With my Kiwi Genie in Golf Peter Devine at Jack’s Point evidently with a fisheye camera setting!
It was a magical time on the “Golf Journey to New Zealand!” Arriving in Queenstown on December 17th and playing Jack’s Point, the point made by Jack is that there is no more scenic, challenging and enjoyable golf course to play in all of New Zealand. A magic carpet had whisked me away from Australia, taken me across Tasman Sea, and gently landed me in Queenstown. A Genie in a Bottle appeared to fulfill all my golfing and cultural adventure desires. The name of the Genie and that of my playing partner at Jack’s Point was Peter Devine and he turned out to be more than devine, he was magnificent.
The Millbrook Resort is a garden enclosing a golf course, simply beautiful!
My first two nights in Queenstown were spent at the Hilton Queenstown. That, of course, was a treat in of itself and the subject of another diary entry. My plan was simple—stay at the Hilton and play Jack’s Point—then venture over to Christchurch before making my way back to Queenstown for New Year’s Eve—after all my plan followed my simple strategy—I go where the beds and golf are offered.
Plans are subject to change, strategy is not. So when Genie Peter spoke of Millbrook Resort and connected me with the right people there and they offered me accommodations to stay another night near Queenstown and the opportunity to play Millbrook my plans changed. I refer to Millbrook as “The Garden of Golf” due to its immense beauty. It was a meaningful and awesome experience to stay at the Millwood Resort just outside of Queenstown in Arrowtown.
With Peter Devine and his son at the head of our table at The Mantra Restaurant.
With a free evening after golf and an invitation to join Peter’s family and friends for dinner life could not be better. This is what led me to Shammi Sandhu and her Mantra Indian Restaurant in Arrowtown. This experience completed the transition from initially magical to completely magical and spiritual in terms of my golf and life experience in New Zealand those first few days. The sense of joy was enhanced by the knowledge that I would be coming back in less than two weeks time to thoroughly celebrate the closing of an incredible year in the life of Andy Reistetter and to toast the beginning of a New Year and another two weeks on the North Island before the conclusion of the “Golf Journey to New Zealand.”
With Shammi Sandhu at her Mantra Restaurant in Arrowtown!
That night at The Mantra Indian Restaurant amidst its atmosphere, its divine dining experience and the connection to Shammi and through her to all of India was amazing. I was never more clear, present and engaged in the wonders of life than that impromptu evening. Shammi would write out my name in Sikh and in doing so would open my mind to learn of her culture and country. It was the ultimate dining and living experience.
That evening left me wanting to know more about Shammi and her culture and her home country of India. She was a special spirit and her restaurant, The Mantra, is not to be missed while visiting the Queenstown/Arrowhead region of the South Island of New Zealand.
