Auckland
Fri 13th Feb
I had an ok sleep. The phone alarms went off at 07:30. Just after 08:00 I was settling down to my cereals and toast. 08:45 I handed my room key in and walked slowly to the bus hub.
At 09:35 the 4W started the half hour to the airport. Because it had started to rain, the bus driver dropped us off right in front of the terminal…the actual stop was a bit further on. I actually operated the check in machine myself, and sat in the lounge…an hour and a half before departure.
We left on time at 11:45 so arrived in Akl on time after 13:15. Unfortunately I had to wait a while for my rucksack to come off and I ended up just missing the 13:40 SkyDrive into the city. The next one…a doble decker…arrived after half an hour.
Lots of passengers. Lots of traffic initially. We arrived at Skytower about 14:45. I went straight to Choice. There weren’t any private rooms available so I decided to just go for a 4 bed dorm…on condition that I got a bottom bunk bed. 5th floor; given my own bedding; no towel included. How different to getting a private room…but they do cost at least double.
I made my bed then headed off to Woolworths for provisions and on to Fiddlers for a beer. Talked to a couple of Aussies and they bought me a beer. Back at Choice I cooked sausages, noodles, sweet corn with a chilli sauce.
I labelled my food and put it in a fridge. I took my half bottle of wine to the lounge downstairs and relaxed. The French girls put on a little dance show to their favourite French song of the moment.
I finished my wine and went up to the room. A third guy had turned up, who was a little noisy, but at least he wasn’t in the bunk above me.
Sat 14th Feb
Quite a good sleep considering the guy in the top bunk was fidgety. I like the 5th floor as it has 2 showers, so less likelihood of having to wait. I paid for two days in a private room at 140Nzd , or around 60Gbp. So, 30Gbp versus 13Gbp…more than double, but worth it.
After 08:30 I was over at Sierra having my chai. I had to buy a second one as I knew I would be on the phone with Phil for a while.
It was an overcast day with a few drops of rain. I walked down to the waterfront, passed a demonstration in support of Iran, and along the yacht marina. There are some huge and amazing yachts. I watched a bridge get raised to let a couple of yachts through.
At the bus/coach terminal I checked if I needed to buy a ticket in advance for the SkyDrive to the airport on Tuesday. Not necessary was the answer.
I ambled slowly, looking at buildings and shops. In my room I noticed my phone needed charging, so I thought that once that was done I would have an early dinner. I was cooking around 3pm…the same as the previous day..sausages, noodles, corn, but with the tomato I brought up from Nelson.
Late lunch was tasty. I walked slowly in the direction of Fiddlers, but had a chai along the way. I stopped off at Woolworths before getting to Fiddlers. I had a couple of pints there before going back to Choice. I had to wrap my kikoi around me; the breeze is very chilly.
At Choice I drank a whole bottle of wine..very bad of me !! I played on my phone; I watched all the ‘goings on’ around me. A fourth guy had arrived in my room, but everyone was relatively quiet; sometimes it works out okay.
Sun 15th Feb.
I had a good sleep in my 4 bed dorm. After a shower I went for my Sierra chai. I greeted a Nigerian guy. Back to Choice where I shaved, packed, stripped my bed and went down to reception to check out.
Then it was a question of how to kill 4 hours. I wandered the streets. I had another chai. The sun came out briefly and I went and sat in Albert Park. In a square near Choice I heard loud drumming and came across the Cook Islands log drums performing.
I reached Choice after 13:30 and sat in reception charging my phone and waiting for 14:00 for my room to be ready. My room number was 10E, but the lift only went as far as the 9th floor..!!! I was certainly confused…until another guest told me that only the other lift went the extra floor to the 10th..!!!
Nice room…well, it’s private…nice view. I left my Samsung to charge while I went to the 3rd and cooked 4 sausages and the rest of my sweetcorn. I added some chilli sauce.
The task of the day was to book a hotel in Nadi for Tuesday as that’s an immigration requirement; at that point my stress level diminished. After reviewing the cheaper ones, I settled on Sailors Beach for one night. I’ll see what happens after that.
I waited until after 4pm then went to Fiddlers for a pint. The wind was rather chilly outside. I headed to Father Ted’s, only stopping at the supermarket to buy a packet of crisps for my room for later.
I drank Kilkennys and spoke to a couple of people from Mumbai at Fr Ted’s. And then to my room in the early evening. It’s easier to retire to a private room than to a dorm room.
Mon 16th Feb.
I had a good sleep; the receptionist was right about it being nice and quiet on the tenth. Nice not to be worrying about your possessions. I went for my morning chai. The weather was better.
I washed my socks. I went walkabout and stopped for another chai. As the sun had come out I went to Albert Park to enjoy the sunshine and get my socks to dry a bit. I popped into the supermarket to buy 6 buns to have with my sausages and the tin of tuna I had carried from Nelson.
I returned to Choice and ate two tuna sandwiches while my phone was charging up. Further walkabout to find an off licence that sold miniatures of spirit for my room for later. I found a Liquorland and bought a small vodka for 13Nzd or nearly 6Gbp.
I went to Fr Ted’s for a bevvy then on to Fiddlers for their happy hour. I knew I was overcharged by 6.50Nzd but she’d already poured it and I didn’t want to make a fuss. Anyway, the barmaid came over after about 20 minutes and admitted she’d made a mistake and refunded me the 6.50 in cash. I thanked her for her honesty and bought another for the right price !!
Back at Choice I cooked my remaining 3 sausages and used my bread rolls with a dab of chilli sauce. I mixed the vodka with water and drank some of it down in reception, then I retired to my room.