Public Toilets en route

We stopped off Highway 2 on Omgaomga(?) Road just north of a town called Dannevirke.  Just a small place but the toilets were immaculate and more attractive than the dwindling number seen in the UK.

Judging by the notice boards nearby there was a Heritage Trail, which we did not have enough time to investigate but the orange building below was, I believe, the old school house.

Whakarewarewa - Maori Village

The tourist things often have to be done when travelling, especially to faraway places and so we visited a Maori village near Rotorua.

The name is pronounced:  Fa Ka Ray Wa Ray Wa all A's pronounced as in teaching young kids their vowels.

I don't where the spear is going in this Haka but it is likely to start a war!

Whakarewarewa is built on thermal area with a geyser. The waters so hot that they can cook in the thermal pools, our guide jokingly called it the 'Maori Microwave'.

Contrasts

The contrast between HK and Auckland is like between two poles.  HK is populace and buzzing and full of high rise offices and residential.  Auckland is less densely populated and slower paced. The picture of HK waterfront shows many skyscrapers whereas that of Auckland shows a couple of the few.

Sunset from the Sugar Club in Sky City

In addition to some fabulous food (see a previous post) we were rewarded with a beautiful sunset.

Some thoughts on Hong Kong from NZ

We have been in New Zealand for a couple of days now and I jotted a couple thoughts while offline on fashion and cool in HK:

The young people of Hong Kong appear to be addicted to cool as well as their phones.  Although it would be fair to say that the girls had their own sense of fashion which is certainly different from the ours back home.  Although the power of fashion at the wealthier level certainly stays with the established luxury brands, Gucci, Prada etc.have large shops in the shopping districts (and the airport) and in the large malls of which there are a few.

I have some other shots mostly of buildings which need processing so will post when I have done so.  NZ seems less tech savvy and we will be on the road, so I will post when I can.

Sugar Club

We dined at the Sugar Club, Peter Gordon's restaurant on the 53rd floor of Sky City in Auckland the food was brilliant but my iPhone pictures of are mediocre. 

Auckland

First day in NZ.  Absolutely exhausted from an 11 hour red-eye followed by a disturbed night. Having good coffee in Remedy Coffee off Queen St, Auckland. Wish we had come here for Breakfast.