BIG DAY OUT
Trip Start
Jan 08, 2011
1
21
48
Trip End
Jan 30, 2011
Auckland, North Island, New Zealand
Friday, January 21, 2011
First up. How to get there?? Train (station close by both ends),found out will take about 1 hour!!so thats out.Bus ? yes there are special busses ,and would save some navigating. However not sure where to catch and still need to park the Kombi somewhere!!So we decided to research the route on google maps and find a park ,perhaps rent one as local businesses rent out there parking for the day and night!!
Ok so we headed off at 9.am to give us plenty of time. The journey took about 40 mins( but no route 10 as on the map ) motorway off ramp (you supposed to turn off for route 9)So a quick off and on again (effectively u turn) on the motorway and we were soon on course. Its never good to see the road you want to be on named as the over pass as you go undernieth. At least it gave us our bearings.
Soon there after a quick stop a mc,dees for breakfast on the run...As we god closer we noticed businesses selling their parking spaces all right. $20 !!! yeer right!!Closer, closer...reaal close now ...Look theres a park!!! Is it a park or not legal.?? Looking good ,so we squeeze the bus in between 2 driveways and check either end to make sure were not blocking any driveways. Yeeep all good. Thinking hope its legal otherwise may regret it!! This park turned out to be the 2nd closest car park (free) that we saw. Only one car parked closer to MT Smart stadium. Thats amazing as 45,000 peeps going. Way to fluke it!!Lock it and leave with our day pack. Dont take too much as needs to be carried all day. Picked up some ear plugs on the way to ensure I have some hearing left when done!!
Walked 100 meters then left for 200 meters ,big que but thats expected with 45,000 peeps! Get in finally after some crowd watching ,some interesting peeps here!! Mostly young of course!!
Pass through bag inspection into crowded entrance. We stop to get our bearings. Looking at the time table shows kids of 88 on at 11.00 so some time to wander and get our bearings!!Man lots of peeps here!! Hot, did I mention its howt here!!Crowd growing! Spotted a nice tank top for Annemieke to wear. Bonus will stand out in the crowd!!!Yellow!!!
Coffee. Must have coffee.... Yeah found a stall with just what I needed to stay awake!!! Lots of stalls selling clothing ,food, drinks, trinkets, sunglasses, sun block (good we brought some). Found the 6 stages which all run at the same time, accept the 2 joint ones which take turns, so thats 4 bands going at any one time!! Luckily they are spaced out.
Headed off to kids of 88 in the boiler room, like a huge big top tent with no sides actually hugemongus!!Listened to the disco guy for a while, crowd building... Peeps every where as the kids start to play!! A lot of pushing as peeps go father up front. Just the tall ones that annoy me!!Good funky music ,does it get better than this (only 11 am)?? Actually no. This was as good as it got for my taste anyways!!But really enjoyed the music (ear plugs in as v.loud.)Wonder if the Kombi has been towed away yet?? That means no bed for the night!! Heres hoping!!
At one stage a bigger shove than usual as a man in a white tee runs through the crowd. Then another as security follows. Really hope the catch him!!Back to kids of 88. Hmm good year that eh Gem!!!
Funny thing is they squirt water in peeps to keep them cool. Were not over heating,so not bothered that we seem just a fraction out of range!!Actually turned out good not to be wet,as started loosing the sun to cloud. (didn't need the sunblock after all)!!
Went for a wander and checked some average white bands. Mostly average in my opinion. By now realising that there is a heavy metal theme going on here!Dam forgot my Irons!! LOL!!
Had some water from our water bottle and some snacks from our bag. Also decided to get a nice burger $6.50. But turned out to be as average as the music... kind of bland ,lacking flavour and only warm. Actually all the hot food we had was only warm . Hot chips should been luke warm chips!!etc.
However I digress. Back to the show where the metal heads are performing,followed by "Metal as meat loaf". And” metalier than metallica,and “”more metal then your car has got!!etc etc... By now we had found a perch in the main stand and watching big Qs of peeps Qing for.... beer!!! Of course!!
“Fortunatley plenty of seats around as long as you are prepared to shouffle for them!! That was before the rain. Then things got a little cramped and the aisles filled with peeps seeking shelter. There was still crowds down in the mosh pit waving there arms to keep warm I suppose!!
Finally ended up on the upper (sheltered) part of the main stand with a good view of the 2 main stages. Isle seats turned out to be a real good move as started raining!! Guess what it wasn’t warm rain either!!Rather cold and draughty. Guess who left all spare clothing in the Kombi?? Fortunatley after a half hour of shivering along with 45000 other peeps, We found that our plastic parker provided some draught proofing ,thus giving enough warmth to put off hypothermia!!not so for some scantily clad peepe as colud see there goose bumps.
So Its true 4 seasons in one day here in Auckland!!Fortunatley found another coffee,to keep us going. The rain never stopped!!!
The que for the loos another storey, especially for the fairer sex!! Best go to there 30 mins before you want to pee. Guys don’t be shy ,youll be sharing the urinal with some women watching ,as they quing for the mens cubical as well!!LOL!!!
Finally after 10 hours its RAMMSTEIN !! They are better than average is all I can say, but Annemieke and some others would find it their high light!! I must say that they are good show men, infact better on the props than any other concert Ive seen. The lighting was brilliant but apart from that.;
A giant skull is suspended from a crane wriggling around, flame throwing, and green lasers out the eye sockets!! Not your thing then try...
Flame throwing from fixed positions about 12 different places on stage... and then...Seta a geezer on fire on stage who runs around like a chook with its head chopped off !!!LOL !!!
And then pyrotecthnics on stage so much banging going on they drowned out in the smoke!! Like guy faulks on stage, stage is smoking like its on fire. Yeer bring it on!!!
Music well guess what... heavy. Heavy as a steam roller on steroids!!Some liked it though judging by the dancing and cheering going on.
Certainly take the prize for a good lighting show.
Oh at the end when they said thank you. Thats the first words I understood because it was all done in german!!
Like the experience . yes. Go again ,no. Only if artists (more than one ) were to my liking.
On the way out just walked past the road block and past the taxis ,the Kombi still there, did a u turn strait home!! Totally brilliant parking, thanks to my navigator!! Yes only 1 car parked closer!! Thats a real score,hard to beat any where!!!
Thats the end of 12 hours at BIG DAY OUT.
