Part 1: My Trip to Auckland
On Thursday I went to work as normal and even did some work for a couple of hours, then just after 11 Chris C. dropped me off at the airport, which is only about three blocks from my work anyway.
With a little bit of wrangling I managed to figure out the self-service kiosk (thank goodness I'd thought to print out my itinerary before leaving work) and print my boarding pass. I then waited in the departure lounge for a while until it was time to board.
On the way up I sat in 13C which was an aisle seat. Next to me was some kid who spent pretty much the whole flight playing music and games on his ipod or iphone or whatever. Even though I forgot to take out my book or games or basically anything to do, it was still an interesting trip. Because of the Southerly wind following us the flight time was cut down to 56 minutes. During that time the video screens played a trivia game video, I watched the boy next to me playing his game, and I consumed my choice of refreshments of cassava chips ("vege crisps") and tea with milk. During landing the air staff handed out lollies to help with the ear popping which was fantastic.
After landing and getting off the plane, I ended up in Auckland Airport with no idea of what I was supposed to do next. After wandering around aimlessly for a bit, I texted Andy S. back at work and asked him to find out more information for me. Paul rang me and told me to just take a taxi and work would absolutely reimburse me, so I wandered out to look for a cab.
Turns out I don't know much about taking cabs. I tried to get into one and was waved out and pointed in the direction of taxis which were actually available for hire. He was a good driver, took me all the way downtown and to the door of the hotel. Well, it was a bit steep really. The cost was $70 but because he was a nice, polite person, I gave him my $80 and told him to keep the change and got a receipt for the $70 fare. A valet opened the taxi door for me and offered to help with my bag but since it was only the one (weighing 7kg according to the scale at the airport before I left) I said I was fine.
Checked in at Stamford Plaza Auckland (again, thank goodness I had a printed itinerary with all the details on it) and got room 634 on the sixth floor. It had swipecard entry, hee. I'm so amused by the little things. The room itself was HUUUUGE. Well, it was for little me and compared to other hotel rooms I've been to, and I've been to at least a couple in my lifetime. Definitely was 5-star. I didn't touch anything from the minibar, not even to move it. After unpacking all my things, checking out the view of downtown Auckland and the harbour and the Sky Tower from my window, and laying out my clothes for the evening on the bed, I took a shower. The shower had marble walls and floor and strong water pressure, but being used to the fresh water of Christchurch the smell of chlorine took me a little by surprise.
Ironed my clothes and got dressed and was pretty much ready to partay! Except that I didn't know what I was supposed to do next. Good thing that I had remembered from the email about the event to the whole office that it was going to be held at the Hilton. Thanks to the Yellow Pages in the bedside drawer and a map of inner-city Auckland streets from a tourist guide I quite purposefully picked up at the airport ('just in case,') I left the hotel and started walking to Quay Street where I believed the Hilton would be.
The addresses seemed to be going in the right direction. I was surprised to see Britomart so close. The last time I'd visited Auckland before I'd bused to Britomart from the airport and it had seemed forever away. It was probably a good thing I'd been around downtown Auckland at least once before. Eventually after a couple of blocks I figured out that the addresses were not in the right direction, so I turned on my (high) heel and started walking back the way I'd came. I kept walking a couple of blocks in the other direction until it started to seem like I was lost again. Lo, a nigh miracle, I look across the road and see an i-Site building. It was still open, although it was coming up close to closing time.
I asked for directions to the Hilton and was directed down an obscure road which went right behind the i-Site building. I followed this for a good block and a half before realising it was the road to the Hilton Hotel car park. I doubt I would have found it on my own! Thankfully, from outside the entrance I could see the signs for the event that I was heading for: The MYOB Awesome Service Awards launch. Along with some advertising for the new ClientConnect product.
(By the way, if you haven't already and you live in New Zealand, click here NOW to enter the Easy Money Quiz to go into a draw for $15,000 cash -- I promise there are no strings attached and they won't continually spam you unless you opt in, it's just a launch promotion.)
