Back in the USA

(please hum "Born in the USA" while reading the title of this blog posting...thanks)

After 23 hours of travel back to the USA, I am safely back home! Yay!

On the way to the airport:

Apparently, when it's frosty outside it will cause the axle on one set of your tires to repolarize randomly while driving.  Otherwise, I am unsure how you create those skid marks.

At the Auckland airport I had a 3 hour layover.  The highlight was probably a young boy leaving the toy area with a new whoopie cushion.  He'd run 3 or 4 paces ahead of his dad and the throw it down on the floor and sit on it.  If the noise wasn't quite right he'd bounce up and down until satisfied.  (Repeat from "run 3 or 4 paces" ad nasuem.)  The pure joy on his face was pretty cute.  And apparently Kiwis don't get mad at children making noise in public places.

I also liked this wastebasket at the Auckland airport:

So...is there a lot of spitting at the airport?  And it happens in the walkways?  Are Spitters (I use a capital letter here because I think they probably deserve a formal group) willing to walk all the way to the bathrooms to spit at the toilets?

I'm glad to be back.  Didn't enjoy the return trip as much as the trip out there...probably because I wasn't really ready to be done with vacation.  I'm happy to be in my house, slogging through my work emails...  It's good to see my cat again.  It was nice to reconnect with Becca and S.  But I do miss Calle already!

Last Day in NZ

Calle and I went to Martinborough last night and stayed in this really fabulous hotel. Today we went down to the coast to hike. We saw rock formations called "The Pinnacles". Then we went to a local winery that one Calle's friends really likes ("TK") for a little wine tasting. It's been a fabulous trip...but I'm a little sad to leave Calle and NZ behind.

Who has drawers in the kitchen this organized?
Calle relaxing with the wine from our winery visit. ;-)

The Pinnacles

The parking lot for the hiking trail...

The drive after the hike...

Beach - black sand!

Funnies quote of the day? "It's bush cleavage!" Calle pulled in a little far to our parking spot and the shrubbery outside our hotel room was crammed into the front of the car. heehee!

Wandering around Wellington

I spent Wednesday and half of today (Thursday) exploring the downtown area of Wellington. Yesterday I did some shopping - mostly book stores since I can never resist a book store. Today I've been to the Wellington Museum (has history on this city and bay specifically), Olympic Museum (New Zealand was involved in reviving the Olympics!) and Te Papa (to see the colossal squid that was pulled out of the ocean on a fishing trip near Antarctica a few years ago). I'll leave you with a random assortment of what I saw around town.
Interesting apartment building...
The "beehive" is an interesting (and somewhat controversial) piece of architecture. It's part of the government buildings and apparently some object to having such an odd/non-traditional building for an official building. I can't really get a feel for the architecture here, though. It's very eclectic.
Even the office buildings are interesting. You can also see all the wires from the trains.
Close-up of the orb...I forget the story on it (sorry).
This is a courtyard down by the bay with near the library. There were lots of interesting statues in the vicinity.
I love this quote - the headquarters of the verb!
There are lots of signs around town that are funny to me. These were a couple. The one on the right was on a billboard outside a Prebyterian Church.
Even if I have no idea what this says, I like it. The plaque by the statue simply said "Spinning Top" and listed the artist/year/medium. It was in a little courtyard-type mall between two high-rise buildings that sloped downhill to the main street. Note the cyclist - it seems like lots of people commute by walking or cycling here. Cycling looks fun (lots of steep hills) but there are virtually no shoulders and I have yet to see a bike lane. Keep in mind that they drive on the "other side" of the road here too -- I'm still learning which way to look for cars (and here's where that kindergarten advice of "look both ways before crossing" comes in handy).
Cute statue in another little courtyard mall.
Wire sculpture outside of Te Papa Museum.

Land Ho!

On Sunday morning we got up bright and early to catch the ferry from the north Island (and the city of Wellington) to the south island (landing in the city of Picton). It's a 3-hour ride across Cook Strait, so the ferry shows movies in transit. The movie was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but we didn't watch and instead opted for a bit of time on the deck as we pushed out into the harbor and then breakfast.

It was an uneventful trip to Picton, the highlight of which might've been tryingto figure out the older gentleman that seemed to be video-taping the cafeteria on his digital point-n-shoot camera. I offered for Calle to make a diversion (see how nice I am? Calle gets to do the fun part!) while I snatched his briefcase to see what we could learn from that. In the end none of us were motivated enough to care.

After a brief stop at the grocery for food/beverages for the boat, we caught a taxi to the port in Waikawa where we were renting the yacht ZigZag. After some paperwork and an orientation to the boat we were on our way (about 2pm local time) for a sailing adventure in Queen Charlotte Sound!
ZigZag
Calle Sailing!

