Auckland 23rd-27th feb 2010

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The flight to auckland was again another terrible one 11 hours overnight without sleep, constant turbulence and then a 5 hour time difference to add on top. Got through immigration after the vigourous questioning that everybody gets coming entering the country, but luckily im not carrying walking boots or camping gear so i didnt have to unpack my whole bag like some people did. Had my first maori interaction about 10 minuites after that when an absolute monster of a security guard nearly sent me flying halfway across the baggage area when her sniffer dog picked up a sent that went right past me.

Got the shuttle into the city centre which took around an hour and got checked into the hostel, had a short walk around the city and then went to bed for a power nap around 2:30. That power nap lasted til around midnight and so i sporadicaly slept until around 6:00 when i gave up on sleeping and went for a walk. I went to the bank and opened my account and the guy who sorted out everything for me gave me a couple of tips on places to go and see. it was after tis meeting that i first realised the big problem with travelling alone, if your tired you go to bed, and as i had now been awake for 14 hours i was pretty tired so bed time around 4 o'clock again this time slept through til around 3 in the morning rather than just lying in bed this time i got up and walked around the hostel and watched a it of tv and uploaded some photos to the internet.

A similar pattern followed the following day, i think the main problem is that auckland is such a boring city.

My last day in Auckland and as i had booked a couch for 8:30 in the morning i thought i would make sure i worked through the tiredness and try to have a good night sleep. I saw advertised in a bar window that at they ere showing the Black Caps Vs Australia 20/20 match at 6 and the Crusaders vs Sharks at 7:30 and so thought i would watch that so at least i had something to look forward to. I went out to watch that and ended up being invited to join and have a few drinks with a freindly group of guys of mixed ages. The bar was quite quiet at the time and they must have felt sorry for me being alone but they were into there rugby so it was a nice evening although i ended up having a few more pints than i intended on having.

Its now 7:30 and im feeling pretty groggy but getting on the coach for 3 hours in an hour, heading to whangarei (side note "wh" is pronounced as a soft f when it comes to most place names) and i cant wait to leave Auckland.

Although i never held high hopes for it, Auckland was still a let down and im not looking forward to returning in around 2 weeks to collect my IRD number so that i can work but i will hopefully just be a one night stopover.

i ever took many photos when here but i will upload them when i get chance to

peace

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