My Happy Place

When it comes to getting work done I normally have a hard time. I procrastinate and get distracted easily, especially via the internet. Facebook is certainly my enemy while in class. However, I have found a way to fight this battle I’ve been losing. Introducing the Auckland Wintergardens, the newest player I’ve drafted onto my team in the fight against distraction.

Located in the heart of the domain, lies the Auckland Wintergardens. The first time I ever stepped foot into the gardens it was as if I was walking through the wardrobe into the land of Narnia. I could see past the shady walkway filled with mythical statues and vines of ivy growing all over at the beginning to a beckoning light. Upon stepping into this light I was incomplete awe of the beauty that is the courtyard in the center of three different gardens. My first reaction was that I needed to share this gem with everybody. Being new to New Zealand I felt like Magellan; the amazing wonder that is it to explore and see new things for the first time.

Over these past few months the Auckland Wintergardens has become a staple in my daily life. Sitting in there I can enjoy the nice weather outdoors (accompanied by the warming greenhouse effect that the enclosed courtyard provides), the beautiful scenery of the gardens, and can do work distraction free without the ease of access to any internet. Now let me tell you, that is how catching multiple fish on one line is done.

Surviving Car Sickness 101

Driving away from the city of Auckland

Only one day after my arrival in New Zealand my Loyola group left for a weekend trip to visit the Bay of Islands and explore pretty much the whole entire northern part of the North Island. Early the morning of February 17^th, we all boarded the bus to take us to our destination. Despite the early hour, I was wide awake and eager to go see some new sites. While long cars rides generally tend to make me sleepy, I couldn’t let all this beautiful scenery pass me by. I suppose this is one time I could be thankful for jet lag. With my biological clock still set to thinking it was afternoon time, I was easily able to fight the urge of sleep. For the next four hours I sat gazing out the window, devoting all my energy and focus to taking snap shot after snap shot of this gorgeous new land.

Beach in Paihia, right down the street from our hostel.

Finally at one point in the drive we turned a corner to witness the most amazing view of this incredible blue, clear water. Jutting out of the water for as far as the eye could see were all these tiny little islands of all shapes and sizes. It was here (nearly right across the street from the beach) that I learned was the hostel we’d be staying at for the next two nights. I couldn’t be more ecstatic (especially to get in that water!). Right after arriving and having a delicious lunch it was off to the beach and into the ocean. Now it’s actually been a really long time since I’ve swam in an ocean (while Long Island Sound isn’t exactly ‘the ocean’ it still doesn’t appeal to me too much). However, these were the perfect waters to go into. It was crazy to think how I was currently in these warm, teal, crystal clear waters right then and there, when nearly a couple days before I had been in what seemed to be the arctic tundra of the Northeast. It was a pretty amazing experience for my first ever encounter of stepping into the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Heading into the cave.

Looking attractive with wind blown hair inside the cave.

After our brief swim session we were soon in for the ride of a life time. We boarded a speed boat call ‘Mack Attack’ to take us to see the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’. What I didn’t know was that we were going to see a whole lot more than that. Cruising through the Bay of Islands on this boat I’m pretty sure I had a smile plastered to my face the whole entire time. I couldn’t have been more happy and having more fun. Going over all these big waves on this speedboat gave me the feeling that I was on a rollercoaster. Plus, the views I was seeing were certainly spectacular. Here we were boating around all these millions of insane little islands, all with perhaps maybe one house plopped on top of them. I kept thinking to myself how lucky some person must be to have a house on an island all to themselves. Finally we arrived at this enormous rock just right in the middle of the ocean. In the side of the rock was a cavernous opening that we started steering towards. I thought to myself we couldn’t possibly be going inside it, but boy was I wrong. Inside it was certainly unreal. The inside of the cave was monstrously big and dripping with lots of water. We all kept saying to one another that it felt like we were on some sort of Disney fantasy ride, but it wasn’t fantasy it was real. Next to this cave was what was actually the ‘Hole in the Rock’ that we were able to sail all the way through as well.

