Hamilton

Motorway Entrance

Hamilton is some two hours drive due south of Auckland on the motorway (mostly). Can you imagine the M1 in the UK becoming a town street (sometimes suddenly). The purpose of our journey was to see the gardens in the Summer, having only seen them in the Winter. The weather was iffy, but we decided to go for it.

I was pleased that I was driving south from Auckland at 8:30. The traffic north into the city was not moving. Once passed the outer limits I could put my foot down and maintain a steady 100 (Kms that is). I had been a little unsure of the speed limit and having driven on the motorway I still am. I was told that speed restrictions were rigorously implemented and draconionly penalised. I was not going to take a chance. The scenery to Hamilton was very different to Auckland. The road passed along the edge of valley of the Waikato river which is very long, creating a wide flat plain with wooded hills at each side.

By Kiwi standards, Hamilton is a sizeable town. The gardens were on the south of the town which we reached by following the motorway around the numerous retail parks. Eventually we came to a small island in the middle of the road where we turned right across the northbound highway traffic.

It is hard to describe such a beautiful place. We entered into ample free car parking, walked towards the information centre and turned to an area of the gardens that were set out as example of the gardens of other nations. On the way back, there was the rain. However, it had stopped even before we had purchased coffee in the cafe. The 'coffee art' on the top of my foam filled cup was a picture of an apple. Coffee art keeps its shape to the bottom of the cup. (Who invented it?)

USA Minimalist

Italian

After coffee we headed towards the 'allotments'. This consisted of a six year rotation on enormous plots, surrounded by a tall wall and plots for various fruits. Out of this area were the tips to make your garden eco-friendly, including eating the root of a weed growing in a stagnant pond.

The allotment

From here we struggled to find the rose garden and the hot houses. There were amazing, but you could tell by the roses that summer was coming to an end, and that December and early January was the best time for flowers.

On the way back we thought that we would look for the graves of the last king and queen of the Maoris. We did see a cemetry in the town of Ngaruawahia. However we managed to cross the Waikato and travel along the 'B' road, often being allowed to drive at 100 km. (Another 'however' - you had to be a nutter to do it.) It was well worth driving on this side of the river. It had a more remote NZ feeling, although there were the homes of some of the wealthier in places along the road.

Eventually, we were obligued (Canadians do know this word - see next post) to swing right over the river and back on to the motorway. Again we were blessed. This time the south bound traffic was almost stationary coming out of the city. 'Don't speak to soon, my man' - the last twenty miles being a nightmare, with the 'cleverer' drivers going along the slip roads on the right and undertaking and the vast majority of drivers being unforgiving as you tried to legitamately change lanes. You do have to know more that your directions. You would have thought that the four left hand lanes of a road that enter the T-junction of a similar road going across would have two lanes turning left and two lanes turning right? You have guessed it. Not this junction - three lanes turn right and I am in the one which I thought would go left. Unforgiving is not the word for the uproar as I made my turn into the only left turn lane. Home and tea. Another great day. Another positive achievement that daily I look to make.

Down to the QE2 and the Bishop

QE2 in Auckland Harbour

All week we have been receiving the exciting news that theQE2 is due in port. Having checked her itinerary on the web, we were pleased to learn that she would be in Auckland Harbour on Thursday; so off we set, expecting to be part of a large crowd of tourists and sight seerers. Large crowds rarely happen in Auckland, except for Rugby and the death of a hero. Incidentally, I learned today about a key difference between Kiwi and English culture/commercialisation. I was sitting in Newmarket shoppping mall when a cheery, wise Kiwi gentleman sat down to join me with a "everything comes to those who wait" opening. I told him of my one disappointment that there was very little, in fact, practically zero, Edmond Hillary memorabilia available. He explained, what I should have already guessed; there is no money to be made out of producing and marketing such material, simply because the market is far too small. Therefor he reasons it is best that New Zealanders have short memories. He assured me that Kiwis are conscious of their small nation state; having all the trappings of super power (army, navy and airforce, but on the scale of the Liliputions.

