HELLO NEW ZEALAND

HELLO NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand was one of the countries I have always wanted to visit even if only for its verdant sceneries and climatic zones; for its attractions that were both challenging and tranquil. I want to see the ships and the cows and t he volcanic craters.

Wednesday, July 18, 2001: 6:00 a.m. Left for the airport with Ate Leng, Ate Oma, and Nicol to America. Toti and Yee to the Philippines; Terry and I to New Zealand via Air New Zealand flight 0102 (Anset Australia 8102). My first glimpse of New Zealand was from the aircraft as it approached Aukland. I saw the almost unbelievably green land, bordered by the sea curling around broken shorelines, thundering onto great stretches of desert beach, or idling peacefully into sheltered inlets and calm bays. Shiny metallic roofs unlike the red tiled roofs of Sydney, greeted us. The airport was quite strict with incoming passengers to the extent of making use of snipping dogs.

While waiting for Enee to pick us I enjoyed people-watching. Tall and big Samoans, huge white Australians, little Chinese people and relatively smaller, white, handsome and pretty New Zealanders. Prolonged embraces and deep sweet kisses among lovers was a very pretty common sight.

Enee got the wrong lane but it was a blessing because we immediately had a chance to pass by Hillsbarrough and saw the beautiful houses at the vicinity. Enee also pointed to us the One Tree Hill which was now more popularly known as the No Tree Hill since a naughty Samoan greatly injured the original tree that used to stand aloft at that hill. It had to be cut totally to prevent any accident.

We passed the Pakurangga area and saw the very popular Valentine restaurant, which was not impressive following Filipino standard f or eateries. Finally we arrived at Buckland State where the Pingols live. It did not take a long time for Enee’s handsome young boy Ochoc to feel at home with us.

Thursday July 19, 2001: This morning we joined Enee in bringing to school Arnie to McLean College, a popular and reputable school. But Enee lamented how expensive the school uniform was, not to mention that it was different during summer and winter. Weng was then accompanied to Buckland Primary School. Along the way I noticed that all garbage was out on the street borders as it always was every Thursday.

We then went to Musick Park, a beautiful Park that turned more impressive under the rain. We proceeded to Cornwall Park, supposed to be the biggest Park in Auckland that included One Tree Hill, a volcanic cone that provided a panoramic view of Auckland City, Up there was a memorial to Sir Logan Campbell, the “Father of Auckland” who was buried at the summit, not far from the obelisk that he raised in honor of the Maori race. There were ships and cows roaming around but Enee said they were relatively fewer due to the rains.

From One Tree Hill we passed through the Royal Oak, considered the most dangerous turnabout in Auckland. We then passed by the road to Mt. Albert and finally up to the summit of Mt. Eden, considered as Auckland’s highest point. It rose 196 meters above the city. From the summit one can now see the quiet volcanic crater and all the views in all directions over the city, including the Sky Tower, modern buildings to the right while to the left were thousands of residential houses.

Enee kindly brought us to the Botany Downs Shopping Center, considered the biggest in Asia/Australia but unfortunately no eating place except for Starbuck Coffee. It was where we bought give away candies when we return to the Philippines.

On the way home we passed by Howichs area where Chinese love to dwell that the place is now jokingly referred to as Chowicks. Enee also showed us another reputable college the Takurangga College.