Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Burn Baby Burn


This morning, we bid farewell to our roommate Riley. He, like Chris, is leaving the hostel to stay with friends for a bit (damn those English - it seems they have mates all over NZ!), while we're heading into our own room for the next few nights. Base has a buy three nights, get one free dealio on the go - so we thought it only fiscally responsible to take advantage (p'raps I should go into politics or something, considering my ability to spout BS like that?) : )

Around 10 a.m., we walk a minute or two to the end of the block and towards the offices of IEP (International Exchange Programs), which run the Work New Zealand Program that we're taking part in. We were supposed to go to an orientation session yesterday, but it was cancelled due to the holiday. The next session is tomorrow, but we thought we'd at least stop by to pick up our welcome kits, which includes information about living and working in NZ. As we near the building, a dude wearing a t-shirt and shorts walks by - but he has nothing on his feet. I've seen this a few times around here. I guess the Kiwis really are a laid back lot! When we get upstairs, we find out we're in luck - an orientation session just started a few minutes ago. The friendly girl at the front desk (an American named Katie) tells us to go on in. There's only one other person in the room - Ian from England - besides the guy giving the session, the friendly and immediately likeable Craig Jack - who is also not wearing any shoes. Craig reminds me of (and kind of looks like) a friend from back home - my old roommate's ex-boyfriend, who is also a very likeable/laid back dude. Craig tells us he's from Vancouver. His dad, however, is a Kiwi, so Craig has spent lots of time here. His accent is interesting - a combo of West Coast Canadian and Kiwi. Craig gives us heaps of info. about living and working here, and makes everything sound so effortless. He seems to finish off every sentence with one word - "simple." Jaya, who is also from England and is also here on a working holiday, joins us. Craig shares with us a funny little video made by an Australian to poke fun at the Kiwi language. The Kiwis, however (being the awesome, easy going people they are) saw the video, said "Yup, that's about right," and embraced it. Suck it Aussies! (I kid, I kid…)


Craig also shares with us some interesting nuggets of Kiwi history, like:

- Sir Edmund Hillary, who graces the NZ $5 bill, was the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest (along with Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay). On the way back down, they met up with Hillary’s friend George Lowe, to whom Hillary said, “Well, George, we knocked the bastard off.” Hillary, Craig says, is the perfect example of the fun-loving, adventurous Kiwi spirit.






From DownhomerDownunder


- The Maori people came to New Zealand in seven large canoes (or wakas).

- Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who discovered New Zealand in 1642 (and for whom Abel Tasman National Park is named), never actually set foot in New Zealand.

Craig also gives us the lowdown on some Kiwi terms we need to know. Kiwis, he tells us, don't wear flip flops to the beach, they wear "jandals." Before you get into the water, you don't throw on your swimsuit and swim trunks, you throw on your "togs" When everything's going good, awesome and the like, no worries/no problem, it's "sweet as" - my new favourite term and one which you hear about a hundred times a day in NZ. Kiwis (like Newfoundlanders) also love their fish 'n' chips - but here, they eat "fush 'n' chups."





From DownhomerDownunder

Craig also explains how important it is that we "Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap" (which means slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat and wrap on some sunnies (sunglasses)), since New Zealand has the second highest rate of skin cancer in the world (which is probably due to the fact that there's a hole in the ozone layer directly above the country). I'm a perfect example of why it's imperative to follow the three S's and one W. While I thought I slopped on the sunscreen pretty thick, the skin around my forehead and between my neck and shoulders is burnt to a crisp. I feel, and kinda look, like a really scaly lizard. I vow not to make this mistake again.





From NZ 5 - Day 3

We have a chocolate break, and one of Craig's co-workers takes over the second half of the session to give us more info. about working and living in this lovely country. At the end of the session Jay, Jaya, Ian and I yammer it up. The four of us decide to take a trip to Kiwibank together, just down the street, to set up our bank accounts and apply for our IRD numbers (which is like a social insurance number). Craig tells us there's a special express line just for us working holiday folk, so just hop on in, roll up to the front of the counter and enjoy the dirty looks from the other customers. Before we leave, Jay, Ian and I sign up for a free day trip around Auckland offered by the Stray bus. Stray is one of several operators in the country that offer this "hop on, hop off" service. Basically, you buy one of several passes that take you around the country and tour around with other adventurous travellers. If a certain area tickles your fancy, you can hop off the bus and stay for several days, weeks, even months, and then hop on the bus again (more than likely with a different driver and travelling buddies) when you're ready to continue your journey. You have a year to complete the route. The Stray bus will pick us up at our hostel (Ian is also staying at Base) at around 10 the next morning.

