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Hello everyone. It has been a few days so I thought I would update you on all to my activities. I realize that, once again, there are no pictures. I have just tried uploading them onto this internet cafe computer and it doesn't want to know. It keeps asking about installing software and I haven't brought that along as mistakenly I thought it would be easy to extract them. Of course this is not the case. This may mean that I have to purchase a proper digital camera if I want to show you all where I've been and what I've got up to. More expence! For the time being I'll try and paint pictures with words. Alternatively Google images of Auckland. These will be like my photos except more professional looking and without my thumb in the corner.
I thought that I had managed to conquer jet-lag after three days but it had one last trick up it's sleeve:illness! I've been suffering a nasty cold and cough for a few days now which is only just beginning to clear up. It was not helped by going out on Sunday evening to a Japanse DJ Techno set 'til the early hours with my hostel mates. However, this was purely in the aid of international relations. I thought this an excellent opportunity to exhibit "The Crouch" dance moves on a NZ crowd that is not experiencing world cup fever. They were unimpressed.
Monday was a national holiday for the Queen's Birthday. Why they have this and we celebrate our banks being closed is beyond me. However, as at home, not much was open. So far I have visited Auckland national gallery and the museum. The gallery had an exhibition on, of all things, swinging 60's London whilst the museum contained pretty much everything. Moari canoes, victorian toys, spitfires and stuffed birds. Most impressive was a model of the now extinct Giant Moa bird which stood 4m high: about the same size as one of Shelley's christmas turkeys.
I didn't do anything special for my birthday as I was feeling under the weather and in no mood to celebrate (it was 6/6/6!). Some of us visted the cinema to watch Tsotsi, a South African film about a gang leader who accidently steals a baby. Not to be confused with the Dustin Hoffman classic:Tootsie. It was quite good. Tsotsi that is, not Tootsie.
Yesterday I climbed a volcano. Rangitoto island is 30 minutes away by ferry and well worth the trip for the views of Auckland bay and beyond. I took some pictures (feel free to to go to google images now). Lots of lava flows and jungle vegetation, it was all very nice.
On Saturday I'm off to Kerikeri by bus. It should take about 5 hours to get there but before I leave I have to find out where I can to watch England's first world cup game. This is no easy task as it starts at 1am on Sunday morning and New Zealand is particularly underwhelmed when it comes to football. Better do some research.
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Derek
non-member comment
Photos and all that Jazz (piano)
Neil, if you are still struggling to get pictures from your camera, i can send you some - i could just photoshop your head onto mine in the appropriate place. the offer is always there.... glad to hear you are managing to get around and sample the music scene - you will be pleased to know that when you get out of the both Auckland and Wellington the staple music diet is ROCK! so grow that mullet and cut the arms off your best shirts!! - Have a great time in Kerikeri, I believe they have a pianist competition coming up? is that part of the draw for you?