Back to the North Island
Trip Start
Sep 18, 2009
1
15
17
Trip End
Feb 01, 2010
Palmerston North, North Island, New Zealand
Monday, January 18, 2010
Christchurch was a great city. It was a nice sunny day, and lots of people were milling around the central square, and walking along the river's towpaths. There was an excellent band playing live music in the city square, most of which was apparantly written by the lead singer. As I drove out of the city, I heard on the radio that someone had been stabbed the night before. So it's a great city, apart from being a little bit on the stabby side.
Arriving back in Auckland was a huge culture shock. I went from quiet roads winding through unbroken countryside, to traffic jams and noise. I don't like it much. I'm only here to see
Al Green tomorrow night, which I'm so excited about that there's a very real chance that I might wet myself. A new friend I made while on a sailing trip in Australia's Whitsunday Islands a couple of months ago has very kindly put me up at her place in the city for a couple of nights. I'll hopefully be catching up with John and Angela too, as they're also here in the city.
Thursday 21st was the night I went to see Al Green play live in Auckland, and it was absolutely brilliant! Luckily, I avoided wetting myself with excitement. He's got great presence on stage, is very funny and charming, and of course he has a voice that could make a wolverine purr! He played all the big hits, and his band were awesome. I got told off for taking photos in the venue, but sorted it out by slapping the venue staff about with my British passport until they left me alone. These people have got to learn somehow....
Today I'm speaking to the airlines to bring my flights forward, so I can get home sooner. I feel like I'm travelling around just for the sake of it now, and as I've already massively blown my budget, it's time to call it a day and go home. I'm really looking forward to getting back and seeing friends and family again. From Auckland I'll go to Fiji for a few days, then LA for a few more, then home to Blighty and decent tea.
