Part 2 - Wow, this guy's geekier than me

Well it only took 3 days for the jetlag to wear off (hence the delay - apologies). My second day in Wellington began at 330am...WIDE AWAKE. I read, I youtubed, I showered, I even walked the empty streets....I looked at the time...356am...shit.

But I'm much better now thank you.  This is slightly due to this thing.

Yes, that's right, the van is called Bilbo.

This morning, we are guided around the city for a movie themed tour. And can you guess what movies it's about?

Yeah, that one.
Our guide Glen knows everything about the Tolkien universe and loves to talk about it. He shows us trees and bushes where scenes were filmed, cafes where stars drank, fountains that Elijah wood drunkenly peed into....yeah, it was a pretty comprehensive tour.

Later that day, after a relaxed boozy lunch, we cablecar up the hill to Wellington observatory.  Now first a disclaimer. I like space. Love the stars. Fascinated by the universe. So me and my colleagues are not proud if what happened next.

After being shown in to the planetarium, laying down in the comfy seats, the lights go down, the astronomer talks in a calm soothing voice, and zzzzz.
Yep, 8 of us are fast asleep 5 minutes into the lecture. Allegedly, some of us even snore.
We awake to our embarrassment and the other's entertainment.
After the show, we discreetly make our exit, and I notice the face of the lecturer as we leave....not pleased.

KiwiJim - Day 1...2? Or is it 3?

"Time is an abstract concept"

I've heard that quote many times but unsure of the philosopher it is attributed to.

Whoever it was, I'm pretty sure they wrote it after flying London to Wellington, NZ.

After leaving my home Wednesday morning, I've had my passport stamped in 2 countries, travelling through 3 continents, crossing 13 timezones, taking 36 hours on 4 hours sleep to journey 12,000 miles. All of which done whilst going back in time 11 hours.

Excuse me, my head had just exploded.

Do not fear readers, I dare say that will be the only remotely negative thing you will read on this journal over the next 7 days.  Being here just one afternoon, I'm already beginning to think this is my kinda place.

Our first stop on this little adventure is the oh-so chic capital of Wellington.

We drop in to the Te Papa Maori museum, for a little tour guided by an eloquent native whose name was so inpronounceable, I will not insult him by trying to spell it here.

He talks about his people's beliefs with such passion, yet so much humility, that his seemingly implausible stories of Maori gods could silence the staunchest believer of western religions.

From the old to the new and we are met by our next guide, who goes on to show us that Wellington could out-hipster the trendier-than-thou corners of East London or Manhattan.

Vintage shops, chocolatiers, and the best indie coffee shops you will ever encounter await you on the waterfront and we don't cover the half of it.  We meet the ageing owner of mojo coffee company whilst he is roasting his beans (no euphemism intended). We hear his story of starting up a milk joint in the 60s and growing it into one of New Zealand's biggest coffee brands. I then sample possibly the best flat white ever tasted, no exaggeration I assure you....

Well my friends, the day was long but the night is young, and I really need to power on through this before I collapse...speak soon....

The Heel returns.

This time, he's going Hobbit on your Ass.


JimTheKiwi
Starts May 10th

@jimtheheel

20 days to get my drink on...let's go hardcore.

www.dryjanuary.org.uk 

Jim's first foray into the world of Piano

Jim's first foray into the world of Piano

An American Tale - Day 7, Alt. Vegas

For the last week I have slept in a number of motel rooms of varying quality.  From quirky to sucky and everything in between, they have all shared the common thread of 'basic'.

It was now time to try a little more luxury....at The Flamingo.

This is the Pink plinkerty pink hotel, originally opened by mobster Bugsy Segal, (a fact which they love to remind you about everywhere across the casino).

Right in the middle of the strip, it is everything you expect from Vegas; Over the top, Glitzy, cheesy, huge.  

My room carried on the theme;

Pink cheesy decor

On the 19th floor with awesome views of the Bellagio fountains

AND A TV SCREEN IN MY BATHROOM MIRROR!

I have a wander around the casino, and as my first time I thought it'd be rude not to throw a few chips on the roulette table (quickest £50 I'd spend the whole holiday).

Maybe I'd try the gambling again tomorrow, let's get a drink instead.

Feeling a little rock n roll (as always) I try out Hard Rock hotel for a few Sam Adams (the only American beer I've found so far that doesn't taste like fizzy water.)  I also found the so called Crack cocaine of gambling here, Video Poker.

Hemmorhaging money and quick I thought I needed to move a little further away from the strip, and I stumble across The Double Down Saloon.  A dive bar, with a heavy sounding juke box and $2 cans of beer, this was perfect for the end of the night.  A little further into the night, I get chatted up by a girl with a mohawk whilst a punk band called Geezus Cryst play....not the Vegas I was expecting!

Tomorrow...A little more of traditional Vegas.

An American Tale Day 6 - Downtown

I had just 200 miles left on my journey, so I intended to savour every yard.
I sped off from the route 66 motel hungry...what to eat, I'd done Taco Bell, Jack in a box, Wendy's... what other Americana could I try.
Then, beyond the haze, like a mirage, I saw a sign (not the biblical sort, an actual sign)

Peggy Sue's 50's diner stands alone on a square of tarmac amongst the cactus and sand....perfect.
I felt like Marty Mcfly walking into 1955 and was welcomed by Betty Boo.

It had it all;
Ageing waitresses in full costume, check.
Mini jukeboxes on the counter playing rock n roll, check.
Sweating chefs behind an alcove saying "order up", check.
What a find.

The food was deliciously unhealthy, the coffee constantly topped up, and the local truckers surly.  Breakfast should always be this fun. 

After buying a little tat from the gift shop, I got in the car and flipped through the radio stations looking for a some suitable tunes for my entrance to Vegas, when I found the Elvis station.  I'm not kidding, a radio station that plays Elvis...non stop....brilliant.

A couple of hours later came a very sad time.  It was today I would say goodbye to the car.
Oh the times we had, the roads we'd driven, the laughs we shared.  I must admit I had a bit of a moment.

My first night in Vegas would be away from the glitz and glamour of the strip, and would be spent in the old school, arty district of Downtown. 

I did this to witness First Friday.  A monthly arts and music festival held downtown that looked far too cool to miss.
First thing that happened when I got there, I got sold some drugs.

Ok, it was Oregano, a prop for a interactive performance of the musical 'Hair' (As in "Let the sunshine. let the sunshine")

There were artists, singers, dancers, poets all lining the streets with lots of beer and food tents mixed in. Quite an atmoshere.

So tomorrow it's time for the real deal, 3 nights on the strip, Oh yeah, Vegas Baby!!!