After all this excitement on the way back we were cruising along at full speed, when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, the speedboat just stopped. The driver came out and told us to look over the edge of the boat. Low and behold…there were dolphins! I’ve always heard of dolphins to be friendly and I guess the rumor holds true. About 5 or 6 dolphins just kept swimming all around our boat until we were the ones to finally leave. I think this is the first time I've ever seen dolphins in their natural habitat.

The next day going on a bus tour of the North Island to the northern most tip was the main event on our itinerary. Now if anyone reading this ever plans on going to New Zealand this is something I highly recommend that you must do, however, I repeat, DO NOT sit at the back of the bus. The day before on the bus I sat at the back (where all the cool kids sit, of course) and I was fine, but this was clearly not the case today. As a kid I went through a phase where I would get car sick all the time, and it was on this day that it came back in full swing. As I’ve told all my readers before New Zealand is a very mountainous country. Being as hilly of a country as it is one can only imagine that all its roads going up this mountains greatly zig zag back and forth to do so. All these windy roads, mixed with being in the back of a bus (so that you’re constantly being swung back and forth) do not mix for a good time. That bus ride certainly made my stomach feel a little uneasy.

What made everything all the better was that while the trip lasted the whole entire day, the bus ride did not. With the good luck that I must’ve had, every time just before the uneasiness would ever become unbearable we always made a stop to look at/or do something really cool. These intermittent stops certainly allowed for some fresh air and fun, that both played a huge part in turning my frown upside down. Things we saw/did included seeing a buried forest, a visit to cape Reinga, sandboarding, and a drive down 90 mile beach.

Thousands of years old buried tree.

View from down in the buried Kauri Forest.

In the background the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea meet. At Cape Reinga! View from the bus of heading to the sand dunes!  This man rode this bicycle all the way from the bottom of the south island and we saw him completing his last leg almost to Cape Reigna! Sandboarding! View down 90 mile beach. My first ever encounter of stepping into the waters of the Tasman Sea! Digging for Tuatuas. Yes I too can't believe I ate raw shellfish right off the beach, another first time experience! The next day we had a trip to a Maori reserve in which we saw and learned about their culture before heading back home (Auckland already feels like home to me!). This time I sat at the front of bus and had a much better ride. My advice to anyone ever touring New Zealand on a bus (or really any vechicle for that matter) would to not sit in the back! Also, if you’re ever feeling queasy because of the ride some fresh air and fun will always do the trick to heal you right up. Well that seems to be about it for now, until next time, cheers!

50% Fun, 50% None

Hot Water Beach

Just an overnight trip, the trip to Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove in Coromandel was the first trip our group took on its own. Being on our own, without a guide or any plans certainly changes the dynamics of a lot of things. To put it this way, during this trip I might have possibly experienced both the best and the worst times I’ve had thus far in New Zealand. Allow me to begin.

Early on Friday the 23^rd, 8 of us took a minivan to drive to Hot Water Beach. The other 10 had rented somewhat of a small van and were set to depart a bit later. Arriving at Hot Water Beach I was absolutely amazed at the concept of what I 

Cathedral Cove

was experiencing. The beach (which was gorgeous just as always like all New Zealand beaches I’ve encountered) waters temperature was normal, but when you were on the sand and dug under it the water was actually petrifyingly hot. At certain spots you know it’s too hot to dig in because you can actually see the water bubbling and boiling right at the top of the sand. Around this area there is water that is cooler on the skin, and people dig “tubs” in the sand and bask in them, and this is just what we did. For a few hours we soaked in some rays, and definitely probably absorbed a bunch of water too, until the others finally arrived.

