#mount dunstan

[accidental-spice]

Happy Valentine's Day, @melliabee !! Here's your Valentine's Day gift, I hope you like them!💖

[jessicas-pi]

The Shuttle AU where Nigel Anstruthers is even more devious and DOESN'T separate Rosalie from her family, and he pretends to be nice and good and even invites Bettina to spend her school holidays at Stornham Court one year.

(That last one was not his best idea, tbh.)

Through chance, circumstance, or maybe the weaving hand of Fate, Bettina Vanderpoel and James Hubert John Fergus Saltyre meet, speak, and quickly discover their mutual distaste for Sir Nigel Anstruthers...

Anyway I call this one Jem and Bett Ruin Nigel's Life (Ten Years Ahead of Schedule)

[kanerallels]

DAAAAAAAANG

[kazoosandfannypacks]

I don't quite have reflect, but I have forms of it!

The Admiral's Daughter (original wip)

They both laughed a little, but as he pulled her back into his arms, she fell silent. Something shone in his eyes, something pure, something special— something genuine. His eyes were the eyes of a dreamer, bluer than the sky reflected on the sea, deeper than the sea at peace below the sky— and in this sea, as in all seas, Maristella saw a refuge, a safe place— in the sea in his eyes, she found herself a home.

Sobering Reflections (The Shuttle)

Still, Lord Mount Dunstan, and only Lord Mount Dunstan, noticed the look on master Ughtred's face as the lad happened to catch his own reflection in the mirror in the [ROOM.] There were few words to depict his expression, except maybe fear and regret and disappointment all at the same time, but Dunstan knew it well.

This week’s word is…

✨ REFLECT ✨

Find the word in any WIP and share the sentence containing it. Reply, reblog, stick it in the tags, tag us in a new post, or keep it private. All fandoms, all ships, all writers welcome.

[smidge-j]

Back on my train map making part three

I have previously designed hypothetical train maps for the Christchurch metro area, and the West Coast Regional Area, both in Aotearoa.

I'm back with a third hypothetical map, this time for the Queenstown Lakes Regional Area.

[A metro style map of the Queenstown Lakes Area and descriptions of each line.

A yellow line goes east from Queenstown to Frankton & Airport, Lake Hayes, then northeast to Arrowtown and Cardrona Ski Area, then north to terminate in Wānaka.

A red line goes east from Queenstown to Frankton & Airport, Lake Hayes, then east through the Kawarau Gorge to Cromwell. There is a split in the line, with one branch going south to Alexandra, and the other branch going north alongside Lake Dunstan to Luggate, then northwest to Albert Town, then west to terminate in Wānaka.

A brown line goes east from Queenstown to Frankton & Airport, then south to Jack's Point, then continues south alongside Lake Wakatipu to Kingston and Invercargill.

A purple line follows the edge of Lake Wakatipu west from Queenstown to Fernhill, then north to terminate in Glenorchy.

A green line goes west from Remarkables Ski Are to Jacks Point, then northwest to Kelvin Heights, then north across the Frankton Arm of Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown, then northeast to Arthurs Point, then east to Coronet Ski Area and terminating in Arrowtown.

A blue line goes south from Lake Hāwea to Albert Town, then west to Wānaka, then west alongside Lake Wānaka to terminate at Treblecone Ski Area.

End description of each line]

My thoughts

Although the region has a small permanent population, there are around 1.5 million tourists annually to the towns of Queenstown and Wānaka and the four ski areas. With so many tourists, I think a train system would work incredibly well, as most tourists fly in, and currently need to either rent a car or use the limited bus network to get around. A train system would be a good alternative.

I tried to think about the geography of the routes when designing this map, as the area is very mountainous. The only place that would need a major tunnel is the section between Arrowtown and the Cardrona Ski Area, as there is a full mountain range in between. The only other significantly challenging bit of terrain would be the Kawarau Gorge between Cromwell and Lake Hayes, and the track would have to have steep gradients and sharp curves to fit in the winding gorge.

Speaking of the Kawarau gorge, there could be additional stops through the gorge for the many tourist activities along the way, from the bungy jumping and white water rafting, to vineyards and LOTR filming locations. I haven't included those stops on the map, I've only included population areas and ski fields.

With the ski stations, I'm envisioning that the stations would be at the base of the mountains, with cable car, chairlift, or gondola access up to the actual ski fields.

