Auckland Isn't Starting out to well

[Hugh R]

Got here at 5 AM and its been pouring rain all day. Tough city to drive in if you not used to it, left hand drive and all. Left my NEW Ipod Video (the one I got for xmas for this trip) on the plane, they can't find it. While parked to go to an ATM I got a $40 parking ticket because I didn't see the parking kiosk down the block. Its cool in the 50s and this is their summer. Did I say its absolutely pouring rain? Hope the rest of the trip gets better. Plus I've gotten three wrong numbers from Los Angeles on my cell this afternoon. Wonder what they're going to cost me in roaming charges.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Geez, sounds like a rough start Hugh. The first 3 hours I was in Dublin I spent driving in circles looking for my hotel....frequently on the wrong side of the road.

Took me about two days to stop reaching for the shifter with my right hand.

Too bad about the iPod, too. Well, there's always YouTube, right? Did you ever get in touch with CamB?

[Hugh R]

Actually I think I will PM/email CamB. I contacted Bill Douglas, but he's in Wellington several hundred miles south of here. I really shouldn't complain, after all, I'm thrilled to be here, especially on someone else's buck. After a 12 hour flight (in coach) I guess I'm just a little cranky. I'll post some pics. We're doing a tech scout all over the North and South Island.

[CamB]

Email sent back to you. I'm around/available/would be keen.

It's fair to say that summer isn't interested this year. I've been in India for 3 weeks (I came back on Sunday), and apparently the weather was crap every day from when I left ...

[Hugh R]

Hey Cam:

Very cool, I feel better already. I've got a lot of travel around your country through Friday, but I'm free this weekend and sometime next week.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Sorry to hear your trip isn't starting off. I had a similar experience 3 years ago getting into Auckland. Had plans to stay on the North Island for 2 weeks, but met some folks at a Starbucks and they convinced me to fly to Queenstown on the South Island and take 4 days for the Rees-Dart Tramp. Bought a tent and even though I'm a novice hiker, it was the best vacation I ever had, especially ending at Raglan for a little relaxing and surfing.

a few of over 200 pics taken. it's the only time in my life I haven't thought of work.

[nostatic]

you need to bump to business class. I flew coach over to Beijing, business back. Totally different experiences. I'm going to try and stipulate that if I have to fly over 8 hours that work has to pay business. My old boss had it written into his contract that every flight was 1st class is they had it. It's good to be king...

[dtw]

Agreed with Todd. Domestic flights we're allowed to fly direct even if is more expensive than multi-leg flights - international we're allowed to fly first class.

Hope the rest of your trip shapes up better than the start, Hugh. Any interesting projects on the horizon?

[MFAFF]

Sad to hear it got off to a poor start...hope it gets better...a bit of sun in the southern Alps should bring the spirits up nicely....

BTW I'll try to trump you guys on the traveling....BA Business to Beijing from LHR.....


















But a GV home....only 4 of us...plus three crew....

Then a helo from London Luton to Battersea and a chauffeur driven car home.....those were the days...

[legion]

Wasn't RedUFO from NZ?

Could you pay him a visit Hugh?

[Hugh R]

Things are getting better. Got a good nights sleep and did our tech scout to Coromandel Peninsula and looked at beaches and bluffs. Spectacular scenery! Tomorrow we take a charter plane to the South Island overnight and back to Auckland on Friday. I spoke with CamB last night and he's going to try and get us to some car races this weekend. Combination of rain and sun, and in the 70s. Not too bad.

[nostatic]

now i remember why i pondered emigrating there...

no sheep?!?

[Hugh R]

You know..... I heard they found a new use for sheep in Palmdale.............Wool!

[Hugh R]

Today on the South Island.

Did you know that NZ has about 4 million people and about 40 million sheep!

[J1NX3D]

hehe, ratios worse in Aussie... and they have that beastiality thing :P

About 1.2-1.5 million are in auckland alone. Its pretty spread out and not many people from the rest of the country like it there. It has the highest amount of boats/ yachts per capita of anywhere in the world hence ' city of sails.'

i get home to nor'west auckland on Tuesday and I cannot wait. Ive been keeping tabs on the weather. Im hoping it will rain itself out by the time i get home.

Jan- Feb is supposed to be the hottest time of the year.

Try and do the West coast, lewis and arthurs passes, hamner springs, queenstown, christchurch, dunedin, kaikoura, fiordland and marlborough while you're in the south island!