Christmas Light displays Franklin Road Auckland

Franklin Road Auckland during Christmas is full of holiday cheer from all of the houses fully decorated, some even with Christmas movies played on a screen outside, there are also countless groups of carolers etc. It was different walking around a neighbourhood to look at lights when you do this in Canada its in a car because it is cold. Back home around Christmas there definitely isn't anyone outside singing. Virtually every house and store front has a display. I will let the pictures speak for themselves as it is;

My Life

My Choice

My Time

Tuna Tom

Sorry for the quality of the pictures I will be getting a new camera soon! :)

 

Hello everyone it has been awhile since I have posted. I have a few things to post about soon such as Kiwi culture, Kiwi traditions, Christmas and an unusual way to eat McDonalds fries and Sundaes

Crate Day New Zealand

CRATE DAY COMMANDMENTS

All Crate Day supporters must abide the 10 Commandments of National Crate Day. They're like laws, but more important. So read the rules below, and get your mates to read em over too.

COMMANDMENT #1:  Thou shall begin at midday.

COMMANDMENT #2:  Thou shall listen to The Rock Crate Day Hundy

COMMANDMENT #3:  Thou shall wear thy stubbies and thy singlet

COMMANDMENT #4:  Thou shall support thy Crate of Origin

COMMANDMENT #5:  Thou shalt not toss any salad.

COMMANDMENT #6:  Thou shall respect thy neighbour.

COMMANDMENT #7:   Thou only beef that shall attend National Crate Day is thy beef for thy BBQ

COMMANDMENT #8:  Thou shall look out for thy mates, even Dave

COMMANDMENT #9:  Don’t let’th the sun get thy best of you and your provisions 

COMMANDMENT #10:  Thou shall always keep rules 1-9 top of mind, to ensure we continue The Rock National Crate Day legacy for centuries to come. 

The first Saturday in summer in December is a very important day in New Zealand it is “Crate Day”. Crate day is a day where everyone gets together and gets a crate of beer from their region and well they drink. A crate of beer is 12 stubby bottles they are approximately the size of 2 normal bottles of beers. Crate day was started from a radio station. I think for my fellow Canadians this would be our May two four weekend. When you travel like this you need to experience other peoples cultures....ok yes it was just drinking but hey it is;

My Life

My Choice

My Time

Tuna Tom

On a film set....kind of

I walk outside the hostel and I see camera crews and props close by my first thought “awesome maybe they are shooting a movie or a tv show”! I also thought I wonder if there is a chance I can become an extra. I watch curiously as they are filming and you see people walking back and forth again and again. I watch for a while and find out it is a commercial for Volkswagen. Once I found out it was first a commercial I lost some interest but watched for a bit it was interesting to see how much was going into a short commercial I could only imagine what it would be like for a movie or a tv show. Since I am traveling I should actually take a look at opportunities for being an extra who knows what can happen after all it is;

My Life

My Choice

My Time

Tuna Tom

Fire alarm in a hostel

This is just a quick blog on the reason why fire drills are so important. There was a fire alarm in the hostel everyone realized what was happening and left the hostel in a calm manner then things went bad.

Instead of standing away from the hostel and more importantly the doors everyone was right close to the hostel. Personally if I was a fireman I would have told everyone to step back so they had their space to work. Common sense would tell you to step away from the potentially dangerous area. The second thing was people were standing right in the path of oncoming cars so instead of standing in a safe area across the street where there was no cars they stood right by the street. If this was an actual emergency things could have gone horrible wrong.

Do yourself a favour and be aware of fire exits and muster points and make sure in your home your smoke detectors are working and your kids know what to do.

Tuna Tom

A few pictures from the Santa Clause parade and the skyline in Auckland

After work on a Saturday I went outside the hostel and saw and heard noise coming from down the street. I realized quickly it was the Santa Clause parade so I watched what was the rest of it. I was intrigued to see the differences compared to back home (although I haven't seen one since I was little). It was one of those reality times that I will not be home and it will be a very different Christmas. I am looking forward to a non white Christmas for a change but I know I will also be looking forward to a Christmas on the ski hill again when I get back. For now here are some pictures from the parade. 

Tuna Tom

Another day in paradise

Just living the backpacker life right now....bad jobs, lazy days, sleeping in parks, waiting to go to Hawaii in January for a couple of days. I have a few more pictures to post soon just being lazy and things are quiet for now.....could be big news coming though. This will be a very different Christmas this year being so far away from everyone but for now time to get some rest as it is;

My life
My choice
My time

Tuna Tom