While in my last post I grizzled and grumbled about the horrible service and I’m still cringing about that awful pub quiz, I’m finally home and have had a chance to look through all the photos. It turns out that not ALL of Taupo is horrific.

The surrounding countryside and giant lake *is* beautiful. We went up to Huka falls, which was gorgeous and did some of the walks and drove many of the drives. Big rolling green hills, ‘fake’ forests (the area around Taupo is heavily forested. It was interesting to see all the different stages, from planting, growing, being cut, the logs being driven to the mills, the fields cleared and then replanted). And then there was all the geothermal activity! There were many geysers to see, and also the fantastic natural hot springs!

Those photos were actually taken at Huka Falls, not the Hot Springs, or near geysers.

In terms of food, it was mostly awful. However on our last night we went to Portofino which was *divine*. The service was impeccable and the food fantastic. Funnily enough Portofino’s is owned by a gentleman named Gino who opened his first restaurant in Parnell back in the day. He would order all their produce through the Family Barrow, which was at the time owned by my parents. Glad he still keeps the same standards as he did all those years ago.

We managed to go out to the Lava Glass Gallery where we watched the owner and resident artist Lynden Over blow glass (he actually DID blow the glass!) and create some fantastic glass pieces, which was pretty exciting. We also did the Volcanic Activity Centre which was pretty amusing. And even though they followed us around at the Scenic Wine Cellar, I DID get to hold a bottle of Champagne with a $1k price tag! The best part of the trip (besides the fantastic snow, which was UNBELIEVABLY fantastic)was the meandering drives we took that presented views like this one:

So while the trip wasn’t a complete success (again, that AWFUL AWFUL pub quiz at The Shed comes to mind) it wasn’t an utter failure, either.

Still, I’m happy to be home!

I’ve been in Taupo for the better part of a week now, and I’m downright unimpressed. Now let’s get this straight, I’m NOT hard person to impress, I’m really not. Give me warmth, edible food and a little nod in the interest of friendly-ness and I’m ready to move in and camp out for the rest of the year. Places like National Park and Turangi I’m ready to give up the convenience of 24 hour supermarkets and quaint Asian Dairies that sell the coveted hard-to-find Magno Tea for.

Taupo? After being here 5 days I’m ready to go home. Taupo is place for tourists who don’t know any better, and are still amazed at seeing giant bodies of water. Taupo is for people who don’t care about service, and just don’t want to help people out. Taupo is not friendly, and is not for me.

What I’m mostly sad about is the crap customer service I’ve experienced at EVERY place I’ve been to. Lakeside Villas is where we are staying thanks to the generosity of a friend back in Auckland who had an apartment for a week, but wasn’t using it. But if your not getting it free, don’t stay there. On the first day we were here I went to reception mid morning to find out if they had a snow report. I got ignored, to the point where they locked the door and shut the curtains. Okay, so not the friendliest bunch. On the second day the guy argued with me about whether I would want to be using the wireless connection from my room.

. . .

Yes, I want to. Do not tell me that I don’t, buddy. Me and the internet are *tight*, okay? By the third day we were having issues with the available washing machines, and the drama around getting washing powder was a nightmare.

But let’s not stop at Lakeside villas. The customer service at Poitoins Ski Shop was a disaster and we spent a good hour just trying to hire a set of skis, poles and boots for my Dad. We were turned away at the Prawn Park because they decided that the day was too slow so they sent home their staff, only to find that they weren’t able to deal with the afternoon traffic. We also went to Scenic Cellars where we were followed around, because apparently the video surveillance wasn’t good enough and oh wow, we might crack into the wine right then and there.

But it gets worse. We’ve eaten at a fair portion of the pubs here, and not one has served decent pub food. Even worse is the bad Pub Quizzes held at The Shed (avoid on a Wednesday night, if you can – you want to survive with your brain intact).

It appears that everything is run at half the pace in Off-Season Taupo. It is very slow, and very plodding. Not at all the upbeat fun of National Park, or any other small stop-over we’ve been in.

I sent a txt to a good friend of mine complaining. He laughed at me and said that I deserve this. I did, afterall, go to Taupo.

I did. And I’m more than ready to go home.

I am currently in Taupo where it is raining. The rain doesn’t bother me; I’ve just had three *perfect* days at the snow with blue skies, awesome snow, and fantastic company so I’m due for a little down time. My body aches, so yeah, down time is okay.

What’s not okay is rocking up to an internet cafe hoping to check my email. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m one of those internet users you would call ‘addicted’. I’m a web designer, and work for an ISP. And with a fair chunk of my best friends being overseas right now me and the internet are *tight*. After four days of being internet-less I was fairly sure my inbox had most likely exploded.

I wasn’t wrong, either. I was greeted with this:

“We’re sorry, but your Google Mail account is currently experiencing errors. You won’t be able to use your account while these errors last, but don’t worry, your account data and messages are safe. Our engineers are working to resolve this issue.”

. . .

Since when did Google have server errors? My inbox has exploded, and the internet sky is falling. The internet is BROKED!

I guess I’m taking extended leave of the internet. I’m back home on Friday. Hopefully my inbox will have fixed itself by then. Fingers crossed, right?

This photo was taken by Tim Laman as part of his work with National Geographic, who have decided to share part of their collection with the world.

More fantastic images can be found here.

Last night I went out to Ponsonby’s The Crib to hear a good friend play in what was jokingly referred to as ‘The Chris Reed Show’. It was fantastic to see him, and hear him play.

Chris is going to New York next week, to record his first single (one I’m glad to say I already know all the words to!) that’s due for release hopefully at the end of this year. Drinking to that, and being so so proud of where he is, and where he is going is just one of those reminders of how far we’ve come.

I’ve known Chris since we were 17, we studied for Bursary together and he used to come around and rock out in the living room of my parents house. Around that time he made me his first album: a mixed-tape recorded on his dictophone, of all his songs of that time. I’ve heard him play through all his phases . . . he started with a ‘love song’ phase and he *hated* how his voice sounded, and then there was the ‘punk’ phase where he was in a band for a while with a pierced eyebrow and a bleached mohawk.

I think now he’s found a style that suits him, casual, comfortable and confident, and its great to see.

I still have a guitar pick he signed for me tucked away in a jewellery box somewhere. When he blows up and gets ridiculously big, watch Ebay. I’m going to make a squillion off Chris, his mixed tape, guitar pick and his greatness! Hurrah!