Anyway, back to the QE2. Having parked, we walked the fifty yards remaining and there she was. Majestically disappointing compared to the modern liner that we had seen earlier. She really did look like an old lady on her last journey. It is quite sad to think that at forty years old this was the last Auckland stage of her final journey home to Southampton. Having walked from stem to stern along the dock we then decided to make this a Sky Tower day. It was one of the clearer days and we expected great views and it became more special as events unfurled.

After coffee we paid our 50 bucks and entered our Sky Tower lift. The only other person with us was a 'jumper'. You could tell that she was a jumper because she had that look on her face and a bleu and yellow coverall with red tags. I have never asked anyone if I could take a picture of them, but this time I did and she was very pleased to pose for me. Later, I was to photograph her again; this time suspended from the edge of the Sky Tower by what seemed to be a very thin cable. The photos show a different person in a relaxed, happy pose and then at the precise moment of realisation that they were falling. Even though the jump is controlled, not free fall, it must still be scary

Look - I'm Falling

The views from the tower were great, including an aerial view of the QE2, the Museum, where it was obvious from the huge number of luxury coaches, was the venue for the QE2 passengers. We had a special treat of a railway embankment fire, but I particulary pleased with geometric view of the Sky Tower hotel roof.

Hotel Roof

From Sky Tower we went for a sandwich which we ate in Albert Park. Work was going on to complete the Chinese lantern display to celebrate the year of Rat. I am glad that I took some photos to record the intricate paper work, which I feel sure must have been destroyed by the storm that struck the whole island that night.

Chinese lanterns

We thought that we could walk to the cathedral, but transfered to the car. We were in for a surprise. Some years ago, in true Kiwi fashion they decided to put the old wooden cathedral on to the same site as the modern cathedral. In England we do it simpler - we build a new Coventry cathedral on the same site as the old one. They enormous task was to raise the whole huge, stain glassed wooden building 21 feet into the air on enormous trucks and tow it across the road. Apparently, no glass was broken and hardly a tile moved. A Professor Toy was the mastermind. (Did he invent Lego?)

The new goes well with old. The stained glass in both is stunning.

Underwater Rugby

Saturday was to be a busy day.

We set off for Sky City, but it came over cloudy. We decided that there was plenty of time to catch a clear sky later. The alternative was Kelly Tarlton's Unwater World, which was on the Tamaki Road back. We were among the first to arrive at nine o'clock. (It gets much too busy later - especially on a wet day.) The first part of the adventure is the Antarctic display which is a 'snowcat' train taking you around the penguin pool. Next there is a model of Scott's base. This is followed by the usual coffee bar, but this was near a very large open tank of sting rays. I sat for the tourist survey. (What did we think of our accommodation? Very good value for money.) Then came the main tunnel aquarium with sharks and other large fish. I did not do too well on the photography - low light and fast moving fish. Then out through some of the more usual tropical tank; including the Nimo one. Invariably through the shop and out.

Eel face

Zoe enjoyed the stop off at the Mission Bay park and it was home to a more relaxed afternoon.

The evening was very different for Ian and I. It was the first game of the season and was betweem Aucklands 'Blues' and the away team 'Chiefs'. Apparantly there are so few top league teams in NZ that we were watching the best, which included a number of 'All Black' players.

The pirate ship

Cheers

Car parking is a night mare. As early as we were it meant a long walk, mostly up hill. However, the bar not far from the entrance to the ground was a good refreshment stop. It was basically a high street 'barn'. It was packed full of non-smokers. There were all ages, sexes and even opposing supporters. There were even Kiwi males drinking lemonade. It was a very friendly atmosphere. How different from a Premier League match in the UK.

When they say take your partners, they are serious

The same friendliness was evident at the ground and it was set for a good family evening. The match started with the cheer leaders and entertainment provided by a pirate ship which exploded noisily and flammably as it went around the ground. I am afraid that I could not really follow the match. The first half seemed slow and well matched. (The cheer leaders did their thing a lot to ease the boredom.) By half time we (The Blues) were losing. There was a change of pitch after half time. and suddenly The Blues made an unbeatable lead. Every body was disappointed by lost opportunities and poor reffing; despite winning. Speights Ale flowed freely in the gound - in plastic bottles, because they sometime get thrown high and randomly for some reason.

