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Published: March 26th 2008
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Harry P woz ere
Sign after arriving at Wellington Railway Station Monday 24th March, I arrived in Wellington on the bus about 45 minutes late, got caught up in Holiday Traffic. Arrived at the station at platform 9, to find that platform 9 3/4 was only next door! I checked into the Cambridge Hotel and Backpackers in the city centre, near all the cafes and decided to spend two nights in the hotel part, as I had a job interview the next day, and so needed a decent night's sleep, then would spend the rest of the week in the cheaper backpacker's bit, until my flight from Wellington to Queenstown on Sunday. I spent some of the evening preparing for the job interview the next day. It's an IT company in Wellington, who emailed me about a Project Facilitator job, so I decided to keep my options open and attend the interview. I phoned mum to wish her a Happy Easter and had a nice chat and catch up.
Tuesday 25th March, I went along for the inteview at 11am. The interviewers seemed really nice, but I'm not sure I came across as wanting the job enough, it's a bit of a backward step role wise I feel, sounds like there
At Courtney Place
Just around the corner from the Cambridge Hotel/Backpackers where I'm staying are some interesting projects around though. Made a change to wear a suit again! Tragedy struck, I realised in the afternoon, that Newton (the small bear that Elaine gave me), my Lonely Planet NZ guide book and a few other things were missing! When I thought about it, they must have been left behind at the Brown Kiwi backpackers in Auckland when I left on Saturday morning. Someone had come into the dorm and 'done some tidying up' on the Friday and moved my two rucksacks, and Newton was in another bag, that had probably been pushed under the bed. Either that or he had wandered off! ;o) I decided to phone the Brown Kiwi backpackers the next day. Dinner at Fisherman's Table on the waterfront. Nice, small beaches for the locals to enjoy and quite a few people were swimming!
Wednesday 26th March, after breakfast at a cafe called Mother's Kitchen on Courtney Place, I phoned the Brown Kiwi backpackers in Auckland and spoke to 'Kenneth' (well his name sounded something like that). He said he would look around for the missing bag. I phoned back in an hour, but the bag had not been found. Kenneth took
my mobile phone number and said he would have a word with the house-keeper and they would call me back. Late morning, I went to the Te Papa National Museum, which is a fantastic place. Lots to see, including a whale exhibition. Spent several hours in there learning about New Zealand's natural history etc. In the afternoon, I checked into the backpacker's part of the hotel, in another female only dorm. I decided to get organised and made a bit of a task list that I started working my way through! In the afternoon, I walked up to the Wellington Performing Arts Centre, which holds flamenco dance classes once a week. I then walked up Cuba Street, to Willis Street, to Manners Mall, to Lambton Quay and managed to find some NZ made presents to send as thank yous to a couple of people. There are some gorgeous NZ arts and crafts, lots of beautiful things made out of Paua shell, NZ woods, silk scarves with typical NZ patterns, such as the Koru etc. Kenneth from the Brown Kiwi phoned me back and Newton and the guide book had been found! I just needed to make a plan to get
hold of the bag then. I decided to get an early night (around 10.30pm), didn't get much sleep unfortunately, didn't realise 3 other people could make so much noise, then it sounded like the milk men started smashing milk bottles at 6am outside! One of the girls in the dorm gave me a recommendation for a backpacker's place in Queenstown though so will give them a ring soon to book up.
Thursday 27th March, I updated the blog in a local internet cafe. The recruitment consultant, Natalie phoned, with feedback from the interview and said that they had someone else with more direct experience for the role, but that she would let me know if anything else turned up. I then decided that it's really a bit too far to go from Wellington all the way back to Auckland, return trip, and that I would phone the Brown Kiwi backpackers and suggest, they keep the Lonely Planet guide (worth $45 NZ) and send Newton to the backpackers at Queenstown, will try it and see what they say....fingers crossed.
Just an aside, I've just been reading some blogs from fellow travellers and some of them seem to confirm the
horrible stories I've been hearing about people mis-behaving in mixed dorms. I might be from Essex, but I am no typical Essex girl. I obviously went with the right instincts because I've been in female-only dorms so far. Simply because I don't fancy roughing it with 18 year old lads from London, not because I'm sexist. However, these stories about people picking up others and taking them back to mixed dorms because they don't want to pay for a double...well it's horrible. If anybody tries that in any of the dorms I'm in, they will be ejected or if they won't leave, at least made to feel very embarassed (if that's an emotion they experience).
Friday 28th March, I went for an unexpected interview at IBM NZ, job closed that day. Anyway, will see what happens. Packed bags etc and got ready to fly out to Queenstown on Sunday. Did some shopping off Lambton Quay street and went up in the cable car to the Botanic Gardens.
Saturday 29th March, Mary and I went off to Martinborough Vineyards, about one hour from Wellington. Had a lovely day, packed a cheese, wine and salami lunch and started the wine
Where I had dinner
Fisherman's Table, great view, but the seagulls were a bit loud! tasting. It was gorgeous! Hired bikes from town and it did rain quite a bit, enjoyed myself inspite catching cold. That eve, we got back to Wellington around 6pm in the pouring rain - soaked thru! Warmed up in an italian restaurant called Maria Pia's that Mary recommended. Lovely finish to a fab day. Have really enjoyed my time in the North Island and have some details on ordering the Martinborough wine when back in the UK!
Heading to the South Island next day.....
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Gray
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I'm enjoying your photos - very good. And the spelling of names based on Maori words is definitely getting better. Not perfect, but definitely better. Well done. Sure, we'll meet you in the South Island. (You've seen those Tui ads haven't you?) :-) Gray