New Year's Eve

I just want to say I had the kind of New Year's eve you never imagine you are going to have. My hotel was directly across from the Sky Tower in down town Auckland. I was on the twentieth floor with a balcony looking directly at the tower. I started my evening with a beer in the local bar downstairs and then went up and watched people bungy jumping from the top of the tower. That was strange enough until around 11.45. I was coming back up to my room when the Chinese desk clerk got on the elevator and said "do you want to go with me to the roof"? That is exactly how he put it, so I was quite unsure how to respond to a young Chinese guy inviting me up to the roof until he said "fireworks".

I sat with the desk clerk, several other staff and some other guests and watched one of the most spectacular fire works displays literally over my head to the sound of Maori drum beats and war chants below. I couldn't make this stuff up folks.

Later that night the TV announcer stated that New Zealand was the first major city to bring in the new year. Very cool...I thought to myself.

Second Day in Auckland

Woke up to a beautiful sunny morning over Auckland. Attempted to wash some clothes in the hotel room washing machine and was confounded by the number of buttons and instructions needed to wash a t-shirt, two pairs of socks and some underwear.

Auckland is a cool city and it is surreal to see so many Maori girls dressed in trendy clothes looking very European except, that most of them are my height and look like they could easily take me in an arm wrestling match. It is refreshing to see that the culture and world of these original inhabitants is ever present in the art and every day existence in this city. This morning I watched a channel dedicated to Maori art and dance and their presence and impact is evident everywhere you go.

Good to see.

Finally

Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand.

It simply means "land of the long white cloud." After a thirteen hour flight spiced with moments of complete turbulence terror, we came down through the long white cloud and flew over white capped breakers and moss covered hills. One of the most stunning approaches to a landing I have ever experienced.

After inspecting the bottom of my boots and looking over my tent and other equipment I was deemed to be free of any biological contamination. Ten minutes later I was hopping on a bus and having a late in down town Auckland.

Time to explore.

Twas the night before my insane mid life trek

I am sitting in my father in-law's house with my wife and daughter the night before I fly to the other side of the world. I would like to say that I am studying maps and checking my equipment as most hardened world adventurers would do but that would be a lie. I am watching my daughters' first season of Glee DVD collection. Instead of checking weather alerts in the South Island, I am listening to show tunes wrapped in a snuggie. I am ready for my adventure to begin.