Ruminations of an Alien: 2004

on the 20th day of my stay here in New Zealand, i'm already getting used to the ways of life here. reminds me of my summer vacations to Kerala during my school days. We got into a routine almost immediately and when it came to leaving that place to get back to home, it was never a happy period. Years have passed since those carefree days of my childhood, but even on this day of departure, I yearn for the same: a longer vacation, more family fun, more homemade food and of course the least of work (or responsibilites).
In a few hours I would be struggling to find that elusive comfortable sleeping position on a coach class seat aboard AirNewZealand's jumbo to Los Angeles. I would also be looking forward to landing in Salt lake City and meet old friends and a new face: Chitra. I would be dreading a few other things, but then if its me, thats pretty much the way I operate before a big event.
Close to 3 weeks here in the southern hemisphere have truly turned out to be a dream vacation. The timing was perfect and so was the content. For all the moolah i spent to get here, I have not a regret. This time may have come again, but the opportunity was ripe right now.
Apart from the famous family reunion happening here in Auckland (after 4 long years), the place itself has charmed me many a times over. Admittedly the weather played spoilsport on most days, yet the greenery and the proximity to the ocean have expectedly done their bit to woo me.
Ofcourse, on a holiday even the dreariest of places seem attractive, but this is a genuine dream city.
and that was just Auckland in the North Island. I did get a sampler of the South and it involved 3 days of super-driving through some of the most remote parts of the world and should I add that they were also some of the prettiest parts as well. Lake te Anau, Milford Road, the views of a choppy Tasman Sea from aboard the Milford Sovereign, Wanaka and its happening FM stations, lake Wanaka, endless meadows(and infinite sheep) near Manapouri, the narrow and curvy stretch of road between the Haast pass and the hamlet of Haast, steep downhill driving from Wanaka to Arrowtown, the Haast Beach and so much more. I could go back here again and yet get awed and humbled by the sheer work of nature (ongoing).
This post would not be complete if i did not mention the gastronomic delights i was treated to every day of my stay here in Auckland. Home-made food of course topped the charts again, and close to it were K.K. (malaysian), some thai, a concept Chinese lunch place, Regular italian dining and invites by people of the local social circle. Food ranks way up there as my stress-busters and its no surprsie that it did its thing this time around as well.
The city of Auckland, is so much NOT like any city I have been before in its layout. little hills (extinct volcano cones) dot the cityscape and high rises are almost exclusive only to the busy downtown areas. The harbors are stunning and the ocean is never far away. Ample parks and recreational grounds makes it a fun place to unwind and work out, outdoors. I did not do much of running this time but the hilly terrain of the city surely calls for sime good cross training. Ofcourse, there's always a bayside run that is flat and highly glamorous!
My impressions of the City of Sails, as Auckland is fondly named, are defintiely positive. I have not touched on the social aspects of my opinions. I could not judge much because I was always in the company of my near an dear ones and never did get too much of achance to know whats the buzz out there. I know that NZ has a liberal left leaning government right now and that its eco-consciousness ranks high among cities of its size. In fact the omnipresent recycle bins are a testimony to the city's eco-awareness and action. Mass transit disappointed and I may be biased because I happened to (twice) witness a deserted (swanky) Britomart Transport Centre during the evening peak hours. It way well be a case of bad timing or a case of proportional numbers (Auckland just has about 1.5 million residents spread over a large sprawling metro area). But like any major western city, the car is king. there are just too many places one has to visit to enjoy auckland and the car takes one to each and every one fo them (of course parking times are not included for fear of angering the hasty).
Its also a city with a large amount of diversity - many ethnic groups have made Auckland home and we Indians rank among the noticeable ones apart from the Chinese, Pacific Islanders, South East Asians and more. Micro cultures are a running theme in this city and they all (seem to) gel into the bigger picture. I could have done with more time to analyze much more of this fascinating setup, but 20 days is long enough to saythat everything is not hunky dory in this department. Competition, lack of language skills, eating habits, choice of profession, education levels and some other such factors make the cultural dvisions stand out and many a time the interface is crude and not friendly. It is a growing immigrant population and over time one may witness a U.S. style 'melting pot' syndrome. But the location of Auckland on a pacific island makes it a unique crossroads of eastern cultures and western habits. I did not get any opportunity to interact with a Kiwi ( white NZ resident, not the bird), but I did realise that the Indian community here is large and diverse with numerous temples and cultural associations and their corresponding annual events. Birds of a feather do flock together, and in a foreign place, they seem to do that vehemently.
lastly, I regret not doing anything Maori: no Maori food, no culture stuff, no village tour, no interaction,no nothing. I do not know how one gets to do any of the above but I was truly impressed by the inclusion of Maori titles on important institutions, road signs and more. there also is a maori TV channel , which i suspect has not quite taken off. I cannot and will not yet comment on the racial issues of present day new Zealand.
There is a lot one can do in this country, in terms of adventure, fitness and admiring nature. I dont think I can even undertake the task of listing down the opportunities each region has. there are numerous other ways to get that information. All I would say to end this post is that as a tourist (from the USA), with 20 days to live with my closest family in a beautiful city not too far from a number of beaches, i have truly had a vacation - worry free, relaxing with some adventure and oodles of open mouthed gaping at nature's creations. The ocean, the evergreen forests, sandy beaches, chirping birds, rainfall, quirky 'give way' driving rules, sheep that stand and stare, bright sunshine (when the clouds oblige) and the absence of snakes has made me yearn for more of it...and I am definitely coming back....definitely!