Ro the Breadwinner

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Easter weekend around here seems to be a bigger holiday than in the states. Pretty much everybody has off for Good Friday and Easter Monday, and Ro's two week vacation started Friday. It's summer's last hurrah, sort of like Labor Day back home; the telltale last cruise ships of the season brought one final crowd to The Mount. The National Jazz Festival was in Tauranga this weekend, and the fun spilled across the water to Mount Maunganui.

After breakfast, we walked down the block to the street festival along Maunganui Road. There were street performers, food vendors (in addition to the normal plethora of restaurants), the usual Saturday art sale in Coronation Park, and live bands scattered along the street. The fresh-from-the-fryer mini donuts were a big hit with Sherry (& Ro). The main carpark (i.e. parking lot) had been turned into a racetrack for the kids - even better, it was free! It looked like the cars were powered by lawnmower engines, as the carney would have to give a helpful yank on the cord to restart the engines every so often. Unlike the USA, where the kids would have probably had to wear helmets and seat belts, this set-up was remarkably casual.

Ro & Mark check out "Papa Crete"

The carney untangling Ro's bumper after another overzealous kid cut across the track

As we made our way down Maunganui Road, Ro wanted to climb Mount Drury, so we made the short hike to the top to enjoy the always-impressive view. We then adjourned to the playground at the base where we probably spent much of the afternoon. The place was teeming with kids, and Ro found plenty of new friends to play with.

Sherry at the base of Mount Drury, Moturiki Island in background

Ro leading a partner in crime up the slide at Drury Park

Walking home, Ro got another ride on the race cars, then we got caught up watching a street performer/juggler called Basketball Jones. Mark, along with another bystander, got "volunteered" to help hold up Jones' 8-foot unicycle while he got on. But, the funniest part of the show was when Ro got recruited to hang onto the three basketballs Jones would juggle, and then throw them up to the guy once he was on the unicycle. Of course, the sight of Ro holding three basketballs, and dropping them repeatedly because they were so cumbersome, was part of the intentional humor. After a couple of throwing tries, Ro finally got the hang of it, and got a nice round of applause from the crowd. Basketball Jones even rewarded him with $10, which Ro comically tried to jump up and grab as Jones reached down with it while balancing on the unicycle (and holding three basketballs). It didn't take long for Ro to spend some of the money he'd earned, as we passed a toy shop on the way home. He bought an inflatable blue fish that blows up like a balloon, which we tossed around like a ball at Coronation Park.

Ro making short work of Mark's smoothie. Note his dirty face

Ro trying to manage three basketballs



Ro tossing the first ball to Basketball Jones...again

Jumping for dollars

Ro with his first payday, about US$6

As the sun started to set, the weather started getting cool, so we walked home to change clothes, then set out again to try a new restaurant. Sherry was craving Thai food, and as luck would have it, there's an excellent Thai place called Dui's just two blocks from us. Fortunately, they had outdoor seating so Ro wouldn't disturb the other diners. Sherry claims her tofu dish was delicious; Mark took her word for it while he enjoyed his Tom Yum Goong soup and rack of lamb. He's on a mission to try lamb incorporated into every possible cuisine. Ro stuck with his usual steamed rice, and cleaned his plate. We made sure to grab a takeaway menu on the way out, as the food was a hit with all. On the walk home, Ro started singing his interpretation of one of the Beastie Boys songs (Brass Monkey) that Basketball Jones had used as background music in his act..."By smokey! The Hokey Pokey!"...lol. Mark only had one Singha beer, but Sherry says the beer oxidized differently than the stuff he usually drinks, making him smell like he'd drunk at least a six-pack.

Sherry enjoying her jasmine tea at Dui's. Note Ro dancing in background