First Impressions
I'm in the Fat Dog cafe waiting for my order of fish and chips with my wine and water. I got in just in time and now there's a huge queue. I'm feeling privileged to have the table all to myself and computer. The trouble with writing a journal is your holiday doesn't stop to let you write. With a paper one you can use those few minutes in between things- not so easy with a computer!
So New Zealand first impressions....
1. Really really fresh air- I felt like I was in toothpaste commercial that minty fresh zing! I have a bit of a runny nose cold and I literally feel like I'm having a sinus clean out! My skin initially went all dry but it seems to have adapted now. Haven't experienced this in the UK- its bit like going skiing, but not so cold, just clear, fresh and bright.
2. Green and spongy. From the air the land looks like it's covered in moss. I'm told there's rain most days but it seems to be light and over quite quickly. Much less drama than Thailand rain!
3. The streets of Auckland seem pretty similar to Australia- a kind of Melbourne, Sydney mix (sorry I'm sure I'll get the subtleties of NZ culture soon!). I remember searching for warm clothes in Melbourne and finding nothing open but souvenir shops and convenience stores. Same here (although I've brought plenty of warm clothes this time). Here's an abundance of fast food joints but also quite a few Asian food cafes. The streets seem to be filled with young Asian people- students?
4. Its pretty easy to meet people here. It’s my usual thing to chat with people I meet but generally I'm greeted with wary skepticism. Here people seem to treat that as normal and talk back! I seem to have people around most of the time without any effort! Probably the most off putting thing I can do is sit here with my laptop at the table on a sat night! People seem genuinely interested in where I'm from and tend to have some connection with the UK somewhere in their extended family. I think most have traveled at some stage in their lives. More so than in the UK but then perhaps this is only because I'm in a big city.
5. I've had several discussions about crossing the road. Whilst dodging the traffic on Thong Lor, my friend Christina got v excited telling me how cars stop at crossings here. What she didn't say- and perhaps its just an Auckland thing was that the little green man only gets I made my Japanese friend yesterday when I reminded him to press the button
at the crossing (who knows how long he'd been waiting!). He then pointed out that the green man is 'animation' (walking action!) and it changes when you're half way. Later my dancing friend told me you can cross all the ones on Queens street diagonally and regardless of the colour of the man, the lights change after 23 seconds- so I'm all prepared now!
6. Service people are naturally friendly and helpful but definitely on the same level as the customer. It's so nice to be able to ask for what you want in English let alone having people with a nothing's too much trouble attitude. The difference I noticed was with my young Japanese friend who just about got his English enough to order his sandwich but didn't manage a please. In return he got service without the smile. (Apparently in Japan you're taught that you treat the customer like a god, I guess you wouldn't expect a Japanese god to say thanks!)
7. Food comes piled high on huge plates. On my first day I went to an Asian food court for something light. But the Vietnamese noodles I ordered were about 3 times the size of anything I've ordered in Asia and included large chunky crunchy vegetables. The next day I just had snacks and this morning I didn't feel too great. Near the bus station was a nice cafe and I decided I might be needing a 'proper' meal. I ordered fish and chips but moments later one came for a lady on the next table. I was amazed to note that she was quite petite but she was about to tuck into a huge plate covered in chips and with 4 or 5 battered fish fillets piled on top. I rushed to stop my order and change to the soup- which was much more manageable even though it was a large bowl with 2 bread roles. So, as I haven't 2 friends to share with here, I've ordered fish and wedges with a glass on wine and whilst writing this so I can pace myself. It is however really delicious.
8. One last observation. The architecture is mainly low rise. I love the colonial buildings given new functions and the modern Auckland dockland area. It's interesting though that so much goes on around the one really high building- the sky tower. Going to the top was v rewarding as I felt I'd been able to understand the layout below. I had to go again to the bus station and I understand the cerocers carried on dancing in one of the clubs there. Not satisfied with having visitors look around, take photos and visit the cafe, they want to push you off the top to do a sky dive or at least get you to walk round the edge outside. The 'dive' goes past the viewing area for extra entertainment / embarrassment- why would anyone want to do that?!
I've now just arrived in Rotorua and will update you on Dancing in Auckland and my experiences here soon!
