Ishicilelwe: 14.10.2018
On Friday, the time had come, after about 35 hours of flying (Berlin - London - Singapore - Sydney - Auckland), I landed in Auckland around noon. A total of four flights were necessary to reach my destination, or rather the other side of the world. I made my way somewhat tired by bus to my accommodation. Since, according to German time, I should have gone to sleep, but it was only 3:00 PM in Auckland, I tried to stay awake until the evening. I walked towards the harbor and explored the city center. In the evening, I returned to the hotel and went to bed early. The next morning, my friend pointed out that it was not 6:00 AM, but already 8:00 AM. Unfortunately, my iPhone still had the time from Sydney stored, so the day before I already wondered how early it got dark. But after I set the correct time, everything made sense. All in all, by staying awake, I managed to cope with the jet lag quite well, and I have already become accustomed to the eleven-hour time difference. I used the day in Auckland with a trip to Mount Eden, an extinct volcano that towers over Auckland. After the strenuous climb, I was rewarded with a beautiful view of Auckland and the surrounding area. A truly wonderful sight, and although it was very windy and cold, I stayed on the crater rim for a long time and let the vastness work its magic on me. In the afternoon, I explored the alternative districts of Auckland a bit and was quite impressed by the variety of Auckland. A nice city, although not a must-see. This morning, I took the train a bit outside Auckland to pick up my campervan. My campervan is a converted Nissan in which I will travel and sleep for the next few weeks. I have a small gas cooker on board, so I can also cook for myself. The pick-up went smoothly, and around noon I started my tour with my van. The first stop was Piha Beach, a beach near Auckland. When I arrived there, I admired the black volcanic sand and the huge waves. After a short walk on the beach, I continued north. After a few stops, I finally reached my destination for today, a free campsite where I will spend the night. There is only one toilet here, but that's enough for me tonight. Unfortunately, I don't have internet here, so I will upload the post tomorrow morning during a short coffee stop at McDonald's, where there is usually free internet. Unfortunately, I don't know how often and when I will be able to upload new posts, but I will try to keep you updated regularly on my journey. And one more little update from today, the night was very cold but it was fine under the blanket :)