I'm out of here #9: Auckland, NZ - culinary joy & dizzy heights

I don't always inform myself to death when I go out travelling, at least not when I'm on a long trip as I am right now. I Need to be Aware in between somehow, that I have no clue of where I'm exactly going, like having some Kind of suprise effect open. This is what I thought when I was about to leave the untouched Tropical paradise  of Fiji to visit the City of Auckland in New Zealand. Bad move.

Auckland CBD

The only fact I knew was that the temperature will drop down by almost 20 degrees Celsius and it will be raining most of my time there. Don't get me wrong, this is not going to be any hater post about Auckland, I think I guess imagined the whole Thing differently because I was thinking stuff like "I'm still in the Pacific Ocean" and Maori is equal Polynesia so it's going to be still exotic in some way. So now you might understand why I was a wee bit disappointed when I took a cab from the Airport and saw very Swiss similar landscapes out there. There's nothing wrong about my home Country either: but I wasn't expecting any disappointment, so this Feeling deep down just reminded me how I wasn't ready to end being on the road and head home.
More than 50% of my world trip is already over now, and looking back to a couple of weeks ago, fortunately something is starting to Change. I am starting to loose the scary mood about thinking about what will happen when I get home, I didn't loose it completely, but I can tell that I can Focus more on what's Happening NOW. And this is a pretty good Thing.

All this stuff started to Change during those four days, I feel ready to embrace the things that life has to offer when I get back, see what happens and go with the flow, so thank you Auckland. A lot. And no, it wasn't all  disappointment actually, I had a bunch of pretty good times here too. Our trio still had some time to do some Sightseeing in the city's Business centre, including a visit to the Sky Tower. That's actually the best Point to have a wide overwiev of town, the surrounding Islands and Suburbs. The most awesome Thing for me was to step up on bare glass and see the cars passing down on the tiny street way down at the bottom of the building.

Another great Thing about my stay in Auckland was my neighborhood. I was so happy to have Chosen to live between Ponsonby and Grey Lynn. Our Apartment was located on the backyard of a house, which gave us a real feel to be part of it, also because our Hosts invited us to join their home Party once. Wine is always a good Option if you ask me :)

The area of Ponsonby seems to be the hippest in Auckland, featuring vintage, heritage buildings, a slowed down City life and great local Restaurants. I liked a lot how creative the gastronomic world can get here, every place has its own vibe and is decorated individually. So if you'll ever find yourself wandering around in Auckland, make sure to be hungry and in a discovery mood, there is plenty of stuff for every taste.

I tried to put together a bunch of my favourite places during those days, I hope you'll find your favourite in here.

Breakfast/Brunch

I usually am not a big breakfast taker. This is maybe combined with the fact that I rarely am awake early in the morning, for me it's more brunch. There are a few chains of coffeeshops that offer great breakfast Sandwiches and amazing coffee. I really missed a good macchiato, so I really enjoyed being awake again in the morning :) plus, the salmon and Avocado Sandwiches are simply delicious. I tried several places and they really are good. So just step in wherever you are, the Cafés are great in Auckland!

Meatballs

I discovered Bedford Soda & Liquor by Meeting an old friend there that now lives in New Zealand again. This spot is great for tasting very good made Cocktails and the New York inspired Meatballs are great. The funny Thing about ordering meatballs is the Menu itself: you can choose different variations of Beef, sauces, and add extras like salad or Pasta to them. It can get pretty crowdy here during nighttime so make sure to be early.

Ponsonby Central

Pizza (!)

I know, you get Pizza everywhere. But you don't get LA Pizza everywhere. Especially not while travelling. Dante's Pizzeria is a small place with just a bunch of seats outside, that serves only the simple variations of neapolitan Pizza. So if you're looking for no-nos like add ons like pineapple or chicken you're definetly in the wrong place here and should go to Domino's. Dante's only uses real italian products and is certified by the neapolitan association of Pizza as a member. That's something that only 200 Restaurants in the world reached, it means something, or it will as long you will give the first bite to your Pizza slice. I didn't have a proper Pizza in Ages, so I was almost about to cry :)

Live Music/Bars

As a live Music Lover I was delighted to find a Little bar just across Ponsonby Central which has bands playing every Weekend. We enjoyed a Jazz Band playing and had our Drinks in the huge backyard where another, good stocked bar is provided. Unfortunately, I couldn't figure out its Name, but you can see the colorful lights of the back shining out from the street.

