views – Joe Bloggs

Views and too much booze!

November 12, 2019November 13, 2019Tagged beach, beautiful, cubastreet, drinking, experience, food, mtvictoria, newzealand, sea, solotravel, traveller, travelling, views, wellington, wellyLeave a comment

I arrived in wellington on Monday afternoon.

Tuesday morning I had a lie in and then headed out to explore Wellington, I took an electric scooter to the bottom of Mount Victoria and then climbed to the summit, it only took around 30 minutes and the views from both the walk upwards and the top overlooking Wellington CBD and the harbour were to say the least, pretty amazing.

You get a pretty good 360 degree view from the top and from there I saw a beach that didn’t look too far away, as it was sunny and still pretty early in the day I decided I would wander down the other side of the mountain, unsure of where exactly I was going but on an adventure none the less. I managed to find my way to the bottom of the mount and through a residential area, around an hour or so later I arrived at the beach. In front of me lay Lyall Bay a beautiful beach with glistening blue water, the beach is right next to the airport but still peaceful and relaxing. plenty of people surfing and swimming in the sea.

I then took a scooter back around the mount along the waterside and returned to the city centre. I walked through town and then grabbed something to eat for lunch and started to walk up towards the botanical gardens, it took me a little over 20 minutes to walk to the top, but when I reached the top I was exhausted and decided that I would leave walking around the gardens to another day and possibly take the cable car up next time.

I returned to the hostel and then later met up with a friend and went for a short walk along the waterside and then to a bar on Cuba Street, spent some time drinking and playing pool, met some locals and then sat down to eat. When the waiter had brought out our food and we had started eating another waiter then brought out the same plates of food to us, we hadn’t realised that it was a 2 for 1 deal so we both paid $21 for two plates of pork ribs with chips and coleslaw. I obviously didn’t eat it all and shared it to some others in the bar but christ thats a pretty good deal. Also the jugs of beer only cost $10 so you can’t go wrong there. I returned home at around 11pm and went straight to bed.

I awoke at around 1:45am when an Irish guy stumbled into the dorm room pissed out of his head, literally just slurring his words and being loud as ever, he climbed up to the top of his bunk and pretty much descended into sleep straight away. Anyway, around 1-2 hours later I was awoken again by his mate who had woken up beneath him, I then heard the sound of running water, I looked down and saw liquid pouring out of the mattress above and down onto this guy below, the guy above had just pissed himself in his sleep and the urine was sinking through his mattress down and splashing the guy beneath him, I was about half asleep at this point but couldn’t help but laugh. I mean in all honesty it was fucking disgusting, who needs to get that drunk. The guy beneath him was his travel mate so I think perhaps he was more understanding as he didn’t wake the guy up and say anything, although if you’ve pissed yourself and your still asleep chances are you won’t be waking up. I think his mate then just decided to just have a shower and sort out his bedding.

I’ve always detested being on the top bunk, but now I hope that I’m always on the top to save myself from this utter nightmare. I don’t even know what my reaction would be if this ever happened to me. Im unsure if the guy even knows if it happened, I’m sure his mate will inform him though. There was only one girl in the room and I’m pretty sure she moved rooms this morning, I do not blame her.

I have 2 weeks here in wellington, I’m unsure whether to get a job and stay longer or to just relax and then head to the South Island.

“Spontaneity is the best kind of adventure”

Staying at Nev and Debs

June 25, 2019June 25, 2019Tagged airbnb, beach, cabin, cosy, hiking, journey, kitchen, mountmaunganui, newzealand, papamoabeach, patio, sanddunes, shower, summit, sunset, town, travel, traveller, views, volcano, walkingLeave a comment

So, I’m not in Auckland any more, I’ve ventured down to the Bay of Plenty, I plan to get work here in the next few days.

I’ve been staying in an Airbnb the last few days on Papamoa Beach,

It’s a lovely cabin at the bottom of Nev and Debs garden, with a really cool set up; inside the cabin there is a very comfortable queen sized bed, TV, desk and chair, shelves and hanging space for clothes, a toilet and sink, a radiator and a very comfy chair.

Leaving the cabin and walking to the left over the paved stepping-stones to the covered patio area, almost seems as that’s all there is, but behind, hidden from view, behind the dining area, there’s a corrugated metal shed, inside of which is pretty much a full kitchen with all the amenities you could need.

To the left of this, a few meters away is an outdoor shower, now before you turn up your nose at this, it is actually very nice, the hot water pretty much cycles through straight away, the water pressure is pretty decent and once your inside it gets pretty warm, such a nice and different twist. There is also a strong connection to WIFI.

What did i spend my few days doing?

On my arrival I unpacked what I needed and set out to have a look around, I crossed the road, clambered over the dunes and looked out at the sea, I walked for about 15 minutes down the beach taking everything in, until I crossed back over the dunes and went into Papamoa Plaza for some shopping and something to eat.

It was raining on Sunday so I decided to wait for it to calm down before I left. Nev and Debs house is literally over the road from the beach. I started walking down the beach, it was so peaceful and the sounds of the waves are extremely relaxing, Its really good to relax and think. I walked for just under 1½ hours, it started to rain halfway for around 10-15 minute and then stopped and the sun came back out. When I had walked as far as I could, I left the beach and went to look around the Bayfair shopping mall, had an early tea and got the bus back to Papamoa Beach.

I asked Nev if he knew a good place in which I could hire a bike, he then offered me his, to borrow, how accommodating is that? I took him up on his offer, He also lent me a lock and a helmet (not something I’d usually wear but it’ll make my mum happy). On Monday I used the bike and cycled from Papamoa Beach to Mount Maunganui. I locked up the Bike and begin my ascent to the summit of the extinct volcano. Some parts of the track were pretty steep and rather strenuous to walk up. The sun was beating down, I refrained from stopping and resting on the many benches littered among the track as I knew I wouldn’t be able to get up and get going again after a break. When I made it to the top I was exhausted, I sat at the top for around 10 minutes before taking some shots of the beautiful views. I spent the rest of the day climbing up and down around the rocks on Moturiki Island.

