nolife

Awake again.

Slept pretty well even though the wool blanket just barely covers my body.  Woke when the sun filtered in through the skylight.

Its raining out, I discovered as I headed to the toilet.  Brushed my teeth, watered my face/head, headed to the internet.  $3 for 30 minutes. [On dial-up]

Popped off a good email & cross posted it to ChattaLAN.  Checked my pack on the net only to get an odd response about it being located and the airline was confirming.  No idea.

Back in my room for a bit – preparing for my trip to the cape by lightening my load.  No books for now!

I’m really proud of my box from the Pak N Sav.  Silly, but its my pack for now!

Scroggin for breakfast.  I dumped the sucky chicken fried rice in the trash before bed last night.

Boy, sleep was sudden last night.  I was writing, I was sleeping.

I think the blood vessel that had burst in my eye must have healed itself overnight.  Sleep is healthy!

The rain is a superfine mist – probably the same stuff that ruined dad’s camera!  I think a girl that walked into the common room said it best, “how dare it rain?”

Upon checking AccuWeather, though, its not supposed to rain today or all week.

Took a shower – wonderful.  Hot water, high pressure and just getting clean.  The manager loaned me a towel for free since my gear is missing, otherwise it’d be another $1 gone.

Bought my tour ticket, too.  I got a discount for buying it here – nice surprise!

Decided to go to the internet cafe since its cheaper plus the chance of people and food.  I got none of that.

When I arrived, I found a “back in 5 minutes” note.  I looked around me and figured 5 minutes was just a number, not a promise.  Plus it looked like only cofee and no people.

Oh yeah, I nearly forgot – I stopped at the phone (the only phone at the hostel is a payphone 200m down the road) and called Air NZ to check on my bag I listened to 5 or 6 Elton John tunes in a row and gave up.

Then, using my credit card I called David in Glenorchy – for no answer.

Anyway, I trudged back from the closed cafe and while I was doing so, decided I’d eat at the pub.  Dad always said they were good.

Maybe, but I thought I was going to get my ass kicked before I could find out.  I stepped in and found a British stlye pub/pool hallf/off track betting.  I nearly immediately left.

Dinner?  Chicken fried rice… too much of it.  $8 for lots of rice and very little crappy chicken.

(Fell asleep writing…)

[I've] been in Kaitaia for just about an hour, I think.  I got into the airport late because of some sort of mechanical delay.  The ride was pretty wild, being such a small plane and a windy day.

There was a woman on the plane who was quite uncomfortable with the wole deal – worrying over the taxi, the other planes in the pattern, everything!

I did my best to reassure her, and I think I did alright, but who knows… I may have just come off as a jackass.

Anyway, as we pulled into the airport, I spotted a small building and chalked it up to being maintenance or the like.  Of course I was wrong – it was the “terminal” and this was the one commercial flight for the day!

As the people scattered and found their rides, I looked around for someone to take me!  I spoke to a woman that was sending someone off and she pointed me toward the man loading the luggage onto the plane.  Once he’d cleared the tarmac, I asked him where I could get a lift into town.  He replied, “I’ll take ya.”

I smiled, probably real big on the inside, because I realized thats what this whole thing is about!  Relax – take it as it comes.  Its nice to hear them say “no worries” since I’ve taken to saying [it] a good bit.

Noel, the airport manager, drove me in his rather beaten up, older car.  He gave me a brief history/overview of the area.  Not much tourism.  A Japanese owned lumbermill is the main source of income.

I told him I was going out with Harrison for the cape tour and he explained that the woman that had been with him at the airport was their daugther-in-law!

He dropped me off at the mainstreet lodge, right next door to a KFC!  He bid me “good on ya” and a “no worries” when I thanked him a dozen times.

I checked in and came to a full realization as to what a real hostel was!  I mean, I knew in my head, but being here is totally different. (more…)

Ate sushi.  Forgot coupon, which I just realized.  Shrimp tasted like it needed cocktail sauce more than wasabi.  The salmon was fishy and the white chewy.  The tuna was about the only thing worth having.  $15 for 9 pieces of nigiri – $20NZ.  No choice on the product, plus it had been prepared earlier.  Can’t blame them – they are in an airport!

Been in Auckland since 0630 and I’ve been hunting my pack nearly ever since.  Walked to bagage claim, made my complaint and headed to customs.  Once there I had to explain why my card showed lots of delcarations, yet all I had were my shoes!

I walked 1km over to domestic after running into the statesman that does marketing for a software company one last time.  Nice guy – spending 6 days on a whirlwind business trip.

Checked in for my 2pm flight at 7:30am.  Bought 11 postcards, 11 stamps and 1 roadmap for $35.90… my first dealings with NZ cash.  Should have used my card but I’m not thinking too well.

The chef just came out to the counter area.  He is wearing a purple rope band around his head.  Some sort of tradition?

Wrote 10 cards and mailed them.  I check on the pack twice during that period with no change.

Oh!  Fresh fish. Or at least whole fish.  White fish is being cut now.  Seems to trim away a bunch of it.

I paid $2 (one coin) for 12 minutes of internet time during which time I was able to get off a few short emails and check on a wierd bank notice.  I understand [why] mom & dad’s emails seemed rushed… that time runs fast!

Oh – got to call Amy and Susan for a good bit.  Amy was at Nabe! :)  Not Susan, though – she was at work.

Listened to my voicemails.  One from Nixon in a fake british accent, two from Susan. One after getting home from Atlanta, another after her flowers arrived.

Not much else going [on].  Everyone I’ve spoken to so far has been super nice so I have no doubts that this will be a fun trip.

Too bad I don’t have a watch!