Rarotonga highlights
Rarotonga didn’t exactly welcome us in, when we arrived at 1.30 in the morning it was so hot my jeans immediately shrunk three sizes and started sweating. Once we were through customs and immigration it started to rain. The lighting in the airport carpark is minimal so Lee collected the wrong rental car (they just leave your car unlocked with the key under the mat on the driver’s side). My sister had called the day before to give me directions to our holiday house, but it was very dark and neither of us had slept any on the plane and it took us ages to find the right place.
Luckily for us, the owners of the holiday house were there to make sure we got in OK. They didn’t have to do that, but we sure appreciated it! Sleeping in Rarotonga when you have just come from a Wellington winter is a trial: factor in the humidity, the heat, the crowing of roosters, the chirping of geckos in your bedroom and the noise the torrential rain makes on the tin roof and it’s pretty restless. We got there in the end, though.
Catching up with my sister and her family was the highlight of the trip for sure, but we also ate at some fantastic restaurants. Here collected for your enjoyment. (more…)
While I’m away
Oh, I think I forgot to mention on here that we’ve had some good news in regards to my mother in law. The cancer has not spread to her lymph nodes and she has a lumpectomy scheduled for the 31st. Radiation therapy will follow, but its way better than chemo. Her surgeon said she was in the ‘best possible position’, so we’re all feeling rather relieved. Which is not to say that the time ahead will not be difficult, but it’s so good to have some of the mystery removed.
So Lee and I are off to Rarotonga for a week, then we’re in Auckland for a couple of nights. We might get online in Auckland but I don’t *expect* to be online until the Friday when we get back.
I have scheduled some blog posts to publish so that my stats don’t go all to Hell and you have something to read while I lie on the beach. Mmmmm the beach.
Check back here tomorrow and on August 22nd, 25th, 27th and 29th for new stuff 
I’ve scheduled them mostly for afternoon/evening. I obviously won’t be doing my usual twitter and livejournal reminders so it’s up to you to click back. You know it’s worth it.
In the mean time, read about the last time I went to Raro.
Jenni’s Guide to Auckland
A couple of Coldplay concert videos: Someone from down on the floor at the concert on Wednesday caught this footage of Coldplay performing Yellow. It’s not the whole song, but you get an idea for how much singing along there was, and what the huge yellow balloons looked like. And Chris Martin’s revolutionary outfit.
Someone else got this film of what the butterfly confetti looked like from the ground…just gorgeous.
So. My highlights from the trip, in no particular order. Not counting Coldplay, since you can’t generally plan on them being there.
Tanuki’s Cave Yakitori bar. You go in and sit down at a space around the bar and order a bit handle of Asahi and edamame and whatever else tickles your fancy off their menu. I can recommend the takoyaki. The asahi is very drinkable, the food is quick and good and the atmosphere is just….perfect. They play My Neighbour Totoro on a screen at one end of the bar.
The Imax. We saw Watchmen but really any movie that you are keen on and that they are playing would be awesome. It’s so big that it’s immersive. Plus Lee and I had frozen coke and it was yum.
Borders. It’s huge, but more importantly it’s all mazey and arranged on different levels. Wellington’s one just isn’t as cool. Plus everyone knows where it is so it’s a good meeting place.
Auckland Museum. I like the interactive discovery area, the Victorian street, the tree that does a day cycle in 5 minutes so you can hear the different bird songs and the dinosaurs. Especially the special exhibit T-Rex.
It’s big. 12.8 metres long and 4.0 metres tall at the hips. Plus it had a neat interactive exhibit and I did in fact learn some things about Tyrannosaurs that I didn’t previously know. The other neat thing about the museum is that in the gift shop you can get 10 of their specially printed Auckland museum postcards for $2.00. That’s nothing! So just about everyone on my postcard list got Auckland Museum postcards and two people got elaborate stories instead of news, based on the pictures on the cards. I am eager to hear when people have received their postcards.
The Chocolate boutique in Parnell has many delicious treats, including the Italian denso, which is an insanely rich hot chocolate. Their handmade truffles are really good.
Submarino, fish in a bowl, denso and cherry tart.
You can get to it really easily on The Link bus, which is cheap at $1.60 a ride and does a loop around many useful areas in Auckland. It’s handy and has a TV that gives you the weather, the news, images of what the driver is seeing and of the people on the bus. It also did news headlines and advertised local businesses and there was a neat live map so you could see where you were.
