For more than 13 years, soon after his arrival from Korea, Jay Park of Lower Hutt has been selling ice cream and coffee from the van in Oriental Bay. With Misong Lee, they have parked all that time across the road from the Wishing Well, beside the same Norfolk pine. They and their van have become an essential part of our beach culture, especially during this last glorious summer. There’s nothing like an invigorating swim in the bay, followed by a nice hot coffee!

Though Jay claims not to speak much English, he sure knows the multitude of ice cream varieties off by heart and the many coffee variations – whether short/long black, flat white, cappuccino, mocaccino, latte, chai latte, iced coffee and the various chocolate variations as well. A regular customer, I even get a “one sugar, is it?” when I order my coffee.

Jay says he likes working here because of the kind people and nice view (in that order). The only negative is the strong salty wind which confronts him on occasions as he serves his customers. But it never seems to ruffle him!

JCD, Bay View newsletter 67, May 2016