Canada/Travel to New Zealand/New Zealand - Week of October 27, 2024

Welcome to the inaugural post of David's Great Adventure 2024/25 edition. I'm delighted you were able to take time to join me on this journey. 

The initial plan is to travel to Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, India (Chennai and Nagaland), Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. The idea of a short return trip to Sri Lanka to visit friends is now on my radar. We'll keep track of the delta between the original plan and the actual travel. I find that my heart tugs me in different directions so I'm equally interested in how the adventure unfolds!

I've arbitrarily decided to start this blog with my flight to Canada from Wisconsin. I'm now thinking the Great Adventure truly started in January 2024 when I moved to Wisconsin for work. September and October were two months where I had all the flexibility to experience Wisconsin AND I did! I had more time to spend time with friends and explore the great state of Wisconsin. My friends in Wisconsin permanently changed my perspective on life - thank you for this important gift!

Note: For those interested in pursuing international travel, I've included a short section at the end of this blog regarding what I fondly call 'travel administration'. I'll use this section in the weekly post to share ideas that may help you in your travel plans. This week's topic This section is about documentation that may be required to enter a foreign country. 

My Travel Companions

I like to think I never travel alone. I am blessed with the most thoughtful friends who are ensuring the universe is watching over me and I always keep what's true in front of me. 

The medicine pouch is a long time friend. A gift Magic Mandy who has brought important perspective, kindness and an understanding of what genuine resolution to personal growth can mean. It has been a constant companion in my travels. My Yoga Room friends Stasha and Carmen have equally equipped me with the remaining treasures for a safe journey. 

While I'm trying to be a minimalist, these small treasures I have hung onto as they hold great significance. 

The magical treasure I hold in my heart, beyond these physical treasures, is the friendship and kindness everyone in my life has shared in their own unique and meaningful way. My heart is overflowing thanks to you!

Now on with the adventure! First stop - Canada!

Canada

My remaining worldly possessions

Canada was my first destination to visit friends prior to leaving for New Zealand. I also had stuff to return to my storage locker and go to the bank. I did make it to Toronto on Sunday, October 27 as planned, in spite of Air Canada's best efforts to dissuade me from leaving Wisconsin. How did Air Canada know about my growing reluctance (a torn heart) to leave this small part of paradise? My AC flight at 10 am was delayed to 1 pm, then cancelled. I was rebooked on the Delta 3:20 pm flight. Thank you for Minnesota Nice as four different airport staff helped me to check in on the flight, get my three bags transferred (btw - at a cost of $230 USD) and have a comfortable seat for the short flight. Added bonus on arrival - extra special attention from the Canadian Border Service at Pearson Airpot. I was rerouted for a secondary interview to confirm that I was only returning to Canada with the stuff I had left Canada with!

Some good news about the extra baggage charges I incurred. I've now received two separate emails from AC approving and declining my baggage cost claim - looking to see which email is accurate. 

My heartfelt thanks to my great friend Dave who hosted me for the two nights. Always such a special blessing when I'm welcomed into a friend's home especially knowing my schedule I'm keeping to ensure I see as many friends as possible. Sajee hosted an amazing meal on Sunday evening with Praveena and her family. Monday and Tuesday were filled with an opportunity to catch up in person. 

Short anecdote - Monday morning Dave suggested we go for a walk in the most beautiful park by his home. During the walk, I was demonstrating the Wisconsin in me by greeting everyone I met. Dave's reaction (tongue in cheek) was to caution me as it appeared I was scaring everyone!  

Every friend I met on Monday and Tuesday left me with a deeper appreciation for the value of living in the moment. Every day brings unexpected events into our lives that shape our thoughts and our direction. Extraordinary reminder that what happens to our friends also happens to us. We have an ongoing responsibility to support each other to the best of our ability. 

Travel to New Zealand

Context for my travel to New Zealand. Being the person I am (somewhat of a contrarian) - I decided to take the long way to New Zealand courtesy of KLM. The total travel time was about 40 hours including flights and the two layovers. Before you start feeling any sympathy for me, you should know I did treat myself by flying business class. I left Canada on Tuesday, October 29 at 10:15 pm for a seven hour flight Amsterdam (layover was about 4 hours). Second flight (about 12 hours) was to Shanghai, China with a five hour layover. Third flight (about 11 hours) had me in Auckland New Zealand around 6:40 am on Friday, November 1. New Zealand is 18 hours ahead of Wisconsin.

Layovers

Amsterdam was uneventful. Business lounge was close to arrival and departure gate - all in the same terminal which means no customs clearance or security screening. All very chill and comfortable. 

