Tag Archives: Auckland

New Zealand, Swimming, Travel Planning

1. Auckland

Wednesday, February 11: Warm and sunny

Swimming: 1200 m

Chinara’s (airbnb, $56)

Kayaker Intrepid has landed

The plane from Kuala Lumpur was very full, and I was seated in my old seat but had a Maori family sitting next to me who I struck up conversation with (a couple, their daughter and her boyfriend). I had the fish this time round (very spicy) and then took in one half of Walking in the Graveyard until I wasn’t following the story any more and slept a good three hours. My rowmates slept the whole way through to dinner, as did most other people. Passengers today included a variety of people wearing religious attire except for Jews, Hare Krishnas, and Bhagwanis. Read more…

Travel Planning

0. Hannover – Hilversum – Kuala Lumpur – Auckland

Hannover – Hilversum

Sunday, February 8: Sunny, quite cold, clouding over in the afternoon, and clearing again in the evening

Bart & Thera’s (airbnb, €28)

Final tasks that had to be done were cleaning the flat, taking the rubbish out, making some space in the wardrobe and getting the case to shut. Seems it will weigh in at about 26 kg, with another 10 in the rucksack.

Down to the bus stop and then two very short bus rides to the local station, a short train ride to the main station, where I bought a couple of rolls for lunch and then the very long train journey to Hilversum. The train was only fairly full, so I was seated for the entire trip, but had to lift the case up to a shelf at about 1.5 m height, and there was little room to do a crouch and grab. Read more…

Kayaking, New Zealand, Photography, Travel Planning

Countdown

It’s time for the preparations to draw to a close, after ten months. Of course, there’ll be stuff that still has to be bought because it was forgotten back at the ranch. I’m still wrangling with the car hirer about whether a larger suitcase than the current one will fit into the boot of the car I’m hiring, and that may continue for several days. I’ll at least try to pack the existing case, but I suspect that, with all the camping gear, too much will be left for the pack. Read more…

New Zealand, Society and Culture

Politics and Government in New Zealand

New Zealand is regarded as one of the most democratic government systems in the world, and is based on the Westminster system of a head of state (the Queen, represented by the Governor-General), a head of government (the Prime Minister), and the trio of legislature, administration and judiciary. What puts New Zealand ahead of the rest, is the development of the political system over the last century, which has allowed it to address the needs of a multicultural society, while minimising cultural biases at the same time. Read more…