The crew separates, but at around 5 p.m., we meet back up at the IEP office with some of the staff and other working holiday folks. It's a Kiwi tradition to head out to the pub with your workmates after the whistle has blown to unwind with a bevy, so together, we stroll along to the Blue Stone Room. Ian orders up a local brew, which looks something like Guinness, He offers me a sip, which I quite enjoy, so I order one for myself as well. We grab a seat at the table with the others and chat about how long we've been in NZ, why we came, what we plan to do here and everything else under the sun. I find out that Jaya is a lawyer who wants to make a career change. I tell her that while I enjoy my work, I left it for the chance to travel and see some of the world. So far, it seems I’ve made a good decision. We clink our glasses for good things to come. We also chat with Derrick from Calgary (another Canuck!) and Pete from England about everything from horrible hostels to the best place to go for a good ol’ pub quiz (they seem to enjoy Father Ted’s quite a bit around here). There’s chatter all about the table. After our glasses have been emptied, Jay and I bid goodnight to our new friends and make our way to a Lebanese place just a few doors up from our hostel. A group of scantily clad teenagers sit out by the door and dance to pop music while a couple of guys smoke the hookah. We grab our food (a chicken and apricot pizza for me and a falafel salad for Jay) and go back to our room to have a late supper before passing out once again. Another thing I love about NZ? Their pizza box’s complete lack of modesty!





From NZ 5 - Day 3

To see more pictures and video, click here.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Happy Anniversary Auckland!


My first night at the hostel was a pretty restful one - considering I’m not used to sleeping in a room with a bunch of strangers (only strange Jay : ). At around 6 a.m. or so though, I lay awake as I listen to the German rustling around in the top bunk over - then, the paranoia starts to creep in again. Is he rooting through his bag for his machete to chop us into bits? Will he kill us and eat us? Or will he eat us and then kill us?!! I decide that my brain is making no sense, tell it to shut the hell up and fall back to sleep. It appears that English girl #1 took off in the wee hours of the morning (or p'raps the German has already gotten ahold of her?). Jay and I eventually get up at around 8 a.m., and, like you would after a full day’s travel, go for a run around the harbour front. Back at the hostel, we stroll downstairs for cereal, toast and juice, hit the showers, then back downtown again. Today is a holiday and it seems everyone is out enjoying the sun. Today is actually the last day of Auckland Anniversary Weekend - which is celebrating the city’s 172nd birthday - and there’s a flurry of activity happening around the waterfront. Jay and I meander around a bit, and when the heat becomes a bit too much, we duck into Valentino’s Gelato for another cool treat, then head back outside as several planes perform swoops and dives above us during an airshow. We take in some more buskers - a flute player adorned in Native American attire complete with feathers and headgear; as well as the Blingling Bro’s, “the world’s first all Maori circus: Cirque du Bro’leil!” As the bros get ready for their next trick, they urge the crowd to count them down in Maori and everyone yells at the top of their lungs, “WHA (4), TORU (3), RUA (2), TAHI (1)!” Together, their voices sound so powerful and proud. I love New Zealand and this culture!





From Shared New Zealand Album 1


Click the image below to watch the video:


From Shared New Zealand Album 1



Eventually, Jay and I tear ourselves away and head closer to the water, where the Auckland Anniversary Weekend Regatta (apparently, the biggest regatta in the Southern Hemisphere) is happening. Of course, I think of the regatta back home and how cool it is that here, on the other side of the world, they have a similar tradition. One difference though - here, a drummer sits at the front of the shell and pounds out a steady beat, which, I assume, helps the rowers stay in sync with one another.




Click the image below to watch the video:

From Shared New Zealand Album 1


We stroll around some more and then take a break on a bench and watch the pigeons, seagulls and guys cleaning the boats. The Auckland Seafood Festival is happening at the other side of the harbour, so there's droves of people everywhere we turn. After a while, our rumbly tummies get the better of us, and we head away from the water and towards Food Alley - one of the most renown  (and cheap, which is important when you're on a backpacker's budget) of the delicious food courts - where Jay noshes on curry, and I on an awesome sizzling chicken platter. Unlike the food court at the mall at home, here, you take a number and the food is served to you - and the people clean up after you. Another awesome thing about NZ is that there's no tipping - so your dollar really does go a long way. Also, the tax is included in the price - so what you see is what you pay. Woot! The food court's doors are flung wide open - as they are in all the shops, restaurants and malls around here - and tiny birds swoop in, perch on the tables and nibble on people's leftovers. Ahhhh…dining with nature. Nothing like it!