Shanghai was a flight connection experience that I'd like to avoid in future travel. My added complication was I switching to Air New Zealand for my last flight. As I learned in Minneapolis, airlines are unable to check bags between their respective companies. The best they can do is tag the bags for the final destination. Bit of advice - ensure your airline allocates sufficient time between your flights especially if you have to change airlines and terminals like I had to. Lots of rules in the People's Republic! This experience brought back memories of my first domestic flight trip between Beijing and Shanghai in 1995. For that flight our group of thirty Canadians had to line up in alphabetical order to clear a control point prior to boarding. 

Things to anticipate when connecting in Shanghai. Provide a mouth swap for 'medical quarantine' purposes. Border control Next stop where I was issued a temporary visa for the five hour period I was at the airport in Shanghai, along with the obligatory retinal scans and fingerprints most countries now mandate to enter the country. Have to remember the baggage carousel for my suitcase. Now off to walk to a separate terminal to check into and board the Air New Zealand flight. Connection bonus - meeting the most zealous security person ever. I think I made her morning as she found a couple small screwdrivers I carry for emergency eyeglass repair. All these activities take time in a busy airport. Imagine your anxiety level if you believe you have insufficient time!!!

Having a shower and change of clothes after 30 hours was a godsend. Just had to ignore the unpleasant woman who was controlling access to the showers. Must have been a bad day for her given her dour look. 

New Zealand - At Last!!

Getting through Auckland Airport was a breeze (I had completed the necessary documentation in advance). I scanned my passport at an electronic kiosk, the gates opened and I was in the country. There was one additional checkpoint regarding anything you might be bringing into the country that could cause an agricultural or environmental issue. After clearing this checkpoint , I picked up my suitcase and I was on my way. Downside to this efficiency - the days of getting your passport stamped in each country is disappearing. Upside - I only have four blank pages left in my passport for this journey. 

Decided to travel to my hotel using public transit. I like the sense of adventure along with the possibility of who I might meet along the way. It seemed somewhat straight forward from what I had researched - the AIR bus to the train station; then a short ride to Parnell station for a 'short' walk to the hotel. I just needed a travel card with a balance so I could pay for my ride by tapping on and off. The ride went smoothly and I did meet a young couple who had just arrived from Vietnam with plans to live and work in New Zealand for the next ten months. Remember to always thank the driver as you exit the bus!

True to form, I also managed to lose something between the airplane and the hotel - a jacket. An inconvenience compared to losing my wallet when I arrived in Bangkok last year! 

Brief aside on 'short walk' - Google Maps can be your friend in getting to your destination - most times. My short walk ended up going down a gravel path in a park, then climbing steps up a steep hill while lugging my 44 lb (20kg) suitcase and backpack. Thank goodness I asked a local woman walking her son to school for directions midway. She suggested taking an alternate route that Google's recommendation to avoid gravel paths and more steps uphill. Reminds me of the recent time when Google Maps sent me down a snowmobile path during a drive in Northern Wisconsin!

Auckland

Time in Auckland was intended to be restorative after the two days of traveling/anticipated jet lag, time to tour the city and area while I get organized for discovering the South Island. Oh yeah, my New Zealand 'travel master plan' is to spend almost 90 days in New Zealand - about six weeks running about the South Island and the remaining time on the North Island. I'm flying to Christchurch on Monday, November 4 to start the South Island experience. 

Why this 'master travel plan'? I have UK based friends arriving in early December to visit the North Island so we've discussed meeting up in December; hence my reasoning behind where I'm spending my time. I depart for Perth, Australia, from Auckland, on January 27, 2025.

The following photos are my first view of New Zealand's North Island as we approach the Auckland International Airpot. 

City Views

According to the 2023 New Zealand census, there are about 5.3 million citizens with 75% of them living on the North Island. Auckland has about 1.7 million people - almost 1/3 of all New Zealanders live in Auckland! Apparently there are approximately seven sheep for every New Zealander - imagine 35 million sheep. Where the Wisconsin cow counting stops, the New Zealand sheep counting begins!

I learned from locals that the North Island's foundation is volcanos whereas the South Island was created from the land being pushed up through the sea. All information to be fact checked, at some point. 

Reasonable weather for walking about Auckland with daily highs about 70F or 21 - 22C. Lots of hills as the city is build on several dormant volcanos. I resisted the temptation to ascend the Sky Tower (Sky Tower). I was planning to visit Mount Eden the following day which promised comparable views as Mount Eden and the Tower observation deck were similar. 

Interesting city vibe. While Auckland has the big city infrastructure, the vibe was more like a small town. Busy without intensity - if that makes sense. Culturally diverse so you can find most everything you might want in all aspects. Great potential for a diverse foodie experience. Felt very safe relative to most cities of a similar size. Incredibly clean city. 

