Mountains of Happiness

Pictures from my perfect paradise island

by Eva Lackerbauer

Good news! I have found exactly what I wanted: a long, perfectly white beach on a quiet island that is not yet as popular as its bigger island brothers around. There are no cars or roads here, electricity is only available four hours per day, internet almost never and phone reception is rather a coincidence than permanent. The bungalow I rented for five Euros per...

December 13, 2013

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Books, Surfing, Thailand, Traveling
The ingredients for my personal Piha happiness

by Eva Lackerbauer

My time in Piha is soon coming to an end and when I look back on it I discover that it has probably been the peak of my happiness journey so far. Much of it is comes from the beautiful landscape, the beach in front of me, the sand between my toes, the bird concert just outside my bedroom window in the morning, the...

November 15, 2013

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Happiness, Piha
Turning 30: I’m still lost but at least in the right direction

by Eva Lackerbauer

Exactly one month ago I turned 30. Quietly, without a big party, without friends and family, just by myself so that nobody would notice how old I am getting. I took my birth date off my Facebook profile, I didn’t tell anybody in New Zealand, I did it so well that even I almost believed I am not turning 30. Only almost though. Thanks...

November 3, 2013

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Piha, Words of Wisdom

The three amazing girls from Piha…. and I am back there soon!

Published by Eva Lackerbauer

Regular readers of this blog might remember that I spent some time nannying three awesome girls in Piha last year. This year, on my way down to the ski...

May 26, 2014

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Piha, Working with Kids

Closing the New Zealand chapter, starting the long journey home

Published by Eva Lackerbauer

For the past six months today’s date has been marked red in my agenda – the day I would leave New Zealand and start my long journey homewards. And...

November 19, 2013

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Piha, Places in NZ, Traveling, Working with Kids

The Dinner Window showing the daily sunset spectacle

Published by Eva Lackerbauer

Just like almost every night the Piha sky put on another sunset show for us – perfectly timed for dinner. Tonight was somehow special though – the house filled...

November 17, 2013

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Piha, Working with Kids

Re-discovering the kid in me (and the proud scribble-sharer)

Published by Eva Lackerbauer

To me, working with kids is a delight itself and a huge joy in my life. But even better is that I get to be a kid again, too....

November 5, 2013

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Piha, Working with Kids

July 20, 2014

Kasspotzn – Crafting Cheese dumplings Austrian Style

Rumour had it that there’s a “Spätzlesieb” in town! Apparently one of the Austrian (from Vorarlberg to be exact)...

by Eva Lackerbauer

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Piha says Haere rā with rainbow colours & golden sunset

by Eva Lackerbauer

The two weeks I had in Piha were outstanding overall but my last weekend was picture perfect and couldn’t have been any better. One of the reasons was Emmy turning eight last Saturday and the great birthday party going on at the house, a rainbow loom party to be precise and I was impressed by all the effort and creativity put into the party preparations by all...

June 16, 2014

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Piha, Surfing

Bush walking from Piha Beach to Anawhata- & White’s Beach

by Eva Lackerbauer

When the surf’s not up and the kids are out of the house there are amazing bush walks around the little Piha community. Above pictures are from the magnificent White’s Trek (1), Piha Beach seen from Anawhata Road (2) and the great views down onto Anawhata Beach with its Keddle House (pictures 3 & 4).

June 12, 2014

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Piha

On top of some big waves

by Eva Lackerbauer

Do you know that awkward moment when you see a set of really, I mean really, big waves coming towards you? The sudden prayers you put out there, asking to survive and surface after what’s coming towards you? And then you just take a deep breath and dive into that monster. You come up, grasp, dive in again. Come up, grasp, dive in again…. Whether it’s...

June 7, 2014

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Piha, Surfing

Waves of Happiness instead of Mountains of Happiness

by Eva Lackerbauer

Right now I’m not dreaming about riding mountains or slopes but rather waves. Since I got here the surf has been absolutely stunning. I had left both board and wetsuit here so I luckily ready to hit the waves from day one. Every single day I’m getting out there – and even though I am not great at it every single time out in...

June 6, 2014

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Piha, Surfing

Had a conversation with God at a primo reading spot in Piha

by Eva Lackerbauer

One of the great things about Piha is the abundance of time I get for myself out here. The kids usually leave the house at eight o’clock and don’t return until four in the afternoon. That gives me eight hours of quality alone-time that I can spend in great alone-time-ways: When the waves are good I head down to the beach for a surf, when...

