abode acrobat . net

Home to some of the most expensive internet on the planet, I was in Fiji last week. I took a tour around the main island, Viti Levu. Team-mates included Liam who toured part of New Zealand with me, although he is suspected of trying to change the dates of his trip once I told him I’d be going to Fiji at the same time. Anyway, he wouldn’t tell me where he’s going after Fiji (I saw him board a plane to Hawaii, too late for me to change my ticket).

Tourism is a major part of the economy there, and we did our bit - on an organised trip to a village primary school, we took some pens and pencils as presents. It turns out they teach lessons exclusively in English - apart from Fijian language lessons, I suppose - which I think is a good idea. The best jobs are working with tourists, after all.

The final few days were spent on the smallest island. It was basically a lump of sand sticking out above the sea, complete with a few palm trees as per the caricature. It takes about five minutes to swim around the perimeter.

No Comments »

It turns out that Auckland could easily be the capital of New Zealand - it’s a mistake made frequently. In fact, I’ve read up on the details, and it was the capital for 25 years in the 19th century. I have also travelled to a small town called Russell in the quiet north of the country (the ‘Bay of Islands’). And that was the original capital, before anyone had bothered to venture any further south. How things change!

Flying to Fiji tomorrow.

1 Comment »

“What’s the capital of New Zealand, then?” I asked. It was a timely question since we had just arrived in Wellington, one of my two candidate cities for the answer. Of course I know the answer to this question really, but ever since the Auckland Commonwealth Games, I have intermittently forgotten. When I was planning my itinerary I obviously got this wrong, as I only allocated an overnight stop here. I mean it’s not like it’s the capital city or anything (on that day, and in my mind, at least).

No Comments »

At university, there was an extraordinarily tall chap called Gordon who used to insist that the college authorities should purchase an extra-long bed to follow him around the various college rooms he inhabited throughout his degree. Anyway, when I told him I would be visiting New Zealand, he said I should look out for the famous Callendar-Hamilton bridges which his grandfather built along the west coast. Starting the fun bus trip south along this coast, we wound our way along a mountainous road, occasionally having to stop to make way for oncoming traffic to traverse some rickety single-track bridges across crevices in the terrain.

“Don’t worry,” I assured the group, “we’ll soon come across some Callendar-Hamiltons which will be far superior”. We’re now much further south, at Queenstown, and we have passed only cheap-looking bridges all the way down. Some or most of these, I am forced to conclude, must be Grandpa Hamilton’s. I really find it a bit much that someone spends four years demanding oversized bedroom furniture when his own grandfather wouldn’t even build bridges large enough for two-way traffic.

Of course, I’m ignoring the history here, and Mr Hamilton no doubt carved a little-used passage with limited funds and assistance. Now the road he pioneered is overflowing with traffic. I must admit we found his constructions very useful, so I shouldn’t complain.

Queenstown was described as one of the most beautiful places on earth (by the travel agent), and is known as the adventure capital of New Zealand. I was signed up for an early morning skydive today, and was very nervous (that I would miss the alarm clock). Unfortunately, bad weather means it has been postponed until tomorrow, but luckily I was able to arrange it for the afternoon this time.

2 Comments »