Sunday was a beautiful day -- but this was bad! It meant there was no wind! Sailing is more challenging without wind. We were able to do a little bit and I got to observe all the 18 billion ropes that go into operating the various sails and whatnot on a yacht. I also got to observe the tiller operation...I learned that the easiest way for me to remember it (when I don't have time to run through the fluid dynamics of force pushing on a rudder at this angle will move the nose opposite of the handle) is that I need to point the handle where I want the "butt" of the boat to go. I learned a few words to add to my vocabulary from scuba diving (that vocab is bow, stern, port, starboard):

• vang (some rope-y thing on the bottom of the main sail -- no idea what it does, but I like the word)


• tiller (steering device/lever)


• tell-tales (little pieces of yarn on the sail that tell you if the wind is hitting it right by how they move)


• tack (a zig-zag basically where you shift the front sail from one side of the boat to the other because the wind shifted)


• mainsail (the big sail that's on the mast and the one with the boom that shifts and you constantly conk your head on)


• jib (the smaller sail in the front that is the one you shift in a tack)

We had to motor most of Sunday due to the lack of wind, but (like I might've said) it was a great, low-key learning day for me. We moored in Camp Bay (Endeavor Inlet) for the night.

Monday was a bit different. We had a southeasterly belowing in making lots of whitecaps on the water. We had lots of wind for sailing, but we also had a bit of drama and had to harness ourselves onto the boat because of the unpredictability of the wind/water (and my lack of experience). Even though we'd practiced the man-overboard drill on Sunday, we didn't have to use it (I stayed on the boat, thank you very much). We sailed until about lunchtime and then found a little cove to tie up to a dock in. We were waiting for the storm to finish, but it never did, so we stayed tied up there all night. My advice to you is to remember a deck of cards when you go sailing. Calle and Mal are great people and fascinatingly entertaining but I wanted to do something other that talk! I can't remember the name of the bay we stopped in, but my best guess is one just west of Blumine Island.

Tuesday was perfect! Calle and I started the day with a dip in the bay - talk about taking your breath away. I was in and out of the water so fast I am not even sure I got wet. C-O-L-D water!!! We had nice amounts of wind for sailing and instead of just watching, I actually tried helping on the tacks and I got to steer for a while! Fabulous! Not sure I need another expensive hobby but I might look for sailing lessons when I get back to Colorado this summer. We saw some penguins swimming around while we were sailing - pretty cool!
Calle and Mal preparing to sail
Penguins! Pitt Rehab - it's a sign that I saw Penguins sailing - the Pens are going to do well in the playoffs!
For Rico - we are fabulous!

We were back in the marina by noonish and took a taxi to the 2pm ferry back to Wellington. We saw dolphins jumping in the waves during this ferry crossing. Calle and I have divine take-out Indian food (after I had an even more divine shower) and watched some TV before calling it a night.

Kiwi Hat Trick!

In the Auckland airport, I logged onto the internet, sent a couple work emails related to the work I did on the flight from Denver to LA, and then truly closed off the work part of my life for the next 9 days.

I took a couple pictures from the plane as we were landing in Wellington. After we dropped my stuff at Calle's place, I took a quick shower (so there *was* a shower in my near future) and then we headed out for the day. Calle's goal was to keep me up until 7 or 8 pm. We walked downtown by the bay. We had a cup of coffee by the bay, did some people watching and checked out the yachts. (Actually the coffee was a "flat white" – similar to a latte, but apparently with lots more foam. There's also a latte on the menu, so I have to figure out how those are different later.)
First Sighting of Wellington!
Cannot wait to be there!

Then we headed out to the Wellington Zoo. The "Zoo keeper says" signs there cracked me up. My favorite animals were probably the Sun Bears.
Zookeeper Says (like Simon Says?) Check out the "x" on the giraffe's eyes.
Sun Bear
Chimps with a view of Wellinton (and a rugby game)

But the most important thing is: WE SAW A KIWI! So I got my hat trick already!

• I met Calle's neighbors (Kiwi person).


• We went to the Wellington Zoo and saw the Kiwi birds (they're nocturnal! So I couldn't get a picture.)


• On the way home we stopped at the local market for some Kiwi fruit.

Tonight we went back up to Calle's neighbors and watched a rugby match on TV while barbequing on the huge grill they have. The match was between a South African team and the Wellington Hurricanes. The 'Canes won! I gather this is an unusual event. I don't really understand rugby, but Calle's neighbors did their best to explain what was happening to me. The problem is they kept comparing it to "American Football". I see some similarities, but I'm also not the biggest NFL fan. There's a lot of lateral passing in rugby. And apparently you have to slide into the end zone for the goal to count.

At any rate, it's like 9pm here now. So we’ve made Calle’s goal of keeping me up until a reasonable bedtime...and I did get up at 2:30am local time...so it's not quite 20 hours of awake time, but I am tired. We have to get up early tomorrow to catch the ferry to the south island and go on the sailing adventure.

I'll leave you with this picture I took on our walk around Wellington.
Pretty!

Travel Adventures - Safely in NZ!