The walk back to the car was more down hill. The evening was warm and dry thoughout and we got a little delayed by the Jazz and Blues festival going on at Mission Bay. But, we were home a little after ten.

On Sunday morning was the head ache. Not me, mum's migraine and she was out of it for most of the day.

One Tree Hill

In the morning Ian, Zoe and I went for a ride up One Tree Hill. So called, because it used to have a lone tree on top of it. The tree was destroyed by vandals and there is now an obelisk to mark the summit. It is typical of Auckland that now matter how steep the hill, a spiral road is provided, not only for cars, but for runners.

No Phone, No School, No Mum

On Thursday morning we went shopping to Sylvia Park. I was pleased that I had found my way there and almost back (no map needed). We bought a few household things from the store called 'Warehouse' which is cross between 'Wilco and Argos'. we had a good cup of coffee and tea in their coffee shop.

You now need to know that Sally was off on business in Christchurch for two days.

As we had lunch the front door quickly opened and closed and I rushed to see what was happening; only to observe Sally's car disappearing up the hill. Had we been robbed? No. Ian's car was now hidden behind the car port. This was when I discovered the first of two errors. One, my NZ mobile does not receive calls when it is on charge - besides that, you don't hear them when you leave them at home. The second we later found out is that you have to press the 'END' button on both house so that you can receive a new call. 'Bear Park' nursery had been trying to contact us all morning to tell us that Emily was ill. She had contunctivitous.

The medical service is so much different here. Both children were at the surgery within the hour. However, the medicines do not come with instructions and you have to listen carefully to the doctor. The real down side is that you have to pay at the time of the consultation. You reclaim on the bill from the insurance later.

This is typical; the two days that the childrens' mum is away there has to be a crisis.

On Friday Zoe was excellent for us.he allowed grandad to take here to day care and even return for her lunch box without fuss and say goodbye again. We were able to take Emily with us for a few minutes to St Heliers Bay. We bought two Cadbury Chocolate bars. The shop had a selection of flavoured bars like nothing we have in the UK.

Ian was set to collect the evening meal, but later he rang to say that he was stuck in traffic and could we collect the fish and chips. This meant a trip into St Heliers. This time we had Emily and her buggy in the car and Zoe walking. JN went off to the chip shop. This was fish shop through main shopping street and parallel to the beach road. It is not like a UK fish and chip shop. This shop also sold raw fish for home cooking as well as a variety of cooked fish in different finishes. Our was to be three lots of snappers, three sausages (for Zoe) and a portion of chips for three. The other difference is that you food does not sit pre-cooked soaking up fat. You are given a ticket to identify your purchase (you could go and do other shopping and come back) .

When got home so did Ian and shortly Sally; and we feasted on our NZ chip supper.

The Rangitoto Adventure

Rangitoto is something of an icon and a landmark for Aucklanders. It sits out in the bay to the east of the city and is visible from many viewpoints. It has a distinctive shape, having gentle slopes leading off to a sharper summit. It is only a short distance from the mainland. It appeared about 600 years ago and the Maoris would have witnessed it eruptive emergence from the sea bed. Europeans were only just beginning their voyages of discovery and conquest.

Rangitoto from Gendowie Reserve

Today it is a nature reserve and home to a small number of historic batches (a batch is a temporary holiday home.) It is covered with shrubby trees, a large amount of solidified lava is present. There are few birds and animals as food and fresh water is in short supply. The dreaded possum did make its way to the island, but has now been eradicated. It does not belong in New Zealand and is doing a considerable amount of damage to the indigenous wildlife.

On Tuesday IN and JN boarded the Fuller's ferry to make the twenty minutes crossing to the island. It was a bright start unti we were sitting on the boat. As we chatted to some Aussie visitors the rain began. It was still raining on our arrival but slackened of sufficiently to temp us to attempt the one hour climb to the top. It rained steadily for the greater part of the journey. we did have good footware, but no rainware. Part way up the sun came out and we were dry in minutes. After lunch we continued the climb, but stopped at the bottom of the last 15 minutes worth of steps, Enough is enough. There were good views of the city from various places, but generally the path was sheltered by the shrubby trees.

