It's not THAT kind of blog... My pictures won't be as fancyWho do you think you are? Toshi?
Its not truly an adventure until you manage to combine at least three of those at one time. Get back to us when you do.Topics will most likely include: (but are not limited to) Drinking, Surfing, Riding, Sexual Encounters, Hiking, Randomness, Longboarding, Stupid Sh!t, and probably some drunk posts.
...and it's about 12 hrs since this post... you're almost half way! Don't give up!Airports suck.. Boarding in an hour.
Just remember it's not the customs or "Homeland security" you have to worry about when you get here.... Our border "Bio security" people are just evil man!!!!...and it's about 12 hrs since this post... you're almost half way! Don't give up!
They washed my hiking boots for me!Just remember it's not the customs or "Homeland security" you have to worry about when you get here.... Our border "Bio security" people are just evil man!!!!
It's like an explosion of water. I swear all the toilets I've used are hooked up to a pressure washer. No spinning at all. I am sunburned from switching from winter to summer so fast though...Have you flushed a toilet yet ? Does the water spin the opposite direction ?
Ahh I missed it! My two years in the mountains made it even funnier to watch! I don't think the cops even come out in the snow in High Point.Weird...
Speaking of winter, the Triad finally saw some snow. A whopping one inch of debilitating, accident causing, panic inducing white stuff. Drivers were slowing down to 25 on the Highway. Even the cops were driving like frightened old women. I passed one cop, and I wasn't even going the speed limit. Another one had chains on his tires.
Have fun in the sun kid !
I have a kiwi buddy who goes by "Wookie" and nearly destroyed our toilet in Ocean Beach one morning. He was embarassed but also infuriated that America, Land of the Big, had such wussy human waste disposal units.It's like an explosion of water. I swear all the toilets I've used are hooked up to a pressure washer. No spinning at all. I am sunburned from switching from winter to summer so fast though...
Ah no.... the Sun in NZ is exceptionally harsh (the higher UV content is great for taking photos though ).I am sunburned from switching from winter to summer so fast though...
Kia Ora Bro! Air NZ rocks, aye?They washed my hiking boots for me!
Made it to Auckland! Currently sitting at a coffee shop on Quay street looking out over the bay. The hostel sucks, but I guess that's what I paid for. Spending as little time there as possible. Demonmonkey, I'd love to but I don't have a bike yet! I think I'm going to head to Wellington on friday or monday instead of posting up in Auckland like I originally planned. (I'll PM you when I know for sure I'm going, DaveW) Surprisingly few people speak English as their first language here. Mostly Asian languages. I think if I head further south there will be more people actually from New Zealand. The flight from Charlotte to LA sucked, but the LA to Auckland flight was awesome. Super friendly Kiwi flight attendants, everyone had their own entertainment tablet, and most importantly: complimentary alcohol! I stayed pretty damn comfortable for a 13 hour flight.
Thanks for the tip! I think I'm going to take the bus from Auckland to Rotorua, stay for a few days (maybe longer) then head on down to Wellington! Are you in Auckland? I've been hanging out around Viaduct Basin the past few days.Kia Ora Bro! Air NZ rocks, aye?
Don't forget Rotorua! Dude... seriously DON'T FORGET ROTORUA!
Central Auckland isn't representative of the rest of NZ (and we're all migrants here any way), though there's some awesome Dum Sum restaurants downtown. Cracker day in Auckland today.
I kinda like the Viaduct.. I'm definitely going to check out Rotorua straight from Auckland. I can catch the bus there from Auckland CBD for $19 Then take the bus from there to Wellington. I think I'll be doing that monday.Auckland? Yep. Don't just rot in the Viaduct - it's a bit of a soulless **** hole. Don't know what you're into but new Art Gallery (up Queen St, Left up Wellesley to cnr of Kitchener) is pretty good. Grab one of the hire velo bikes and see if you can make it to 7+ of the city's 'Mountains' (ext volcanos) in a day - extra points if you can get one of those clunkers down the caldera of Mt Eden without falling off.
Auckland domain/museum if you're an old fart. Will give you a taste of Maori culture (Rotorua has more of that but can be a bit crass + pricey IMHO).
ROTORUA ROTORUA. Hire a (good) bike and spend a week there. some of the best freaking trails in the world... I think the shuttle service is still running mid-week + weekends. http://www.southstaradventures.com/
Wellington = cool city with good riding, but South Island (QT) is teh roxxor trails, and hobbits.
And here I was Sam, about to suggest that our newbie to NZ should be hanging at the viaduct as its great way to check out all the local 'tang. But thats just me hey? What was that comment about Family Guy you made all those years ago? Still rings true.Auckland? Yep. Don't just rot in the Viaduct - it's a bit of a soulless **** hole. Don't know what you're into but new Art Gallery (up Queen St, Left up Wellesley to cnr of Kitchener) is pretty good. Grab one of the hire velo bikes and see if you can make it to 7+ of the city's 'Mountains' (ext volcanos) in a day - extra points if you can get one of those clunkers down the caldera of Mt Eden without falling off.
Auckland domain/museum if you're an old fart. Will give you a taste of Maori culture (Rotorua has more of that but can be a bit crass + pricey IMHO).
ROTORUA ROTORUA. Hire a (good) bike and spend a week there. some of the best freaking trails in the world... I think the shuttle service is still running mid-week + weekends. http://www.southstaradventures.com/
Wellington = cool city with good riding, but South Island (QT) is teh roxxor trails, and hobbits.
Totally over-rated IMHO.QT - hit it up
Totally over-rated IMHO. (Edit: I really did enjoy the long trail alongside Skipper's Canyon, however. Fun and rolly, tame but scenic and the weather was perfect.)QT - hit it up
skyline has made qtown if you are into biking, chopped out 7 tenish minte runs the other day in 4 hours. and finished it off with ferg burger , plus the trail network at 7 mile to add to the fun.Totally over-rated IMHO. (Edit: I really did enjoy the long trail alongside Skipper's Canyon, however. Fun and rolly, tame but scenic and the weather was perfect.)
Wanaka, on the other hand--fantastic trail network!!!
However, the heli-bike trip I took in Wanaka was quite disappointing. Scenery was great but riding was mediocre slow fire road and goat trails down.
Wellington, for my money, was some of the best bang for the buck over there. So much great riding inside such a cool city.
Alexandra shouldn't be passed up, either.
And Cragieburn was fun, too.
ftfyand don't trust the locals in tha dirty south isle..........
and don't trust the locals in alexandra...........