7 am I awake and Imran is already up and getting his kids
ready for school. He makes us tea, I
have a quick shower, and then we are on our way to downtown Auckland. Imran is a software developer also and works
not far from my bus stop. So I get a
free ride. He is a pretty awesome guy.
ready for school. He makes us tea, I
have a quick shower, and then we are on our way to downtown Auckland. Imran is a software developer also and works
not far from my bus stop. So I get a
free ride. He is a pretty awesome guy.
The night before I book the NakedBus to Brynderwyn, I
will have to find a way from Brynderwyn to Ruawai when I get there.
will have to find a way from Brynderwyn to Ruawai when I get there.
We arrive downtown around 9 am and I say goodbye and
thank you to a new friend.
thank you to a new friend.
My bus doesn’t leave until 1 pm, so I dropped off my bags at
the information place. They have bag
storage for $5. Well worth not having to
carry them around.
the information place. They have bag
storage for $5. Well worth not having to
carry them around.
Other than the harbor, Auckland looks like every other
city. Lots of people, malls, shops etc.
city. Lots of people, malls, shops etc.
While sitting on a bench enjoying my view of the harbor,
some crazy Christian man sits beside me and tell me all the good stuff about Jesus
and god. After about 10 minutes I nicely
said, goodbye. This lasts 5 minutes and
2 New Zealand well dressed city representatives ask me if we can have a talk
about what makes a community worth living in.
Why not, I have another hour to waste.
They ended up being very patient with my never direct answers. J
lol.
some crazy Christian man sits beside me and tell me all the good stuff about Jesus
and god. After about 10 minutes I nicely
said, goodbye. This lasts 5 minutes and
2 New Zealand well dressed city representatives ask me if we can have a talk
about what makes a community worth living in.
Why not, I have another hour to waste.
They ended up being very patient with my never direct answers. J
lol.
Well it is 1 pm, I am on the bus and ready to head up
north to Brynderwyn. A few pics below of
a fun ride. It wasn’t raining, just tinted scratched windows on the bus.
north to Brynderwyn. A few pics below of
a fun ride. It wasn’t raining, just tinted scratched windows on the bus.
So here is where I want to explain to people about always
being nice, even when you want to slap someone.
being nice, even when you want to slap someone.
When I was waiting to get on the bus, two ladies were
being a bit pushy for no real reason. I
remember thinking I wanted to ask them if I was in their way, but I reminded myself. This journey is about meeting people and learning
to always be kind. So instead I turned to them an asked if they would like to
go ahead of me, I am in no rush. This
paid off in full only 2 hours later.
being a bit pushy for no real reason. I
remember thinking I wanted to ask them if I was in their way, but I reminded myself. This journey is about meeting people and learning
to always be kind. So instead I turned to them an asked if they would like to
go ahead of me, I am in no rush. This
paid off in full only 2 hours later.
We arrived in Brynderwyn, one of the ladies from before
gets off ahead of me. I also noticed we
are in the middle of nowhere. There is
nothing, it is just an intersection where two roads meet. I decided to ask her if there is any way to
get to Ruawai from here. She says no,
but you seem so nice. I will give you a ride there. Her husband who was picking her up
agrees. See, being nice in all
situations is better. I am already
proving it.
gets off ahead of me. I also noticed we
are in the middle of nowhere. There is
nothing, it is just an intersection where two roads meet. I decided to ask her if there is any way to
get to Ruawai from here. She says no,
but you seem so nice. I will give you a ride there. Her husband who was picking her up
agrees. See, being nice in all
situations is better. I am already
proving it.
During our 25 minute commute to Ruawai I get a chance to
talk Cynthia and her husband Alan about New Zealand, the area I am going too
and places I should see. We had a great
ride.
talk Cynthia and her husband Alan about New Zealand, the area I am going too
and places I should see. We had a great
ride.
They drop me off right at the hostel door and I say
goodbye to another couple of new friends, Cynthia and Alan. Thanks for the ride!
goodbye to another couple of new friends, Cynthia and Alan. Thanks for the ride!
The hostel door is wide open and there is a sign that
reads, “Come in, find a room, and come see us at the gas station.” Hmm friendly people.
reads, “Come in, find a room, and come see us at the gas station.” Hmm friendly people.
While checking in I noticed I am the only person in the
hostel, and the owners inform me, the entire town only has internet at the
Cafe, which closes at 4 pm. It is
currently after 4.
hostel, and the owners inform me, the entire town only has internet at the
Cafe, which closes at 4 pm. It is
currently after 4.
I am starving so I walk into the main strip, which is 6
stores. They all close at 4 pm except
the grocery store. I grab some bananas
and a NZ beer (Mac’s Great White Cloudy Wheat Ale). Finally, I will have a beer. Mmmmm.
stores. They all close at 4 pm except
the grocery store. I grab some bananas
and a NZ beer (Mac’s Great White Cloudy Wheat Ale). Finally, I will have a beer. Mmmmm.
I forgot to mention, even the Bar/Pub was closed at 5 pm.
Check out some of the funny pictures of this town.
A vet clinic that sells meat (surgeries that went bad,
still make a profit).
still make a profit).
A closed police station.
Another great day travelling!