The brown line south to Kingston could connect to the historical railway in Kingston, which could once again connect to Invercargill, and the rest of Southland. Similarly, the red branch line from Cromwell to Alexandra could connect with the historical rail there, and reconnect to Dunedin through Central Otago. (Did you know that Aotearoa used to have a fairly comprehensive rail network, and only a fraction of it remains today? Doesn't that just grind your gears? It certainly grinds my gears, but that's a separate post.)

The blue line could also extend north alongside Lake Wānaka all the way up to Makaroa, and then potentially across the Southern Alps to the West Coast, but that would be significantly more challenging geographically, with far less population

I don't like how empty the top left corner of the map looks, but there's nothing I could put there. The area turns into wilderness very quickly, forming part of Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Parks. Maybe if this was an actual map of a real train system, that space could be used for a logo or a key, or something, but because this is a hypothetical map made by an amateur cartographer and train enthusiast I am going to leave it blank.

Anyway, this is all just a passion project, and as far as I know there are no official plans even remotely close to this, nor is it likely any time soon. I just enjoy trains and enjoy making maps for what could be, not what is.

[don-dake]

As part of the promotion leading up to the special 28 minutes long Bluey episode, The Sign,

a fake real estate listing for “everybody's favourite (quaint, animated) family home” was put up by the creators/producers of the series!

I'm late to the news as usual; this was put up for some time already apparently (since the end of the episode Ghostbasket), but it's still a really funny piece of news! 😹

I can't get over how humongous the Heelers' home is! 🙀 Check out the rest of the very humorous 😹 property description (and all the other bits — Bucky Dunstan!) below:

“Withdrawn from sale” Brisbane City QLD 4000 3 Beds | 4 Baths | 1 Parking | 800m² | House

“Everybody's favourite family home”

“A quaint, animated family home nestled in an undisclosed Brisbane location, that could be in Red Hill or The Gap (we'll never tell), with mid-century design aesthetics offset by whimsical touches. The quintessential Queenslander, radiating heritage charm, complete with upwards of 100 hidden small long dogs to be found.

Illustrated lovingly at the end of a cul-de-sac, this house sits atop a hill with views of Mount Coot-Tha. This 3 bedroom, 4 (ish) bathroom home boasts of work from home spaces, lovely period floorboards and mysterious hallways that don't logically seem to join spaces together but always feel cohesive and purposeful. Perfect for endless play and games with the family.

The kitchen is flush with a cozy colour palette whilst featuring silky oak worktops that are perfect for most culinary feats (duck cakes excluded) and revered by fancy french chefs. Bi-fold doors provide an open flow to the large back deck, creating an airy and idyllic setting for Birthday parties, BBQ's and Origin nights (QLD's gunna FLOG YA).

Watch the 28-minute Bluey special episode The Sign at 8am on Sunday April 14, on ABC Kids and ABC iview. This is an exciting opportunity for all families around the world to see if this beloved, iconic house becomes home to a lucky new family.”

All images: Ludo Studio

[gildasbadonicus]

Random London: The Devil Tavern, Temple Bar, stood between temple bar and Middle Temple Gate, Fleet Street.

Small sign denoting the site of the tavern on Fleet Street

The Sign of the Devil Tavern

The church of St. Dunstan's was nearly opposite; and the sign of the tavern was the Devil pulling St. Dunstan by the nose.

(Famously, of course the legend has it the other way round, as in this verse from the 17thC,

St Dunstan, as the story goes,

Once pull'd the devil by the nose

With red-hot tongs, which made him roar,

That he was heard three miles or more )

St Dunstan in the West, Fleet Street

The Devil Tavern in the 17th Century

It was sometimes called " The Old Devil Tavern," to distinguish it from "The Young Devil Tavern," in the same street, where, in 1707, Wanley and Le Neve originated, or gave the first impulse to, the Society of Antiquaries.

Often mentioned in 17th century literature including by Swift, Pepys and Pope

"One likes no language but the Faery Queen;

A Scot will fight for Christ's Kirk o' the Green;

And each true Briton is to Ben so civil,

He swears the Muses met him at the Devil."

- Alexander Pope.

Ben Jonson and the Devil Tavern

In the time of Ben Jonson, who gave a lasting reputation to the house, the landlord's name was Simon Wadloe—the original of "Old Sir Simon, the King," the favourite air of Squire Western in Fielding’s Tom Jones.

