The Land Down Under: Paihia to SkyTower Part 2

Those of you following this story would know by now that my friend (Riyadh) and his other half (Rupa) flew down to Auckland from Sydney giving me an opportunity to show them around. Riyadh & Rupa could only stay for five days; our focus was to cover as much ground as possible. Auckland weather is famous for its instability, so we ended up traveling in all sorts of weather - rain, shine, hail & gale. Our initial plan of visiting fifteen locations in five days was closely followed except for a few places narrowly missed due to extremely bad weather. Five days, almost fifteen locations, thirteen hundred photographs (thank God for digital cameras) and around two hours worth of video clips later, our friends are safely back home in Sydney. I am in front of the computer reminiscing our time together. Over the next few months I will share my experiences about each of these locations. All welcome aboard and Bon Voyage! If you are interested in reading the earlier articles, please click the links below: Part 1   Part 2  Part 3  Part 4 & Part 5

Fifteen Locations in Five Days

Day Three:  Paihia to the Sky Tower Part 2

We intended to visit the Tutukaka coast on our way back.  A full-service dive charter operates in Tutukaka.  The charter also services a group of islands known as the Poor Knights Islands. The islands not inhibited since 1820s and are a nature reserve and popular underwater diving spot.  None of us can swim except for Adeeb, so diving was not on our to do list.  However, Tutukaka is said to offer the most spectacular panoramic ocean view. In light (or lack thereof) of the bad weather we decided to wing it and head straight for Auckland instead.  We did briefly stop at the Tutukaka Frying Pan lookout to take some pictures.

With most of the scheduled trip for the day cancelled, we were going to reach home a lot earlier than expected.  The new plan was to stop over at the Sylvia Park shopping mall and get some souvenirs for Rupa and Riyadh's friends back at Sydney, and then go home for dinner before going out to have a look at the Auckland Sky Tower.

According to Adeeb, to be able to really get the feel of a place you have to drive around the place a bit.  So he almost forced poor Riyadh to take on the wheels driving from our brief hiatus at Tutukaka to the Sylvia Park shopping mall.  Of course, if you ask me, his lecture about feel of the place etc was all just a way to get a break from driving without seeming tired. He has too much of an ego to surrender to his mere mortal status. As Riyadh obliged his majesty's wishes, Rupa sat next to him to keep him company. Adeeb shared the backseat with me to relax and mostly just to make continuous smart remarks. I tried to keep a straight face as though funny as his comments were, most were at my expense.

Within the seven years that we have lived in Auckland.  Three mega shopping malls have opened up, each larger than the previous.  When we first decided to move to New Zealand from Australia, all our friends and family were against the idea.  Even though none of them visited the place at that point, New Zealand meant a small country like island to them - a place full of sheep and devoid of people or cars or any other modern necessities. The first time my mother visited us in New Zealand, she even packed a potato peeler in case it were not available here. Imagine!  Of course her opinion soon altered when we took her to the then biggest shopping Mall in Botany and she observed the huge car parks too full for ours.

Well Sylvia Park is even larger than the Botany shopping mall and with twice as much parking spaces; yet we struggled to find a spot. I was pretty travel worn by this time but the other three were chirpy and energetic as ever. Adeeb made me walk until my feet ached and I threatened to sit on him.  We finally walked inside a souvenir shop.  Even though these shops tend to be really pricy, I like browsing through the stuff, makes me feel like a tourist in my own home.  Rupa got a fluffy round sheep for her home (the other day she told me that poor white sheep is on its way to turn black due to excessive petting and squeezing by her friends.). This particular shop had beautiful shell jewelries and purses. We got Rupa a really pretty purse decorated with black beads and colored shells before heading home for a quick bite to eat.

At home my dear cat Mr. Bill Clinton was ecstatic to see us.  The moment the car pulled over at the driveway she ran up on the deck and started filing her nails on the cabbage tree followed by some gymnastics.  Satisfied that we were adequately entertained for the time being she led the way inside.

If it was up to Riyadh, Rupa or me, we would have called it a day.  The house felt so cozy especially after dinner and a nice cup of tea.  However, Adeeb was a pocket full of energy, well he would be considering Riyadh did most of the driving and I did all of the cooking! He bullied us into getting dressed again.  Rupa was looking ravishing as usual and also proudly carried her brand new purse.  I wish we took some photos of her at home as most of the pictures taken at the Sky Tower did not turn out very well.

During our first few months in Auckland we lived in a dilapidated house in a suburb called Otara - one of the poorest parts of Auckland.  Our only entertainment those days was a drive to the city to have a look at all the lights and specially the Sky Tower.  It used to be illuminated with a different colored light every so often. My favourite is the light purple colour that makes the tower look like a fairy palace and gives the whole surrounding an unreal feel.

The first time we went inside the tower was when my parents visited us.  At 328 meters, it is the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere and offers breathtaking views for more than 80 kilometers in every direction. That is the first time both Adeeb and I realised that we are bit scared of heights. 

The elevator floor is transparent and if you look down, you can see how fast you are moving up. Terrifyingly exciting! The first time on the top floor, Adeeb and I walked like a couple of drunkards swaying back and forth while my parents laughed at us.  I have know idea how people manage to go for Sky Walk on a ledge that is only 1.2 meters wide and 192 meters high, on top of it there is no railings or balcony! 

If you are keen on jumping off cliffs, monuments and so on, Sky Jump would possibly be on your list to do while visiting New Zealand. As per the SkyCity website, jumpers can 'base jump by wire' falling for approximately 16 seconds at around 75 kph.  Unlike bungee jumping, Sky jumpers do not hang upside down and bounce around. 

These are only just two of the things you can do at the Sky Tower.  There are several great restaurant and cafes, casinos, souvenir shops, movies and pretty much anything and everything to do with entertainment. 

Our adventure at the Sky Tower went as far as having coffee up on the top floor cafeteria while admiring the lights hundreds for feet below.  Everything looks so tiny from up there, the cars move like matchbox toys.  It makes you feel powerful in a certain way.

We tried out the casino slot machines with a two dollar coin and the highlight of the day was when Rupa won 80 dollars! Unlike seasoned (or should I say addicted?) gamblers we decided to quit while we are ahead.  On our way home we made plans to celebrate our little windfall by having a lavish lunch somewhere on the way to Cathedral Cove the next day.

© 2008 Luna Rushdi

 

		Luna Rushdi, Gather Travel Correspondent
	Luna's column, The Land Down Under is published two times a month to Gather Essentials: Travel. Her column focuses on various destinations around New Zealand and Australia. Travel involves much more than going from one place to another; it is rather a continuous process of search and discovery, a journey that takes an entire lifetime. Luna believes you can not visit the same place twice and tries to bring her unique perspective to the articles. Luna's work appeared on newspapers & periodicals in India and Bangladesh including The Daily Star, Prothom Alo and Desh. She published a children's book on Bengali Alphabets with funding from the Australian Government. Luna also edited a quarterly literary magazine for two years. She is currently working on her first novel.