A day in Auckland

So to start the day off, was me. Even though I went to bed last, I was the first one to wake up after a stunning 6 hours of sleep. Most importantly, I feel fresh. A real bed after so long feels really great.
Gigi eventually woke up and we headed to the ferries, but first I had to stop and get a SIM for my phone, so after getting a sandwhich I went into the mall while Gigi headed back Queen's street to look at some girl stuff.
I said I's be back 9:50, i didn't get there until 9:52 however so I waited 3 more minutes for Gigi. She didn't show up however. So I figured she was a smart girl and went on the boat already. So I went down there, got a ticket and stepped aboard, hoping to find my travelmate somewhere. Nope, she wasn't on the boat. So I went to Waiheke Island myself.
Since the boat came in every hour I decided to stroll up the hill towards Church Bay while waiting for the next one to see if Gigi would catch that boat, she didn't. Either way:
The Island is amazing! A wonderful sight and a true display of the paradise that New Zealand is. I'm sure the NZ expert would have some comments here but bear in mind that this is my first day and honestly, everything is amazing!
I've attaches a few pictures and once I have the chance and get off McD wifi I will upload more.
As you may be able to see, there are no signs or other tourists on my path. This is because I didn't want to do any of the advertised tours, which were strictly wine and restaurant tours, and I didn't bring my bathing suit either. So I asked the guy behind the counter in the terminal what to do, and he pointed me along the beach, up the hill and down the other side. So I went, look at the pictures, it's gorgeous.

From AKL to Auckland City

Right now I'm about to go to sleep at ACB, Auckland Central Backpackers. The place is ok, reminds me of the Jugendherberge (plural) I visited in Germany while I was a student at Østerskov Efterskole. Crappy showers, crowded rooms and extremely polite service.

But let's get back to where I last left you:
Gigi and I got out of AKL, Auckland Airport, after walking through another security point with Chinese people everywhere. I don't know what's wrong with them, but they come across as very unpolite in their behavior. The group in front of us, decided that it would more practical to take their bags off their carts, realizing that they had to run them through the X-ray 1 by 1 while having their passports and customs declarations checked. So 2 people did that while the woman was left to deal with the police officer. They continued (without their passports and all of the luggage) to the X-ray and left the cart blocking the line for everyone else. When the officer yelled at them to get their attention, the younger man quickly replied: "Yes yes, X-ray" and wandered off before the officer got to react. A college caught them and took them all aside to make space for Gigi and I.

After that, we went outside a had a breath of fresh air (first since leaving Amsterdam), and yes, literally fresh air, that stuff doesn't exist in China. Much like New York it's dry and polluted, smelly if you want.
I tries to get a SIM for my phone, but apparently I have to go to "real" store to get a Micro-SIM for my iPhone 4S. So that'll have to wait until tomorrow (today by the time this is posted).
Gigi and I then took the bus to Auckland central. It took me some time to realize we were in the wrong side of the road, probably because I'm so exhausted after the trip. On that note, I'll enjoy the landscape tomorrow as well.
When we got to Downtown, we checked in at ACB, I showered and we went outside to walk around the city and find some WiFi (thank god for McDonalds!).
Gigi went back to bed I wanted to find some Bubble Tea. Being so close to China there had to be a tea house somewhere. I found (Thank you Siri!), went there and had a cup. Now I'm back here.

Stay tuned for tomorrows post, Gigi doesn't know it yet but we're going to Waiheke Island as Clare (my supervisor from IBA) suggested. Supposedly it's really beautiful there.

P.S.: Is it mandatory for backpackers to snore? 3 of the 5 others in here do so. Including Gigi :p