Happy New Year!! I hope everyone had a good xmas and new years with the family and friends. I have heard some sad news from back home that my aunt&uncle/cousins on the Peardon side lost two grandparents over xmas and new years. I'm really sorry to hear that, and hope you guys are doing ok.Since the last post I've been trying to keep myself busy doing things like checking out all the parks in the city. This time of year everyone books about two weeks off for summer/xmas holidays and it seems like the whole city has nearly shut down. It has been pretty hot a few days and we managed to get down to the beach, but the water was freezing! So I only stuck a foot in, which was enough to cool me right down. I miss the 29degree waters of Thailand. We saw a clip on the news that they had to evacuate one of the beaches for a few hours because there was a shark hunting in waist deep water.
One adventure I had a few weeks ago started when I hopped in with Aaron and his kids for a run to the shops for some last minute xmas shopping. As soon as we got out of the driveway we saw this SUV that was driving all over the road. At first we weren't sure if he was just being a jack ass, or if he was drunk. So we followed him around and after he nearly ran over a guy on a bike we called the police and followed him until the cops caught up with him. After they pulled him over they asked us to give the officer a statement about what we witnessed. Well they happened to be filming "Highway Patrol" in that car, which is the NZ version of "Cops"!! So I'm pretty much famous now, as soon as that episode airs... haha. Anyway, the cop said that the driver was extremely intoxicated, so it was a good thing we came across him before he hurt anyone and ruined someones xmas.
Another day me and Terra decided to walk a few blocks over to Mt Eden which is an extinct volcano and also the highest natural point in Auckland. On the map it didn't look too far, and it was hot out so I just wore my flip flops... not thinking that I would have to climb up the volcano once we got there. It took us over an hour to walk there and make it to the top, but it was well worth it. The view was amazing! We had a clear 360 of the entire city and could see from one coast to the other. The way down was a little bit harder than going up. I was following Terra down one path and she was going slow and moved over to the grassy part for more grip, so I decided to zip past on the path. A second later I was on my back sliding down the red dirt path haha. My shorts, shirt and camera was covered in red dust and my arm was a bit chewed up from the sharp volcanic rocks haha. I guess I should have worn shoes.
The other thing we have been doing is checking out some of the parks around the city. One day after we got our bank accounts set up and tax number applications sent away we grabbed a large pizza and coke from domino's and pigged out in Albert park on a nice sunny day. It was so great, you have no idea. I could hardly move after, so we just laid in the grass and listened to music for about an hour while it all digested. Another huge park we came across is called the 'Auckland Domain' it took us a few hours to explore it and we still missed this huge museum in it. We'll have to go back and find it one of these days.
We were having some trouble getting into the Xmas spirit with out having any snow, or family or Christmas food around. So we found a dollar store and bought some light up Santa hats and xmas poppers. We were still missing something though, so xmas eve Terra, Jason and I decided to set up the Christmas tree... on xmas eve haha. We had a pretty good time, and I think it helped quite a bit. How many times do you get two dozen beer for xmas from Santa!!!
Christmas day we headed over to Patricks place to have a big Xmas BBQ out on the deck. Mike and his friend Marie (who just flew in from Spain) also came over to join in. It was a beautiful hot day and we sat outside sipping our cold beers tending to the massive feast we had cooking on the barbie. It wasn't quite gramma's cooking back home, but it was a sufficient replacement. We ended up walking home that night and stumbled across this street where every house had a huge light display. There were thousands of people driving and walking down the street to check out everyones display. I guess it is a pretty big deal!
On Dec 30th our room mate Jason took us out to Rotorua, which is a mini adventure town where you can do all sorts of crazy activities. Its about 3 hours drive from Auckland, so we left at the crack of dawn so we could have a full day there. We decided to do some luging first, so we had to catch a gondola up the mountain. There are 3 different tracks to do, each a different level of speed and difficulty. Going down the hill in this little cart was a blast! We were cruising down the hill, taking some wicked S curves and there was even a spot where you catch some air! The corner right after the jump I was always taking a bit fast(cause I wanted to get as much air as possible haha) and I ended up flying into this sand bank, when I went in all I saw was sand flying up all over me. It was there to stop you from going over the ledge, and I guess I got a bit close haha. 
The next run down I took it a little slower on that corner. On the way back up we were stuck on the lift just as it started to pour. It rained from the moment we got on the lift and stopped as soon as we got to the top. We were completely drenched, and there wasn't anything we could do about it being stuck in a chair in the open. It didn't matter much cause we got back in line and ripped down the hill again!
After spending a few hours luging up and down the mountain we went over to 'Hells Gate' thermal pools. It was a hike in the bush around boiling mud pools, steaming lakes and even a hot waterfall. It reeked like sulfur, but was really cool wandering through the area. I guess it was a very sacred spot for the Maori because of the waters healing properties. From here we went down the road to the Polynesian Spa to soak in some hot spring pools beside the lake. The pools had a great view over the lake and different temperatures of pools to choose from. It was a relaxing end to a fun day. This little excursion was the first time that we had gotten out of the city since we have been here. We were getting a bit stir crazy being stuck in the city all the time, so it was just what we needed.
For new years we met up with Mike and Marie down in the Viaduct Harbour where we could have some good views of the Skytower and a big selection of bars to choose from. We started off at an Irish pub called O'Haggins that had a live band playing. Just before midnight we took a walk out along the harbour and went into a club called 'Waterfront' for a few quick shots before the count down. We managed to get outside and make our way through the people and scored a sweet spot to view the fireworks show just a few minutes before the countdown. It was a pretty impressive fireworks show, but not quite to the scale of the Sydney new years eve fireworks. It was
still nice to be able to stand outside and see a good show without freezing my butt off! We had a great time ringing in the new year with new friends in a new city on the other side of the world. I couldn't help but think of friends and family in the year just past and all the amazing things that are to come in 2009.Yesterday we just chilled out at home and tried to get rid of the hangover from new years. It was so hot and sunny out and a perfect beach day, but we couldn't find the energy to take the bus all the way down to the beach so we just sun tanned on the deck at home. I was sitting in one of the chairs on the deck for a while and came in to grab a drink just as
Terra was coming outside. The next thing I hear is a huge crash and Terra moaning! I ran outside to find her laying under the chair. It looked like the chair had exploded! There were pieces of wood everywhere! I couldn't help but laugh my butt off haha. I don't know how she managed to do that, cause last time I checked she weighed less than me and the chair worked just fine when I was using it. No more big macs for Terra I guess. hahaha. This morning she woke up with a nice purple bruise across her thigh. I still break out laughing each time I see it...Well I hope everyone had a good holiday season! Thanks for the Xmas emails, and talk to everyone again soon!
Nate.
