March 2, 2012
Hi all,
Arrived at long last in Auckland ! A fourteen hour flight is an ordeal but I know it will all be worth it. The Qantas flight was excellent, two great meals, great service, everything included B&B (booze and blankets) except for one thing, the darn seats are too close together!!! Isn't that always the way it is.
When I arrived didn't waste any time, got a bus to the Auckland museum, which had a great exhibit on the Maori people.
The Maori people were the original inhabitants of New Zealand going back thousands of years. They are Polynesian descendants starting originally in Southeast Asia 6000 years ago then moving across New Guinea, and Fiji with the last descendants settling in New Zealand beginning about 1000 AD.
Much like our own native American Indians, many of today's younger Maori have learned and retained some of the ancient cultural dances and songs.
Auckland is called The City of Sails, a harbor for the sailing elite. Remember after Dennis Conner won the America's cup in 1987 for the San Diego Yacht Club, New Zealand challenged the US with a super fast carbon fibre monohull sloop the following year. Dennis responded with a super catamaran, and beat the Kiwi's soundly. It was later challenged in the courts with Dennis ultimately prevailing. The Kiwi boat was permanently mounted here at the harbour.
Auckland is the largest Polynesian city in the world. The original Moari word for Auckland is Aotearoa, which means "land of the long white cloud", for me it's been land of the dark cloud, little too much rain. :)
Off to Queensland, and the beautiful south island of New Zealand, hope to catch some sun there.
Kiwi language lessons: OK is pronounced "ai-kai"; e's in words are generally long - leg is "leeg"
yours in travel, Bill
This is my blog for my trip to Taiwan. I'll be posting my journal here from November 1 to November 17, 2017 so check back and join me on the trip ! - Bill Wilson
