January 5, 2006

Base X Backpacker in Auckland, NZ Part 2

Today’s activities brought us to two separate volcanoes,
Mt. Eden and One Tree Hill, (not to be confused with the television show).  They were spectacular!  Both volcanoes were covered with green grass and looked like something right out of the Shire.  Of course, though the movie was filmed in New Zealand, it is not until tomorrow’s journey that we will be near any of the Lord of the Rings filming sites.  Regardless, the site was unbelievably beautiful and we felt it only fitting to take out an iPod to listen to the soundtrack music.  I’ll let you in on a little secret: there’s not a thing more peaceful than sitting in a green crater, watching sheep graze on grass all around, and listening to “Concerning Hobbits”,
not a thing.

After a lecture or two at the volcanoes, the class portion of
the day had ended and we were off to fend for ourselves yet again.  For dinner, Alex Brown noted that we ought to make use of our all day bus pass, leave the midtown section of Auckland and travel to one of the suburbs to catch a meal, thus getting a better feeling for the area.  We did so, and not far into the bus ride a local Kiwi began to entertain us.  He had a number of questions for us on an array of subjects including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, KFC, and the Matrix. 

I began to realize that henceforth, anytime we were to mention where we were from, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Kentucky Bourbon would surely find its way into conversation.