came out finally and there were people entered the small garden park. On the top of out look platform, I felt like in a paradise. I was a little bit tired and decided to go back to the ship. I cut short my path by continuing further out on the 2nd exit and ran into the 3rd exit route to the city cemetery. It is a rolling stone hill style and with a good view of the Bay yet not directly connected. New Zealand has been independent only after two decades of the WWII; therefore, many local young residents had been served during the wars involving the British Empire and even now still join force with the United Kingdom. I followed the path with huge woods down hill to the port.

I went back to the library again to thank the librarian again for her recommendation. She was very glad that I made and thought of being a tourist guide. She thought that I was pretty fit physically with my age.

船靠紐西蘭南島查莫斯港/莊峻華

船靠紐西蘭南島查莫斯港/莊峻華

經過三日夜海上航行，終於抵達紐西蘭南島之查莫斯港，這是附近大城敦内汀之外港，港口設備完善，經過一大廳，就直通小鎮，鎮公所，圖書館，博物館，教堂等，盡在眼内，我想像中之世外桃源，我不甚肯定大廳内之免費網路管用否？再過馬路到圖書館，一館員女士，給我一張圖，於是我開始逛街，一咖啡餐廳前，有一老者餵食愛犬，我上前寒暄，他說南島西岸雨量少，不宜人居，小鎮人口約兩千人，主要是觀光旅遊，港口木頭堆積如山，不是當地生產，而是轉運港口，木頭運到日本造紙。

碼頭前，有一宏偉之長老會教堂，按照碑文記載，當地有蘇格蘭移民，愛丁堡有第一座長老會教堂，仍在使用中，這教堂當年興建，就想一勞永逸，用上幾千年，走過一段折回教堂路，為左邊住家庭院花園所迷惑，這時後仍是初夏在南半球，居民善用地形，佈置花園，有些玫瑰花在稍遠處，我需要特別繞境拜訪，也有一庭院，種植橄欖，綠色果實，掛在樹枝上，結實累累，房舍籬巴木板特厚，約是休市一倍，想來是材料豐富。我從社區再走回鎮中心，經過一出征陣亡紀念中心，我常以為英屬人民，熱愛祖國，其實不然，紐西蘭一直到戰後多年始獨立，當年英帝國，所有戰役，包括印度，馬來亞等，殖民地壯丁都有份。

紐西蘭地方政府，善待遊客，設置廁所，非常方便。我又碰到這位圖書館員，我提到橄欖，她就建議我回去教堂路，再過一入口，就是觀望台，這是一石楠花園，觀望台建在最高處，望遠鏡可以觀看四方，南島美景，盡在眼中，石楠是杜鵑花之本科，園內有多種花色，仍是怒放。我從瞭望台出口續行，就與教堂路第三入口，墓地道銜接，這是當地公墓，階梯形下坡，對面就是遊艇海灣，我選擇一古樹參天道，步出墓園，沿日岸路，走回圖書館。