aucklanders against scientology

we were walking up Queen Street, central Auckland, and came across a group all dressed up in costumes, including masks.

They were protesting against the church of scientology members who were handing out DVDs on the street!

good on them for getting out there and doing something about the crazies!!

I think they were part of Operation Clambake

Here's a copy of the pamphlet they were handing out:

Auckland

had a great time in Auckland, it was so quiet and easy going and made for a very relaxing break :)
I was pretty surprised at how quiet it was, I was expecting big city hustle and bustle, lots of people all racing around with plenty to do! Instead there was no one around - the main street of the CBD was practically empty until about 3pm on Saturday afternoon. We ate brunch at the Viaduct Basin where there were several restaurants and cafe's with only a few customers each.

I was also really surprised at how warm it was - it was definitely warmer than in Melbourne, we didn't need to wear a coat, even at night time. I think the difference between Auckland and Melbourne is the overnight low - in Auckland it didn't get nearly as cold as Melbourne so first thing in the morning it wasn't so cold and it only got warmer during the day!

A couple of other things we noticed:

• everyone pays by EFTPOS for everything! even a $3 coffee or a round of drinks at the bar!
  
• the dairy or corner store is called a superette
• (Reid thought) everywhere smelt like pee
• the harbour bridge was smaller than expected
• giving way to the right is really annoying! It means that there are several phases of lights at every intersection - turning cars, then straight ahead cars, then turning cars, then straight ahead cars on the second road, and somewhere in there pedestrians get to cross. I'm sure if we had been there longer we would have worked out the pattern, but I felt like we spent a LOT of time waiting at the lights!
• Cars don't give way to pedestrians. In Australia if a car is turning into a side street, approaching an intersection, or pulling out of a driveway/car park they give way to pedestrians - in New Zealand if you are on foot WATCH OUT!

Here are some pics


Warning at Auckland Wharf


Beer and Wine at the Occidental Bar Vulcan Lane


Deb @ the Domain


Winter Garden @ the Domain


Reid outside a Marae at the Auckland Museum


Auckland Museum


Reid & Deb at Orbit Restaurant - Sky Tower
The Orbit restaurant rotates at the top of the Auckland Sky tower. We had a really clear night so had a great view!!


Sky Tower Auckland


View from Sky Tower Auckland


View down from Sky Tower lift


Reid & sting ray at Kelly Tarltons
I was a bit disappointed with Kelly Tarltons - the penguins didn't have much room for swimming or wandering about!


Penguins at Kelly Tarltons


More penguins at Kelly Tarltons


Star fist at Kelly Tarltons


star fish at Kelly Tarltons


Funny fish at Kelly Tarltons


Pub in Auckland

rugby

Reid and I popped over to Auckland for the recent All Blacks v England rugby game!

The trip was great - a nice long 4 day weekend, a great game of rugby, nice warm weather (for winter).

There was a free bus from the CBD to Eden Park. Then after the game there were heaps of free buses ready and waiting to take us back to the CBD! Very well organised!

Here are some pics from the game!


Reid @ Eden Park


Pre game entertainment


Me with a hotdog!!!


Kick off


Packed terraces!


A scrum (random pic)

perfume pagoda

Reid and I both woke up with colds so pumped ourselves up with cold and flu tablets, and soldiered on!

We headed out by minibus for a tour to the perfume pagoda. On the way we came across our first (and thankfully only) traffic fatality. A scooter had collided head on with a tourist minibus – the scooter driver had no chance! We then passed the grieving family gathered around the body that was covered in a blanket and laid out on the road. After seeing the way the Vietnamese drive I am so grateful this was the only accident we saw, it was all pretty sad!

The pagoda is a one-hour boat ride from where the minibus dropped us off. The boats are tiny and all rowed by women – they must be so strong, I would totally back them in a dark alley confrontation!