New World Grocery & Library

Todays journey started earlier than this past weeks as I am working to acclimate myself back to the work schedule of early mornings and early nights. I'm finding it difficult as it is still early spring so the early morning cold isn't nearly as inviting as my warm bed especially when I really don't have to be anywhere in particular. My newest motivation to get up and out of bed is actually to work out since I need to get into proper shape anyhow and it warms me up even better than a shower. Got to get past the whole 'round' being a shape thing. Riding the bus early in the morning around 9 is actually quite nice since all the work rush is gone and the moms don't have their kids really ready yet to go out for the day yet. That and the teenagers aren't out either like they are in the afternoon although they really aren't as big as a problem as the moms. There were some teen moms and they are a bit loud even over ear buds so I think "what would Spock do" and smile to myself all the way home.

'New World Grocery' is much better than the 'Countdown' and 'FourSquare' stores I have been going to. They seem to have a larger selection of stuff I can eat plus the prices are lower. I thought I had kinda gotten over being a picky eater however after moving to New Zealand I have decided instead that after 16 I was pretty much able to get whatever food I wanted and so I've been eating a rather limited (in retrospect) food selection for the past few years. And so the result of that has been me going to a new grocery store every few days, staring hungrily at the food on the shelves chewing on my lip looking forlorn and then leaving with apples and bananas. The discovery of NWG has brought hope for my search today so hopefully I can find some things I like. They even have Dr. Pepper. The only thing they didn't have that I was keen to get was Lemon juice however when I got home frustrated I was washing dishes and stared at this obviously yellow Lemon tree we have in the backyard.*Face palm

The Library here is also quite nice. The only downside is you have to pay to rent non educational DVD's, CDs, and Xbox games but that's kind of ok. They do have a pretty large selection and so I walked out today with a couple cooking books to try to expand my knowledge. We'll see how well that goes.

Whoops

Daydreaming + public bus = 40 extra min. ride

Leaving paihia

Steam boat on the river

Today I am leaving paihia for Auckland as well as leaving my traveling buddy sylvia. Woke up not much earlier than usual since I have a late bus today. Normally I catch the 8am but I didn't want to be rushed today. Since the 10am was booked I'm catching the 1pm which should deliver me to Auckland some time close to 4:30 or 5. To kill time I've been walking around the town discovering hidy-holes and such. One thing I like about this sleepy little town on the bay is how dog friendly it is. People take their dogs everywhere even to work and the beach. Right now I'm camped out in the sun down by the wharf watching some strangely shaped bird dive in and out of the water looking for fish.
It's going to be a nice day

Sketch

This van is probably completely legit, operating under the assumption that a free coach can run with advertising. Problem, city bus is already free. Sketch

Oh I love to travel

This is a man riding a horse in the town. Not really uncommon come to find out.

The side of the road is filled with these awesome little streams and waterfalls

A old school double decker bus. Cool.

Lake Talpo. The city of Talpo is the farthest away from the ocean you can be in NZ at 3 hours. But then they also have the largest lake to compensate complete with sail boats.

One day here another there, ooh that street looks interesting, that place looks fun. Wherever I want to go whenever I want to go. A wonderful type of freedom. Only a type tho.

Today I am back in Auckland for a few days. Traveled up from Wellington via 10 hour bus ride. Saw the lake and volcanos again, along with a few other oddities.

Wellington, New Zealand

The great debate today is Auckland or Wellington. North or South. Far but in the direction I need to probably go or close and more of a fun than business trip. Wellington it is. So after my informational quest to McDonalds (there has to be an app or something that tells me where to go to find them) I found out there was a 4:50 ride to Wellington. Steven was again more than a kind host, taking me to the bus stop and dropping me off. The bus ride wasn't as much fun as the previous as it was filled to the brim including a upset toddler and a rather particular woman that looked like Angela Landsburry plus it was dark so the landscape was nearly invisible.

Nearly.

The mountains of Wellington were covered in houses and their lights were thrown against the waves beating against the rocks below. You could not see the stars for the clouds but New Zealand has another name: Aotearoa which means: "Land of the long white cloud"

Travel

Rideing on the intercity bus was an educational experience. Firstly i got a better feel for the whole driving experience from my great view on the top of a double ducker bus. The country side is so beautiful. it looks like middle earth should.