Relaxing at the summit overlooking the bay

Check out was at 10:00am on Tuesday, I had a lie-in in the morning, showered and then packed up my gear and checked out, I’m pretty sure I will come back and stay here when I need to wind down after a few months in a hostel. Im now staying in Mount Maunganui and hoping to get a job soon.

Hostel 101

June 19, 2019June 19, 2019Tagged auckland, backpacker, british, daytrips, different, diverse, hostel, ird, life, living, moving, multicultural, new zealand, skytower, travel, views, visit, waiheke, wanderlustLeave a comment

It definitely feels that I’ve been here more than a week, I feel like living in Auckland isn’t much different to my norm, now don’t get me wrong, I’m on the other side of the world but it’s a large city and apart from the few daytrips out to different islands on the ferry its no more different to a city in the UK. I guess the only thing that really makes the city stand out from any other is the notorious Sky tower.

I guess when I came here I was expecting something else, perhaps something totally different but I think there is a lot of British influence here in Auckland so perhaps thats why its not the place for me. I read loads before I came and there were definitely mixed opinions on Auckland but I didn’t want to come in with a negative attitude, I came in positive and now I have my own opinion. I do hope that during my travels I get the chance to visit a real Maori village and experience their culture.

I’m in Auckland for another week yet but I’m looking forward to the arrival of my IRD number, I will then begin to move further south, out into smaller towns and away from the cities, somewhere less busy but still full of interesting people and places to visit.

So far into my stay here in Auckland I have ventured out to Waiheke Island and zip lined over vineyards and forests, I have visited the area of Devonport and viewed the defences from WW2 on North Head, I’ve walked along Cheltenham Beach and around Takapuna Head. I have walked to the top of Mt Eden, I have visited the War Memorial Museum, Walked along Mission Bay, visited the Harbour Bridge, spent a good amount of time whizzing around on the electric scooters and photographed the city skyline from several different angles. Along with all of this I have also managed to set up my NZ bank account, sent off for my IRD number and Kiwi Access card. I am now awaiting these items to further my adventure into New Zealand.

Apart from the non-stop squeaky beds and people entering the dorm and banging about at ungodly hours, Hostel life is pretty good, well when I say pretty good I mean its okay, well when I say its okay I mean its cheap and that’s always a positive which you cant complain about, not that I’m complaining about anything. Below are some of my experiences so far…

So on one of the first evenings I had here, it was early evening, I was still overcoming the jet lag and it was only around 6-8pm, I had already got ready to go to bed. I was in bed, eyes slowly drifting to sleep when all of a sudden the fire alarm begins blaring, I roll over and ignore it until others in the dorm begin to leave and I hear hundreds of footsteps clambering down the stairs. I consider to myself whether this is a real alarm or a fake one, I decided to leave the building as I assumed no sane person would want to evacuate over 100 people for a simple test. It was real, someone on floor 6 set it off, the fire Department was extremely efficient and here within minutes, they checked inside but within around 10 minutes everyone was allowed back inside. It was an experience though.

Cleanliness is pretty key anywhere you go, not in this hostel kitchen it seems, I mean when I first cooked in the hostel I made a chicken curry, I spilt some curry on the hob so obviously I cleaned it up, when i wiped it i must have cleaned up days worth of muck. People just don’t seem to do this. Most of the hobs are encrusted with fat and food, the sides are greasy and unclean, Plates and pans are left in the sinks, nothing that is washed is put back in its original place so it’s a real hunt to find the utensils that you need.

Lads, what the f**k, lift the seat before you take a slash, its not hard, every time I have gone to the toilet I’ve had to clean it before using it, its so grim, who knows what the girls think? Absolutely no need for it. I think I need to invest in some toilet covers!

Several times this has happened which makes me believe that this is just a regular occurrence in a hostel which when you think of it, it does seem pretty correct. Anyway, these people have like the least respect for anyone or anything, bashing and banging around the dorm room, coming in to the dorm and turning the lights on like its 6pm rather than the 3am it actually is. Not the nicest experience when you’re trying to sleep, but just another night in a hostel.

So it was about 8am in the morning, around the time I’ve been getting up and having a shower. Today I finished my shower and switched it off. Whilst I dried myself and got dressed I heard an uncontrolled fapping and panting sound coming from the next cubicle, obviously some guy was tugging him self off. I mean good for him, but quieten down with it, you don’t need to let the whole hostel know mate.

Privacy, there is absolutely no privacy unless your taking a hefty dump. But this is what I’m paying for, I’m paying roughly £9 a night so I can’t moan too much, I knew what I was getting myself into. Security, everyone needs it, I have a locker under my bed to store my valuables but I have everything in it because “I don’t trust no bitch”. But its true, who can you really trust these days. It’s an 8-person dorm and people go in and out throughout the day. The WIFI is free, although if you want to use it and get a good connection anytime between 11am and 6pm is best.

This being said, with all these experiences Iv’e had so far there are so many positive points I’ve left out about living in a hostel. The main one really is whom you meet, whether it be passing in the hallway, whilst cooking in the kitchen or just people you share a dorm with. It’s such I diverse place and such a feeling of togetherness here, living with strangers in a multicultural environment, literally amazing experience and I would definitely recommend it.

Whilst editing this post before making it public I received an email with my IRD number on it, the excitement really brewed up inside, so I now need to make my decision on where to go next. I can finally get a job! Watch this space!

“If its endurable then endure it. Stop complaining.”
Marcus Aurelius