31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Relaxing with a local beer. It was pretty terrible. Although I was enjoying it at first, we all had enough of the island's only radio station by the end of the night - playing only ukelele music and nothing else. Note: Chinese supermarket bag is one of my packing bags from Auckland, not local.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Pretty clouds during sunset. I walked to a nearly fry shop in the dark to find food, and got a scooter ride to buy some beer. Backpackers International Hostel had a ragtag feel to it, with many different people staying, but all somewhat friendly. Although not on a beach, it is walking distance to Aro'a.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Another view of Aro'a Beach. As you can see, the water is pretty clear here. I found the different Polynesian languages very interesting, as I found that I could recognize some basic words in these languages by applying basic transforms of the phonemes depending on which language is spoken. In the Cook Islands, it's Cook Islands Maori.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011:

Snorkelling at Aro'a turned out to be much better than expected! I was surrounded by schools of colourful fish, a moray eel, highly toxic stonefish, giant boxfish, and colour-changing fish shifting their schooling patterns and colours to mimic coral and sand (which startled me as I didn't realise they were fish at first). I was intimidated a few times by schools of very large fish circling me very tightly, and a few aggressive fish that came up and nipped at my toes and face mask. There were large urchins the size of my head with long, wavering spines and brilliant neon blues showing through cracks between their jet black plates, and urchins holding pieces of shells and stones for camouflage. One of the highlights was following an octopus as it changed its shape, texture and colours to try to hide from me in a variety of locations. It was absolutely amazing.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Breaking waves at the edge of the lagoon.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

I was offered a scooter ride and dropped off at Aro'a Beach, while the others went on their own ways. Supposedly, this is one of the best snorkelling sites on the island, beingna large lagoon protected by ra'ui, an ancient fishing and harvesting ban used to manage resources.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

A large Sheraton Hotel abandoned during construction due to a series of failed business deals, and I heard some stories about a death. In any case, a great setting for a haunted movie scene.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

There was a waterfall at the end of the trail we swam in. I had to move fast as there were lots of mosquitos. When I got out of the water, my bag was covered in probably something like 30 mosquitos, probably attracted by the sweat I left on it.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Small waterfalls surrounded by ferns became quite a common view near the end of the trail. There was a hill covered completely in ferns, which looked awesome, but didn't photograph quite as well.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

The Needle viewed from the next ridge over. It almost looks like it has a face on it.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Another view of the tropical foliage.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Tropical plants and lush hills surrounded by a blue ocean. How much more stereotypical can you get for a tropical island?

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

View of the steepest section with the chain. I think my camera tilt makes it look worse than it actually was, but it was still tough enough that I took it slow there.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Some chains and ropes helped guide people up a steeper section if they wanted to get to a nice observation point on the Needle. There were some dangling tattered and re-tied rope loops attached to some branches if we wanted to go higher, but it did not look safe at all!

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

One of the mountain vallies visible from up there.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

View of the other side of the island - our destination. As you can see, the island is not very big at all. The left of the photo is part of The Needle (Te Rua Manga), a prominent stone monolith that towers over the area.

Rough notes:

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Some of the cliffs on the island. It gave a very stereotypical tropical forest feel.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

View of where we walked from.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

The trail leads up the hills in the centre of the island. For some reason, there were a few chickens looking for food from us near the top. And swarms of mosquitos.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Cutting across the middle of the island, the trail passes through the slippery, hilly, rocky, and muddy forest floor. Jandals (flip-flops, thongs, or whatever you want to call them) were not a good choice of footwear.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

There were lots of vines and creeping plants here, forming a dense under-growth. There were some fruit trees, including a tree filled with small starfruit. Not sure if they belonged to someone, but they were tasty.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

After taking a bus to Avarua, the capital, on the north side of the island, we found the trail head up a road. View of taro fields, mountains, and general tropical lushness.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

After a good night's of rest, I bumped into some people doing the cross-island track, and decided to join them.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

30 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

After 4 hours and crossing the International Date Line, I arrived on Rarotonga, the tip of an underwater volcano and "capital island" of the Cook Islands. Barely 10km in diameter, it is home to 14,000 people living in a ring around the island between the mountainous centre and the beaches.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-17.html

30 May 2011:

And very shortly after, we're over the ocean. I always loved the idea of flying between the islands - small isolated pockets of population in a wide empty ocean. I also loved now the different islands have a shared cultural heritage, but evolved and adapted to its environment.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-17.html

30 May 2011:

Soon, we were flying over some of the Auckland suburbs.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-17.html

30 May 2011:

To get on the plane, I have to wear jackets and thick clothing, and shove items in my pockets, as my discount tickets only allow a 7 pound carry-on, which I used for my 4.5 month trip. Here's a nice view of morning in Auckland on take-off. You can see how Auckland is sandwiched between the Tasman (lower body of water) and the Pacific.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-17.html