I had a chance to visit the inner city as I had a couple articles of clothing I wanted to donate. When I mentioned my expected destination to the guy at the hotel reception he cautioned me about the inner city. Auckland's inner city is almost antiseptic compared to what I've experienced in North America. 

The best news of all - New Zealanders take Wisconsin friendly to the next level! Truly a gift in today's world! Know there will be so much to share about the people I meet throughout my adventure!

Here's my one photo of the
Auckland International Airport entrance
Like every airport in the world - it's undergoing
ongoing renovations!

Sky Tower - Iconic tourist destination. 
Notice the walk uphill!

City skyline from my hotel in Parnell
Auckland suburb

Hobson Bay 

Downtown Auckland on Saturday

Quay Street
Downtown Terminal on left

Waiheke Island (Waiheke Island)

A key tourist destination, especially for anyone who loves to enjoy wine! The island has numerous vineyards so you can imbibe on your favorite. About 8,000 people live on the island year round. I also learned from a fellow bus passenger that Christmas time is a big deal on the island. The population temporarily increases to about 75,000 from mid December to end of January. 

In my bus travels to visit the island's two key beaches, I met three guys on their way to take soil samples for a friend to help him assess the soil's health and what natural additives may be necessary. One of the three was from the South Island who was kind enough to share invaluable info on potential South Island destinations. On the return trip to the ferry I met a couple who were simply fun to speak with. The husband cautioned me about the high UV values that New Zealand experiences - a key bit of info for my fair skin!

A 40 minute ferry ride ($59 NZD) gets you there. 

Onetangi Beach
Longest beach (2 km)

Onetangi Beach

Path to Little Oneroa

Path to Little Oneroa

Little Oneroa

Little Oneroa

Harbour - View from ferry

Auckland City Skyline - view from ferry

Mount Eden (Mount Eden)

Being in Auckland without visiting Mount Eden would be a serious tourist travesty! As you can see from the photos below, Mount Eden has a commanding view of Hobson Bay and the city skyline. I've included multiple photos of the volcano crater to provide perspective on the crater's size. One day I will become proficient in using the panorama option on my camera phone. Please bear with me...

The additional photos provide with another of the city skyline as well as the communities that surround Mount Eden. Notice how few tall buildings are in the skyline.  

Here's a brief background on Mount Eden extracted from the website in the above link: 

Maungawhau / Mt Eden consists of two overlapping scoria cones which erupted in close succession about 28,000 years ago. Maungawhau means ‘mountain of the whau tree’ and was one of the largest and most elaborate Māori pā (fortified settlement) in the region.

Dove Myer Robinson Park

A short walk from my hotel was this magnificent rose park with roses in full bloom. The park was greviously omitted from the tourist literature I had seen.

Let me indulge you with my perpetual love of all types of flowers. I'm in awe of their petal structures and the sheer diversity of flowers in the world. Obviously, the focus in this park was roses. Imagine being in a park where the scent of roses filled your senses as you enjoyed their beauty. I like to capture flowers in different stages of their life cycle as their beauty transcends their life span!

Enjoy and revel in the universe's magnificence! All of this without any one of us having to raise a finger - other than the gardeners who created the original gardens and nurture the flowers.

Grand Park Entrance

Perspective on number of roses in park

Hobson Bay - bottom of park

Exciting week comes to an end

And so ends my first week of this adventure. I started the week in Eau Claire Wisconsin and ended the week in Auckland New Zealand. I'm off to Christchurch on Monday afternoon to start my planned six weeks on the South Island. This first blog post took much longer than expected to finish meaning I'm sitting in my Christchurch hotel room on a Tuesday morning completing this post. I'm really keen to introduce to the amazing people I met during my trip from Auckland to Christchurch including Tracy (marketing), Ben (works with young people with disabilities who have legal troubles), Shelly (owns The Apron cafe in Christchurch), Kelly (realtor in Christchurch) and Eric (builds homes in Christchurch). I met all these great people on Monday afternoon - between 12:30 and 5:30 pm. 

I love New Zealand!

Travel Administration

Thinking it may be a good time to cover a few important administrative details required for a smooth journey. 

ETA or Visa

Be aware that many countries may require you to complete an electronic travel authorization (ETA) prior to entering the country. New Zealand, Australia and Barbados are three examples. Other countries (like Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Thailand) may require you to request a visa to enter the country (and/or provide the option for getting the visa on arrival). Always best to check the country's immigration requirements well in advance of your departure. The ETAs or Visas come at a cost which is payable with a credit card. 

Each ETA or Visa has a timeframe when it must be used before expiring. Important to figure out when you plan to travel to the country to avoid the ETA/Visa from expiring before its use. 

Ticket to Ride

Many countries, like New Zealand, also require you to provide an airline ticket to confirm when you are leaving the country. The airline you are flying on is required to ask for this information.