Auckland
Trip Start
Jul 05, 2007
1
33
48
Trip End
Dec 24, 2007
Auckland,
New Zealand
Sunday, October 14, 2007
"The Fat Camel hostel. Two humps guaranteed." I knew that it wasn't going to be my kind of place. Instead I moved to a hostel full of Lincoln Park fans who are here for a concert. Someone can explain who Lincoln Park are to me when I get back.
Auckland is a laid back town (although busy by New Zealand standards), built round a series of bays and extinct volcanoes which gives the city plenty of waterfront and high view points to admire the place.
I met up with my old boss from Deloitte and her boyfriend, who are here for an 18 month placement, for a drink on the first night. It was nice to see people from back home. At least it was, after I'd reminded her that it would be illegal for me to do any work that she might give me out here.
Yesterday I climbed Mount Eden, which is an extinct volcano with a great panoramic view overlooking the city. That sounds more impressive than it actually is: the "mountain" is a hill only 196 metres high. What made it slightly more difficult was the extra half mile walk that I added in because I fell asleep and overshot my stop on the bus.
Last night I had a quiet night in and watched a film in the hostel common room. I'd bought a six pack of beer to relax with, and surprised myself by finishing it off in record time - without feeling any effects. This impressed me and I started to bragg about it. At which point one of my fellow travellers pointed out that the beer I had bought was alcohol free.
This is the end of my time in New Zealand. It's been good, but I have to say that the place is a bit over-rated. I think I expected too much. Tomorrow, I fly to Melbourne and attempt to meet up with my old NAO colleague Kamal who, judging by the enigmatic replies to my messages, either doesn't understand that I'm going to Melbourne (I thought I'd been quite clear) or is trying to avoid me.
