Routine: A New Saturday Morning

Tags

latest, moviebuff, movies, popcorn, theaters

For the past three(3) weeks, I’ve been catching the earliest movie showing at a near by Century Theater. Although most (actually, more like all of my friends) find it sad. I do not know why, but I prefer to go catch a movie alone. I can leave whenever I want, catch matinee at whatever time I like and not have to worry whether my companion would like it or not.

I have a feeling I may wonder the world alone for a very long time.

Anyways, I am almost up to date when it comes to the latest movies. This is great. I always fancied myself as a movie buff but I never seem to catch the latest movies. It’s time to change this up!

A Visit to Middle Earth (Part III: “The Big Three” Experience)

Tags

auckland, formations, geisers, glowworms, hobbiton, kiwi, limestone, newzealand, north, photos, rotorua, waitomo

Once I settled in, I started to look for tours that was available for pick up at my hotel or at least a near by pick up (after being lost for 4 hours and my GPS on my phone wasn’t working, I thought it would be better if I found a tour where pick up was available). Several tour options came up but what I really wanted to do was the Hobbiton visit. I decided to go with the Glow Worm, Hobbiton and Geisers tour (what the kiwis call “The Big Three”).

I almost didn’t didn’t get to choose this tour. The place to get this tour at was closed when I visited their office. The company is own by a man which was traveling and he let what seems to be a kid looking over the tour booking. I emailed the address available on the website and received a response. Within an hour I was able to purchase my tickets.

The next morning, i was picked up around 6:30a (I’m surprised how dark it was at 5.30a; it was like pitch black like night time!) by a European looking, heavy set gentleman in a suit (which threw me off a bit, I was expecting a Mexican short guy in jeans and a jacket- it’s a California thing). He greeted me with a Santa Claus smile (rosey cheeks and all!) and walked me to a black car (no bus. I guess it’s because there was only 3 people that booked with that company so a bus is not necessary). We picked up two(2) others and then started towards our first stop (which was a whopping 3 hours away). I thought the ride may be boring and long but our driver was friendly and talkative so we (actually one of us was sleeping on the whole ride there- they were out really late the night before) were entertained the whole way there.

I sat and listen to them talk and enjoyed the scenic route we took. Gorgeous! I wish we had time to stop and take photographs of the view.

We finally arrived to Waitomo and it was jaw dropping beautiful. The Glow Worm entrance architecture was absolutely beautiful. I could seriously stay there an hour just taking pictures of the structure. It was 10 minutes til our tour started so I grabbed a quick pastry and latte before (I need breakfast!).

Before the tour started we were told no photography of any kind are allowed. I was quite bummed but not wanting to damper the mood I try not to think about it. Our guide (which I forgotten his name but he’s the one that looks like has a lazy eye) was quite entertaining. He cracked jokes in a dry way, and kept the pace perfect.

Before entering the caves we were guided deep into the limestone formation. I was rather impressed and was humbled but such a few. The power of formations, years and years to change it’s forms and create new ones, never thought it was interesting until now. I really wish I could taken a photograph of the beauty.

We went deeper down and finally arrive to a dark area where small boats was located. From here we took them to the glow worm area. It was pitch dark. As fascinated as I was with the glow, I was rather impressed the guide standing on top of the edge of the boat blindly pulling two(2) boats back and forth in this small cave by rope hovering above our heads (I remember seeing his shadow pulling us to an area and he just kept his hand up waiting for a rope to touch- I think I panicked a little).

Once we started to head out, our guide told us we were allowed to take photos (it was so funny how fast all of us took out our phones, cameras and whatever else we brought- I giggled a little but while hustle to get my camera out and listening to others doing the same).

The tour guide joked with me, “luckily I didn’t fall out or you’ve would’ve have to take over.”

The place was beautiful and the caves were breathtaking. It was a great start for Saturday morning.

We had 30 minutes to get to the next location: Hobbiton (this is the one I wanted to see the most!) I quickly stopped but the gift shop to purchase something (only because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to find some good New Zealand gifts). That set us back a bit so by the time we got to Hobbiton we were 30 minutes behind schedule.

We rode a short trip from the registration area to Hobbiton with another entertaining bus driver commentator. Once arrive we were directed through a section at a time by another tour. From the main area to the Green Dragon, the view was gorgeous and the weather was awesome (it rained from time to time which I absolutely loved!).

I love the pace if the tour. The guide gave us enough info to keep us intrigued and enough time to take pictures and roam. The details was incredible on the set, I guess that makes him such a great director.

After we had our complimentary ale at the Green Dragon we headed back to our wonderful huge and clean tour bus (It felt like I was leaving Middle Earth forever and felt a little sad. I wish I could spent the night out there to get the feel of the country).

We stopped by the gift shop for a bit and finally on our way to Rotorua (at this point we were 45 minutes behind schedule. If I knew we were right on our tours, I wouldn’t have spent time at the first gift shop, we missed the Maori culture performance at our last stop and I felt like it was my fault. *sighs).

It was getting pretty dark and we were their last tour.

Our guide seemed tired and ready to go but still has kindness in her voice. From the detailed small carved homes, kiwi birds (which was sleeping and curled into a ball by the time it was our turn to see them), Geisers, and the texture and carving school all was smooth sailing. We hung out at the gift shop until we were told we could stay a little after hours to eat our dinner. Which tasted really awesome.

Darkness fell and we finally was on our way. Although I’ve been up since 2a that morning, I didn’t feel comfortable letting the driver drive us back (3-4 drive) back to the hotel while we all past out. With heavy eyes, I stayed awake and engaged in conversation with him. I learned quite a bit from him so it wasn’t hard to stay awake actually.

