The Travelling Rambles Of Yesterday

I'm writing this while on the Overlander up to Auckland for my visa interview (GrumblemumblesillyAucklandgrumble). My interview isn't until Wednesday, but I've decided to spend a few days up there, so that I can catch up with a few people up that way, and because today was the only day the Overlander goes up.
But Jaime! I hear you exclaim. Why on earth are you subjecting yourself to twelve hours on a train when you could just fly up? Good question, that. And in short, I don't quite know. My brain is clearly a little weird.
Largely because it's a little cheaper to do it this way (albeit, not by very much, and considering I'll probably spend more money on food and things, a not especially legitimate reason), and because it's a journey that I've always wanted to do. Iconic Kiwi railway and all, the Main Trunk Line. I think also, I lacked the ability to realise just how early I'd have to drag myself out of bed this morning. Something that was a tad difficult, considering the hour I got to bed last night. But hey, who needs sleep anyway?

I must say, I'm very much enjoying the trip so far. It's nice to get a different view of the country, and I always rather enjoy having a bit of time out, where I'm removed from life a little bit, something that, for me, comes best with the removal of internet and cell phone coverage. I had hoped to be able to do lots of work on my pre-departure project on the journey up here, but I'm finding most of it fairly difficult, as handwriting things while the train is moving isn't really much of an option if I want it to look nice.


My flights up to Auckland and out of the country are all booked and ready to go (at least, I hope so), and I shall be flying out of Wellington at 8:30am on Sunday the 14t of August, for anyone who feels like getting up very early and coming along to the airport. I then have the absolute joy of spending four hours in the thriving metropolis of Auckland Airport before flying off to LA at 1:30pm. From LA I fly to New York, and head straight to my training course in New Jersey, where I'll be until the Thursday afternoon or so, when I fly off to my new home.

Only two weeks to go now!

Written a while later: 3:30pm, and we’re about eight hours in now. Still rather enjoying the journey, although the large amounts of time spent in the same seat are becoming a little tiresome. New boots are being a bit of a pain, too. Apparently they’re fine when I’m walking about the place, but put a slight strain on the top of my foot when I’m sitting. It’s becoming a little bit owie, but I don’t really have the foot space to take them off, as I seem to have a tendency to carry too much crap with me. Ah well. We shall live, I’m sure. And it’s all likely to help the process of wearing them in.

It’s really rather nice outside today, which makes me very happy, especially as this is a touristy scenic trip and all. It’s very nice to have been able to get an absolutely spectacular view of Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngaruhoe, and currently there is not a cloud to be seen in the sky, very definitely a nice reprieve from the usual winter chilliness. I also very much enjoy seeing my country at its best when I’m surrounded by tourists.

It’s rather interesting seeing New Zealand through a touristy viewpoint, as it’s not how I usually see it, even when I’m travelling about the country. I feel incredibly knowledgeable on the general area (although a little less so the further north we get), simply because I can distinguish between the three mountains, and tell the general direction of Taranaki. I feel surrounded by foreign accents, which I suspect is a tad silly, seeing as I will be far, far more immersed in foreign accents in two weeks time.