June 4, 2014

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Books, Piha

Back in Piha paradise. Back to surfing. Back to magic sunsets.

by Eva Lackerbauer

My first day in Piha couldn’t have been any better. A sunny drive down Piha road (and if you know that drive you know how magic it can be), my first surf in ages, an after surf drink by the beach and then this stunning sunset with great company. And after a perfect day came a perfect evening with the family and the girls I...

June 2, 2014

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Piha

Dance like no one is watching – because in the dark no one is!

by Eva Lackerbauer

There’s a couple of things that make me not only happy but “to-the-moon-and-back-happy” – Dancing is one of them. Last year I’ve been to a real fun dance session here in Wanaka and as soon as I knew I’d be back this winter I decided that I would make it a weekly regular on my ski instructor schedule. Tonight was one of those evenings where I really needed some cheering up after a bad day at work and it was pure bliss to dance away all the sorrows, stress and self-questioning from an awful day on the mountain. Dancing in the Dark – picture by No Lights, No Lycra. Some of you might argue that they are not good at dancing, that they feel awkward to dance in front of other people or like one of the fellow ski instructors put it: “I need a couple of drinks before I can bust out my dance moves – and as soon as I’ve had those couple of drinks, my balance & coordination of body parts might not...

Book recommendation: Do you want to be normal or happy?

by Eva Lackerbauer

On my 29th birthday I hiked up our local mountain with my Mum and during our well deserved lunch at one of the huts she pulled out this book as a present. What a good match – already the title made me smile. I read it during the 2012 New Zealand road trip and recommended it to Maggie who took it with her to Australia. When visiting her in Maroubra this year the book found its way back to me exactly one year later. Reading it again in Thailand wasn’t as mind-blowing as the first time but a good way to re-assess my happiness, to look back and see what a long way I’ve come during the year that has passed and get the bigger picture again. So if you’re still looking for a last-minute Christmas present – I can absolutely recommend this one (apart from the paragraphs where he advertises his multiple side-products such as CDs).

The ingredients for my personal Piha happiness

by Eva Lackerbauer

My time in Piha is soon coming to an end and when I look back on it I discover that it has probably been the peak of my happiness journey so far. Much of it is comes from the beautiful landscape, the beach in front of me, the sand between my toes, the bird concert just outside my bedroom window in the morning, the joy I get from taking care of the three sunshine girls, …. I could go on for ages. Mostly things that you can only understand when you’ve seen, felt and lived them. Pretty boring for you, eh? But there’s another part of my happiness that is probably easier to understand: The happiness I found within from mixing up some ingredients I found only out here: Piha is a place of No worries and complete Shamelessness – or have you ever walked on the beach in your pyjamas? I got heaps of Rest after this long and crazy winter – just listening to my body and sleeping when and where I wanted...

The Art of Illusion…. a museum where you can be part of the art

Published by Eva Lackerbauer

It’s Sunday morning in Austria, it’s foggy and grey and it’s finally the perfect weather to sort out some pictures and update my blog. I happened to come across...

January 12, 2014

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Austrian Friends - Kiwi Mates, Thailand, Traveling

Flying Home for Christmas

Published by Eva Lackerbauer

The moment has finally come: I’ve packed my bags one last time, hauled them into a Thai taxi to Bangkok Airport and boarded the plane that took me to...

December 16, 2013

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Thailand, Traveling

Last night in Bangkok

Published by Eva Lackerbauer

I admit: I have not been a huge fan of Bangkok – until last night. I came to see a completely different side of this city, no longer dirty...

December 15, 2013

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Austrian Friends - Kiwi Mates, Cooking & Eating, Thailand, Traveling

Pictures from my perfect paradise island

Published by Eva Lackerbauer

Good news! I have found exactly what I wanted: a long, perfectly white beach on a quiet island that is not yet as popular as its bigger island brothers around....

December 13, 2013

Comments 2

Books, Surfing, Thailand, Traveling

The search for the secret Thai paradise island…

Published by Eva Lackerbauer

After one week in Chiang Mai I was craving for some beach time in South Thailand. Maggie wanted to continue her travels further up north into the mountains so...

December 2, 2013

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Thailand, Traveling