By the time of the arrival of the others, after sitting in the hot water for that long, I needed a refresher, and wanted to go run in the ocean. I had been in previous to making our “tub” and the water temperature hadn’t felt bad. However, this time, just after coming out of the steaming water, in comparison it now felt wicked cold. I warned the others that if they wanted to go for a swim at all, they best do it before they indulged in the hot waters. I managed to coerce a few to come in with me, and off into the ocean we went. By this time the waves had gotten really big and were pretty rough. We discovered though, that they were the perfect waves for body surfing. As I kid I used to love to boogey board, and body surfing like I was, was pretty close to just that. My face could barely contain my smile, I was so happy. It was then that things took a drastic turn.

You may recognize this scene from The Chronicles of Narnia!

As I previously mentioned, it was a rough day, the waves were big, and the current was strong. All of a sudden in a matter of two seconds I was dragged pretty far out from all of my friends by the forces of the water. As I was trying to get back in I kept trying to swim but wasn’t going anywhere. On top of that the waves kept pulling me back even further and throwing me underwater. At this point I was getting way too exhausted trying to swim back and couldn’t breathe. It was a really terrifying moment. I can’t even begin to explain how scared I was starting to get. I honestly don’t know where I’d be today if it wasn’t for my good friend Chris. He finally noticed I was having difficulties and swam and met me half way, calmed me down, and helped me get back in. Certainly a god sent. It was not a fun experience. After that I was done for the day in the water.

After Hot Water Beach, we all grabbed some food, but it was getting dark and we were in need of a place to camp for the night. About half of the group had tents and were planning on camping, and the other half were going to stay in a hostel. I kept insisting that we try to find a place to legally camp, but everyone kept saying to me that the reason why they had gotten the tents originally was to save money at hostels. Sometimes it just isn’t worth it to argue so I took a backseat. After driving around for about an hour looking for a place, it was getting dark and we were running out of options, so we settled on a place near Hot Water Beach. Pitching our tents in the dark, near a swampy area, was probably not the best choice. Wearing shorts from earlier still, I must have ended up with about 40 bug bites if I remember my count correctly. I was not a happy camper that is for sure.

After barely sleeping a wink, sleeping on a rock hard ground, not being able to stretch my legs due to the fact I was sharing a 3 person tent with 3 other very large boys, we were woken up to a $200 fine by a park ranger telling us we had 5 minutes to pack up and leave. Worst night ever.

View from up in the mining caves down to the Gorge

Not knowing what to do we just drove to Cathedral Cove. Let me say this, it was absolutely stunning. I later found out that exactly where we were a part of the Chronicles of Narnia was filmed, pretty awesome right? Later on in the day with tensions still running high from grumpiness and lack of sleep, and anger from the fine, the group split into two. 12 people went back to Hot Water Beach, and 6 of us decided to make a pit stop on the way back to Auckland at Karangahake Gorge. I had already spent the previous day at the beach and wanted to see something new. At the gorge we got to trek though old mining caves that had these really high lookouts to the gorge deep down between the gully below. I think I win in making the better of the two choices.

 

Over all in the end, half of the trip was really fun, and half of it was not. Don’t get me wrong, when I was having fun, I would rate the fun at 100%, but wish I had been able to have more. When I finally arrived back at my dorm residence, I was greeted by a lovely infestation of ants in my dorm room. Just my luck right? 

Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

"Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '99: Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.

I will dispense this advice now."

The above set of Baz Luhrmann advice and lyrics from his song ‘Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)’ I couldn’t hold to be any truer. For our first weekend in Auckland we decided to take a trip to visit the nearby beach of Mission Bay. When it comes to partially overcast and windy days I never learn my lesson that the sun is still very powerful. Maybe now for next time I’ll have learnt my lesson. Let me say this, the sun in New Zealand is certainly a lot more powerful than it is back home and sun burn is NOT FUN. I will spare everyone the pictures of what it looked like, but let me tell you it wasn’t pretty.

At the welcome for international students at the University
some cultural dances were performed for us.  I was later amazed
to find out all these older looking kids were
actually all around the age of just 14 and 15.

