Hey Mate

 Glen Innes

So, I took the 1505 train from downtown to central Glen Innes (GI). Popped over to McDonald's for a caramel cookie McFlurry (cuz I was hikin' it home the rest of the way) only to find this middle-aged male picking recyclables from the rubbish bin....

Rubbish Picker: "Hey mate, how ya?"
Myself: "Not bad, heading home"
Rubbish Picker: "Man, you're really tall and handsome - you must get the ladies man!"
Me: "Yeah....."
Rubbish Picker: "Seriously man, you're c*ck must stick out high and straight for all of 'em man. At my age, it goes weak and down."
Me: O.O "You betchya"

I am flattered, really.

Guy Fawkes

Remember remember the fifth of November.... Seriously, I thought it was just a movie and not an actual celebration (I'm using the 'I came from a blonde mother card'). But I had no idea people actually celebrated or recognize the occasion - with fireworks! For those needing an easy as history lesson, here's a nice lil website. So, to keep in the Kiwi spirit, I celebrated the occasion with some fireworks and drink (the sunnies were required as it was quite bright).

Movemeber

I sure hope all you male's are raising mens' health awareness! If you're not, not only will mums back crack when you step on that sidewalk crack but dad's prostate will take a serious blow. Ladies, this means you too: no more bleaching that upper lip hair!

Mine almost looks like this ;-)

Future

After 8 lovely months residing in down under's cousin, I have finally decided upon my shortlist of what the heck I'm gonna do.

1.  I'm currently filling out the paperwork to work in NZ for another 12 months (from March 2013). Thus, I could be working here until March 2014.
2. If #1 doesn't work, I'll be doing a working holiday in Australia for 12 months
3. For a variation of #2, I'll travel to Asia for a wee while and then do a working holiday in Australia for 12 months.
4. Return home.  
5. Whatever I please. 

 

A Flipper Note

 To honor my hard work ethic, I celebrated Labour Day on 22 October by heading up North to the Bay of Islands. James Cook came to New Zealand in 1769 and charted both North and South Islands, giving the area its present name. There's 144 islands in this bay mate! (Next time I'm going off the grid with only a kayak, a paddle and myself - plus some drink.)

A Flipper Note

What better way to explore 144 islands than on a dolphin and harbour cruise. Firstly, I was able to see a HOLE IN THE ROCK! Talk about seeing something world famous! Yupp, it's exactly as it sounds.

Tourist Trap

Windy and Blue

The Skipper on the Explore NZ Bay of Islands told me quite a bit of new information relating to dolphins aka (I forget the fancy as scientific name). However, they have sex nearly 20 times an hour and the female dolphins have this amazing reproduction ability to simply not choose to give birth after having sex with an incompatible partner - shame Todd Akin became confused between people and dolphins.

I see dolphins

Otehei Bay on Ukipukapuka Island (that was the verbal password to regain entry to the boat) was literally in East Jesus Nowhere. But delicious! I'm camping out there next - remember, when I go of the grid! (It's Point A on the pic below)

Birthing a Nation

Any history buff, non-history buff, tourist or individual who can take a breath of course is drawn to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, or the place where NZ was born. As I'm not a NZ citizen or resident, I forked over the $25 for this amazing tourist trap (seems to be a common theme here).

I witnessed where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed (that's like the American Constitution in Kiwi-land). Yup, you guess it, this treaty was just as bloody and long as any other new country founding. How they understand it is beyond me. Pretty sure most high school teachers would give ya a big 'F' for turning in a paper like this:

Treaty of Waitangi

The Waitangi meeting hut (or Te Whare Runanga for those learning Maroi) in Waitangi is jaw dropping beautiful. 'Runanga' means "to discuss in assembly" Carvings are of tribal ancestors with major tribal art styles being reprsented in the reed panels (tukutuku) and painted rafter patterns (kowhaiwhai). The pictures below don't even do it justice. I'd solemnly declare you must see this with your naked eye!

Meeting House

The Maori Waka (Canoe) puts to shame anything I've seen. The thing was massive with such intricately beautiful carvings - just like the meeting hut! Minimum of 76 paddlers required as it is 35 meters (or 115 feed) long.   Yes, each carving has a different meaning.

Ngatokimatawhaorua (Yes, that's the name of the canoe)

A Kauri tree I did see. What a behemoth this is. Of course the wood was used for canoe and ship building as well as timber. According to DOC (Department of Conservation), these trees live for 2,000 years and have a 16 meter (52.5 feet) trunk girth.