The bar located on Ponsonby Road

On our last day the sun was laughing a Little bit more, and I really enjoyed one last walk in Ponsonby, including its cute Little park. My mind got ready to leave some annoying stuff behind and I was really looking Forward to see what Australia has to offer. I was wondering the most if the Feeling would last, and fortunately I have to say that it does every day a Little bit more. This trip was supposed to discover new places. However, I also wanted it to calm me down from unnecessary worries. And it's working out. The world is mine.

I'm out of here #6: Oahu - My favourite Beaches in Paradise

The first time I came to Hawaii was almost five years ago. And I actually had no clue of what I was doing. The most important Thing to me was getting out of Switzerland, and this for a Long period of time. My savings were supposed to last for about two months and I didn't want just to sit on my tiny butt by doing nothing, I wanted to come back with something more. So I decided to book myself an English class, just to improve it some more, and be able to make a proper conversation.
Since I was working in sales and basically was earning almost nothing, I informed myself about several places in the US, and was forced to choose the cheapest one to go and take classes. That's when the City of Honolulu came up. Being the cheapest place to book (weird, I know), I spent a good bunch of my savings on one month of School, a room in a Student condo on Kapi'olani Boulevard, and everything sounded sooooo exotic to me!

That's how I ended being in Hawaii for the first time, and, Boy, I really liked what I saw. I'm back for the third time already, and it feels like I never left.
I see things that became Routine, like grabbing my coffee almost at the same place everytime, or sit around in my favourite park listening to some Music. On the other Hand, I Keep on learning new things, seeing new places and Meeting new People. And that's another Point that makes me leave this place with some difficulties sometimes: you always feel welcome.
The Aloha Spirit is something that is taken as serious as the Hang Loose: it doesen't really matter who you are, you always fit in. Ok... you should be polite, at least ;)

I have to admit, my Christmas surrounded by sand Santas was pretty weird in the beginning :)

Honolulu is an enourmous City in the Pacific, and sometimes it feels crazy to me that I'm actually Standing in the middle of the ocean while being here. Waikiki  is world famuos, Ultra touristic, and I've experienced some packed streets between Christmas and New Years while living here. But still, everyone is chilled and doesen't seem to get stressed at all.

Oahu is so much more than Waikiki, even if I have a couple of places I really love here. The Ala Moana Beach Park for example, is one of the parks I really like. You're in the middle of Honolulu, but there's some real peace there. The beach is pretty big and the water is mostly calm, so perfect for a swimmer like I am or for a stand up paddeling beginner. The park itself  is lovely and full of charm especially for art deco Lovers: the bridges in there were built in that era.

Ala Moana Beach Park

Another favourite beach of mine is the one of Kailua. The white fine sand and the clear turquoise Waters reminds a lot of carribbean postcards, and in fact, it's a pretty good competition to that area in the pacific. The beach is pretty huge and invites for a walk, and it's never overcrowded.

Kailua Beach

If heading a Little bit  more east on the same day from Kailua, you'll reach the Makapu'u beach park, which is also very nice to see. It could be a good stop after hiking the trail nearby, to enjoy a refreshing swim. Watch out though, the sun goes down around 3 already here, there's a mountain just behind the beach.

Makapu'u Beach Park

If you dare, (I did!) take an hour walk from Sandy Beach to Hanauma Bay. Yes, you'll be actually Walking on the Highway, but nobody is going to hurt you. Plus: you'll experience some very amazing scenic Points where the rocks look amazing. The ocean does amazing works down there and you won't be disappointed.