$3 Japan. Up the high end of Queen St, $3.00 Japan was like a magical heaven. I got some presents for people, some stuff for myself, useful things, silly things. I got some really nice comfy socks….it was just magical.
We had a really good seafood platter at Neptune on the Viaduct. It wasn’t too expensive and had turkish bread, dips, scallops, prawns, fried fish, smoked salmon, heaps of calimari, mussels and olives and pickled onions. It was seriously yum. The people at the next table to us actually said ‘we want what they’re having’ but I can assure you it wasn’t because I was screaming or anything. The food just looked really good.
And also, you should totally check out this behind-the-scenes glimpse into The Winding City video that Conan put up. It has me in it, and many hilarious bloopers. And bits that I filmed too.
Auckland
Stuff done: Coldplay concert was very cool, pretty and intense and yeah, cool. I was a little disappointed that they started with Violet Hill when they weren’t warmed up but that would be my only complaint oh and they didn’t play ‘trouble’. But they did play Yellow and all these huge yellow balloons were released onto the crowd, the people on the floor bounced them around and from where we were sitting it looked amazing. When the balloons popped yellow bits of paper rained down. The ‘mosh pit’ kept boucing the balloons onto the stage though, so the band had to keep kicking them out.
During Lovers in Japan they released thousands, millions? of paper butterflies in all different colours from the ceiling. The sound guys put up paper parasols to protect themselves and the gear. It was gorgeous.
Chris Martin is an astoundingly good performer, he just throws himself into it so much, he really works. He dances like a particularly uncoordinated scarecrow and you’re sure he’ll fall down at any time. For a couple of songs they left the stage and played from a mini-set up right in the back rows of the arena. They covered ‘I’m a believer’ from there and got audience participation. Chris played The Hardest Part on his own just on the piano, on the catwalk in the crowd. Lots of awesome memories. I wish I’d taken my camera but I’d assumed they’d be taking them off people. Everyone else seemed to have them though, so there’s bound to be footage from the concert on youtube.
The curtain raiser band was completely rubbish too.
Watchmen at the imax. Yes. So big, so immersive.
Tanuki’s Cave for dinner last night was so good! Takoyaki, edamame, mushrooms stuffed with chicken and a big handle of Japanese beer….nom. I might make Lee take me back there on Saturday night actually.
Auckland Museum and the T-Rex named Sue. Very big skeleton, very cool interactive exhibit. Fraser, Lee and I had a great time. I have good photos but you’ll have to wait for those.
Chocolate boutique, Parnell. After catching the wrong bus to the museum we hopped on the right one and it took us past the chocolate cafe, which we both remembered from last time. It was awesome. We went there after the T-rex.
Our hotel room is pretty nice, not super fantastic but pretty nice. I like the view and the bed is comfy and that’s all you really need right? I’ve been watching Sky movies. Saw most of Margot at the Wedding and The Mist.
Today the plans are for Dressmart, then meeting up with various friends. Tomorrow hopefully we’ll make it to MOTAT and then we’re flying back home lunchtime Sunday. It’s really warm in Auckland, I dig it.
Stuff to do in Auckland?
OK, so I know I have to take Lee to Tanuki’s Cave for dinner and I will be checking out Queen St and locating the Kikki-K in case it’s bigger than the one in the Hutt. I’m keen go back to the museum cause it was neat and check out MOTAT because I’ve never been, I don’t want to go back to Kelly Tarlton’s because I thought it was a rip off last time, and I don’t think I can convince Lee to take me back to the Auckland zoo or Rainbow’s End…
So please….what else can we do in Auckland? We have a few days.
Online I found this neat Auckland guide, but it’s pretty limited.
Summer Holiday
Swam in the sea six times. The surf got bigger each day, I love playing in surf. I also say some teeny fish and Lee caught some delicious pipis and some fun tennis ball games were played in the water.
Read Ransom My Heart, Princess Diaries 9, The Walking Dead volumes 3 + 4 and a fair chunk of Princess Diaries 10.
Ate delicious foods. Many delicious foods.
Played Pokemon on the DS…so many cute Pokemon caught.
Celebrated 3 year wedding anniversary.
Took no photos at all even though hilarious font of fame was played, and there were many photo ops.
Writing wise: finished note taking and started digitally updating WtWTCH? Got through 39 pages out of 112 of updating/revising/redrafting. Also wrote two short short stories. May post one here after it has been edited.