Chopped Kauri tree

Russel

Nicknamed the Hell Hole of the Pacific. The first NZ licensed pub was here....now we all know where that glamorous name comes from. A bunch of whalers don't exactly create a utopia. What a boring sh*t hole this place was. One thing I did find is New Zealand's oldest operating service station (building dated 1930):

Gasoline Alley, Russel NZ

 

756, 757, 750, 755

Thank-you, Driver, for not going on strike. Seriously, you get me to work (mostly on time) in the morning. But none-the-less I have joined in the standard chorus of 'hello, driver' as I enter the bus and 'thank-you, driver' (with a hand-wave I may add) as I exit the bus. Just taking the Minnesota Nice aspect up to par to the Kiwi level.

Urban agriculture. The neighbours have a flock of chickens, roosters and other loud farm animals. Plus, there is a cattle pasture just over the hill behind the school. Look! There's a CHICKEN at the bloody bus stop! 

Bus Stop @ Waiheke Island

I am so freakin' tired of winter and the cool, rainy, miserable days it brings. It has been an entire year since I have last resided in the "summer season". I may have forgotten how to operate in such sunny, beautiful weather.

No worries though, the Nana's I speak with at work often invite me to their south-island homes; often saying "oh you've got my contact information in front of you, just take me number and give me a ring when you pop down for a wee visit". Sure thing Mrs. Webster.

Doing my weekly shop @ the supermarket - I shop the American way still - I stumbled across Wilbur (minus Wilbur's body). 

So I made Roast Pig's Head:

I beg you a pardon?! I ate salad for like 2 solid days! Then I craved me some bacon. 

All that [make-believe] fancy cookin' reminds me that I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...   

...dreaming those white caps in the ocean will be mighty big. Christmas items have popped up in some of the stores already. I forgot it was the 12 weeks of Christmas. Maybe I should make some roast pigs head. 

In U.S. news...

....I've submitted my request for an absentee ballot....

 ....so I keep going on the kiwi style...

....the safe way of course ;-)

Oh it's good to have some humour now and again. Cheers for that!

Hugging Trees

Welcome August

The All Blacks popped in for an office visit. Okay, so it was just Ali, Dan and Richie (but no haka performed). Shame I didn't figure out who they were until they left (I am not an avid rugby fan). Didn't even get a bloody pic!

A Spring-y Welcome

Since I continually strive towards my express ticket heaven, I simply had to celebrate Daffodil Day! For a gold coin donation ($1 and $2 coins = GOLD here) ya get a sweet as lil daffodil flower. Thank goodness the peer pressure of having to wear it wore off once I returned home.

As I'm springing in to Spring since 1 September - no relation to the equinox here - it has gotten very, very wet.  Case in point:

Sunshowers are a guy's worst enemy and something I've never experienced in such high frequency. I'm tired of being wet - and not in a fun way! ;-)

Little intricacies, like the exclamation point below, I still don't understand. What am I suppose to be watching for when the sign simply states !

Answer: Watch-out! [For all the drama queens]

Evarything was all so yum! ;-)

Holidays

Drink up y'all! As pictured below, this mountain is held back by empty beer bottles. 

@Driving Creek Railway, Coromandel NZ

 We had to chug up the entire mountain all the way to the eyefull tower....

...so our eyes were filled with views like this! (OK, OK so the one above is in the mall. No worries, I'm entered in the draw to win my trip to Paris!)

Driving along the 309 on the Coromandel Peninsula was poop-my-pants terrifying. Believe me, that if I drove the car off the side of the mountain it would take quite some time to be found.

Driving along the coastline we had to stop and take pics of the views every 2k's. Even though the view was basically the same (shore, ocean, other shore) it just had to be done! To be honest, the pictures don't even do justice to what's seen by the naked eye.

Can you go 80kph (50mph) around this?!

 The road is that bloody close to the ocean, it literally crumbles to the ocean floor as you pass over. That, and you hold your breath as you go around each tight as corner.

As American as Apple Pie

Sweet baby jebus, Martha's Backyard sells all the American goodies! Little Debbie, Kraft Velveeta Mac N Cheese, Cheez-Its, Solo cups, Twinkies and everything else that's amazingly American. Prices were very New Zealand however....

Cheez-Its: 27.50 NZD / 22.75 USD
3 pack Poptarts: 8.00 NZD / 6.60 USD
12 Pack Soda: 18.50 NZD / 15.33 NZD
Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal: 9 NZD / 7.45 USD

I only splurged and bought me some oatmeal cream pies for 9.50; and promptly ate the entire package within 48 hours (I don't wanna hear any judging from all y'all!). 

Where in the world is Derek?

Get around much?

