I've finally landed in New Zealand one of the places i was most looking forward to. Lots of nature stuff to do and explore and also getting to experience a quailty of life that compares to london must be supperior. I think the coolest thing about this is just being back to nature and having none of the superficial advertising and culture that we are expected to buy into.
Anyways I've been staying at sky city hotel which is at the heart of Auckland.
Great accomadation and really close to all the shops and waterfront bars, also inside the complex is its own casino, several bars and a choice of many restuarants and food. I landed at 5:00 am newzealand time and had been in the air for about 13 hours solid without getting any sleep so i was totally drained. Managed to check in early which was cool and went straight to bed - set my alarm tho so i could wake up and get used to New Zealand time zone soon as possible.
I then signed up to 2 day tours
Day Tour One - Waitomo Caves & Rotorua
This was a whole day and the first stop were the Waitomo Caves which is a complex underground set of caves complete with staligtites and staligmites. Also further down deep into the darkest of the caves were Glow Worms - They live on the roof of the caves in the dark and spin down a string which catches their food much like spiders. We werent allowed photos in the cave but here are a couple stolen.
Once we made our way through the cave on foot we then reached a river of which we got on board this make shift dingy and in the pitch black we cruised up the river with a millions of glow worms above us living their life.
Once the sun light pierced our eyes we then got back on board the bus and went to a local New Zealand farm of which they let us feed all the animals which is always great fun :-) the simple things in life.
Then we got to see a sheep dogging demonstration which has nothing to do with watching sheep in a car late at night btw just the traditional hurding up the sheep into the pen, and then we got to see how to sheer the sheep and then take the wool and process it into a useable format.
Then we went on to Rotorua which contains one of the largest steam vents along with steam pools and lava pits e.t.c. all cool stuff but i'd seen it before in St. Lucia. Fun none the less.
Then finally we got to see and experience a Maori Hangi and Concert. Of which they presented arms and then greated us and danced about for a bit ;-) They then showed us around a typical camp and gave us the guided tour of how the Maori live. Its a very simple life and something very good about knowing exactly your role, i think that is missing a lot in society and is why a lot of teenagers dont grow up cos they havent had a life changing experience or something to say you have now become a man. In this culture you have all these type of ceremonies and it forces you to take control of your life.
Last night I went out in Auckland to check out the scene, there was a cool irish bar with exactly my type of music so I partied in there for a bit and had a quick look around my hotel as well to see what was happening. Today was my day off so i been in the gym and updating my blog and planning my next journey which is Auckland to Wellington.
Last night I went out in Auckland to check out the scene, there was a cool irish bar with exactly my type of music so I partied in there for a bit and had a quick look around my hotel as well to see what was happening. Today was my day off so i been in the gym and updating my blog and planning my next journey which is Auckland to Wellington.
Then after all that i decided to go up the Sky Tower which is i believe 1,000 feet tall :-o :-) The tallest building in the southern hemisphere. I actually have a bit of an issue with heights and for me to face this and goto the top was awesome :-) and im very happy for that. Very scary cos they had glass panels which you walk across and you can see 1,000 feet below but i did it all and am happy i did.
Tomorrow im off to the North - Bay of Islands to swim with dolphins! Rock On!!
Peace and Love,
Rob