The great room was called the Apollo, where Jonson presided:

“Thither came all who desired to be sealed of the tribe of Ben”

There young poets and wits, such men as Herrick, Randolph, Carew, Marmion, Cartwright, Howell and Lord Falkland-paid their court to one whom they regarded as the first figure in the world of letters.

Over the door was verse, on a marble tablet in gold lettering, written by Jonson, as well as a bust of Apollo:

"Welcome all who lead or follow,

To the oracle of Apollo—

Here he speaks out of his pottle,

Or the tripos, his tower bottle :

All his answers are divine,

Truth itself doth flow in wine.

Hang up all the poor hop-drinkers,

Cries old Sim, the king of skinkels;

He the half of life abuses,

That sits watering with the Muses.

Those dull girls no good can mean us;

Wine it is the milk of Venus,

And the poet's horse accounted :

Ply it, and you all are mounted.

"Tis the true Phobian liquor,

Cheers the brains, makes wit the quicker,

Pays all debts, cures all diseases,

And at once three senses pleases.

Welcome all who lead or follow,

To the oracle of Apollo."

Beneath these verses was the name of the author - O rare Ben Jonson- a posthumous tribute from his grave in Westminster Abbey.

The End of the Devil Tavern

Established in the reign of James I (1603–25), it was demolished in 1787 by Child & Co. to expand their banking premises.

[kazoosandfannypacks]

I've changed my mind. They fell at just about exactly the same time, it's just that Bettina recognized her feelings sooner. Dunstan, however, spent months totally unaware of the fact that he was in love with her, and the minute he realized he ran to Penzance and went "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME I'M IN LOVE?"

Bettina Vanderpoel and Lord Mount Dunstan are "SHE fell first, HE fell harder" send tweet

[accidental-spice]

Okay, my final thoughts on The Shuttle, below the cut

Bettina is SO COOL. I really want her level of common sense and ruthless sensibility. Plus, she handled that creep Sir Nigel like an utter LEGEND

Okay, but that CLIMAX. It was SO tense. All the while I was thinking, I REALLY wish that Mount Dunstan would show up, but he's sick and/or dead. AND THEN HE DID AND KICKED SIR NIGEL'S BUTT

Mount Dunstan my actual beloved. He's so GREAT. And like, he's not perfect, which makes me like him even MORE

Also. Those two. TOP tier ship. I mean, they had a PRINCESS CARRY. And a DANCE SCENE

It was BEAUTIFUL

Uuuuughhhhh, when we thought he was DEAD!!!! I couldn't bring myself to believe it

Not gonna lie, I loved that Rosalie figured out that Betty and Mount Dunstan were in love

Speaking of Rosalie, I LOVE the sweetheart

And UGHTRED

Okay, but my favorite character was OBVIOUSLY G. Selden. He was such a genuine, kind guy. Also, frankly, hilarious

I now want a steak with mushrooms and potatoes hashed brown, not gonna lie

I still am amused and mystified by the horse being named Childe Harold (I'm not technically still mystified, but I'm choosing to be)

Sir Nigel was the actual literal worst. But he got his

I highkey loved when Betty's dad saw that Sir Nigel got struck with paralysis, and was like, yeah, that tracks

The ball lives rent free in my head

So does the scene where Betty and Mount Dunstan get together

Salttina for the win

Penzance is me, to be honest

All this to say, @kazoosandfannypacks ,thank you SO much for introducing me to this book, I LOVED it!!!!!

[jessicas-pi]

just finished the shuttle. won't spoil, but

GET REKT, NIGEL ANSTRUTHERS

[kanerallels]

You're in her DMs, I called her American history. We're not the same

[kazoosandfannypacks]

Interview With A Fic Writer

tagged by @kanerallels. You can read her interview here!

How many works do you have on AO3? 62! This does count a couple drabble collections posted as multi-chapter works, too.

What's your total AO3 word count? 301,432 words! I tend to be very verbose in my writings 😂

Your top five stories by kudos/likes:

5. This is (Kinda) The Way ❤ 107 4. Window Seat ❤ 110 3. My Weak Spot ❤ 112 2. Open to Interpretation ❤ 123 1. Wishing it Wasn't, with a whopping ❤ 333 kudos???

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes! Comments are one of the biggest things that keep me writing, and I love nothing more than being able to respond to them and tell people how much their comments mean to me!

