I arrived in Auckland all in one piece and took the shuttle bus to downtown. I am staying at the Skycity Grand Hotel, 90 Federal St. at room 1707. It's a brand new, modern hotel. I relaxed with a scolding hot bath, (and decided that the fixtures in my new house will be super-modern too)...
The telephone number is 64 9 363 7000. If you want to get in touch with me, please call.
The people I've met so far are talkative & very easy-going, as was expected. The place looks smaller, less imposing... Reminds me of Monterey (CA), and some smaller towns in Europe... It's drizzling green...
I'm going to hit on the gorgeous Brazilian hotel receptionist downstairs, and hang around for a couple of days. I still do not have any plan of attack yet.
Stand by -
My sister (from California, US) has relocated to NZ and has now lived in Waikaito for 2 years. It has been an experience for her and for our family here in the states. Good luck to you.
Posted by: Holly | December 14, 2005 at 09:01 PM
How you liking it Hanan??
Posted by: TheProphet | December 19, 2005 at 11:09 PM
Are you a newzealander by birth or are you re-locating.
If re-locating what made you decide to.
Good luck and hope you keep Grow a Brain going - for a while at least.
(Oh check out the flat bottomed jetboat racing - cant remember what its really called but it's cool)
Posted by: cobra427 | December 21, 2005 at 12:58 PM
One of the most amazingly gifted and respected composer/musicians in the world hails from New Zealand: Neil Finn (also of Crowded House and Split Enz). If you enjoy intelligent, intimate, beautifully crafted pop music, then you will love Neil's work.
One of Crowded House's finest albums, Together Alone, was recorded in a house at Kare Kare beach, and in it Neil pays homage to the beauty of New Zealand's Maori culture and, at least to my ears, the songs also paint a picture of the area's amazing geographical splendour.
If you haven't yet acquainted yourself with his music, you will surely get to know it when you live there since Neil is THE major figure in the NZ music scene. Catch a concert - he's fantastic live and often has guest musicians on board.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Finn
Also check out his brother, Tim Finn. (Some folks love one, some the other, some both.... I happen to lean more towards Neil's work, as if you couldn't tell!!)
Last I heard, Neil was an owner of a club in Auckland called Tabac - so it's a safe bet it would be a place to catch live music.
Have a wonderful trip - and keep us posted on all that you discover. I love reading your other blog, and will enjoy following your adventures on the far side of the globe too.
Cheers,
Susan
Posted by: Sue | December 22, 2005 at 03:51 PM
Welcome to our side of the world (well, approximately - there is only one small ocean between New Zealand and Australia).
The trick now is to persuade your favourite people to come too. And migrate a certain brain-changing blog too.
Posted by: david tiley | December 24, 2005 at 09:05 PM