I started today...or I woke up Thursday to blizzard warnings in Denver. I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to fly out of Denver. It rained all morning, but by 3pm when I was leaving to meet my friend Becca to drop me off at the airport it was just overcast. We made it to the airport and I made it down to the gate with no issues. Then the downpour opened up. Flights were delayed into Denver and our plane had to wait for a crew arriving on another flight. I started to get worried that sure, I’d get out of Denver, but I would miss my connection in Los Angeles. I really wanted to be on that flight since I’m not sure how many flights per day there are to New Zealand. Finally the crew arrived – along with my seat-mate: a very loud, smelly woman who spoke only some Asian language. Her partner sat in the window seat directly behind her. The shouted at each other during the entire flight, passed food back and forth (bread, bananas, pretzels, hard boiled eggs). When she decided she wanted to go to the ladies’ room, she said something to me, motioned with her hands. As soon as I closed my laptop and put up my tray she stepped over me! The lady on the aisle was standing up to let us out so this petite woman stood with her fanny in my face for a good 3 or 4 seconds. … We made it to LA in time for me to make my connection. All’s well that ends well, right?

LA to Auckland
The flight from LA to Auckland was much better. The only creepy part was at the terminal in LA. I had to walk down these long white tunnels with electronic airlocks at points in order to get from terminal 6 to terminal 4. There was absolutely no one else in there. I was 110% sure I was in the wrong place or breaking some law and probably going to get caught between airlocks. At one point there was an odd sound behind me. It turned out to be a cop that zipped by me on one of those power-wheely-things…what’s the word for those? The next airlock was actually closed, so I had to go up the stairs and continue above ground. If I’d know you could walk above ground at the beginning I would’ve totally done that.

I had the aisle seat on my flight to New Zealand and the 2 women sharing my row were quite nice and at no point straddled me with the derrieres prominently displayed. I liked the head stewards phrase “If you’re not heading for Auckland, please kindly depart the aircraft.” No other instructions…no admonition…just “kindly” depart. He didn’t even say you had to use the front door…just depart the aircraft somehow.

There was quite a bit of turbulence on the flight, but this was oddly comforting while I was sleeping. Thanks to some Advil PM I probably slept a whole 8 hours of the 12.5 we were on the plane. That’s probably the first 8-hour night I’ve had in a month. The only down side was the 6-foot+ man behind me who liked to stretch out and in the process kept kicking the back of my ankles. Footsies at several thousand feet, anyone?

In New Zealand!
Here in Auckland – it’s now Saturday morning – I had to go through customs. The only hitch there is that I don’t know Calle’s address and I don’t have hotel reservations. So they wanted to see my departure tickets. And could I take off my hat? Apparently I look suspicious. Then, after re-checking my luggage, I had to walk to the other terminal (why can’t I just have a layover that doesn’t involve switching terminals?). To do this you follow the blue and white line between a chain-link fence topped with barbed-wire and some trailer offices bordered by hedges. At 4:30am. In the dark. Smelling jet fuel. Why did that not feel creepy, but the long white tunnel caused my stress levels to rise?

Good news – one last flight and I’m there! Despite the odd schedule and long travel, I’m feeling pretty good and getting excited to be there and TO NOT WORK FOR A WEEK!

April is Poetry Month

Here's my current favorite from a book I'm reading:

My Dream
Fly between my clouds
Listen to my silent harmony
Drown in my distant oceans
Immerse in my salty sea

Inhale my delicious roses
Experience my spiced tea
Touch my inflamed tears
Hug my wisdom tree

Then

When you wake up
From my living dream
Pass me a not and tell me
What you have seen?

from the book (p.6) Poetry Eyes by Amal Saleh

Landlubbing Wench No More!

Guess what!?!  Calle's friend is going to take us sailing when I get to New Zealand (in less than 3 weeks)!  Calle's going to fly me to the port too - so I get to go in a big old jet airliner, then a crop duster (ok not really, but a small plane) and then on a yacht!  And that's all before I've even been in the country for 24 hours!

Calle's friend said I need "Wet weather jacket with hood and some cheap waterproof overtrousers will do.  Sailing boots if you really want to stay snug in the dirtiest of weather but drag them around behind the car for a while first.  You know how it is..."  Do you think they have waterproof overtrousers at REI?  I am going to find out this weekend.  I'm just not sure what they are...it will be like a treasure hunt!

I hope I don't get seasick.  And I hope I'm not too jet-lagged to be awake for it.  I literally will go from the airport to the dock.

Oh boy!  I can't wait!  Now if I could only finish all my work projects so I can actually have vacation while I'm sailing around!  I had one of my 3 clients go live on 3/20.  On Monday they will be handed off to the support team.  The 2nd client went live on April Fool's Day and we're working out the kinks there.  They'll be handed off to support next Friday.  The last client delayed until mid-May :( and is thinking about another delay (will find out tomorrow).  I start two new projects on June 1st - so there's not too much room there...  We'll see.

Now off to study up on that class I found out I have to teach on Monday - gah!  Nothing like teaching something you haven't tried to do yourself...at least I only talk for an hour and there's already Power Point slides on the work intranet.

Good night y'all.