Advertisement
Published: December 15th 2007
Bangkok Airport
Christmas in the western world here we come!!!!Well, its been a while! But figure yee are all going to be caught up with the hustle and bustle of christmas, so may not have the usual hours to sit reading our blog!!!! But here it is.
We got back to Bangkok in a hurry due to hair loss. Thought it was the Malaria tablets, but turned out its a 'reversible' side effect of dengue fever, that sometimes occurs 2 months after having dengue, so rush it seems was unnecessary. (a month on, regrowth has started, and lucky enuff, Pablo had a bit of length in his hairs so it wasnt noticeable anyway 'cept on the pillow).
Paul was dying with the flu, and my stomach didnt take well to the return to Bangkok at all, so between us, we had a fairly dull week. So decided to cheer ourselves up, we'd go to New Zealand early. Thailand, on our return from the Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam loop, seemed privelaged and well off, and suddenly the food hygiene standards and accomadation with cockroaches, frogs etc, were not so acceptable, after seeing the quality that is available in the the comparatively poor countries. The thai people are indeed full
Be the change!!
We spelt out "Climate SOS" using umbrellas here's Elaine doing her bit for the environment, was done all around the world and is being sent to the climate change conference in Bali :D of smiles, but they very much keep to themselves, whereas the other countries, the people are warmer and friendlier and talk to you much more, whereas the 'farang' status in thailand keeps you apart more from the locals.... Well thats what we found anyway. We were fairly done with Thailand on our return, so spoilt ourselves by hopping on a plane and getting to Auckland 3 weeks early!
So got to Auckland a week ago, Friday the 8th December methinks! Checked into Uenuku Lodge backpackers hostel in Ponsenby - about a 15 minute walk from town, and got settled into a routine of home cooking, drinking red wine (whooo hoo .. finally) and generally appreciating the wonders of the western world. The hostel was really nice, with a big kitchen, and laid out to inspire sociability so plenty of chats and drinks were had round the table after eats most days. Nice to be back in the human league after our isolation in illness in Bangkok too! On first impression, New Zealand has a very irish feel to it. Its very green and the people are very friendly. Its quite like parts of England too, i suppose being
This is how we looked
picture from above .. we are in the first S at the very top ... lookin good aye colonised by the English that would make sense too.
We decided to throw caution to the wind, and purchase a car. An english couple Graeme and Jackie were going to the big sunday car market to sell their car so we got a lift with them at 8am in the morning to have a perusal of the wares on offer. We were still fairly jet lagged so on arrival in the rain (just like home 😊 ), we were feeling rather non-commital, and indecisive about it all and contemplating the bus, or car rental still. We wandered around, checked out all the campers - round NZ$2000 - NZ$5000 for revamped toyota hiace type vans kitted out for camping. They were all fairly old, and obviously we'd be taking a risk on the engines, and in the rain, the idea of sleeping in a van for 8 weeks suddenly didnt seem so appealing. The market went on all morning, and there were a few bargains to be had, but we weren't in the humour for it all. In the meanwhile, the other lads car price had come down from $1800 to $1000, and a couple of older men had been
Sure its xmas everywhere!!
Enjoying all the xmas cheer in Auckland fairly impressed with it, one of whom was going to give them a ring in the evening to maybe buy. That inspired us, so we decided, that, with no mechanical checks, we'd invest in their car. Felt bad we'd made them stand there in the rain doing the hard sell all morning, but then we'd had plenty of time to get others opinions on car etc. So for 500 euro we got ourselves an '88 Mazda 626, 2 litre car, with a whopping 240,000 km on the clock, and a fan belt that needed replacing, and a speedo that didn't work. (still bemused what people spend here on old cars, since at home, you cant pay people to take them - when i think of my 15 year old smooth running renault clio with the 4 brand new tyres that i got 100 euro from the scrap yard for!!!!) Anyway, twas to the garage the next day to get her sooped up for the ride. So another $700 for that (up to the lads first price for car so not bad), and she's driving lovely. So all in all, twas about 450 euros each, and if she craps out half
Xmas hat
The grinch way, sure its not that big a loss. We weighed it up and it was cheaper than renting still, and gave us a lot of freedom, and sure we may even sell her at the end for 1500 now we have the receipts for the top service we gave her!!! Who knows! fingers and toes crossed and say our angels of gods methinks!
So a round of drinks for buyers and sellers in the Oirish bar 'the dogs bollox' down the road, with some luuvlee die-didlly-doo music in the background, and a secret prayer we'd have the 'luck of the oirish' with the car, and we're motoring as it were!!!!
So Auckland adventures were fairly limited. Had to concede to the chill in the air, and buy some runners each and socks. And our undies were for the bin, so the budget had to allow for new ones (no cheap penny's best here either worse luck). Its fairly warm here, late spring, but after 4 months in Asia, we're feeling that 21 degrees isn't so warm for us yet! But the temp is climbing daily!
We did stumble upon a climate change festival in Ponsonby park down
Mt Eden
While the car was in getting a service we treked up Mt. Eden Volcanoe, thats the crater in the backround, we're at the highest point in Auckland, great views, there's 46 volcanoes around Auckland! the road, and found ourselves being led down the wooded hill by a team of drummers and being organised into a human 'climate sos' shape for 'Be the change' climate fest thingy to do with the Bali conference on climate change. Got a free brolly too, with has been useful in the drizzley weather!