I learned that New Zealand is very much a farmland, three different species of cows that they have in that country, kiwis are locals, and some life opinions that changed my thoughts on how I wanted my life to be lived.

Overall, it was a perfect Saturday. An awesome driver, tour friends, locations, scenic drive, awesome tour guides- I would do it again!

A Visit to Middle Earth (Part II: Central Auckland, You Are Beautiful)

Tags

airport, arrival, auckland, hotel, newzealand, travel, travelbug

After a 12 hour flight (minus one day- explains why I was checking in two days after my departure date 😊), I finally felt that sharp turn in the air (apparently there are corners in the sky). Woke me up and the stewardess greeted me with coffee or tea (I thought to myself, will I be consuming large amounts of tea and coffee from this point forward? Since Britian influenced New Zealand not with their ways but even what they consume throughout the day, I’m sure coffee and tea and crumpets was included).

Once I finally stepped off the plane I honestly wanted to run down the hall, drop my bags at the end and jump up like a kid that just won a PS4 (thoughts: “I’m in New Zealand b*tches! And you thought I I couldn’t do it!”)

I made my way through the Passport check (got my first stamp on my passport, and I’m so happy it was New Zealand) and got my hiking shoes cleaned (not necessarily a good thing since cleaning it isn’t exactly for me but to keep diseases that doesn’t belong in their country stay out). Once that is done, I head to the car rental area (which was surrounded by people holding a sign of the arriving individuals last name, ready to greet them. This almost brought sadness as I wished someone was there to greet me. Even if it was a chauffeur that I never met). Signed the papers, got the keys and off I go! (Because my phone didn’t work out of the country I had to get directions printed off a receipt paper) Took me a little over 4 hours, luckily I didn’t really need to check in until 3p and I had a full tank of gas. Getting lost in New Zealand, don’t mind if I do (what a beautiful landscape and it gave me a lot of practice driving on the right side of the car and left side of the free way.

Once arrived, dropped my bags at the hotel, I was hungray! Time to eat and guess what my first meal in New Zealand was: McDonalds (go ahead, you may laugh). I walked around the downtown area, window shopping, I decided I’m going to spend the next few hours over some whiskey and figuring out what I’m going to do while I’m here in the lobby at the hotel.

Once I checked in (admiring the cute size hotel room which was my size, certainly) I went out to grab Korean (since there’s about 6 restaurants across the street from the hotel, I thought I might as well try it out. I didn’t know I was actually ended up having it almost every night of my stay). While I ate, I searched, planned and paid my for my activities for the next 4 days. I seriously couldn’t wait. Here I was, in New Zealand, by myself. It didn’t matter how long I had to wait for anything, I felt so privilege to be in the country. I couldn’t wait for my time here, interaction with kiwis (if any, I hoped so), my exposure to culture, to wild life, to scenery will change my life… forever. I was ready.

A Visit to Middle Earth (Part I: Jetsetting)

Tags

auckland, newzealand, travels

Ever since the Xena Warrior Princess days, and pretty much right after I watched The Lord of the Rings’ 2.5 hours behind the scenes (all three(3) DVDs), I was more anxious than ever to visit New Zealand. It was on the very top of my bucket list (before I even knew what a bucket list was!).

I was excited to fly via Air New Zealand. I never flew a 12 hr flight before and being that I never flew on a plane that huge. I was curious what the experience would be like (2 meals? Yes!). The night before I had upgraded my seat to priority economy. Meaning I get more leg room, I get to choose better seating and get my food first (sounds like a steal for an extra $50USD)!

It was an evening flight so I pretty much grabbed my bags after work and drove straight to the ‘port in San Francisco, CA from Palo Alto, CA. Traffic was quite heavy since it was roughly around 4-5p. Everyone was trying to rush home. Anyways, once I got there (I have to be honest) I was so proud to drive toward the “International Departures” lane (😊).

My check in went smoothly. I didn’t have any problems getting my bags in on the plane which was a relief (I usually have problems like having to check my bag in because it was a full flight, my bag is too big in dimensions or they find something in the bag that needed to be searched (and discarded or destroyed). Once thru, (my next proud moment) I had to have my Passport out and ready. Check! Clear! Then off to my gate! It was located in an area I never been to before. It was at the bottom of some stairs what seems to be a floor that was dedicated for one(1) flight at a time. Anyways, I had about two(2) hours to kill so I pretty much sat there staring at the walls (figuring if pulled some sort of electronics out, time will go by faster, but so will my vacation time. Nope! I’m going to enjoy this; every second).

Once the time came to have your group called. It always feel like a competition between people, “who can stay seated the longest until it was your time to get in line to get on the plane. Or who can look the coolest and act as if they travel all the time (or may be it’s just me that’s thinking like this?). I never know how each flight work to when they call certain group so when they finally call my group I always wonder how full the plane is when I board. Sure enough, by the time I boarded, it seems that the flight is completely full, full of people bustling and hustling to get everything in order and comfortable for their 12 hr flight.

Here I was, seated all the way in the front (I can see the business class from where I’m sitting already served with champagne and fruits- we’re not even flying yet!). On the other side (2 seats between us) there was a guy who was having the ame facial expression as me; who will be the people we will be sitting next to. To our surprise, when the doors close and the overhead announced that boarding was completed, it was just us two(2) in these 4 seats (oh, this is going to be awesome 12 hr flight ever 😊).