30 May 2011:

The familiar view from the stop for the airport bus early in the morning.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-17.html

29 May 2011:

View east from the tower. There are lots of small beach communities in that direction. I lived in one of the buildings just past and to the left of the park (and University of Auckland) for the first half of my time there. The building to the right and on the hill is the museum. I am going to sorely miss living in such a beautiful and laid-back city.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

29 May 2011:

View of some of the non-quarried volcanic cones in Auckland city. They have awesome large craters at the top, and home to herds of grazing sheep and cattle in fields that you can walk through - just make sure the gate is properly closed.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

29 May 2011:

One of New Zealand's two largest warships (HMNZS Te Mana or Te Kaha) docked in the naval base. Yeah, it took me a long time to find it too when it was first pointed out to me.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

29 May 2011:

Close-up of Devonport, where I lived. My daily commute involved me riding my bike between the two volcanic cones along the beach, and taking a ferry from the pier in the photo.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

29 May 2011:

The Sky Tower is home to the Sky Walk (where you walk around the outside of the tower), and SkyJump where you can jump from the tower, guided by cables! The logo of Media Design School's (where I taught at) new home is clearly visible in the centre of the photo.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

29 May 2011:

View south from the tower. Auckland is New Zealand's largest city, home to a third of the 4.3 million people in the country. It is situated along a narrow isthmus of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea. Hauraki, north of Auckland, is the Pacific, while Manukau Harbour, to the south (visible in this photo), is part of the Tasman.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

29 May 2011:

Close-up view of Auckland Harbour Bridge. Apparently, they didn't plan it big enough, and had to be widened using "clip-ons" just 10 years after opening, which caused quite a bit of criticism.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

29 May 2011:

Viaduct Harbour, where the large racing yatchs dock. There are lots of bars and clubs there, and so many memories of drinkin. Auckland Harbour Bridge is in the background.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

29 May 2011:

It was clear enough to see Little Barrier Island that day too.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

29 May 2011:

Another view of the Hauraki Gulf, with Motutapu, Devonport ferry terminal (which I commuted from every day), North Head, and Waikeke Island in the picture. You can even see the Coromandel Penninsula in the distance. Known as the "City of Sails," there are always many sailboats in the harbour, as well as ferries to the islands and peninsulas.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

29 May 2011:

View of downtown Auckland. So many great memories of working and getting drunk there.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

29 May 2011:

A view of Hauraki Gulf, the harbour Auckland downtown rests on. The tip of the spit of land is where I lived for the second half of my time in New Zealand, in Cheltenham Beach, Devonport. The volcanic cone behind is Rangitoto, formed about 600 years ago.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

29 May 2011:

What the array of viewfinders looks like. This is on the upper observation deck of the tower, the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

29 May 2011:

Looking through a series of cool view tubes that point out sites of interest. I believe this one is pointing out a marine (wildlife?) rescue centre or something.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

29 May 2011:

A cool area where you can feel like you're standing in mid-air, surrounded by glass.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

29 May 2011:

The new glass elevator floor in the Sky Tower.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

29 May 2011:

With my one day in town, I decided to use my ticket to the Sky Tower from grabone.co.nz (the NZ equivalent of Groupon at the time).

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-16.html

28 May 2011:

Arriving back at Logan's place in Parnell, Auckland - I crashed on his floor whenever I was in town after moving out. Auckland was my hub while in the South Pacific, as it has cheap flights and many of my friends. I amassed my tickets over 2-3 months during my ridiculously long notice period, as I was teaching. Nearly all of my tickets were from grabaseat.co.nz, Air New Zealand's sale site. They have great deals there, and so far, is my favorite airline.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-15.html

28 May 2011:

View of the reefs on takeoff. I wished I had the chance to visit the reefs, as these are the second-longest double barrier reefs in the world, the longest being the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-15.html

28 May 2011:

Walking to the plane on the tarmac is always a special moment for me - the last time being outside in a place where I don't know if I'll ever return to.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-15.html

28 May 2011:

In the morning, Jérôme drove me to the airport. I handed over the SIM card I had bought using a combination of bad French and hand motions. Everything is expensive here, the SIM card set me back about $100, including some calling credit, but it was worth it, especially for couchsurfing.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-15.html

27 May 2011:

Back at Jérôme's place, a nice view of the mountains (possibly Mount Dore) glowing softly in the sunset. For my last night in New Caledonia, we went to a very cool nakamal (kava club) with lots of dark nooks and crannies to sit in and play board games. Afterwards, we had a drink in a club/restaurant complex on a pier hovering over the water, with underwater rocks and patterns clearly visible.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-14.html