Working on merchant ships surely does take one to some very offbeat places. Just like the pretty town of Gisborne which lies on the northern island of New Zealand in the Poverty bay. This happens to be the easternmost part of New Zealand and is very close to the international date line. The port (which has only one berth) is mainly used for the export of lumber / logs and is infamous for the presence of heavy swell at the very narrow and tricky harbour entrance. Ships tend to roll and pitch at the harbour entrance. This had resulted ... (more)