Going trans-Tasman

I hopped over to New Zealand for a few days last week. No big deal.

It was AWESOME! Jenny, Amy (one of the Aussies who is also in our program) and I went to Auckland, which is located on the North Island and is the country's largest city.

We spent about four days there--a short visit, but we covered a lot of ground. We spent time in many of the city's most popular districts, including quaint Devonport, Parnell village, chic Newmarket, up-and-coming Ponsonby and the very eclectic Karangahape Rd. (known locally as "K Rd."). Our hotel was also located on Queen St.-- in the heart of the central business district.

While our visit was condensed, I learned quite a bit about New Zealand. First, New Zealanders pronounce their "a's" and "e's" like "i's." The people are also incredibly friendly and polite, which was refreshing to say the least. In many ways, New Zealand reminded me of Vermont. I'll never forget noticing how natural the locals looked when I visited Vermont in 2006. The women were fashionable, but they didn't pile on the makeup or look "loud." That's how New Zealand is, and it's so different from Wollongong. To put it plainly, New Zealand is to Vermont as Australia is to California.

Also, New Zealanders care a whole lot about the environment. The air is so clean and the city actually seems to be doing something about sustainability. The public transportation system is the best I've ever seen. They have a "green" system of Link buses that cost only $1.60 (no matter where you get on or off) and take you everywhere in the city. The buses are popular but not overcrowded. Being so cheap and with its huge network of stops, it's a great incentive not to drive.

I also learned that New Zealand greatly reveres its Maori heritage. The Maoris are the indigenous Polynesians of New Zealand. The Maori presence is much more apparent in everyday New Zealand life than the Aboriginal culture is in Australia. Many public signs are written both in English and Maori. Maoris have assimilated into the mainstream culture in a way that the Aboriginal culture hasn't. Maori Tiki men are sold EVERYWHERE. And for some reason, it seems a bit more genuine than the wooden boomerangs you see migrants selling at the seedy markets here in Oz.

Speaking of seedy markets, most of our time was spent shopping and exploring the sprawling city. Really is a beautiful place. If you're ever a three-hour flight away, I strongly encourage you make the trip. Really, though, it's worth the trip no matter where you're coming from.

Top pic: Amy and I at the Devonport ferry station with the Auckland skyline behind us. The tall, pointy structure in the middle of the skyline is Sky City, the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere.

Bottom: A stone pathway winding through one of the shopping nooks in Parnell village.