From Shared New Zealand Album 1


After Jay and I are filled to the gills, we wander around the city some more, take in the sights, and eventually, share a mango juice box with good ol' Lord Auckland. We're sweaty and happy. I still can't believe that it's the end of freakin' January and here we are, in our sandals and shorts, strolling around the streets - sans snow! I have always been in Newfoundland (or at least Atlantic Canada) during this time of year. Now, I can appreciate a little more why people head to places like Cuba to get a bit of a reprieve from Ol' Man Winter.






From Shared New Zealand Album 1


Later, we head back to the hostel where we find Chris packing up and getting ready to leave to visit friends. Before she goes, we have a quick chat and wish each other safe journeys. Later in the evening we chat with our new roommate, a girl from China, and as she heads out the door, Jay and I pass out again at around 9 or so. It's been quite the eventful first couple of days here in the city. Goodnight Auckland - and happy birthday. I'm so happy that we're here to celebrate with you!

To see more pictures and video, click here.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Mile-High Madness!


Well...the first thing I gotta say is that Air New Zealand is awesome! As we board the plane at Vancouver, B.C., we’re greeted by smiley faces in funky uniforms. The guys don brightly-coloured ties, handkerchiefs and vests in hues of pink and light blue, while the ladies sport bright floral shirts and skirts. The cabin crew’s outfits were actually designed by Kiwi fashion maven Trelise Cooper and reflect the flora and fauna of the Land of the Long White Cloud. How cool is that?

Jay and I settle into our seats and prepare to watch yet another dry, dull safety demonstration - but Air NZ surprises us again, as their pre-flight safety video turns out to be anything but. Have a look for yourselves:




After a good chuckle (and after following Richard’s advice to the letter - safety first folks!) we try to make ourselves as comfy as we can, since our bums will be warming these seats for the next 14 hours. All the stories my bro has shared with me about jet lag and all the other fun things that go along with travelling great distances echo in the back of my mind, and I find myself becoming a bit worried as to how I’ll feel once we land in NZ. We leave Vancouver at around 6 p.m. on January 27, and are due to arrive in Auckland at about 6 a.m. January 29 (skipping a day completely). Will I be totally out of it? Will I know the date/year?! Will I want to pass out right away, and will I have to do this passing out on a park bench since we can’t check into our room ‘till later in the afternoon? I decide to quit the worry, relax, catch some tely and chow down on my yummy supper, which is topped off by a delicious piece of apple cheesecake, Mmmmm. I don’t know if the food is drugged or what (probably not), but I actually manage to have a pretty good sleep eventually - something which I usually can’t do very well on planes. At around 3:30 a.m., breakfast is served and shortly after, the first few bright lights of New Zealand come twinkling into view. The 14-hour flight actually felt more like eight hours or less. Any nervousness or worry I felt before is replaced by excitement and I feel wide awake as I gaze out my window into the dark and onto the place that will be my new home for the next while.

As we collect our bags at the airport, a sign catches my eye.


From Shared New Zealand Album 1


It looks like the Kiwis (like Newfoundlanders) are definitely a fun-loving bunch. I think I’ll feel at home here.

After going through customs and moseying around the airport a while, we open the doors, bathe in the warmth and inhale our first bit of fresh Kiwi air. Smiles spread across our faces. At about 6:30 a.m., it’s a balmy 17 degrees or so (well, balmy by Newfoundland standards at least). I think of my family at home, shovelling themselves out of several blizzards, and decide I made the right move to take off when I did! Jay and I board the Air Bus to go to our hostel in Auckland City. Our first experience driving on the left-hand side of the road doesn’t feel as weird as I expected. I take in all the houses, with rolling green hills in the background, as we roll along.

The bus pulls up at Base Auckland Central Backpackers on Queen Street in downtown Auckland and we hop off with our heavy backpacks strapped to us. The girl who checks us in at the front desk tells us she’s from Ottawa and that she’s been here about six months. Hooray! Our first Canuck encounter! After I talk to my parents on Skype, to let them know I'm still alive and all, Jay and I stash our bags in storage and hit the ground running, so to speak. We both feel rip roarin’ ready to go and not the least bit sleepy or jet lagged. Unfortunately, since most other people in the city are still asleep (or probably just waking up, as it’s still pretty early in the morning), nothing seems to be open yet, so we head on further downtown to explore. We walk around the waterfront and the Viaduct Harbour area and it soon becomes obvious why this place is known as the “City of Sails.” It seems there’s just as many boats here as people. Jay and I drool over the yachts and pristine condominiums that dot the landscape. Everything is so bright and shiny and the whole city seems to exude light. I walk by and let my hands sweep the leaves of passing palm trees.




