...I drive out to Matamata to begin my Hobbiton studio tour. Goo...I have a coffee before the tour at a drive through McDonald's. This looks like the first drive through I'd been to where after ordering at the intercom and paying at the first window, at the second window instead of getting your order, your you are told to pull over at the parking lot and someone will fetch the order to you. And I just had a coffee! It's funny they can't keep up bu...

...I notice that New Zealand offers the kind of unparalleled scenic experience, which can't be easily compared to the likes of Norway or the European Alps. It's more gentle, more quiet but very soothing, very idyllic, almost homey. No wonder so many people settle here....I observe there is something very special about herds of cows grazing on the side of the road here. Can't put my finger on it yet but they're very photogenic somehow,...I spot sev...

...I wake up with an aching back and drive off hunting for breakfast....I notice a great many cats and other small animals killed on the road. There was literally one roadkill every 15 minutes as I drove....I realize New Zealand seems like a very old school destination. Rental cars seem old, roads seem quite old and music on the radio is vintage too, which I love. All in all a very relaxing, laid back, nostalgic travel place, like a trip back in time. Also: Hibis...

...I realize that internet is severely limited here: mobile data plans are expensive and free wifi in hotels is scarce. You have to pay for data consumed and that sucks....I encounter "real kiwifruit filled chocolates". Hmmm I'll pass....I notice my hostel is actually a YMCA establishment. Fancy that......I observe a great many American fast food chains: Carl's Jr., Wendy's, Denny's....I conclude that this being summer, weather is actually quite c...

...I wake up to the sound of the usual bird chirping alarm on my phone and reach out to silence it. To find out it's not the phone, it's tropical birds outside my window....I go to buy some supplies and to my joy I discover a flavor of KitKat unknown to me before: double chocolate!...I explore downtown Auckland a little - it seems a quiet, sleepy town, especially at Christmas. It's also very hilly, like San Francisco almost. Apart from the enormous an...