Upcoming agenda items:

• Tour the Lemon and Paeroa factory in Paeroa, NZ. It's a soft drink made of lemon juice and carbonated mineral water and I'm now addicted to it. Of course it's now made by an American co, Coca-Cola. 
• Camp at Mt Tongariro in my campervan! The mountain just erupted this past August, so it shall be a thrilling adventure! 
• Exercise. Instead of paying for 4 stages in bus fare, walk one stage. That saves 3.80 each working day AND I get my daily exercise in.
• Rangitoto Island. So I can get in touch with my natural side. 
• Organise my pictures. However, most of the time I just can't be bothered. 
• Wipe off the coffee stains on my desk. 

Ta for now!

Two reasons this blog is not kept up-to-date

Flyin' High

I told ya I believe I can fly ;-)

The weekend is there to always get out 'n about in Auckland City. Jack, James and of course the Cap't (I need one as I'm in the City of Sails after all) and I with a few other friends head out to make it a good time. The only problem is that there are not enough food establishments open from 3am to 7am - sometimes I just want a crappy Perkins breakfast at 4am, or some Taco Bell! Don't worry, I have the below to keep track of these memories ;-)

"KIWI DOINGS: FOR THOSE DOINGS THAT CAN'T BE SHARED ONLINE :)"

 Since I'm a bloody tourist, I go ape over any views of downtown Auckland and any other tourist trap. Thus, I just had to stop at the Salvage Memorial. #112 on the memorial list I must say - so I don't remember what it's about (I have a picture of it somewhere).

This is it. 

I love it.

Another "sunny" day in the city!

Of course I'd like to fly a kite. Since Auckland is a windy city (that's how one is able to sail) what better activity to do than fly a kite on the bluff.

Mr. Krabs

It's like the Macy Day Parade

It's real life Crush!

Jump! Here's my fake Chester (he just doesn't toot as much)

Kiwi's count horsies instead (sheep are too realistic here)

 Boxing Day.

Finally I popped over to Juice Bar in Parnell, Auckland for my flatmates boxing fight. It was sparing so "there are no winners, there are no loser; just athletes having a good work out" (Wikipedia never told me of such a thing!). Nonetheless it was a grand 'ol time - there was blood, so at least there were some good fights to watch.

I'm sure it's an official sized one.

That is some one's daughter, so close that mouth!

Reps from the Auckland Paraplegic Association 

Just never say never about anything

Of course me flatmate had one of the higher energy fights.  It's a good thing he wasn't paired up with the Asian Infusion guy - although, that would have been an intense fight. 

[When I'm not so lazy, I'll upload my flatmates fight video. I'm sorry, I don't have 255 minutes to watch it upload at this time]

I Misplaced my Holiday.  Again.

This working holiday seems to becoming a bit too much working with not much holidaying. I volunteered for overtime which, funny enough, I hear is taxed even more than your regular tax. At this  rate, I should be eligible to go on the freakin' dole when I please.You know what this means?! I'm planning more holiday's :D

Now, who misplaced the wine?! I seem to be all out of it; and what an absolute disaster Transformers: Dark of the Moon is.

I Believe I can Fly

 No, I was unable to find gaudy American attire to wear on 4 July! Gosh darn I sure tried though!

My American flatmate from Georgia - he's a full on bible preaching, gun touting, Obama hatin' Republican complete with accent - moved back to the states recently. I don't care where you are from, everyone gets on well with a drank in hand. Nonetheless, the flat is now a quieter place now that we're down one.

And what's a better way to celebrate going back to the States than an impromptu rock-climb session! Nothing like being sore the next day for your 18 hours in airport world.  

Curt, Kane and their Missuses.

I wouldn't trust the two of 'em a bit

Competition: Guy love. 

Don't worry y'all, even though we did celebrate with a night downtown I did manage to get Kane back home for his flight. No leaving him in the train station overnight this time! Have a blast Kane and hope all goes well for ya!

Queue time.

Going back to that rock climbing, what kind of cheats do we have?!

Sneaky cheat.

Hah, that's redonk.

Superhero man.

Anyway, coming back to me (after all, this is all suppose to be about me), I have some news:

Westpac, my current employer here in New Zealand, has offered me a permanent role within their Insurance and Investments team as a customer service representative. Fun? Not as much as you think. But, I'm learning all the trickery of investing and insurance buying. This does also mean I'm applying for a 2 year work visa and then, from there, a possible resident visa. Scary. Thank you Minnesota State for reminding me of that great times in college - it's quite fun paying off.

I'm like magic :-)

I piad 6 New Zealand dollars for a can of Pringles. I'm going to go enjoy those now.