A trip to the other side of the world - Auckland

If you want to get as far away as possible from everything where to go? New Zealand! Even from Shanghai it took almost 13 hours with a straight flight! Was the second longest flight I ever taken and by far the most southern.

Fresh air! So early in the morning that sun is just getting up, Air New Zealand was great. Looking at the map its so far from everything. 

 Aotea Square

  For those who have lived in Beijing will know what this means 

 Like a sea worm

 Queens Wharf

 Thirsty? Nope, not too much in 12 degrees and rain

Auckland Maritime Museum

1920's shop

 Even though we are oceans apart, I miss all you good people back home

Immigration in hope of a better life back in the days. After the industrial revolution in 1800s in Europe a lot of farmers were without work because there had been so much development in automatisation. They choose to go elsewhere in the British Empire to find a better life and more opportunities

 It took up to 6 months to sail to NZ in the 1800s, there was only dried meat and rock hard cookies to eat. The water was also scarce because there were no machines that could turn sea water drinkable. It also became contaminated and bad after 3 months of storage. Must have been an awful ride with this room full of people

 Time made it easier to travel

 A REAL suitcase, was entirely made of wood and steel. Must have been 100kg. Mobility wasn't a key back then

 Samoa ships

 Boats throughout times

 Auckland Harbour

Rain keeps pouring down....

 The old train station

 Downtown skyline

 Parnells Town

 Loads of small shops and restaurants

 Sky Tower

You can jump down from the tower, a lot like in Macao

 Queens Street, the main street in the city

 A demonstration against ISIS in Iraq. "The were chanting "protect the christians in Iraq"

One of the best ice coffees ever bottled! 

Made some peanut butter banana sandwiches, yum 

Shanghai, I hardly ever see you...

I knew that I would not spend that much time in Shanghai but didn't imagine it would be this little. It's basically to come home from the airport, sleep a few days and then go again. Most of the time in Shanghai goes studying Japanese, I forgot how much time it takes to learn a new language. When i studied mandarin I spent an average 6 - 8 hours a day on it...Hopefully in 2-3 months basic Japanese conversations would be possible すごい！

Good to come home late when the taxi que at Pudong airport isn't THAT long. Merely 20 minutes

 Water service in Shanghai, delivered on a 3-wheeler to your house. I wonder how much of this water is fake or pretty much just tap water

Traffic. Everyone stuck in the intersection because no one wants to let the other one go. Someone once told me that you can see what kind of society you live in by looking at the traffic. It's very true in China. If you don't put yourself infront of other people they will take your spot. 

 Demolish and rebuild, everyday

 Quentin lived a few weeks at my place, leaving in the morning is always a surprise to see how he is handling his hangover sleeps :) :) 

"The cocoon"

"Mid rampage" 

Pool day, a beer and with some sunshine in 30 degrees never wrong 

 Thanks Kari for the blender, have been making fruit shakes of all kinds every day! 

 Apple, banana, ice, mango, dragon fruit and milk. YUM

 First time I see graffiti in the street in Shanghai. Again, demolish & rebuild

 Teppanyaki!! 

 Japanese lunch set, BBQ salmon + chicken for about 5 euros

Land of Mangoes - Philippines

Jet-set, repack a new suit and then go again! This time a little more south of Hong Kong all the way to Manila - Philippines. At the moment I spend a lot more time in airplanes than in cars...Cathay Pacific was out of food on the way so was a bit of hungry flight. And the planes that leave China are ALWAYS late, between 30 mins and 2 hours. So far every single one I've taken.

The traffic from Manilas airport to the city around 19 is a disaster. It simply does not move. I checked google maps for the distance to the hotel from the airport was 13km. Took almost 2 hours! Walking would have been the same speed. Then again I don't want to walk around Manila in the night. The drive locked the doors as soon as I got into the car. This place can be a bit dangerous...When going into any shopping mall they check your bags like it would be an airport control with X-ray machines.

I didn't have that much time to see anything of the city this time, traffic also ruined the chances to move around. Was rainy season, now and then there were massive showers lasting for about half an hour and then the sun came up again...Food was amazing though!!

Layover in Hong Kong, next stop Manilaaa

 The gym at the hotel looked pretty space, very cool light

Amazing breakfast!! 

 Pool was amazing, only thing missing was fresh mangoes to pick from the trees :)

 City center shopping mall

 "Water show"...not really like Las Vegas 

Amazing BBQ, I was surprised after I got the bill for: Lobster, pork, chicken, rice and some other dishes. Total 11 Euros!  Thanks Miguel for the great night out! 

 Appriciate what you have, there are so many people living in the streets here! 

 Sun setting for the day

 You have to pay about 11 USD when leaving, I remember that Indonesia had some kind of similar fee

 Was a strange gate to go down to, the whole airport was kinda messy