Oddities

As I am still recovering from jet lag at 5 am my time I found it the perfect time to make a post. I was hoping to avoid this by sleeping all night on the plane but the mental exhaustion of such a trip coupled with the pitiful sleep I was able to catch made that an impossibility. Mostly it worked out thou , I fell asleep yesterday around6pm our time so 10 hours later I'm getting up feeling refreshed. It's better to be up early rather than late. Thank God for those little eye shades they gave me on the plane; they are a lifesaver.

After landing I found a few oddities. Some of them I knew about but to know about something and experience are two completely different things. For example, you can know what music is but if you go to a concert and experience music for the first time it is a completely different realization. None of these are as grand as being introduced to music but the curiosity of such small changes in my environment are small adventures in themselves.

1)Driving & Crossing the street

As most of you know, in New Zealand they drive on the other side of the road and their steering wheel is on the opposite side of what we are used to. Of course I knew this coming over but it didn't quite prepare me for the bus ride as apparently all bus drivers here drive exactly like they do in Birmingham, Memphis, Atlanta, Auburn, and St. Louis ...fast and all over the place. That coupled with being on the opposite side of the road, left turn when red and the speed limit being 100kmph made for an exciting first 30 min out of the airport.

Now 100 kmph is only about 62mph but when your swinging thru a bus, staring out the window like a tourist , and trying to ge

t feelings back in your legs after a 12 hour flight it's an adventure. Most of the speed signs that I have seen in the city are for about 50 (31mph) so it's not as crazy.

Crossing the street here is EXCEPTIONALLY SAFER than it EVER was in Birmingham and am absolutely thrilled about how people friendly the sidewalks and traffic is. Unlike Birmingham, there are massive side walks that are covered from the sun or rain, free inter city busses to take you around to the larger areas, and a some special rules about crossing the street that I didn't know about but learned from watching others.

Look how amazingly awesome this McDonalds looks! It's in a nicer building than some banks

(just a note, I want to point out that this bank looking building is actually a McDonalds and it is amazing with two exceptions. 1) no plugs to plug in computer but if they did people wouldn't leave and 2) their soda tastes weird but that's everywhere so not their fault)

Crossing the street works mostly the same way it does in the states but there are a few changes. The little green man actually is animated and is shown walking and then a little red man with a timer pops up so you know exactly how long you have to get out of the street. Also, it beeps at you, angry solitary beeps mean don't cross and a happy trill peep means cross. Very good for people who have a hard time seeing or are looking down at newspapers or something.

Lastly and to me the neatest, safest and most efficient thing is that the lights treat people as a form of traffic. Let me explain; In Birmingham you are trying to cross the street while people are trying to turn who may or may not be looking and they may stop or you might be forced to and if you stop you don't make it across the street but if they stop they can get t-boned yada yada yada. Here one direction of traffic goes, then the other and then the people go. Just walking thru the middle of the intersection and across the streets, no cars to look out for or bikes just people. And that's another thing, people here don't run lights like they do in Birmingham. Sweet.

2) Coins as money

Yes we use coins as money in the states but I have never paid with dollar coins. It was the oddest sensation to give some one a $10 bill and get back two coins when the cost was only $6. There was a "heeeyyy :( " in my mind and then an "OOoooh" followed immediately by an "ooh!". Two dollar coins and one dollar coins are used all the time. Nifty since they are so common and paper tears so easy. This surely skimps down on the money replacement costs and time.

3) Eco Friendly

The plugs in the wall have on/off switches to save on power. The toilets have half flush (half the water) and whole flush to save on water. There is tones of public transportation and lots to walk to to save on gas costs.

4) Language & Food

Yes english is their national language and most everything is in English and a few other languages. Except food at the grocery store. Apparently they directly import a bunch of stuff because it's either in Chinese Japanese, or what I think is korean (maybe Vietnamese?? ) but either way I'm going to loose a lot of wait from either not eating mystery food out of a bag or because there is a sushi stand on every corner. EVERY CORNER.

I'm sure there are more Oddities I have yet to discover, but that makes it exciting. We shall see.