What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

Aside from drabbles, probably either How Much You Have, (Sabine post-rebels,) The Monsters (Varian and Catalina realizing a bad reputation is hard to shake,) or Poor Little Eugene Fitzherbert, (which is more of a character analysis than anything else.)

What's the fic you've written with the happiest ending? This is (Kinda) The Way comes to mind first!

Do you write crossovers? Not yet. I have a REALLY good idea for a Sabezra Camp Half-Blood AU, and I also think a Dracula / The Shuttle fic would be awesome too!

Have you ever received hate on a fic? I don't think so, no? I've had a couple comments of "awww, I was expecting ____," but nothing major, no.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind? Absolutely NOT!

Have you ever had a fic stolen? Yes, actually. The very first fanfic I ever posted was a Lego Nexo Knights fic I wrote as a teenager and posted as an adult. Sometime later I recieved a comment that said they saw my fic reposted as part of a collection on Wattpad. I made a Wattpad account specifically to confront them, and I asked them to take it down. They said they would, and I checked back often to see if they had, but last time I checked they still hadn't.

Have you ever had a fic translated? Nope. I have had comments in other languages though, and I always run them through google translate and weep tears of joy. I also sometimes include Mando'a phrases in fics, and once even used them as chapter titles!

Have you ever co-written a fic before? I've started a couple with people, but never really finished any, except for my little brother adding the video game sequences in need a player 2?. The funniest one that me and another person started but never finished was when my church camp friends and I started a fic about a vintage camera one of them had and the person who owns the camera keeps seeing the same person in the background of all of the photos, and he finds that it's one of the members of the Beatles, and he's trying to signal for help because he's been trapped inside the camera for decades.

What's your all time favorite ship? Just one? I'm probably gonna say Bettina Vanderpoel and Lord Mount Dunstan from The Shuttle. I read that book almost a decade ago and it permanently altered my brain chemistry to the point that the first time I got into a relationship, I was disappointed that my then boyfriend didn't have red hair. I read that book in literature class (homeschool) every day for a half hour, but when I got towards the end I was so enthralled in it that I kept reading for three hours and didn't even take a break for lunch. All of the parallels they have with each other make me go FERAL.

What's a WIP you want to finish but don't think you ever will? A couple OUaT fics, for sure. One was about Killian telling Henry some stuff about Milah, and another was a series of Soulmark AU fics. There's also a sabezra and kanera fic I was co-writing with someone who I fell out of contact with, and even though she never actually contributed to it, it doesn't feel right to keep telling this story without her.

What are your writing strengths? Flowery, lengthy descriptions, especially of emotions. I'm also pretty good at prose too!

What are your writing weaknesses? I'm not too great at action scenes, but I'm working at it!

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in fics? It would be really cool to do if I knew how to do it well! I would also probably ask someone who speaks the language to help make sure I have it right.

What's a fandom/ship you haven't written for yet but want to? I'll probably end up writing JFO fic by the end of the year. I also might end up writing something for my newly discovered and beloved crack pairing, Tristan Wren/Shin Hati. A full-length kanera fic would also be fun to write!

What's your favorite fic you've written?

A few of my favorites I haven't mentioned so far are As the Sun Rose And Seasons Changed, Operation Lunchbreak, and Wildflowers.

Tagging the following to participate as well, if desired! @jessicas-pi @ana-cantskywalker @booksteaandtoomuchtv @kmomof4 and literally anyone else who wants to do this!

[kimosaka]

Kobaicho Etching Studio

FINAL EXHIBITION Gallery H.O.T Osaka

Copperplate Etchings: Drypoint

[Stretched and Mounted on Panels]

©️Kim Dunstan aka kimosaka 2020

[allthingslinguistic]

There are several particularly good examples of this in books by Frances Hodgson Burnett, who lived in both the UK and the US and several times depicts characters from those two places encountering each other. For example, The Shuttle was published in 1907 and has this delightful passage of two British characters encountering an American:

“Upon my word,” Mr. Penzance commented, and his amiable fervour quite glowed, “I like that queer young fellow—I like him. He does not wish to 'butt in too much.' Now, there is rudimentary delicacy in that. And what a humorous, forceful figure of speech! Some butting animal—a goat, I seem to see, preferably—forcing its way into a group or closed circle of persons.” His gleeful analysis of the phrase had such evident charm for him that Mount Dunstan broke into a shout of laughter, even as G. Selden had done at the adroit mention of Weber & Fields. “Shall we ride over together to see him this morning? An hour with G. Selden, surrounded by the atmosphere of Reuben S. Vanderpoel, would be a cheering thing,” he said. “It would,” Mr. Penzance answered. “Let us go by all means. We should not, I suppose,” with keen delight, “be 'butting in' upon Lady Anstruthers too early?” He was quite enraptured with his own aptness. “Like G. Selden, I should not like to 'butt in,'” he added.