I’ve noticed while here everyone always seems to look older than they actually are. Back home in the US they are always getting people in their 20s and such to play kids in high school in the movies. I’ve begun to wonder if maybe it’s just natural in the rest of the world for the kids to actually look that old, maybe us in the US just look like babies comparatively. My guess is that this stronger sun actually speeds up this aging. With that in mind, as well as the risk as cancer and sunburn, I shall now be applying my sunscreen in the masses. I will take the burning eyes as a result of getting sunscreen accidently in them over all those things any day. Well at least I can say the beach still looked pretty that day, but what else is new? Welcome to New Zealand. 

Must-Do When In Auckland #1

Hike Mount Eden. Both during the day and at night. I dare you.

The first night back to the dorm after our bustling and busy weekend away to the Bay of Islands was the beginning of many orientation events. The event of the night was a(n optional) hike to Mt. Eden. Even though we were all tired and exhausted, not to mention having very sore legs from trekking up those sand dunes, most of us decided to join in on the fun anyways. I’m certainly glad I did. Just a quick and easy mile walk from our dorm and we were presented with the most amazing view looking down at the city lit up at night.

If only I had a better camera! Check out sky tower looking fly though.

I’d suggest going during the day as well. It’s a whole different experience; then you can actually see the craters that help to form the giant hill that so graciously helps to give you that amazing view.

Pasifika Festival

On March 10^th, a few friends and I trekked over to Western Springs Park for Auckland’s annual Pasifika Festival. This year was the 20^th year celebration of the event that celebrates all of Auckland’s different Pacific cultures.

While there we enjoyed lots of exposure to different cultural food and dances. However, probably the craziest thing I saw all day, that will forever stick out like a sore thumb in my mind, was a big Samoan man getting a tattoo in the TRADITIONAL way.

Now, while you out there reading this may or may not know (and this is something that I’ve recently found out from being here too), for many of the indigenous people of the different Pacific Islands getting tattoos are a very big and important aspect of their culture. The tattoos they get aren’t of material things, but rather patterns that have some tribal and cultural significance. For example, a tattoo on the mouth and chin for a Maori woman means that she is fertile, and it is considered very offensive for someone to get this without knowing its meaning just because they think it looks cool.

So anyways, you might be thinking that when I say “traditional way” what exactly do I mean? Well, allow me to explain.

There are two main tools used for applying the ink. First you have a stick with a blade attached to the end; on this blade is where you have the ink. Next you have another stick which is used to beat the inked up blade into the skin. Voila! There you have it, sounds simple right? Well, let me tell you it certainly did not look so simple. That thin blade only applied the smallest little line, and this had to be done over and over again. Surrounding the guy, who was getting a tattoo applied to the back of his legs, were four men. Three of them were there to hold him down and stretch his skin flat so that the other could apply the tattoo. In between the tattoo applier reapplying ink to his blade, the other three would take cloths to wipe all the blood from his legs; I mean after all he was getting sliced by a blade for each and every stroke. I’ve never seen anyone get a modern day tattoo with a needle and I’ve heard that’s quite painful, and yet this way looked even more painful and here this guy was just chilling out while it was being applied. I’ve heard that these kinds of tattoos, and the ways in which you apply them, can take days. Now to me that sounds like someone has to endure a whole lot of pain spread out over a long time. My final words to that guy: Respect man, Respect. 

Kia Ora!

Kia Ora and welcome to my blog! Whether you’ve ended up here by choice or force, or even just stumbled upon it by shear dumb luck (and let me tell you, lucky you are) you are certainly in for a treat as I bestow to you all of my great adventures of being abroad. Alright, alright, maybe it is more so that I am the one being treated by getting to live my next four months in paradise, and all this blog might make you do is just rage with jealousy. Anyways, as you may have already noticed from the introduction to my blog, I’m certainly not in the U.S. anymore. To the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand Kia Ora is an informal way of saying hello. It is in their home country that I will be residing for the next four months, more specifically, in Auckland, New Zealand.

