Whanganui Watercress
December 22nd 2010 02:07
We stayed in Whanganui for a couple of years. During this time, I got to know some of my stepchildren a little better. As my wife is part Maori and part Chinese I have learnt to enjoy the delicacies of both cultures and used to have the waistline to prove it.
From the Maori perspective there is a delicacy know as watercress. Going by the name it is easy to tell where one finds it. After asking one of my stepsons where to find it, he rather rudely told me to follow the river. I asked him how far. He told me just follow the river, if you reach the next town you have gone too far. Then he rather cheekily laughed. My wife and I prayed and asked God to guide us.
Having nothing to lose we drove along beside the river looking for this special plant that tastes almost like spinach. Every so often, we would stop get out of the car and go look for it, nothing. After a while, my patience was beginning to dwindle. I saw a farmer and asked permission to go on his land to look for watercress. He would not allow it, but gave us directions as to where we can find some.
Usually it can take a good hour to fill the trunk of the car. Today it took ten minutes. When we arrived back in the city, I went to pay my stepson a visit. His mother told him to get a bag so he can fill it up with watercress. When I opened the boot, his eyes popped out of his head.
“Where did you get that from?” he wanted to know.
“Up the river.”
“How far?”
I told him if he gets to the next town, he has gone too far.
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