We are just coming to end of our stay in Himatangi. Our reason for visiting is a common one on this trip, we were offered some free accommodation. Annie's friend Chell offered us her bach (NZ word for a house three times the size of our old flat in london) and said that the 'settlement' of Himatangi was stuck in the 70's. Note the use of 'settlement', not 'town', 'village' or even 'resort'. So far, so concerning.
But after a few nights here, the one thing we know is that we will be returning. The beach is fantastic. Big spiky seed pods get blown from the dunes across the huge, flat sand. Signs warn that the beach is a road, but there really are hardly any cars.
I have been warmly welcomed by the local Karate aficionados. I noticed in the local info pamphlet, the Beach Press, that the JKA meets at the community centre and is open to anyone over 8. I fit that criteria, so went along. Good group with an enthusiastic Sensei, who after we had worked on the punchbag, invites all-comers to punch him in the stomach as hard as they can. Well I couldn't come close to hurting him, so why shouldn't he?
The Cosmopolitan Boating Club is the place to hit in the evening. It's basically a pub, but it asks you to sign in and there does seem to be a Constitution. We were told that they did a meal on Wednesday nights. I was expecting to stay for a beer, thinking the meal was unlikely to appeal. There was actually a fully functioning kitchen and we had some fine fresh fish and chips followed by homemade Brownies and Cheesecake. And then you are expected to scrape your leftovers into a bucket and take your plates back to the kitchen, so there's no airs and graces about the place.
We have recently missed the Miss Himatangi 2009 contest at the Cosmopolitan Club, and shall be missing the Sand Castle Sculpturing Compo this weekend. I am really hoping we can get back for when the Cozzy hosts 'Himatangi's got Talent'.
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