How water makes its way into the rocks

Useful Tips:
Getting around: you're on vacation, so I guess you gonna have some time (or might get used to the Hawaiian time:p). I never rented a car on this Island, because I think that Oahu has a pretty good bus System. TheBus, in fact, takes you all over the Island for $2.50, two Transfers included. Routes are avalaible through Google  maps.

As you see, the Highway doesen't hurt :)

I'm out of here #3: Big Island of Hawai'i - Snow, Kona & Waimea

While I am writing this post, which should have been coming quite some time later than planned, I am sitting on a huge Patio of a wonderful house in Hilo. I know, you might don't mind, right? But I felt that my first post about Hawaii should have been, well, 'more hawaiian' than my actually homebase big City Honolulu. I am already living there (or, my suitcase is right now) since more than two weeks already, I have lots to tell you about and a lot more amazing Pictures to Show you. Honolulu is a big City, maybe a Little less polynesian styled than the actual place I am visiting in These days, that could be the reason why I Chose to talk first about my days here on the Big Island of  Hawaii. Don't worry at all, you'll get to know the pretty Island of Oahu in my later Posts for sure ;)

Landed in Hilo yesterday around noon, got our car and drove first to the Richardson Ocean Park, to  catch some seabreeze by sitting on the windy Lava coast. After getting used to the place, that's quite more different than big City life, we went to check in in our house located downtown. What a surprise! I mean, I knew I booked a house, but hey, it's huge! A dream! I think I just stepped in in what I would like to call my own home. The house is huge, with a big terrace surrounded by Tropical plants, I have frogs chirping around me at night, the host's love for Detail is certainly palpable in every Corner, and a lovely cat greets me every night when I get home. Should I ask for more?  It's so peaceful here that it actually feels like being in paradise. Our host is lovely, even spoils us with fresh baked Croissants and giving us tips on the must sees on the Island.

Richardson Ocean Park

My wonderful temporary home

For our first full day, we decided to drive all over the other side of the volcanic Island to see the very famous town of Kona and then drive back along the coastline. I had a lot of People telling me to live in Kona instead of Hilo, but I couldn't be happier to be here instead! Hilo may be a Little more industrial, but it also feels more oldschool to me and having a car gets me everywhere pretty easy. If I was in Kona, I'd never had the Chance to meet my host Kawehi and be here sitting in this lovely place, which would habe been a shame.
On the way to Kona we drove through the mountains on Saddle Road, which gave us the opportunity to stop at Saddle House, Standing on Lava Stones and having a huge mountain in front of us actually covered (!) in snow. The Big Island of Hawaii has a different Kind of climate all over, so you could basically snowboard down, hit the coast and then go out Surfing. And you're Standing in the middle of the  Pacific Ocean. Not a big deal. Yeah. Right. I wouldn't have expected snow. That felt pretty amazing.

The drive to Kona took us maybe around 1 hour and 30 minutes, and it was all worth it. This town, well known for its coffee and beer brewery, is very pretty. As a big coffee Junkie, I had to try a fresh brewed one, and it has a very nice, strong taste. Unfortunately I hadn't enough time to visit the brewery, but Kona beer is avalaible all over the Islands and I really like the Longboard Version. Another must see is the former Little homebase of King Kalakaua, which is a Museum today, right in the middle of town. There are also loads of cute Shops and Restaurants, for those who want to take home a Little handcrafted Souvenir or have a bite.

King Kalakaua's homebase through  the palms

After leaving Kona, we opted to get to Hilo and drive down from the North coast. This gave us the Chance to make us stop in the tiny Waimea. Located in the middle of the wide land of the Island, Close to some huge ranches, it was very nice to see a town that is so immaculate. We arrived in Hilo just after dark, had a bite in the very awesome Kanpai, for some Sushi and Noodles. Sitting at the bar made us be part of the Happening in the kitchen and how fast Sushi rolls can be prepared.

Waimea

I couldn't ask more for my first full day here on the biggest Island of the State. I am having a very Relaxing time... I think I found some peace.

If you're interested in staying in Hilo and in Kawehi's house, you can book it here.