With a little bit of wrangling I managed to figure out the self-service kiosk (thank goodness I'd thought to print out my itinerary before leaving work) and print my boarding pass. I then waited in the departure lounge for a while until it was time to board.
On the way up I sat in 13C which was an aisle seat. Next to me was some kid who spent pretty much the whole flight playing music and games on his ipod or iphone or whatever. Even though I forgot to take out my book or games or basically anything to do, it was still an interesting trip. Because of the Southerly wind following us the flight time was cut down to 56 minutes. During that time the video screens played a trivia game video, I watched the boy next to me playing his game, and I consumed my choice of refreshments of cassava chips ("vege crisps") and tea with milk. During landing the air staff handed out lollies to help with the ear popping which was fantastic.
After landing and getting off the plane, I ended up in Auckland Airport with no idea of what I was supposed to do next. After wandering around aimlessly for a bit, I texted Andy S. back at work and asked him to find out more information for me. Paul rang me and told me to just take a taxi and work would absolutely reimburse me, so I wandered out to look for a cab.
Turns out I don't know much about taking cabs. I tried to get into one and was waved out and pointed in the direction of taxis which were actually available for hire. He was a good driver, took me all the way downtown and to the door of the hotel. Well, it was a bit steep really. The cost was $70 but because he was a nice, polite person, I gave him my $80 and told him to keep the change and got a receipt for the $70 fare. A valet opened the taxi door for me and offered to help with my bag but since it was only the one (weighing 7kg according to the scale at the airport before I left) I said I was fine.
Checked in at Stamford Plaza Auckland (again, thank goodness I had a printed itinerary with all the details on it) and got room 634 on the sixth floor. It had swipecard entry, hee. I'm so amused by the little things. The room itself was HUUUUGE. Well, it was for little me and compared to other hotel rooms I've been to, and I've been to at least a couple in my lifetime. Definitely was 5-star. I didn't touch anything from the minibar, not even to move it. After unpacking all my things, checking out the view of downtown Auckland and the harbour and the Sky Tower from my window, and laying out my clothes for the evening on the bed, I took a shower. The shower had marble walls and floor and strong water pressure, but being used to the fresh water of Christchurch the smell of chlorine took me a little by surprise.
Ironed my clothes and got dressed and was pretty much ready to partay! Except that I didn't know what I was supposed to do next. Good thing that I had remembered from the email about the event to the whole office that it was going to be held at the Hilton. Thanks to the Yellow Pages in the bedside drawer and a map of inner-city Auckland streets from a tourist guide I quite purposefully picked up at the airport ('just in case,') I left the hotel and started walking to Quay Street where I believed the Hilton would be.
The addresses seemed to be going in the right direction. I was surprised to see Britomart so close. The last time I'd visited Auckland before I'd bused to Britomart from the airport and it had seemed forever away. It was probably a good thing I'd been around downtown Auckland at least once before. Eventually after a couple of blocks I figured out that the addresses were not in the right direction, so I turned on my (high) heel and started walking back the way I'd came. I kept walking a couple of blocks in the other direction until it started to seem like I was lost again. Lo, a nigh miracle, I look across the road and see an i-Site building. It was still open, although it was coming up close to closing time.
I asked for directions to the Hilton and was directed down an obscure road which went right behind the i-Site building. I followed this for a good block and a half before realising it was the road to the Hilton Hotel car park. I doubt I would have found it on my own! Thankfully, from outside the entrance I could see the signs for the event that I was heading for: The MYOB Awesome Service Awards launch. Along with some advertising for the new ClientConnect product.
(By the way, if you haven't already and you live in New Zealand, click here NOW to enter the Easy Money Quiz to go into a draw for $15,000 cash -- I promise there are no strings attached and they won't continually spam you unless you opt in, it's just a launch promotion.)