Auckland

Auckland is a great city. A million people. It doesn't feel like that at all. I don't know for sure, but I don't think there are any buildings over 20 stories. It reminds me a lot of San Fran, or maybe of Cuernrvaca.

Most things are pretty expensive, but with my US dollars, it really isn't that big of a deal. After I start to earn money, then I'll be more pissed off that avocados are $2.30 each. Sodas and beers are only 330 ml, instead of the 355 in the states. I guess that's good for the soda, but the beer costs more. 15 bottles is 24 dollars. I haven't seen many cans or keystone like beer. That's good though, I don't need to ever have a keystone again.

First night
The first night/day in Auckland was out of this world. I met up with Melwyn again at the airport. Remember him? He was on the same flight out of LA with me, and went to another CS host in Nadi. Well, we started talking and had a lot in common. He was only in Auckland for a night and didn't have a place to stay, so I took him over to City Groove with me. Then we went and found Kiran, who is the Auckland CS ambassador. Melwyn's mom had mailed Kiran a wetsuit and some surf stuff that Melwyn needed. Kiran met up with us (after some badass Thai food) and told us that the local CS meeting was happening tonight, and more importantly it was at a bar. We went and it turned out to be really cool. There were, no joke, 7-8 really cute girls there that wanted us to go dancing. Don't tell anyone, but I don't really like to go dancing. So, since Melwyn had to wake up at 5 to catch his flight to Christchurch, we went back to the hostel at midnight. I probably should have gone dancing. But it worked out b/c the next night was a crazy crazy night.

Second night
The first day at the hostel was pretty cool. I did my usual 'pick a direction and walk until I get bored/tired/hungry' thing and it worked out really well. Since I had already been Southish, I went West to a part of town called Parnell. Or was that the next day?..... hmmm.... Well, regardless, it was cool. A very fancy part of town. But I had more great Thai food. When I got back there were a few people in the hostel kitchen chatting. I suggested that we buy a bottle of wine and sit on the picnic benches in the back yard and get acquainted. They all agreed that it was a marvel idea. One bottle and three people turned into quite a bit more of both. It was a blast. Around 11 or so I was thinking of turning in, but that didn't play. A few of the girls had to leave for the airport at 4 or 5am, so we decided that staying up the whole night was preferable to them only sleeping a few hours. This idea achieved an instant consensus. A few of us went out walking around and came in at 6:30 when my dorm mate was going out to work. He was so pissed off. I'll never forget the look on his sleepy, depressed face. He cursed us all and then went on his way to his construction job. Today is the night before Easter Friday, a holiday that literally shuts down the country. Due to that, Mike, the guy who was going out to work, doesn't have to work tomorrow and I've promised him a beer for all the anguish I caused him during what reportedly was a horribly long day.



Since then I've done a million things. Rather than narrate, I think I'll just do it list style.
I:
- saw the Auckland Museum
- saw Slumdog Millionaire
- saw Once Were Warriors (you must see this film now! Especially Rabbit, who probably already owns it.)
- went to another CS meeting. This time there were almost 50 people
- got a bank account. very easy on the NZ side. not so much with the US bank
- became frustrated with the cell phone systems here, and everywhere
- bought a backpack and some hiking poles
- watched a UEFA Champions league game with my dorm mates at a local sports bar at 7am
- realized that I need to learn German, and become more fluent in Spanish
- realized that I need more underwear and socks.

You can see pictures of my hostel over at the 122upton blog. Here are some of Auckland itself:

My first sight of land.

Hailstorm!

Auckland Museum