We've been up two dormant Volcano's, Mount Eden, and then a ferry ride to Devenport where they had another one to climb. I had a cold on arrival to New Zealand, managed to avoid Pauls nasty flu, but dying all the same. Paul took great pleasure in dragging my sniffing, dribbling, coughing self up lots of hills and Volcanos to make the most of Auckland during our time there!!!
Also, Paul got rather excited about the minus five bar. So we had to go get kitted out in antartic gear, and into the freezer that is the minus five degree bar, fully equipped with seasonal ice sculpted Santa etc. Didnt take pics as they were extra, and we should be on Asia budget, but I can assure you it was as pretty as it was cold!!! You can only stay in for half an
Minus 5 Degree bar
Really felt like xmass in here :D .. this is a stolen pic by the way .. not paying 25 dollars for them to take a pic with our own camera! one of the many backpacker budget tips :D we also scoured brouchers and found two vouchers to get 5 dollars off each mooowahaha .. we learned that little trick when we we're in California hour, and you get a complimentary drink included in the price - vodka cocktails, cos everything else would freeze!
We also stumbled across a 'Wagamama' restaurant - japanese noodle bar type place thats on stephens green, with the same menu as in dublin, so had to visit there, and also partake in a few happy hour beverages around town. (Very sensible budget concious people that we are). We met an older couple from Christchurch, (well she was austrialian, and he was from london), who we got chatting to for about half an hour in a bar. They were called Paul and Elanaor would you believe, and he is a jazz musician who toured round Ireland in the early '60's! He said it was all men on one side and women on the other, and it took half the dance to get them up and mixing. And there was some talk about chasing sheep from the door of the venue too. They even invited us to pop in to them for some food when we got to Christchurch, before they went on their way. These people are so friendly, its soooo homely and nice!!!!
Also, some more stumbling brought
View from Devenport
Took the boat out to Devonport, another volcanoe across the bay, another trek and a well earned dinner afterwards with a pint of Kilkenny in deveonport town yum yum us to Franklin St., the infamous street with christmas decorations on most of the houses. They even had a tv crew at one house, interviewing a very glamourous drag queen called 'Tess Tickle', who did a very entertaining christmas song for the spectators on the street! Coming from Ireland tho, it was just a standard street to us (apart from the drag queen of course), and they were all only as good as beech grove lucans' christmas display (get them lights up Brian!!!!!). Its strange here, cos its bright til 9pm, and not cold, so they prob dont need christmas like we do at home. While there is decorations here, you dont really notice them so much, and despite the fact its the 14th december, theres not a very christmassy feel. They all get there summer holidays in late december, january, so christmas doesnt get a lot of public glory. More than Asia tho, so we're not complaining!
So, two days ago we took the car on the road - shes going ok so far with a five hour drive under her newly 'tightened' fan belt!!!!! We're in the northlands in a place called Paihai. We arrived just in
Devonport sunset
Took in the sunset, Bay bridge and Aucklands Sky Tower in the backround time for a christmas parade. Santa in the sun, its all very strange. Didnt stop us taking the opportunity of donning our Santy hats. We are getting our seasonal cheer wherever its going!
So Paihai is a touristy bayside town on the bay of islands. It has plenty of hostels and bars. We're in a place called the Mousetrap on the main 'strip' King st. We went off yesterday up a gravelly mountainside (bumpy and steep for the poor car but she made it) to see a waterfall, then came back down, and got the ferry across to Russel across the harbour. We did some traipsing up flagstaff hill, and across the peninsula to long beach, rewarded with our packed lunch (budget savvy) and some more happy hour beers, before the ferry ride home!!!
We're just here for another night now... They have some boat trips here as it IS the bay of islands, but prob not as nice as Halong bay and Vietnam, and we've been on some ferries so thinking we may abstain and save the funds for our surfboard rentals along the way. Also, been a bit lazy, and its 1pm now, and most of
The new wheels
Our Brand "new" car, 1988 mazda 626, got it for 1000 NZ (500 euro)dollars from a couple Graham and Jackie, after a 700 dollar service hopefully it'll last the trip! power steering and everything sure what more do you want! the boats left a 9am tut tut, but we'll see.
Its back to Auckland tmrw, and then onto a place called Raglan where surf should be up. So rusty now though, prob have to go for a lesson or two again. They promise you'll be standing on the first day, so given that originally took me a year to achieve it might be an investment eh! Should really decide on a christmas place too one of these days. They sell Roses and Chocolate Santa's here tho, so thats the main thing eh! We will be sad to miss christmas at home, but given that our day will be finished by the time yee start yours, some mulled wine should hopefully be easing the pain of missing ye all! We plan on eating ourselves silly anyway remniscent of the typical irish christmas! We might do something adventurous too, like zorbing or something!
Miss you all, but loving New Zealand. So far from home, but never been to a place more like home. Its weird. Hope you are all enjoying the silly season, and the christmas trees are looking smart!
x
Paul and Elaine
x
Advertisement
Tot: 0.113s; Tpl: 0.024s; cc: 10; qc: 46; dbt: 0.0711s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Jack
non-member comment
mooowahaha?
Just thinking - maybe it's the weight of all that hair Paul had as a teenager that loosened the roots or maybe it's just that some people become follicly challenged as they move towards middle age! Great blog as usual, Elaine. Excuse my ignorance of the lingo but what is a mooowahaha and zorbing?