So it's nearing a month now that I've been out of the country, and for the most part there are no complaints. Not only do I have a roof over my head and clothes on my back, but - hell - I've even managed to snag a job! In between all of that I've done quite a bit of wandering about my local area in the process, trekking Waiheke Island's 25 miles of coastline and hiking densely grown sub-tropical inland trails (and occasionally wandering haphazardly about country roads with virtually no sense of direction). Yet, although I've done quite a bit of writing and blogging about my time over here thus far, it has occurred to me recently that I haven't done much a job at putting a picture to my thoughts. That being said, this week's update will hopefully shed a bit of light on to what I'm discussing in the future if I bring up my job, house, or livelihood for that matter - just think of it as a nice little point of reference for your reading (and viewing) pleasure.
That being said, let's have a run through the basics...
Alrighty then, so pictured above in the bottom right-hand corner of the map is a photo of New Zealand, the tiny little country I'm calling home. Not the one next to it, I repeat, not the giant country above it. That would be Australia. Also, for the record, New Zealand is NOT a part of Australia, in fact, the Kiwis' relationship to Australia resembles that of our own with Canada. That being said, New Zealand is a 14-hour flight away, which is just as awful of a flight as their Aussie counterparts. So basically, I'm on the northern of two islands on a country at the bottom of the earth neighboring the Antarctic just to the north. Why is this country not entirely just f***ing freezing as Greenland, as it's just as close to the Earth's poles? I have no clue. Science is weird. Okay, anyway, moving on...
This is Auckland, the city I first flew into and current reside (sort of, I'll explain later). The best analogy I can draw for this spot is reminiscent of Los Angeles - well, maybe like, Los Angeles's younger brother. Okay, Los Angeles's younger, malnourished brother. It's a gorgeous city of a humble one million, but as far as relative professionalism or profitability are concerned, it's right up there with the best of them - per-capita at least. It's not necessarily the cultural mecca of the country but has the fun for sure - sports, waves and nightlife.
But I'm on a little island just off the coast off Auckland - about a 40-minute ferry ride out to be exact.
After a brisk drive (or a relatively agonizing uphill walk), we're home... Well at least for the time-being. 35 Burrel Road is a perfect little spot sitting atop a crest overlooking Huruki Bay, the physical embodiment of the phrase "Location, location location."
.... Which brings me to the back porch, aka the place I tend to take my morning coffee. This would be the "Huruki Bay" I mentioned a second ago. Yeah, it's rad - don't have much more to say about that one.
So provided I don't have a day with work pressing me to return to the actual city of Auckland, must of my daytime is spent exploring the island's many beaches (like this one at Rocky Bay, pictured above)...
Meandering forested trails (like this one through Whakanewha National Park)...
...Or stumbling up rocky trails along the coastline (like this one at Fisherman's Rock).
Or presuming I'm not in quite the adventurous mood and care to better myself, there's one quaint little gym on the island - and in the case that I'm feeling particularly unproductive, there's also a couple of great bars on Waiheke, my favorite of which being a little Irish Tavern by the name of Malone's that I've visited on quite a few occasions already. Although neither of which are pictured - as they're nothing too special in appearance (well that, and I've generally been a bit too under the influence to prioritize documenting one of these locales).
But, say I am called in for a day at work, it's off to the ferry yet again for a shuffle over to downtown Auckland.
After a cruise over from the island, I'll thumb through the wharf downtown...
Up through the heart of the city...
...And to the outskirts of the city, in a suburb called Ponsonby. As of last Friday I took care of my first shift at a local gastro-pub, BurgerBurger, ironically serving American sandwiches. The hospitality business is all sorts of fun for me as a traveler, as damn-near everyone I serve tends to be all sorts of curious about where I'm from... And lucky for these people, I enjoy to talk. The job is doing quite well other than the absolute torture I personally experience dumping away untouched burgers that customers leave behind.
All responsibility, activity and social interaction aside, though, this is likely where you'd find me; perched in my hammock on the edge of a beach somewhere, dozing, reading, or pondering the next thing to write. Island life is a mellow life, and with big city hustle a mere stone's throw away, the current residence is a perfect marriage of the simple life and the social life.
Oh, and if anyone wants to ship me some Flaming Hot Cheetos, that'd be great.
