Rangitoto Island / Photo by Luis Perez
It was a long time ago, on September of 2009 when I decided to visit New Zealand for the first time. I took the 11pm Air New Zealand flight to Auckland from LAX. If you are ever going to the Oceania (at least a 12 hour flight), fly Air New Zealand, they have an amazing service. A sign welcomed me at Auckland’s International Airport: “Kia Ora, Haere mai Aoteaora” – Hi, Welcome to New Zealand.
There’s so much to write about this Lord of the Rings paradise. If you happen to be there, just go with the flow, I rented a car at A2B Rentals, and drove all around the North Island. It took me 30 minutes to get used to drive on the other side of the road, thankfully I had the Auckland Southern Motorway for a test drive. After that, it was all “sweet as bro”, I drove pass Hamilton (I’m sure it’s a great place, but life’s too short to get to know the Tron) and headed to New Plymouth, Ohakune, Taupo, Rotorua (which is a must, regardless of the awful sulfuric scent) and ended up at Whitianga.
I also learnt who the All Blacks are… and you should too
I made it to the Coromandel Peninsula, and I had a blast there, hung out with some Germans and went to the Hot Water Beach, Cathedral Cove, The Coromandel, etc. New Zealand is a scenic country, no matter where you are, the view will be amazing. This was a fast 15 days trip, I didn’t mind going anywhere else, I knew I’ll have more time when I finally move to this “Far out” country.
New Zealand taught me to “give myself a try”, to experience new things, to go on an adventure, to eat mussels, kumaras, pies, to meet new friends, to adapt my ears to the NZelanders’ funky accent and to listen and read Maorifor the first time.
Well, she never stopped fighting… right?
The land of the hobbits, the Flight of the Conchords, Rugby, 100% pure land and Feminism is like my second home. Give yourself a try and explore New Zealand, and if you are lucky enough, you might get the chance to meet Lucy Lawless or Bret and Jemaine.
Ps: “Mean as”, “sweet as”, “kia ora bro”, “Far out”, “dodgy”, “give your ferret a run”, are some kiwi expressions I heard while I was there (nah, I never heard the last one, but sounds mean doesn’t it?)
Ps2. Never tease a Kiwi telling her/him that Pavlova is Aussie… never.
Tacos and Politics 