A week in Auckland

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So then guys, Kia Ora, just what you've all been waiting for my Auckland update! Well, against all references I think the place is quite nice but a week is about as long as is needed and of course most places would seem nice after 28 hour in the air!

The journey here (once i escaped Kev's flat on a ladder - long story) was okay as its actually lots of short trips with breaks for you to walk around airports, in pointless circles, from the Middle East to Brunei (which i can confirm for Jo and Vera is north east of Indonesia).

Since the jet lag eased i've been to the Zoo which was actually a more like a park with animals where you spend the whole time wondering quite how difficult it would really be for that lion to get across the little moot. The Auckland Moari and War museum was really good and gave me an afternnon out of the 27+ degrees heat as well as the knowledge that city is built on several volcano's. Had to walk through Auckland Domain for about an hour to get there, but it was a great walk - reminded me of Jesmond Dene.

Which brings me to Rangitoto Island, that rose out of the sea in Auckland harbour a few 100 years ago. I went with a Canadian guy from the hostel, we got to go explore the Lava caves with the help of the tourch from the last person to try it out! Also did the free your to Mt Eden, which was cool and gives the view from the other side.

Yesterday I went to the Salt water aqua park on the outskirts then into the Mission Bay beach about an hour out of the city, a great way to spend a hung over morning - It was happy hour the night before what can i say. There was a really cool Jazz and Blues festival in the afternoon with seemingly the whole of Auckland in attendance. Regetted the idea of sun bathing this morning as my arms now prove what everyones been telling me about the New Zealand lacking an Ozone layer!!

So that was Auckalnd City. I'm off to the farm life in the morning, which as predicted my most of you, doesn't have T'int so i'll update in a few weeks maybe. The farm does sound good and the owner is giving me a lift from the uni just round the corner from my hostel. Meet a guy from Gosforth a few days ago whose i should be meeting up there.

Talk to you all soon, Pete xxx

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Comments

[Mr. Steven Bradley Olson]

Whiti te ra
Pleased to hear you're having a great time on your adventures thus far! Meeting someone from Gosforth seems proof of the old adage: "Wherever you go, you'll always meet a Geordie." Finally, just in case you need to know it for any reason while you're in New Zealand, here are the words to the Haka, with helpful instructions and English translation in parentheses: Ringa pakia (Slap the hands against the thighs) Uma tiraha (Puff out the chest) Turi whatia (Bend the knees) Hope whai ake (Let the hip follow) Waewae takahia kia kino (Stamp the feet as hard as you can) Ka mate! Ka mate! (It is death!, It is death!) Ka ora! Ka ora! (It is life!, It is life!) Ka mate! Ka mate! (It is death! It is death!) Ka ora! Ka ora! (It is life! It is life!) Tenei Te Tangata Puhuruhuru (This is the hairy man) Nana i tiki mai whakawhiti te ra (Who caused the sun to shine again for me) Upane, Upane (Up the ladder, Up the ladder) Upane, Kaupane (Up to the top) Whiti te ra (The sun shines!)

[Al]

Were you drunk when you wrote this...
...or have you become so dependent upon MS spellchecking that you can't correct your own typos? :) Glad to hear that you've arrived safely, and anticipating your tales of sheep-rearing (fnarr fnarr) in the weeks to come.