So I flew from Fiji to Auckland with Air New Zealand on the 14th of Jan. The flight is 3 hours which is nothing compared to the 12.5 and 11 hour flights I had previously had so it felt as though just after the seatbelt sign had been switched off and we had been given food, the sign was back on again and we were going down. I was stunned at the shortness of the flight, it felt like half an hour max. That could be because I was used to long flights but also could be due to the immaculate aircraft and superior service of Air New Zealand. I was stunned. The plane was big and roomy: people with a window seat could stand up without hitting their head. Yeah. That roomy. The on-flight entertainment system worked throughout the entire flight, from before take-off to after landing. The safety video was absolutely hilarious with old dudes and young blonde bimbos dancing around in brightly coloured yoga clothing showing how to crouch in the brace position and how to blow up your life-jacket xD It was the funniest safety video I've ever seen. And the food was great! Proper mashed potato, not the powdery crap and nice chicken in a nice sauce and real bread rolls. Really impressive. Was a happy girl. And 70 films to choose from. Yeah, I like Air New Zealand. In my opinion it rivals Virgin Atalntic in service quality, which really says something, I guess. The night before I left I had met two Germans (one called David, no kidding. Another German David, haha) in the hostel who happened to be on the same plane as me so I was happy to be with them at the customs and stuff. Is always nice to know people in serious places.

In Auckland I made my way to the very YHA that my mum stayed in in 1979. That was 32 years ago and she was 24 when she travelled New Zealand and now, anno 2012, her 20 year old daughter is following in her footsteps. Kindof sentimental, right? I find it a nice feeling that my mum has been here before. Even now, I am currently in Motueka, a town where my mum worked for a while. So cool J Anyway. The YHA was nice, the guy behind the desk really friendly and helpful and nice to chat with, more so than the other guests, haha, so I had fun there. From my room I had a nice view of the Skytower which was cool.

On my first whole today in Auckland I ventured into the city, walking all the way down the high street to the quay, wandering around Viaduct Harbour and other areas around there where the apartments look just as posh as the millionaires yachts and all the restaurants have simple stylish fonts stating simple one word chique names such as "Aqua" or "Roots". I wandered to Albert Park and lay in the grass watching the many chilling backpackers and engrossed in each other couples and parents busy making sure their kids didn't fall in the fountain or rip too many flowers from the flower beds. When the sun suddenly vanished and water started to finely tumble from the sky within seconds of the sun vanishing, I went to the Skytower and went up to the deck with the glass floor. I made some photos of the city from all possible views and then attempted to stand on the glass floor sections. I was surprised at how hard I had to tell myself that it was safe before I dared put my foot on the glass and even more surprised at how I had incredible trouble putting any weight on my feet on the glass for more than a few seconds. I found myself leaping off every time I had both feet on the glass, like a child, but then I noticed everyone doing that, young or old, so I guess I'm not the only person who doesn't like standing (seemingly) in mid air above a 200m drop. As I'm a student (yay) I had a discount and could go up to the higher observation deck where I settled down and read my book, The Slap, until the sun started setting. I took pictures of the sunset (the main reason I was there, to be honest. Auckland isn't that special from above but sunsets from that high up. Mmmm. Nice.) and then I returned to the YHA for food and now sleep.