Auckland weekend...

I took two days off work when it was Anzac day on the 25th to make a 5 day weekend. With those five days I decided to fly up to Auckland and catch up with some friends. I stayed with my mate from school, Shanna. Had a great time checking out a bit of the city. On Friday we went with her cousin to Rainbow’s End. This is NZ’s one and only amusement park. I have to say I was mildly surprised that it was quite decent! I even conquered the scary rides, in fact even embraced them! Shan and I went on the ‘Fear Fall’ 3 times. This ride goes up 18 storeys and then you hear a click, then it pauses more and you fall to the ground again! One of those weird things that you (well I) hate, but you like it for some reason and have to do it again! The other big attraction is the rollercoaster, with full circle loop and cork screw section. I was freaking before hand, and wouldn’t have been too shamed to get out after once round (it goes round twice with a pause in the middle for people to get out if they aren’t happy). But that too was awesome. I think we clocked up 8 turns on that! So all in all, a fun day out.

On Saturday we went to Otara Market. Otara is in South Auckland, and mostly populated by Pacific Islanders. Was good to see, and we also caught a cool break-dance battle competition. After we went into town to Aotea Market which was much more classier with arts, clothes and jewellery. Later Shan gave me a lift back into town to my mate, Mark’s apartment. Mark is my Japanese buddy from uni, and I discovered at a family friend’s wedding in March that he is going out with a friend of a friend from Timaru, Richard. So the 3 of us caught up, had a few drinks before going to a farewell party of Richard’s friend at a club in town. Then onto a few more clubs. Ended up being a decently late night, and in turn a very lazy Sunday not leaving Mark’s til 3pm after lounging on the couch since getting up.

Monday, Shanna had to go to school (she's a teacher) and do some prep for the start of the school year so she dropped me in town and I went to the Auckland Art Gallery. Was good. There was an exhibition of 60s British Art from the Tate London. The NZ art collection was cool too. After wandering around I got the bus back out to where Shan lives. That night we went out for dinner with my Dad who was up for car racing and work, my uncle Richard who lives in Auckland, Nikki my cousin, and Dad’s bro Phil. Was a funny night. Shanna and my dad get on fabulously and are always giving each other shit. Much wine and beer was consumed and by the time we’d gone back to Richard’s, him and Dad were rather boozed!

Tuesday was very chilled, didn’t get up to much, and then Shan dropped me at the airport. After the flight being delayed an hour and a half I flew home! All good times…