Kaori forest and a WiFi hotspot

I found a free WiFi hotspot at a restaurant in Devonport called The Sentinel Cafe. It's expensive food, but, needless to say, I'll be back.

We went to a Kaori forest yesterday. I'll post more on that later.

Link to the Kaori forest adventure pics.

Will upload pics as I get time...

Orewa and beyond...

Sunrise off the coast of Orewa (still jetlagged a bit so getting up at 4am isn't a problem).

Trying to get around in the city, and paying for parking everywhere we went got a bit frustrating, so Taylor and I headed north to Orewa.

It's a lovely little coastal town near a place called Waiwera ("warm water") a natural hot spring. It's been storming since we got here - a freezing cold wetness that goes stright to your bones. Fortunately the kiwis here set up a water park using the hot spring water with water slides, a movie pool, and a number of pools of varying temperatures (from 30-45 degrees C); so we went there to warm up. It was amazing. I ended up falling asleep in one of the shallow pools for about 30 mins.

One of the reasons for my frozen bones was my shellfish hunting adventure at about 7 that morning. Apparently Orewa beach has a number of shellfish called pipis that are supposed to be excellent eating (according to the manager of the backpackers we stayed at). We went out in the freezing cold water - my feet went numb in about 4 secs – rummaging around in the sand for pipis.

We caught hundreds, so many that our bag started to break, I guess we were getting a bit greedy. Anyways, we were about ready to call it a day when a seal came up out of the water and grabbed the bag right out of my hands! Taylor reacted instantly and was able to seize the bag before the seal got away. His lightning reflexes gave me the time to dive under and start prying the thief's mouth open. Unfortunately, at that moment I saw an image that will be burned in my mind forever. In stark terror I jumped out of the water and started running for shore, shouting for Taylor to “Get out!”. I finally reached the water line and I turned back just in time to see a huge great white shark leap out of the water, blood dripping from its massive jaws. In the monsters wake, I spotted a familiar white plastic bag floating on the waves, torn apart and devoid of any pipis. I can only guess as to the fate of the seal, but whatever happened, I think the rotter deserved it.

All's well that ends well, we headed to McDonald's, I had a kiwiburger (a burger with beets and an egg on it); and we left to warm up at Waiwera hot springs.

Pictures from our random journeying north of auckland.

A number of those are pictures taken directly from the car as we sped along.

NZ

Downtown Auckland and I.

Sorry for the delay, I've had problems getting my laptop charged and finding internet access.

Well, as I said earlier, we made it to Auckland. Everything seems to be more expensive here, and there is nothing free – including internet. It's hard to find even a public restroom or drinking fountain. That being said, it's a beautiful country. I'll post pictures whenever I get the chance.

After spending the night in Auckland, we travelled randomly around te suburbs looking for wifi and trying to get used to driving on the wrong side of the road. Not only do you find yourself on the other side of the road, but you are driving on the other side of the car. They switch all of your controls, ie. The windshield wiper is located in the turn signal's usual locale. I can't tell you how many times I have made a turn and found myself with my winshield wipers on.

Driving is terrifying here, not only are you on the wrong side, but you are hurtling through twisting, mountain roads at 100km with very very little clearance between you and oncoming traffic. At some points, in the residential districts people park along the street so there is only enough space for 1.9 cars to pass side by side. When you combine this with oncoming traffic and 80kmh you get a very exciting adventure.

We are out in the country now, traveling along one of the main motorways (which turns into a dirt road at times) and we ran across a One Lane bridge. Meaning there is only 1 lane for both directions of traffic. Apparently you cross your fingers and hope no one is coming the other direction.

I don't have a lot of time so I'm going to just give you a direct link to my photobucket album.

Here is the link to my first couple of days in Auckland.

It'll have to do 'til I have the time to organize everything. I am paying for internet at the moment - by the hour! It's sick... Everyone's out to rip you off when you travel.

It's cold, my fingers are starting to go numb.

In Auckland

I made it to Auckland and I am now sitting by the side of the road leeching wifi from some house (Thank You!). Don't have a lot of time...

Feedback

So, I'd like some feedback. What do you ya'll think of this blog? Is it easy/worthwhile/interesting? Any thing to improve?

Thanks.

Flight

Mr. Parkinson took me flying over the city yesterday. It was incredible. Flying definitely beats rush hour traffic.

A few pictures of the pilot. Approaching downtown.

My old house is in there somewhere. I think it's the yellow one with all the trees in the upper right-hand corner.

Guess the landmark - 2 cool points.

If you turn your head 90 degrees to the right you can see the gorge we hiked up yesterday.

LA

Guess the landmark - 3 cool points.

If you can't guess this landmark - lose 1 cool point

For a proper landing the numbers on the runway should be one beercan length above the dashboard.

The real pilot and I.

After the flight we had breakfast at this amazing little airport restaurant. I think it was prolly the biggest breakfast I've ever had. I would've taken a picture but the food was so good that it was all gone by the time I got my camera out.


Extra Credit - 5 cool points each:

Hike

I went tramping in the foothills about a half mile away from the house. It turns out that there is a meandering canyon trail that leads to a little waterfall.

View of the city.

This is the edge of the trail - a sheer drop.

El Trail.

Mr. Parkinson

Mountains (For those in Florida - Mountains are like giant sand castles made of rock)

Me in the creepy tree tunnel.


The waterfall. Yes, it falls sideways.

Some guy in an orange shirt at the waterfall.

On the way back we found some deer invading the neighbors lawn. It was pretty cool, I mean urban deer, how often do you see that?

This deer kept trying to eat the guy's sprinkler head for some reason.

The rest of the deer family across the street.

Is it wrong that my first thought was how convenient it was for the deer to walk themselves right up to the barbecue?