Nautilus Apartments Auckland

... its pretty much downhill go-karting in an engineless vehicle, but which is still pretty nippy!), would definitely recommend to M&P when they go! The luge was at the top of a hill reached by gondola (cable car) followed by a ski lift, with amazing views of Queenstown. Basked in the glorious sunshine until heading to Te Anau, the base for Milford Sound.

Sat 05/12 - Te Anau to Milford Sound to Queenstown - 403km
An early start of 7am to avoid ...

... live here but in Auckland alone there are 48 volcano's. Not 1 or maybe 2 little dead ones, 48. I'll be having words with them next time I'm on the phone. It was a really interesting exhibit showing how the south island is basically being twisted due to 2 tectonic plates going under each other in different places. Anyway short version, we sadly missed the Maori Traditional Dance but again we will go back, possible tom if we can't ...

... be hopeful and humorous. I've been out on the bicycle a couple of times, visiting the nearby town of Whenuapai and a shopping center called Westgate. If the weather clears up, I hope to cycle to an island near here called Herald Island that supposedly has some nice beaches. I received an email from another wwoof host that seems like it may be a little ...

... night before last I was late in, as had been at the Internet cafe (everything is open 24 hours here - a world away from Lingfield). When I went to the room all the others were asleep. I was tiptoeing around trying to get the bed quietly - was like being back at home many years ago & sneaking upstairs & back into bed hoping mum & dad couldn't hear how late it was!
Auckland, North Island, New Zealand kirst-leszek09

... late was evil...) Who knows why these guys chose to stay in Base which is like the most sociable hostel in Auckland!

I decided to suck it up and be brave and go down to the hostel bar alone (doesn't sound scary but is when everyone seems to know each other!) It was a wine and cheese night and I managed to chat to Alex from Essex, 19 and very funny. We got some wine and had a fun night out..I then met my new irish room mate ...

... looking after. The poverty on the river banks of Bangkok contrast entirely with the millionaire mansions i saw on the east coast of Australia. The flat Ausy E.Coast is topographically quite different to the snowy peaks and mountain ranges of NZ. The strict road rules of Singapore (no J-walking-i still don't really know what it is) have nothing in common with the manic nature of Bangkok's streets, and the ...

... shopping (for me anyway), orangutans, coffee and rice plantations, and the Mentawai Islands (fingers crossed). April 19 - Leave Sumatra and fly to London via Kuala Lumpur. Pray for us...our flight is on a small and not well-known airline (Air Asia)! April 20 - England! First, I'll visit Rachel and then off to Cornwall for PJ's wedding and visiting everyone! May 14 - Ten flights later I'm back to Denver and to real life. P.S. Happy Birthday Mom!!!

... to seriously soak me unlike the downpours of yesterday. I sat one out though, leaning up against a power pole. The showers were cold, mainly due to them being thrown at me by wind almost as strong as the ride inland from the east coast on the south Island. Yesterday when I'd fixed my flattie, I'd noticed how thin my rear tyre had gotten. No wonder the gorse went through it. Today, 5 Kms before Katikati; BANG! Popped it. Managed to patch it up with the old plastic water bottle ...

... get $10.  Back downstairs, get the user ID and password.  Is there a special code for the wireless ?  There is no wireless. (Huh?!?)  Did we not bring our cable ? No. That will be $3.  Back upstairs; get $3.  Feeling less charitable towards the fellow at the desk.  Get downstairs; cable costs $10, not $3.  Back upstairs for more money.  Have totally revised my opinion of the fellow at the front desk.  Get that cable and go back upstairs.  Try to log on.  Won't work ...

We spent 3 nights in Auckland, one of them being in a real bed (other than the Jetstar). We were able get tickets to the Heineken Open tennis tournament and got to cheer for two Americans playing in the tournament.

Jetstar North has been turned in ...