Then I came home today, did the washing and altered my new awesome tshirt so that it fits me. It’s from the Mr Vintage sale.
It’s now an 80’s styled muscle shirt.
In case you can’t tell what it says, here’s another photo. Although I guess you still can’t see it all. It says “Jesse and the Rippers”
Yep, it’s Uncle Jesse’s band from Full House. I am such a geek.
All in all my holiday up the coast was everything I wanted it to be. I really like being around my friends, they are such nice people! So much fun.
PoF: Jesse and The Rippers
CO: Buffy game first episode this week!
In case you’re wondering why I’m not updating…
I’ll be offline until Sunday afternoon/evening. Wish me good weather!
Ramblings
One of the problems with going on holiday is that you don’t have your familiar bed to sleep in, so generally sleep is broken or not as restful. Therefore you feel tired at the end of the holiday.
The other major problem with going on holiday is that it doesn’t last and you have to come home.
Highlights of the weekend:
Font of Fame madness….so much of it.
Onesie club represent.
DVD sale at Levin Warehouse. (Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Animatrix, The Big Hit, Die Hard 3, Vanity Fair) Die Hard was for Lee.
Relaxing in the sun with girly chat.
Watching all of Under the Mountain back to back. I really liked it, although it hasn’t dated super well, the story is still tight. Go the guys acting as Wilberforces, they were awesome.
Actually managing to get a couple of pages of new stuff written and doing some editing of the working draft of Kiki once Lee had finished his copy editing, despite having interesting friends to talk to at all times.
Being in such a dark, quiet place. Nothing like silence at night time. I am also, strangely, very happy to come home to the middle of the city and look out at all the cars and people and hear the noise.
I am also pleased to come home to my bath.
I had terrible food in between meals all weekend, chippies, burger rings, chocolate, lollies, and skipped breakfast every day. I did have good food at meal times though and managed a salad a day to balance it out.
Last night I made s’mores based on Amphigori’s instructions, using Round Wine biscuits, dairy milk chocolate and flaming marshmallows. Om nom nom. Couldn’t eat more than two though and they may have lead to an all night belly ache. Still totally worth it.
Really enjoyed this
Oprah’s tips for getting the life you want article Gala Darling linked to. Must try that accepting the negative feeling and letting it dissipate thing.
Also I found on the positivity blog this neat list of questions you can ask yourself to keep on track to the life and attitude you want.
Also via Gala, this astounding project where the Photographer takes a picture every day for 18 years until he dies.
ETA: Looks like my latest baby quilt is being enjoyed very much already!
Holidays are nice
My birthday party was awesome fun. Party like a Rockstar is a pretty good theme, a lot of people dressed a bit edgier than they might have ordinarily and there were some stand out cool costume efforts as well.
My friends are lovely generous people who give good presents, help clean up and generally make me feel very happy to know them.
Lee and I got up at 4.15am on my birthday to get to the plane. The flight was long but uneventful. I wrote in my real actual diary, which I hadn’t done in over a year. I also began re-reading Harry Potter 7, which is very good second time around. Although now that I know Dumbledore is gay I kinda want to re-read the whole series.
We arrived at 7.15 am in Brisbane along with a million other people who all had to go through immigration + customs with us.
We picked up our zippy little automatic rental car and headed to the Sunshine Coast, arriving way to early even with a second breakfast pitstop in some small town.
We left the car at out hotel (the Break free Caribbean Mooloolaba) and explored Mooloolaba. Underwater World was awesome. Giant sharks, giant rays, seals, otters, zillions of fish from around the world, turtles, a crocodile and a frozen giant squid (3 metres).
There were heaps of nice restaurants along the beach front, and we ate very well indeed. I shall make a whole blog on the food later. I also fell in love with a little chain store called Mobasa which stocks awesome clothes, quirky accessories, cheap earrings and funny slogan tshirts with nice art. I think it was made for me. I think I should open a franchise of it in New Zealand.
We went to Maroochydore on Monday and did some shopping (many DVDs), then on Tuesday we had a slow start, going to Underwater World again in the morning and then out to Australia Zoo in the afternoon. Australia Zoo was very good but very overpriced.
We saw the show at the Crocoseum with the birds flying about and the giant saltwater croc being displayed. Amazing stuff. I also got to touch a wombat, a kangaroo and a koala. I could have fed an elephant but the lines were very long.
