Ante script: I've been too busy and without internet access to manage my thoughts/photos into a publishable blog till now. But I've been through a lot, so hopefully some of it will come through. Should have a few more to put out sometime soon.
FYI: So of the countries I've been to, NZ ranks 4th against the value of the US dollar. In descending order: Cyprus pound (since absorbed into the EURO), EURO, $AUD, $NZ, Chinese Yuen, Thai Bhat. Of course all pale in comparison to the Kuwaiti Dinar, the worlds most valuable currency.
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Got hung up in Auckland a little longer than I’d a liked (6 nights), having to secure accommodation around NYE and all. But it is a nice city: very modern, clean, well designed, not too many people. With plenty to do, I never went idle.
A little look around town:
Downtown Auckland by day,
and by night.
Took the ferry over to Davenport, a nice residential suburb on the other side of the bay.
Atop an old volcano (above green mound), there was a great view of the islands around Auckland (Rangitoto behind me).
From atop the volcanic cone, I caught a hitchhike down to the family oriented north shore beaches. A very pleasant place to grow up, I reckon.
Walked over to another old volcano, now overgrown with grass and grazed by cows (in the pit there).
Took another ferry--quite fast:4ok/h--to an island in Auckland's harbor, Rangitoto. Another volcanic rising (there are 50 volcanic cones in 6k's around Auckland), it is the most recent, formed about 600 years ago. Rising out of the ocean before the eyes of the Maori's who lived here at the time.
One of the strangest hikes I've done. Much of the island is covered in volcanic rubble that spewed out not too long ago, and the paths go right through it.
Apparently, this fresh volcanic covering permits an unusual variety of plants: e.g. it has these kidney ferns that conserve water and shrivel when temps rise and water is short,
and it is the largest remaining forest of pohutukawa in the world,
So I'm out Friday night seeking serendipity, as you do traveling with nothing better to do, and I'm walking down the main street of downtown Auckland when I come across a green bus with "End the drug war" painted in big yellow letters on the outside. Struck with curiosity I go over and have a look. Behind a table, there are a couple of older, hippiesh sorta guys handing out little pamphlets of info and having a good time. They were members of NORML doing a regular demonstration in their canna-bus actively expressing their disgruntlement with the legal status of cannabis in NZ. Had a good chat with the dude about the laws regarding weed in a few countries. He had an interesting little pamphlet that showed that showed that %42 people in USA, AUS, NZ, Holland who have smoked weed. The guy I spoke with even knew that both Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich are the only ones outwardly for the decriminalization of pot in the US pres race (I think) .
and it is the largest remaining forest of pohutukawa in the world,
So I'm out Friday night seeking serendipity, as you do traveling with nothing better to do, and I'm walking down the main street of downtown Auckland when I come across a green bus with "End the drug war" painted in big yellow letters on the outside. Struck with curiosity I go over and have a look. Behind a table, there are a couple of older, hippiesh sorta guys handing out little pamphlets of info and having a good time. They were members of NORML doing a regular demonstration in their canna-bus actively expressing their disgruntlement with the legal status of cannabis in NZ. Had a good chat with the dude about the laws regarding weed in a few countries. He had an interesting little pamphlet that showed that showed that %42 people in USA, AUS, NZ, Holland who have smoked weed. The guy I spoke with even knew that both Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich are the only ones outwardly for the decriminalization of pot in the US pres race (I think) .
These guys could not have been demonstrating their defiance of the prohibition of weed in any more public a place. In fact, while I was having a little tour of the inside of their couch filled bus, 3 coppers walked by, gave a sniff, and, despite the fact that it reeked of pot, they had a quick word and carried on. How about that! Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera at the time :(
While in the bus, chatted with some local Aucklanders and some Dutch chicks who popped in (and were as surprised as me by the goings on), and I got a tip from a guy in there of a good dance club just down the way....
After retrieving my camera from my dorm and getting lost trying to find the bus that had since left, I found my way to the little basement club. It was really cool. Despite the fact that many were out of town for New Years, it was evident that there is a great house music scene in Auckland; better than any I've found elsewhere. I was really excited to have found it. Of the 20-40 people who were there at any given time, %70-80 of them were into the music and dancing. I love to see people get into the music and dance, one of my favorite things. It was evident that most came out to listen to the music and dance (not that common in my experience, unfortunately), feeling free and comfortable to do so regardless of the small crowd. The Kiwi's are really friendly people. I mean really friendly. I asked a guy a question about the place and quickly he discovered that I was from Boston, bought me a drink, introduced me to his friends, and made me feel welcome. People were really open and friendly, not something you often find in such loud, dark places.
RE: Music-- So they listen to what they're calling 'dirty house and electro'; was alright, I reckon. A little noisy and disjointed for my taste. I'm more into 'Deep and Sexy house' or 'deep and jazzy' house--like my all time favorite, Yoshiesque. (and if you're interested, there are some great sets on my brother, Nick's website: http://www.liquidmusik.net/
While in the bus, chatted with some local Aucklanders and some Dutch chicks who popped in (and were as surprised as me by the goings on), and I got a tip from a guy in there of a good dance club just down the way....
After retrieving my camera from my dorm and getting lost trying to find the bus that had since left, I found my way to the little basement club. It was really cool. Despite the fact that many were out of town for New Years, it was evident that there is a great house music scene in Auckland; better than any I've found elsewhere. I was really excited to have found it. Of the 20-40 people who were there at any given time, %70-80 of them were into the music and dancing. I love to see people get into the music and dance, one of my favorite things. It was evident that most came out to listen to the music and dance (not that common in my experience, unfortunately), feeling free and comfortable to do so regardless of the small crowd. The Kiwi's are really friendly people. I mean really friendly. I asked a guy a question about the place and quickly he discovered that I was from Boston, bought me a drink, introduced me to his friends, and made me feel welcome. People were really open and friendly, not something you often find in such loud, dark places.
RE: Music-- So they listen to what they're calling 'dirty house and electro'; was alright, I reckon. A little noisy and disjointed for my taste. I'm more into 'Deep and Sexy house' or 'deep and jazzy' house--like my all time favorite, Yoshiesque. (and if you're interested, there are some great sets on my brother, Nick's website: http://www.liquidmusik.net/
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