A view from Rangitoto

Having only seen the summit through the rain we looked back. For a brief moment the sky 'cleared'. But then a greyness descended and it was moving down the volcano towards us. Could we get to the only shelter in time? No!!! The final descent was along a freshly formed river which had been the path and across lakes that had been the tarmacced area. A few people had begun the drying off process. A larger number then arrived by tractor train. They were as wet as we were. The sun was then hot and our clothes began to dry, but did not do so during the two hour wait for the ferry and the half hour journey home. I was most concerned about the camera. It mostly dried out in the sun. (All the components were scattered on the wall) only the bag and the telephoto lens did not dry out until the following day. Everything and we are back in working order.

Rangitoto from the departing ferry

It was a good day with a real sense of achievement and adventure. Wew have plans to do it again, but this time when a cloudless sky is guaranteed.

The Domain

This was my first drive into the City proper. We followed the coast road; turning left into The Strand, which should have been a left and right to continue on Road 16. However, we finished up going down Parnell Rise, which became Parnell Road, with, eventually a turn into the Auckland Domain, which is essentially a big park with Auckland Museum near the centre. We were able to park in a free space near the museum and enter the main area. There was a notice suggesting a donation of $5 each. but, actually, there was a pay desk where cutomers paid their $5. (Could we have walked passed?)

A view from the museum over the domain

We were actually headed for a photographic exhibition. This was on the third floor and all the lifts were out of order. (Did they know that I was coming?) We followed the sign to the gallery, but like all NZ signs they don't necessarily mean what they say. With a little help we made it. The exhibition was the work of a photographer who had been involved in the anti-nuclear protest movement, but now photographs flowers. I still find it difficult to believe that a friendly power could deliberately sabbotage a ship in friendly waters causing the death of a photographer. A telling slogan photographed said, "If its safe, why not test it (an atom bomb) in Paris".




We got to the ground floor in time for the Maori show. We glimpsed the Maori performers, but had not paid to see the show.

Maori performers waiting for the show

The journey home was easy.




In the evening we took Zoe to the beach and much later on drove to Mission Bay; taking a night scene of the city lights.

City lights

Friday, Saturday (8th, 9th)

Not a lot to report. JN getting carried away in cataloging books. IN enjoying house work.
Mum and Sally did the Pack n Save trip. Ian and Dad stayed with the girls. Saturday passed rapidly.
On Sunday mum and I went to the Anglican church. Ian and Sally took the girls to Kelly Tarlton's underwater world. The Anglican service was simple and straightforward, following a set service. Communion was interesting in that there was a choose between taking a wafer and a common cup, or having a wafer dipped in wine.
The one person we met after the service was a steward who had actually been to Milton Keynes; infact to a wedding at Hanslope, near to where Sally and Ian were married.

Two Days Around the House

On Thursday we had a low key day. After taking the girls to the Bear Park Nursery and doing the usual daily jobs, we drove off along the coast to the next large area know as Mission Bay. The sand is good and the Domain (park to non-kiwis) is pleasant. Their are many eateries (four Italians in one block).

Mum at Mission Bay

Mission Bay is close to the city centre and is a most popular tourist stop. There is great view of Rangitoto. The city is hidden around the corner and, but the shipping is very visible, as is second world war gun emplacement on the top of Mount Victoria.

Auckland Zoo

Waitangi Day - a public holiday celebrating the treaty between the Maoris and the white colonists. (Still a bone of contention). What better way to use the day than to go to the zoo.

The zoo is quite a large area and is well laid out. The enclosures are large and not over crowded and you either look down into them or through glass sheets. The family have a pass and it it is one of Zoe's favourite outings.

As always the visit starts with a cup of coffee which you sit with until the gates open and you are invited in. So, with camera in one hand, tripod in the other and coffee in the other. (how many hands?)

The first enclosure was Zoe's favourites, the giraffes. After this came the rhinos.

Rhinos going head to head

Zoe moved at a reasonable pace through the exhibits, stopping to climb to the top of quite a high climbing frame. (Dad was just behind.)

The tiger calls for its mate

The highlight of the trip is, most certainly the tigers. There is amale tiger in one enclosure and a female in another. Ocassionally they change enclosures. This ahd just been done and the tigers were in active persute of one another.