From Shared New Zealand Album 1

At around 10 a.m., we head to the Westfield mall and load up on cheap Chinese food (I guess our brains think it's dinner time) and then purchase cell phones and cards and all that exciting stuff. Shortly after, we spot the shark bus (which is owned by a local aquarium) for the first time, which is pretty exciting. Anyone who knows me knows that sharks - while I’ve never actually met one in real life -  frighten the bleep outta me, yet I find them fascinating at the same time. I was looking at some pictures of the shark bus online while we were staying with our friend in Vancouver, so to see it before me was quite awesome. And hey - what a cool bus, right?




From Shared New Zealand Album 1

Later on, we head back to the hostel and meet our new roommates - the German (an older man) and a young English guy named Riley. Shortly after, we head back out to purchase some locks for our bags (not because we’re suspicious of the German or Riley, but because we like our stuff to be secure - and also because there were signs around the hostel warning us about a thief). We meander around some more, and drool at all of the delicious ethnic food around, which lives at these food courts that seem to be as abundant here in Auckland as mosquitoes in Newfoundland in the summer. Here in the city at least, there seems to be 20 of everything. Whether it’s Indian food you’re in the market for, Thai, Turkish, Lebanese, fish ‘n’ chips, etc. etc., there’s something to tickle every taste bud a dozen times over. We turn one corner and stumble upon a performance that’s part of the Auckland International Buskers Festival. The Amazing Wally (a busker from Perth, Australia who now lives in Iceland) juggles a rubber chicken, dry humps a German dude (not our roommate) and straddles a tall ladder, almost falling into a group of children. At the end of the show, he tells the audience he thinks his roughly 45 minute performance was at least worth a beer, and if we enjoyed ourselves, he’d appreciate a few dollars, if we can afford it. If not, he says, he wishes us luck and hopes things get better, and to consider his performance as a gift. A handshake and a thank-you, he adds, is also plenty payment. I stroll up and drop 10 bucks into his hat.




From Shared New Zealand Album 1

Jay and I continue our journey and later on near a bank, encounter a man, with a forlorn-looking lady at his side, yelling at the crowd of pedestrians about how we’re all children of Satan and that we’ll never get clean, etc. etc. etc. Jay and I quicken the pace a bit. Further up the street, I am thrilled to find Vanilla Coke at a corner store (called dairies around here) - one of the most exciting moments of my day!




From Shared New Zealand Album 1

As I sit and happily sip my Coke outside the hostel, a kindly-looking elderly man wearing a satchel comes up and talks to us about Jesus and why it’s important to accept him into your heart, etc. etc. etc. He seems rather emotional about it all and eventually hands us a pamphlet. He says his church is showing a free movie tonight (as they do every Sunday) about an Indian guy from the 1880s who finds Jesus (or something to that effect), and that if we’d like to go, a van will come and fetch us. We politely decline the invitation. He then asks us where we’re from, and he tells us about a trip he took to California. He then bids us adieu and Jay and I make our way to a nearby mall to finish off our day in a sweet way with a couple scoops of New Zealand Natural ice cream. When we get back to the hostel, we find the Jesus enthusiast is yakking the ear off some other poor soul. We sneak by and make our way inside to our room and meet another one of our roommates, a nice English girl, and have a chat. Later on, we meet our fourth and last roommate - yet another nice English girl named Chris. She leaves and as Jay and I lay on our bunks, English girl #1 returns. It’s around 8 p.m. and I’m reading a book, but soon realize I’m not getting very far when I wake up with the book upon my face. Looks like all that travelling is finally starting to take its toll. When English girl #1 finds me with my book on my head, she asks if I want the light turned off. I play it cool, snatch the book from my face, tell her it’s alright and continue reading - when the pages slap me in the face once again. You win, Mr. Sandman, you win.

To see more pictures and video, click here.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Things That Make You Go Hmmm...

Sure, it may seem dumb to quit your job, sell your car and move out of your apartment, just to hang out in Middle-earth for a while. But p’raps after having a gander at this (link), it’ll all make a lil’ more sense!