Dumb but Happy - New Zealand Week 8

Hello Mom,

We left Auckland on Sunday and started the big tour through New Zealand. I had packed most of it on Saturday evening, so on Sunday morning it was just a matter of going through the valuables again: Petersen jersey... Check, mobile phone... Check, bandana... Check, wallet... Oh shit! Memories come back to me and I feel like I'm transported back to the Sunday of a week ago. (Imagine music like a time jump, like when ketchup squirts out of the tube).

We're writing Sunday, March 10, 2019. The day before was our visit to Cape Reinga and we spent the night in an Airbnb called Hippie Hut. It looked like it too. Almost creepy.

After getting up, we started the journey back to Auckland. 6 hours of driving around. At some point, I wanted to buy something to eat and get my wallet for it. Then the shit hit the fan, or was really steaming. Searched through my backpack, no wallet there. Searched again, no wallet there. Turned the car upside down, no wallet there.

Shit, it's gone. Now what? Driving back to the Airbnb was almost impossible. We were too far away and would have had to take a ferry over a river again.

To make matters worse, we all had no network where we were and when we got it back, I couldn't reach the Airbnb host. It was too far to drive back on a whim, even though I was sure the wallet had to be there. But well, the host would have to find it too. Unfortunately, he only contacted us in the evening when we were back in Auckland. With bad news. Nothing found. Great. The realization that the wallet is really gone hits you like a hammer blow. You can't compare the loss of a wallet here with the same one at home. Here your life depends on it. Without it, you can't even buy yourself something to eat. If I had been traveling alone, I would have had real problems. Unfortunately, I only found out too late that MasterCard provides a temporary replacement card on site. Remember that for the future.

First, I filed a 'lost property report' with the New Zealand police, then I called my parents and went to the gym late. The last two things really helped. If something like this happens to you, do sports, it's a good way to switch off. It probably helps even if your wallet is stolen in Australia.😄

I was thinking about whether to tell the story of the wallet in the blog at all. You don't really want people to read that you've done something so stupid. But I want to write an authentic blog and not just portray myself. That's why I'm sharing this story with you.😄

After being annoyed with myself all Monday, Ilona brought me good news from our host on Tuesday morning: He found the wallet after all. In the toilet.

Kindly, he sent it to Auckland by courier on Wednesday the 13th of March. Unfortunately, it didn't arrive until last Saturday. Great courier. Probably on the way with the stagecoach and the horse from Winnetouch from the movie 'Manitou's Shoe''. Oh Jacqueline...

Now that we're leaving Auckland for our road trip, I have to have the wallet sent to Christchurch, where the aunt of a friend who lives there will receive it, whom we will visit during our further journey.

Now the wallet is traveling New Zealand separately from me.

I don't want to say much about the attack in Christchurch. It's sickening what happened there. How cold-blooded can a person be...

To tell something nicer again:

Last Wednesday, Glocki celebrated his birthday in Auckland. Sophia, Ilona, Philipp, Chris, Stefan, our birthday boy and me were there. Pre-drinks at our place, then everyone was in a good mood and went to a bar.

However, we were kicked out of there after an hour because it closed at 1. But the bartender said we could go to the mixture of bar and club on the other side of the street. That one is open longer. So we went over there and into the place. The atmosphere there was nice too, but at some point we noticed that it was more of a 'Diversity Bar'. In plain English: a pub for people who like people of their own gender. More precisely: for men.

It was fun there, but sometimes a bit too wild. That's why we didn't stay out too late. It was also better because the next day I was asked to be a competent real estate manager again.

On Friday, we had something to eat and drink at Impression. Stefan even baked a cake, thumbs up for that.

The next day, Saturday, we were allowed to pick up our rental car. Four of us (Stefan, Sophia, Glock, and me) are traveling together on the North Island until March 27th.

In the afternoon, we guys went to Sheepworld. It's about an hour north of Auckland. It was a clear highlight of the trip for me. It was a kind of petting zoo/farm with a show in a barn and on the pasture, where, among other things, a sheep was sheared live and it was shown how sheepdogs work on the pasture.

The shepherd who showed and explained everything to us said that he bites his dogs in the ear if they misbehave. So be careful when you cause trouble next time, Chipsy.😄

Unfortunately, the eel feeding was a disappointment. There were no eels there. Very sad, I was really looking forward to it. Live pictures of it:

On Sunday, we moved out of the Empire and had the apartment inspection. I want to remain mostly silent on that.

Just so much: We had an appointment with Joon, our Asian contact, at 10 o'clock. It turned out, however, that he had his day off. Great. Of course, none of the other geniuses knew anything about it.

A colleague represented him after much back and forth. But he should almost get a medal for it.

After he told us at length how much he disliked Joon because he is so ungrateful, our time at the Empire was over. Conclusion: They're a bit crazy there.😄

Finally, we set off with a car full of stuff to explore the North Island. More about that next week in a new episode of 'Lukas, dumb but happy'.

Until I finally get my wallet back, Glocki advances me the money I need. What a true gentleman!

I have cash now, but it makes things so much easier for me that he pays with his credit card for me. Thanks for that.😘

Finally, I'll greet myself today. I like you.