Breakfast at Butterfly Creek

Butterfly Creek is near the airport. It consists of a restuarant at the entrance, an aquarium (one tank has Nemo in it.)

Nimo in a tank at Butterfly Creek

After this come the butterflies themselves, hot, sticky, colourful, but worth it.

Butterflies at Butterfly Creek

Then comes the farm bit, with the usual small animals and a train which does 2 rounds of the area. Inevitably there is the shop. And home. A great Sunday morning.

The rest of the day was frittered away- playing with the girls, eating, drinking and watching "Nimo" for the umpteenth time. (We see at least once a day.)

The First Few Days

Saturday most definitely did not exist for us. I had counted out one weeks tablets and the following Sunday I had only used six days supply.

Sunday was resting. Monday was a bank holiday which meant a trip out shopping - food mostly, but Ian took me to Dick Smiths to buy a LowPro camera bag and professional tripod. It is the only way that I would get a LowPro bag and it is worth the money. Ian bought a 250 gig portable hard drive.

Hang gliding at the edge of Glover Park

On Tuesday Irene and I had a day to ourselves. There is a great view of Rangitito from the top of Glover park (volcanic crater). I did a complete computer reformat and re start.

On Wednesday we took the girls to Bear Park nursery in my Subaro. I am now much better with the automatic. We then walked towards Auckland Centre arriving at Ladies Bay which has superb views of the city with Sky Tower predominant.

View of sky tower from Ladies Bay

On Thursday we drove to Glen Innes and along to the spit that juts out into the Tamaki River. There were acres of sand the day was hot, but the whole area was deserted despit it being the Summer holidays.

On Friday; disaster. The Auckland roads are un-navigable. We did eventually get to Howick - back Sylvia Park shops and then a bedshop (on the way home). Well it would have been on the way home if we had known were we were.

On Saturday Ian and I did Pak 'n' Save, Dick Smiths for memory and a cup of coffee. Sally then took mum, I and Zoe to Devonport (a one hour driver over the harbour bridge) to the hairdresser.

Los Angeles

Sepulveda Boulevard

The Hacienda Hotel was delightfully tacky Mexican. The consierage unhelpful, the lifts slow and half out of action. The bedroom lacked a kettle - it had a coffee machine instead. The restuarant was altogether different. The staff were super friendly and the meals good, but cheap. You needed to like meat-meat-meat. Huge amounts.
We did not sleep well and watched early morning TV - People and trucks were snowed in on the hills, rain was the order of the season. We even saw Arnie trying to pursuade the voters to vote for various laws in his smiling, non-threating manner. (Vote, or I'll be back).

Christian TV was appaling. There was a half hour show about how to take advantage of people who had come into mortgage areas; no cost; no risk; live the life style without the effort.

We managed a damp walk to the Pacific, alongside oil refineries and oil wells.

Gaming - Catholic Style

The Catholic church knows how to fund Christian education. All you do is hold roulette sessions in the school.

LAX is a strange airport. Avoid it if you can. You pass through boarding and security procedures so fast you don't have time to find a drink or needed food. Not quite true. There is a bar some great distance from the departure lounge - great for tired passengers to get to. When we got there we could only get a small drink to spare having given too many dollars to homeless children. We should be feeling good, but we were thirsty.

At last boarding time came. There was a great delay because they had changed the onboard bag allocation. So, all the duty frees were laid out on the floor, put into bags, labelled and put ina supermarket trolley - presumably to go to the hold. We then joined a queue of overladen passengers (what had suddenly happened to the new regulations?). The all the passengers were herded on to standing room only coach - very hot and airless for a 30 min drive down the runway, across the runway, back up the runway to a conrete ramp to board the plane. Guess what - the supermarket trolley was waiting at the bottom of the ramp for the unsuspecting passengers to collect and take on board.

The trip was a uneventful night flight. We saw a couple of movies and woke up near NZ to a blue sky.

Leaving the NZ airport is anything but quick. Bio-security is very tight. But Ian was waiting for us and we were soon in their home. My slippers were thrown at me as I entered the door. Zoe was too exited for pleasantries.