I’ve been here now for about three weeks, all of which have certainly flown by. As my days have been packed to the fullest, full of fun and excitement, and just lots of new things to do, keeping me busy, I’ve barely been able to sit down and catch my breathe. With things finally falling into routine now, I suppose it’s finally time to catch everyone up to speed on my life (even if I do keep asking myself ‘is this really real life?’). As all things go I guess it is best to start from the beginning.

February 14^th, 2012 was the day that it all began. Perhaps it being Valentine’s Day was significant in foreshadowing that soon my absolute love for the city of Auckland would begin. Early on the 14^th I woke up, departed my house at around 8a.m., and finally flew out of JFK airport at 11:15a.m. Upon arriving in San Francisco, CA we faced a five hour layover, finally heading to our final destination at 7p.m. local time. After a long and exhausting flight, full of much restless sleep, our group arrived an hour early in New Zealand at 4a.m. local time. Getting through customs super-fast we had an hour and a half to kill before our bus arrived at 7a.m. to take us to the dorm where I would be spending the next four months, Huia Residence. A few friends and I took this opportunity to go toss around a Frisbee outside the airport in the dark. Even at 5:30a.m. the temperature outside was perfect shorts weather. Just before 7a.m. I saw my first New Zealand sunrise.

This is the view from my floor (3rd) in my dorm, its even more
amazing from the 11th floor! Right across the bay you can see
 Davenport, and right past that is the Volcano Rangitoto. 

Arriving at Huia I took very little time to get myself settled in. Despite being extremely tired from jetlag and nearly a whole day of traveling, it was a beautiful day and the new city I was in was calling my name to come explore it. Our whole group, all very eager, decided to go roam a bit, find some lunch, and see some new sights. After our own mini self-tour, our great guide Hester gave us the grandiose tour of the whole entire city. After much walking (and let it be known that Auckland is not the flattest of cities) bed time was very overdue.

Early the next morning our group departed for the weekend for the Bay of Islands (more on this later in another post). No sooner did we get back on Sunday were we thrown into orientation activities and a hike to Mount Eden. We had a whole week of these orientation activities, undergoing both regular orientation from our dorm and the international orientation. The first week of classes was a busy one too, between trying to find (and make it to) my classes and bustling activities fairs among other events. As one can see I’ve certainly been a busy bee. The second week of classes is over and things are finally starting to slow down and become more routine.

Myers Park. A beautiful park I stumbled upon in the
 middle of the city during that first day exploring.

Already in such a short time I’ve adapted to living here and I absolutely love Auckland so much. I now instinctively look right before crossing a street as they drive on the other side of the road. My leg muscles have gotten used to the treacherous hikes up Queen Street and back and forth to class. The only city I’ve ever really lived in in my life is Baltimore, and Auckland is certainly no Baltimore. Perhaps what I love best about Auckland is how accessible it is. I can (and do) walk about nearly anywhere, both near and far. Auckland is after all on the top 10 list of the most livable cities in the world.

Our entire group in front of the sign of the University Of
Auckland.

One of the weirdest concepts to me about living here is the fact that I’m a foreigner. For the first time ever in my life I’M the international student. I’ve met a bunch of people in my dorm form places like Europe and such and I think to myself ‘oh cool they’re international students’, and then it dawns on me that I’m actually one of them too. I don’t necessarily feel like a foreigner here, but at the same time I’m definitely not from here, being the international one for once is a difficult concept to actually grasp. I guess all the pictures I’ve been taking doesn’t help my case in not sticking out like a tourist. But I don’t mind, I’ve having a great time and need to capture all these great sights I’m seeing while I can!

Anyways, it’s about time to go to class! Stay tuned for more pictures and blogs about all my adventures as that foreign international tourist. Cheers!