Playing Catch Up
The story so far . . .
Auckland, well, not so much. It's an alright city. A bit high fashion and yachtie for my tastes. I wandered around the wharf and K Rd. (the 'hippie' area). It's quite expensive also, although the bowl of steaming green-lip mussels and pint of Stella (thanks Jay) were well worth it. I did kiss my first Kiwi. I was wandering past the outside diners on Princes Wharf when I heard someone shouting and pointing at me. It was a hen (bachelorette) party, and they'd decided that the bride-to-be had to 'snog the next bloke who walked past'. I offered myself around to her friends as well, but no other takers.
I do want to touch on the food (surprise) for a sec. I'm really pleased to find that Indian food is available in abundance, you can even get a masala dosa from a stand. Also, doner kebabs which can rival the Mission's lavosh wraps. I've passed on the little meat pies and other english fare thus far, although I have enjoyed a fried egg sandwich with chutney for brekkies.
The bus from Auckland to Gisborne takes 9 hours. It passes through rolling hillsides teeming with sheep, cows and cervena (herds of deer). The North Island was formed through volcanic activities, and I could smell the sulfurous mud pools of Rotorua as I ate my truckstop lunch. I expected a bit more upon my arrival in Gisborne. I chacked into the Flying Nun Backpackers - former nunnery and first training ground of NZ's famed diva Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. Gisborne is a shipping port with some of the best surf beaches and the main area for Chardonnay production here. It is the first place on the planet to see the sun rise each new day. It's also pretty undeveloped economically and touristicly. It is the main town on the aptly named Poverty Bay, where Capt. Cook's cabin boy Nick, first sighted the NZ coast. I saw alot of empty storefronts and big liquor stores. I left having only visited the cellar door (tasting room) of NZ giant Montana, which owns 70% of all of the vineyards here, and was recently purchased by Allied Domeq - not very good wines - and a boutique winery/cafe /cheesery called The Works that had a nice Chenin Blanc. Next time through I'll hire a car and get out to surf and sip in better style.
Next up: Napier, the Hawkes Bay region and Toad Hole, ummm, Hall.
Auckland, well, not so much. It's an alright city. A bit high fashion and yachtie for my tastes. I wandered around the wharf and K Rd. (the 'hippie' area). It's quite expensive also, although the bowl of steaming green-lip mussels and pint of Stella (thanks Jay) were well worth it. I did kiss my first Kiwi. I was wandering past the outside diners on Princes Wharf when I heard someone shouting and pointing at me. It was a hen (bachelorette) party, and they'd decided that the bride-to-be had to 'snog the next bloke who walked past'. I offered myself around to her friends as well, but no other takers.
I do want to touch on the food (surprise) for a sec. I'm really pleased to find that Indian food is available in abundance, you can even get a masala dosa from a stand. Also, doner kebabs which can rival the Mission's lavosh wraps. I've passed on the little meat pies and other english fare thus far, although I have enjoyed a fried egg sandwich with chutney for brekkies.
The bus from Auckland to Gisborne takes 9 hours. It passes through rolling hillsides teeming with sheep, cows and cervena (herds of deer). The North Island was formed through volcanic activities, and I could smell the sulfurous mud pools of Rotorua as I ate my truckstop lunch. I expected a bit more upon my arrival in Gisborne. I chacked into the Flying Nun Backpackers - former nunnery and first training ground of NZ's famed diva Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. Gisborne is a shipping port with some of the best surf beaches and the main area for Chardonnay production here. It is the first place on the planet to see the sun rise each new day. It's also pretty undeveloped economically and touristicly. It is the main town on the aptly named Poverty Bay, where Capt. Cook's cabin boy Nick, first sighted the NZ coast. I saw alot of empty storefronts and big liquor stores. I left having only visited the cellar door (tasting room) of NZ giant Montana, which owns 70% of all of the vineyards here, and was recently purchased by Allied Domeq - not very good wines - and a boutique winery/cafe /cheesery called The Works that had a nice Chenin Blanc. Next time through I'll hire a car and get out to surf and sip in better style.
Next up: Napier, the Hawkes Bay region and Toad Hole, ummm, Hall.
posted by Sur Lie at 11:05 AM
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