And the more I see historical examples of people encountering novel expressions that are utterly unremarkable to us now, the more I think, you know what, I might as well approach language change with gleeful delight rather than a fussbudgety sniff.

But there was a period of friction, when “hello” was spreading beyond its summoning origins to become a general-purpose greeting, and not everyone was a fan. I was reminded of this when watching a scene in the BBC television series Call the Midwife, set in the late 1950s and early 1960s, where a younger midwife greets an older one with a cheerful “Hello!” “When I was in training,” sniffs the older character, “we were always taught to say ‘good morning,’ ‘good afternoon,’ or ‘good evening.’ ‘Hello’ would not have been permitted.” To the younger character, “hello” has firmly crossed the line into a phatic greeting. But to the older character, or perhaps more accurately to her instructors as a young nurse, “hello” still retains an impertinent whiff of summoning. Etiquette books as late as the 1940s were still advising against “hello,” but in the mouth of a character from the 1960s, being anti-hello is intended to make her look like a fussbudget, especially playing for an audience of the future who’s forgotten that anyone ever objected to “hello.”

Because Internet, Gretchen McCulloch

[master-john-uk]

18th March 978 - The murder of King Edward (The Martyr) at Corfe Castle, Dorset.

Edward was the eldest son of King Edgar the Peaceful. Edward the Martyr’s birth date is not known for sure but, it is thought he was thirteen years old when his father King Edward died in 975. Edward had a younger half-brother, Ethelred the Unready. Ethelred was the son of King Edgar’s third wife, Queen Elfthryth

Due to questions about Edward’s legitimacy, following the death of his father in 975 there were disputes about who was the rightful heir to the throne. Edward was chosen as king and was crowned by his main clerical supporters, the Archbishops Dunstan of Canterbury and Oswald of York.

On the fateful day teenager King Edward rode to Corfe Castle to visit his step-mother Queen Dowager Elfthryth and half-brother Ethelred. The story goes that he was met outside the castle by Elfthryth’s  courtiers and offered a drink of mead. Edward, still mounted was then stabbed mercilessly. His horse bolted and the young king’s body was dragged for several miles into the darkness. It is thought but, not proved that Queen Elfthryth plotted the assassination so that her own son Ethelred would inherit the throne.

Edward was buried at nearby Wareham without pomp and ceremony. A year later his miraculously preserved body was disinterred and buried with full Royal honours at Shaftesbury Abbey. In the year 1001, following his recognition as a Saint, Edwards relics were moved to a more prominent position in the abbey.

In the 16th Century during the reign of Henry VIII, Edward’s remains were hidden to avoid desecration. They were not found again until 1931. After being kept for a number of years in the vault at a branch of Midland Bank in Surrey, King Edward’s remains are now buried at the Orthodox Church of St Edward the Martyr in Brookwood, Surrey

[vytraveldiary2]

New Zealand Day 3 - Queenstown/Glenorchy

This morning we were hoping to go to Hookers Valley again for sunrise and to experience it without the heavy crowds, but we woke up to even more clouds today than yesterday. The clouds enveloped the mountains in an impressive haze, covering up entire mountains from view. After eating a quick breakfast consisting of leftovers from yesterday's breakfast, we headed off to Queenstown, known as the adventure capital of New Zealand.     

As we drove away from Mount Cook, to our amazement, the sun started to poke out just a little from behind the clouds. This gave us a stunning view of Lake Pukaki, so we made a pit stop by the lakeside once again. An hour into our drive, we reached an area called Lindis Valley, which was a very scenic area surrounded by brown mountains and valleys. We made a few more stops to admire the beautiful scenery, including Lake Dunstan near Cromwell. 

After the 3 hour drive, we passed through Queenstown, recognizing it immediately by the dense clusters of traveling accommodations and businesses centered around the beautiful blue waters of Lake Wakatipu. Since we didn't want to waste the beautiful day since the following day was projected to be rainy, we decided to head past Queenstown for a mini day trip to Glenorchy. 

