Home

The North Island

Published on by MolayMediaLeave a comment

Visiting Auckland with some friends from home • 26 September 2024 – 30 September 2024

I had an incredible opportunity to meet some friends in Auckland (whom also attend the University of Denver) and are currently studying at the University of Newcastle in Australia. This had been the first time I had spent time in an actual city, meaning one that had buildings that required me to bend my entire neck to see the top of. We spent the weekend catching up, exploring random areas, and ensuring that coffee was included in the plan each day.

WINE TOUR

My general knowledge of wine, the creation, aging, and consumption is something that I have never had a proper understanding of and is an area that I was enthused to learn more about. After finding a local coffee shop that was renowned for its latte art- I got a seahorse- we caught the ferry to Waiheke Island which is known for its wine vineyards. The weather was drowsy but did not take away from the fascination of the wine tour.

We first stopped at the Cable Bay vineyard which turned out to be my favorite by the end of the day. It was unique being the youngest aged group on the tour but it made for an excitement that the other tour members didn’t quite have. The vineyard was beautiful. It boasted an impressive wine cellar and the actual vineyard was a new sight for me. I was already extremely impressed by the knowledge that goes into wine, especially the fact of it being possible to guess the year, brand, type of grape, and so much more solely based on smells and taste.

I was also so fascinated that aerating your wine in your own glass can change the smell and taste, apparently it is more commonly known, but it was news to me! We enjoyed a wonderful lunch and two more vineyards to end the day. One of the best parts of the day was the gentleman that guided our tour. He was so full of life, rich with energy, and amplified the experience in ways we did not expect. 10/10 overall experience!

hobbiton & Small hike

I admittedly should have put more effort into watching the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies prior to this movie set tour, however disregarding my lack of basic understanding for these films it was still incredible. All of New Zealand’s landscape can best be described as majestic and unlike any other terrain I’ve ever experienced. There is no surprise that Peter Jackson decided to take his crew to this country to film what was described as Middle-earth in the original books. The naturally rolling, staunchly green hills truly made for the perfect movie set for Hobbiton.

Our tour guide was clearly a huge fan of the films, which made her knowledge admirable yet energy slightly over-the-top at times. I found so much joy in observing the thousands of details that went into the creation of the entire set. The degree of detail would require hundreds of tours to catch them all. The impressive nature of seeing such an iconic movie set in person is still a wee bit incomprehensible and only boosts my appreciation for the hundreds of hours that go into only several seconds of some movie scenes. 10/10 overall experience!

After touring the set we stopped for a quick hike to a waterfall lookout. A unique aspect to adventures like hikes that usually doesn’t go into the “planning” of said hike are the conversations that you have along the way. It creates for an environment that encourages conversation and it was one of my favorite parts of the day. It was great to catch up with friends on a deeper level and dissect some of the worlds tricky inner-workings. Thankful for hikes! 10/10 overall experience.

The cinema and hostelS

We went to a movie called “The Wild Robot” to end our weekend, a film that I had been eager to watch especially since reading the impressive reviews. Although meant for a younger audience, it was still a thought provoking journey that confronted several deep rooted societal issues and provided just as much benefit for a 21 year old as it would for a 12 year old. I have an appreciation for films that encourage you to think beyond the surface level and require your constant attention. 10/10 overall experience!

The Lylo Hostel! The culture that is created by hostels is something I would urge everyone to experience. We weren’t able to secure a shared room with many others in Auckland, but my experience with hostels in other areas has been very rewarding. Meeting people in hostels who have equal desire for life is unique. There is an immediate departure time placed on your time spent with them. You are forced to make the most of your time because it is inherently limited which has led to some fun nights out and fruitful conversations. Cooking in hostels is a fun environment that I hope to continue to be a part of until I’m considered “too old” to keep attending. 10/10 overall experience!

See photos below!

Settling In.

Published on by chrisbryantaveryLeave a comment

The time has flown by; I’m writing this in the middle of my third week, and aside from overcoming my jet lag, I feel like I just arrived last weekend. I’ve become closer with the local skaters, took an impromptu solo trip to Dresden, Germany, and my classes are finally demanding a noteworthy level of work and attention. Just a couple of days after writing my last post, I got the chance to visit Letna Park and Old Stalin Plaza—home to a famous beer garden, an eclectic population of birds, and a coveted street skating plaza. When I arrived with my board and bag there were already lots of people skating. I found a spot near where others were hanging out so I could feel safe putting my bag down, began my stretches, and realized I was sitting among ten to fifteen of the best skateboarders in the world, including Louie Lopez, a professional from Los Angeles whose signature shoes I’ve been skating for a while.

It was a treat to skate alongside people who existed in my head only through videos and magazine ads. I was also reminded that although I’m five thousand miles from home, humanity has the power to shrink this big blue planet down to a really homely size.

I’ve spent ample time getting to know the local skaters. They’re keen on going to an art bar after skate sessions, where people work on art projects together and share a pint—a nice change from going out with other American study-abroad students to the touristy clubs and pubs.

Both of my roommates spent the previous weekend in Munich at the big Oktoberfest celebration, allowing me to book a solo trip and navigate European travel on my own. Catching the right bus at the right terminal was a bit of a reality check, particularly with German drivers and staff members who didn’t speak English. I was able to talk to other travelers and find my way, hopping on a double-decker “Flixbus” two hours north to Dresden. The Czech countryside along the way was gorgeous. I caught glimpses of the mountains toward Saxon Switzerland National Park and peeked through tiny agricultural valleys that looked cozy and sleepy in anticipation of winter. Dresden itself was stunning. Just walking through the historic downtown and seeing the reconstruction and restorative efforts since the devastation of WWII was enough to entertain my senses for my first day. I stayed in a very clean hostel on the outskirts of town and spent late nights in Google Translate conversations with two older women from Russia, Tatiana and Galina. They urged me to visit Hamburg, Germany, for its historical importance in business and trade, as well as some other smaller German towns with good food and rich culture. I’ll have to find a way to sneak in a visit while I’m out here. Aside from the downtown district and local skatepark, I spent several hours in the Green Vault Museum—home to artifacts, including a crystal cup held and gifted by Martin Luther. The solo trip was a great experience, but I’m looking forward to having my schedule line up with my roommates’ so we can visit places together. By the end of my last day, I definitely felt like I was wandering aimlessly. Regardless, it was a fantastic opportunity to boost my confidence, see some history, and enjoy lots of personal reading.

Back in the classroom after Dresden, I’ve been tasked with all of my semester-long projects and now understand what is expected from each course. The professors are very relaxed but eager and excited to teach about marketing, business management, new technologies, and, of course, the Czech language. I generally have very little homework but spend three consecutive hours in each class once a week. Soon, I plan to visit some friends in Barcelona, visit Amsterdam with my roommates and some other buddies, and my parents have bookings to come visit. It’ll be so nice to see them, and I can’t wait to take them around to some of the great places I’ve discovered here in Prague. I’m guessing we’ll also do some more touristy activities together, so I’m anticipating it to be my week of visiting Prague rather than living here.

Cheers!