It was astonishingly hot over there. I really really liked it.
Wednesday we went to the Eumundi markets, which I found to be not as cheap and interesting as I had hoped for. Then we checked out Noosa and I got grumpy from lack of food.
Thursday we had a nice nothing day, hanging about by the hotel’s pool and reading and catching a movie in the afternoon (it was much too windy to go to the beach). We saw Death at a Funeral again, and it was still pretty awesomely funny. Also bought more DVDs.
Friday we said goodbye to the Sunshine Coast and drove to Redcliffe, where we got on a big Catamaran called the ‘Eye Spy’ to go whale watching. It was a 1ish hour cruise around Moreton Bay and then out to the whale watching waters. The humpbacks calf around the East coast of Australia, so we saw a few different mummy and baby mini-pods.
They were very tolerant of the boat, and didn’t mind us coming quite close. They swam around and surfaced for air, didn’t see any tail slapping or leaping out of the water, but one of the babies did a little breach, which is when they come half out to get a look at you.
It was quite breathtaking even if they didn’t ‘perform’ like you see in videos, etc. They are just very big and it is quite hard to get used to that.
After the cruise we headed for Brisbane. Friday evening rush hour traffic is not the time to arrive in a large metropolitan city. Especially not when your hotel is located on a pedestrian only mall. The back entrance/car park was accessible through a one way side street, the entrance to which is through a poorly signposted part of the mall where you are actually allowed to drive but you have to turn a corner to see the side street.
Lee and I drove for about two hours trying to find the wretched place. I was close to tears by the time we parked in a parking building and went on foot to find the hotel, but it is to our credit that we didn’t get angry with each other. No fighting, no yelling. Just a lot of frustrated trying to navigate the one way systems and read the tiny street signs.
By the time we got into our 20th floor room at the Chifley at Lennon’s we were both a little anti-Brisbane.
I can’t recommend the Chifley, they charge you for parking in their carpark, their pay per view movies are $15 each and the rooms aren’t very well sound proofed. The room was teeny, although you get that at hotels, and there was no bath. The spa pool was nice though, and they provided towels for you to use at the pool.
On Saturday we went to IKEA, because Lee’s sister asked us to get a train set for Swearing Niece. Lee and I fell in love with IKEA. Lee bought a little barbeque. It’s silver and spherical and looks like a little alien UFO. I bought a giant dragon toy and some whimsical fabric amongst other things.
In the after-IKEA we went to Brisbane Museum which was very cool, although smaller than I would have expected. I really liked the Museum Zoo exhibit which was designed so you could see how big animals really are with a parade of taxidermy animals down the middle of the room and outlines of really big stuff on the wall.
Checked out the art gallery briefly too, but our feet were getting awfully sore by that point.
Sunday, our last day in Australia saw me being woken early by celebrating South Africans on the street 20 floors down. After checking out we headed to DFO, a big outlet mall right by the airport and more shopping than you can imagine was done. Lee got a whole outfit. I got new tog tops (2 for $15), high high top pink converse Chucks ($50), enough bras for a year ($80), the softest robe in the world ($30) and a Puma sweatshirt ($12.50) plus a Christmas present or two.
We spent a while after that chilling in the sun by a river (with a pelican in it!) and then went to the airport. The light home was way quicker, but there was some massive turbulence once we hit Wellington area and I had to try hard not to think about Lost.
Home again by 1am Monday morning and slept a nice long time into Monday. Labour Day was spent almost entirely in visiting our families; mine for lunch, Lee’s for dinner. It was extremely pleasant, especially since Wellington put on a nice sunny day to welcome us back.
PoF: “my inner child is a nasty little monster” tshirt from Mombasa.
CO: sunshine
Polar ice melt
So….the Daily Telegraph posted these images, and then Idiot posted them and I thought I should link as well:
No Right Turn’s post about the polar ice melting. Two satellite images, one from September 05 and one from September 07. Scary stuff.
Maybe Lee and I should give up the whole apartment idea and move into the hilly suburbs.
In other news Lee and I are flying out to Australia on my birthday! Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, here I come.
I watched Bridge to Terabithia last night, and I really really liked it as an adaptation of the book. I cried my eyes out. The lead girl is really fascinating, beautiful and interesting looking. I want to see her other work.
PoF: Cryptozoology
CO: cold ears