The road to Glenorchy is known for its spectacular views. Our first stop was at Bob's Cove, which is a sheltered part of the lake with beautiful turquoise waters and surrounded by forested mountains, giving us a very tropical vibe. It was a perfect place for a picnic, so we enjoyed our sandwiches at a beachy area of the cove. That area was so peaceful and amazing that it was hard for us to believe that we were the only ones on the beach! It seemed like most of the visitors to Bob's Cove headed straight to the pier, which was also offered a picturequese Carribean vibe feel. We wished that the weather was warmer since it was a perfect place for a swim, and admired the brave people who were heading towards the cove with the intention of swimming. We could have easily stayed here all day relaxing, but unfortunately had to leave in order to continue our Glenorchy journey. 

Another noteable stop along the way was Bennetts Bluff Lookout near Mount Creighton, which offered stunning views of several mountain ranges overlooking the northern side of Lake Wakatipu. (Wakatipu is a seriously long lake - it seems neverending as we drove alongside it for the 45 minute drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy).  We then pulled over to a little secluded beach like area of the lake, which had a very peaceful and romantic vibe. We could have easily stayed there all day as well if we had all the time in the world. Finally, we reached Glenorchy and were greated by "welcome to Paradise" signs. 

Glenorchy is a little town past the northern tip of Lake Wakatipu known for its scenery, surrounded by majestic mountains and luscious green valleys and farmlands. It has been featured in several movies, including Lord of the Rings and Narnia. We first headed to the Gleonrchy Wharf, which was underwhelming but filled with tourists from the many tourbuses that were there. We then headed to the Glenorchy Lagoon Scenic Walkway, which was a leisurely 2 mile path offering great views of mountains, meadows, and the Glenorchy Lagoon. We were impressed with the walkways that were built over the lagoon, allowing us to cross it at multiple sections. There were also docks with benches thoughtfully placed throughout the walk for people to enjoy the scenery. One of the last benches that we found was so strategically placed for maximum views; we found yet another spot that we could have spent the entire day at. Following the walk, we then headed back towards the car. 

We spotted something called "the Road to Paradise" on google maps, and decided that we wanted to visit Paradise so we headed on the narrow dirt road, hoping to find something amazing on the other side. Unfortunately, after reaching the end of the road and turning into a harrowing one lane road through a forested area, we failed to find ourselves in Paradise (whatever that is). Instead, we found ourselves at Diamond Lake. On our way back towards Glenorchy, we were followed by a tour bus. We wonder what notable point of interest that tour bus had taken its passengers that we had missed. We guess we will have to try visiting Paradise again on another trip. 

We then drove back to Queenstown to spend the night at our uniquely shaped hostel. It was a very cozy hostel in the heart of Queenstown, with many comfortable places to lounge and perks like soup for dinner and waffles for breakfast. Walkable from the hostel were many restaurants and shops geared towards the tourist filled town. 

Overwhelmed with endless dining options, we settled on Blue Kanu for dinner. Blue Kanu is a gourmet restaurant featuring "Polyasian" cuisine, which they explained was Asian cuisine combined with elements of Pacific foods. We had seen it recommended on a blog, and decided to splurge on its set menu course ("Trust the Wok")since the restaurant seemed very unique. As the waitress brought out course after course, we definitely agreed with the reviews saying that the restaurant offered a one of a kind dining experience. The dishes were very unique and incorporated many different ingredients that seem random, but ended up pairing together very nicely. For example, the appetizer was a fancy salmon poke dish that had sprinkles of popcorn and served with crispy rice crackers. Our second dish was char siu pork ribs served with a side of cucumber pickles and horseradish. We then were surprised with a dish comprising of roast duck nachos served with goat cheese, mango jam and avocado (basically an asian version of loaded nachos but with duck on very fresh thick nachos).  The main course was lamb curry with crispy kumara and coconut yogurt. Dessert was a sponge cake with hokey pokey ice cream (a flavor unique to New Zealand). This was our first semi fine dining experience, and we were pleasantly surprised that the portions were big enough that we were stuffed and able to take home some leftovers. Overall it was very fun to be surprised by the menu (but also sad when we realized that the sum of everything that we ate costed more than if we had ordered each dish individually). 

After walking around the bustling town filled with young travelers, we headed back to our hostel for the night.