To continue my rugby addiction, it was a MUST DO to attend an All Blacks rugby game. Like I've mentioned in previous posts, The All Blacks are the number one rugby team in the WORLD, and I had to get to a game to experience their muscles, I mean skills first hand!
A few weekends ago Argentina came over to play The All Blacks right here in Hamilton!! So I grabbed a ticket with some friends and made my way over to cheer on the best rugby team on the planet. The stadium looked like a funeral with everyone dressed in ALL BLACK with the exception of those few fans that made the journey from Argentina that sported their baby blue and yellow.
It was a heated game with both teams at each other's throats the whole match. At about halftime the clouds rolled in and made the match even more intense as they let out buckets full of rain.
Not one fan fled though the rain did not prevail the rest of the match.
We stayed until the very end when the All Blacks claimed victory over Argentina with a 28-13 win. It was such a great experience to see this amazing team play live. Counting my blessings every day.
The next morning, my friends Matthew and Will suggested we go tour through the Hamilton Botanic Gardens. These were by far the best gardens I have been to in New Zealand!
The gardens had many different "countries" within and something unique to that country represented in each. For instance, the Chinese Garden led you through a tiled entrance way to reach Whispering Bird Island--
-- to be rewarded at the end with the grand red Ting Pavilion. There was so much culture revealed in each one of the gardens.
The Indian Char Bagh Garden was beyond the most beautiful with its blooming flowers in every which way.
Italian Renaissance Garden was my second favorite with its bronze wolf at the entranceway and elegant bubbling pools throughout.
Traveling through the gardens and learning about different cultures was rewarding and I was so looking forward to what the American Garden would have to offer. Upon arrival, the first thing noticed was a low, blue wall that lined the footpath which looked like it had not been cleaned in ages. Around the corner was something even more disappointing... An empty, scum covered pool that had a molded sculpture that I don't even know what was trying to be resembled in the middle of it. Beyond was a rather large mural of Marilyn Monroe--
Not quite sure what designers were getting at with this "Garden" but doesn't seem to reflect the culture I am familiar with...
The rest of the gardens were lovely and the weather was ever so wonderful for the entire visit.
:) it was a great day with these men.
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