Mission: Bay!
Trip Start
Jun 04, 2011
1
7
Trip End
Jun 11, 2011
Auckland, North Island, New Zealand
Friday, June 10, 2011
- We breakfasted and then set off on Belle's favorite pastime - Outlet Shopping. Prior to leaving Melbourne, Belle had done her research well and knew that the Bobux outlet was in East Tamaki, a suburb of Auckland. Cousin Dave was instructed to do his own research on Google Maps and then off we set with Dave at the helm. The weather was rain with a chance of teeming rain, so a good day to do indoor type things. Belle couldn't believe her luck when we arrived at the outlet as the shoes were all at heavily discounted prices particularly compared to the retails prices in Melbourne. Half an hour or so later and Emeline is fully outfitted with shoes for the next 18-24 months. We grabbed a coffee at the bakery cafe next door; NZ Baristas need to go back to school and learn about grind, water temperature and the effects of the weather on the quality of your espresso shot.
- As indicated earlier in the week our intentions were to see the sights of Mission Bay today. We navigated to Mission Bay but saw even less then we had in the dark, as the weather was continuing to close in and the rain was getting heavier. Mission Bay is a bit of a restaurant precinct so we took advantage and found a Mexican eatery, Dos Amigos Cantina. Theresa enjoyed her self, speaking only in Spanish to the wait staff. The staff were very attentive and Aury was fascinated by the four Bearded Dragons that were in residence.
- The restaurant offered a great selection of traditional Mexican food. Traditional corn chips and salsa was provided as an amuse bouce of sorts, we followed this by a tasting plate of buffalo wings, quesidillas and guacamole and also ordered a bean dip (probably a dish best ordered in Rotorua!). Main course was a chicken chimichunga, a chicken chocolate mole, chicken fajita and BBQ smoked ribs. All the food was good and tasty, the ribs being the particular standout. The kids menu was also good, offering a kids main (Aury had the quesidilla), drink (apple juice, which Aury later flavoured with crayons), and dessert (ice cream with chocolate topping) for a very reasonable price.
- After lunch we headed back to town to explore the souvenir shops for some last mementos of NZ. I located the same laser cut Rimu wood coasters with a paua shell insert for about $9.00 more that at the Whakarewarewa souvenir shop, should have bought when I first saw them! After securing our souvenirs we then took a look at the sky and after wiping large volumes of water out of our eyes concluded that indoor activities were still to be preferred and headed off to the Lynn Mall. We picked up a new kettle as a present for our hosts and Aury got to add to her Little Pony collection as there was a Toy Sale.
- We headed back to home base for a bit of a rest before heading out for a final dinner with all the cousins at the Ghengis Khan Mongolian BBQ restaurant. For those who have not been to this sort of eatery before it is a fun night out. There is a selection of meats and vegetables for you to choose from, you select whatever takes your fancy and place it in your bowl, you then select two of the half dozen or so sauces and one of the similar number of oils, add chrushed ginger and/or garlic to taste and hand your bowl over to the chef who then cooks it for you on a big round hot plate. One tip, keep an eye on where on the hot plate he puts your particular selection and then watch it carefully and make sure you grab it when it is done before he gives it away to someone else.
- After a great dinner it was back to home base for pictures although Aury and Emeline had crashed heavily by this time so missed out on being in all the family pictures. Conversation and laughter into the late evening then everyone off to home/bed to reconvene in the morning for a final hurrah at breakfast.
