2011 - NZ To SF - Day 49

Day 49: (1 July 2011):
- Discover phone charger not mine. Swap in Lalomanu when the guy borrowed mine & I took someone else's?
- Weather looks nice outside. Can see blue sky. Check out & store luggage in lockers. Decide walk up Mt. Victoria.
- Food from New World again. Just so tempting & easy as have to walk by it.
- Text Steffan. Say just about to leave, arrive ~1pm. Realise he in Wanganui.
- Up steep stairs from Oriental. By church. Nice residential areas. Road with nice view of city. View of ship & hills with cloud/fog in distance.
- Eventually found way to park entrance. Say Mt. Vic observation, so decide follow.
- Map. Follow steep trail straight up to observation pt. Nice greens & parks on way.
- Great view of city, Hutt(?), airport & other side of bay.
- Missed biggest plane take off due to ppl. ask me to take photo. Was all ready to take photo of take-off.
- Stayed for a while & walk to Te Papa.
- Visited the marae. Lots of school children in uniforms at Te Papa.
- Didn't see a few of the shows, incl. "Golden Ages(?)." Saw some exhibits in more detail, including learning a lot about ponamu. & outside.
- Steffan arrive, with texts, meet in the main lobby area.
- Walk to town for lunch. Realise Wellington centre much better than Auckland centre.
- Grab a drink, $ when late enough, call Mario to confirm I can have tour of Sidhe.
- Walk around a bit. Internet @ library. Try to organise accomodation in Niue. Backpackers full, asked for recs. Have 2 e-mail addresses. Cannot call Niue with my phone card. "Free Internet" & "Paid Internet" button.
- Sidhe across street from library & supermarket.
- Bathroom @ Steffan's hotel. Hilarious floor naming there.
- Tour of Sidhe. Sound guy isolated on separate level (other companies on that level too).
- Show & tell. See Josh. (Saw earlier when touring: just pressing a button on controller repeatedly at that time. Offices very quiet. Beer.
- The 2 guesthouses also full. One said he can find me one just outside town for $35. Another replied & copied many ppl, including tourism office to ask for help. Check on Steffan's phone. I take $35. Others wish me a good trip. Tell me to ask for Kololi guy at airport.
- Leave ~6:15. Walk back, bathroom. Final pack. Bus to airport: 1hr before flight.
- Easy auto-checkin. Eat mean (missed out on curry). Go to gate, and near boarding. Flying is a pleasure with Air NZ.
- Long wait for luggage in Auckland, almost 30 min. Still like Air NZ. People getting impatient.
- Back to Logan's. E-mail. Sleep. Link connection just in time.
- Night was very cold, even in sleeping bag. Air mattress deflate overnight, a valve was improperly closed.

Photos available at: http://marklitraveljournal.blogspot.com/