Best Damn Sport in the World

So, as I sit here screwing around the day before school starts, I came across this website for the Bouldering in Canterburry. I'm headed there in April, yeeeeehaw!

Castle Hill

Today is the beginning of cycle to work week in Auckland. The mayor rode into Aotea square (in the center of downtown) on a roadbike for the 10th annual event. It's good to see people peddling. Although I always suspected evolution resulted in feet to move the gas pedal. Cheers

The Auckland Harbor bridge at sunset. Note to cyclists, there is no way across this section of H2O

Albert Park, near the University

Albert Park

Cox's Wash, a small little slough. It's quite an ecologically diverse area for basically being in town.

So international student's pub night was a blast. There was a bit O' headache this morning though. Your head does not spin the opposite direction here in the southern hemisphere, I found out. The international staff gave each of us name tags with certain terms on them; you had to go find 3 other people that your tag relates to, and you could collect a prize. I had "America's", and I found a French dude who had "Europe" and a German girl who had "Africa". We never did find "Asia" though, so someone else got a prize. It was still fun just walking around and talking with people from all over the world. One word on NZ beer though, their darkest beer, I mean their DARKEST looks like tap water with a slight ochre tinge to it. It's better than nothing I suppose. They have excellent Asian food and Sushi here in Auckland. Oh and here's the quiz for the day. What do Kiwi's call Bell Peppers? Anyone...Bueller? Well, they call them capsicums. I have never heard that term in my life. It sounds like a pill old people take. Though to be honest, I've never heard living way out in the middle of no-where (or Boonies, BFE etc.) called "way out in the Wap Waps". Say that in your best Kiwi accent and it should crack you up. Anyhow, take care back in the States you people. Props to my cuz' Justin who is also abroad. Cheers!

P.S. Little known fact, you can get sunburnt in about 6 minutes in New Zealand. Somebody send me some Ozone stat!

Quicky

So, I've endured orientation this week, which actually isn't bad at all. The new international students, myself included have had the opportunity to attend talks on traveling, the NZ political scene (you apparantly can call the Prime Minister up at her house, no Joke!) and other aspects of student life. It's been rife with fun. I'm headed off to international student pub night, so this has to be a quick one. Before I go, we had a couple of earthquakes last night, a 3 pointer and a 4.5. It is apparantly the first noticable earthquake since 1970. Still it is nothing like a good California Joy ride. Later!

A few random pics

Myself at the Fiji Airport. Thanks for the idea Richard. I fell over moments later.

Sunset at Viaduct Harbor, Auckland

A view with Auckland in the Distance (from the west)

Piha Beach. Awesome views and fun surf!

I thought this was funny. I love Rice Krispies but I don't know if I'll eat anything called

"Rice Bubbles."

I miss Mexican food already

So I've been down here a week or so, and life is pretty good. The sun is shining, women are scantily clad, birds are chirping and School's about to start. Oh how that last part would make me shudder in my youth, but I'm looking forward to it. I've got a couple of weeks to explore before it starts though. Auckland is a vibrant, fun town. The main artery of downtown is Queens Street, and it is packed with shops, cafes and a million other places to explore. I realize my inexperience with big cities is showing through here, but it is fun to be surrounded by 1000's of other people looking for a good time (and I don't mean it that way you pervs, or should I say, wankers). One thing though, are all big cities this dirty? From the looks of things, sidewalks here are constructed of cigarette butts and gum, and there are plenty of rats with feathers flying about, i.e. pidgeons. Oh, and I've come to the conclusion that maniac drivers exist everywhere. They also have kids here with car speakers that sound like, in Dave Barry's words, nuclear detonations going off in rythm. Hmmm, New Zealand is not so different in some ways, but let me list a few things I noticed that are:

1. Bacon is Ham, they just call it bacon. I'm a fairly healthy eater, but dammit, Ham is not bacon.
2. Bowling in New Zealand consists of old farts rolling around wood balls on astroturf.
3. y'know how people drive on the left side of the road here? Well it translates to walking as well. I never realized it, but when you are on a collision course with another pedestrian in New Zealand, their first instinct is to merge left, the same as we americans merge right. I've nearly ran straight into a number of folks. Sidewalk chicken requires much more evasive action here. Good thing I've got spin moves.
4. The sports section in the newspaper consists of rugby, cricket and horse racing. No big suprise there, but they also love Sailing in Auckland. It's a BIG deal, something I have never experienced.
5. Speaking of Newspapers, their newspapers here are not standard size, they are huge. This makes them difficult to read.

Anyway, I gotta go, but there'll be more. Thanks guys!