Notes From A Small Island
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@Snowy said in Notes From A Small Island:
@dogmeat said in Notes From A Small Island:
re the friendliness of Aucklanders, I cycled round the Waitemata on Saturday. I decided to test this .
That's because all of the unfriendly, grumpy fluffybunnies have come up here to ruin my live.
It is possible that it is me, not them, that is a little unfriendly, but I'm blaming them.@dogmeat said in Notes From A Small Island:
As an aside shitloads of people out running and riding on a blustery day. Must be all the New Years Resolutions
So should be deserted again by Saturday.
I’m sure the number of your neighbors will mysteriously fall depending on how full your freezer is.
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@MajorRage said in Notes From A Small Island:
I thought I'd compile a few notes / thoughts from my just finished NZ trip. Arguably this could be on the politics section, but it's not focused on that, even though some of the themes maybe.
I've lived away from NZ for almost 20 years, and in 2017 spent two months there for the first time since I left and drove the whole country. This time I was there just two weeks and only went around NZ's tri state area (Auckland, Hamilton, BoP) but this is what I noticed in changes from our last visit. Of course my perspective has changed as well, as now living in the UK as opposed to HK on my previous journey.
Bums. There has a been a massive escalation in the number of bums. As a sideline, homelessness has seen a huge (visible, at least) escalation too, but Bums are just everywhere. I'm talking about the homeless drunks being a nuisance. I must have seen 50+ in Auckland, and then also a few in Hamilton, Tauranga, Mt Maunganui & Rotorua. It's a bit of a stain on the NZ tourist industry in my view, my wife said she didn't feel as safe this time as she previously has.
I truly haven't noticed the increase in homeless in Auckland or Hamilton. I just find that they have changed where they hang out.
Expense. There is no other way of putting it. NZ is fucking expensive now. I'd estimate things are up 150% on when I last lived there. And grad salaries seem to have only gone up about 50% in that time. Thats a big inequality. 10+ a beer seems the normal now, 75 a head for a meal out at an average place (meant in the true word, not the negative way), gas at 2.10 a litre and lucky to escape with change from a hundy bucks after any visit to a super market. Tourism prices are ridiculous. We were going to go luging at Rotorua, but it was going to cost my fam of 4 almost 200 bucks! Fuck that. I have no idea how average graduates can look to prosper.
I don't mind the price of tourist activities. Supply/demand and all that. They aren't set up for Kiwi's living in NZ. They are set up to those who can afford to travel.
Jet Skis / Sea Doo's. Loads of them in the bay now!
Biggest waste of money ever!
GET A BOAT!NZTA. These guys are undoubtedly the biggest skid mark in NZ. So many sections of road are ridiculous with speed limits. I crossed over the Kaimai's once in clear sky with no traffic, and they had the speed limit at 80 at the peak. Then the next time I went over it was raining and busy, and it was 80 again. What is the point of variable limits if you don't impose them?? And don't even get me started on the looong 70k section around Te Kauwhata. Brand new dual carriageway with separate medium barrier and its 70k. Why?? The focus just seems to be a poorly thought out one around speed. With little on driving to conditions, getting piece of shit cars off the roads, and little advertising around those who drive slow then speed up on passing lanes. This has gotten even worse. 80k traffic, doing 110k on passing lanes seems to be the norm. IT's fucking dumb.
I have to admit that I have never found these irritating and I like to rattle along when I can. and just for an update, those restrictions are gone now that everything has opened up (Well they were on the 24th of Dec)
Foreign food. This has improved massively! I used to think everything sort of tasted the same in NZ. This is no longer. Lots of really good places to eat, and with genuine global flavours.
still not great though. I struggle to get a great north Asian curry.
Craft Beer. Why do Kiwi's think they are the global leading knowledge on craft beer? I love Steinlager Pure as it's a taste of home for me and thought their light option is really good. So why does everybody (friends, waiters, people on next table) think they have right to try and push me down the Pinhead APAIPARadler bullshit. I live in England for fucks sake, you think Id on't know what I like when it comes to Beer???
Can't comment on this as I still enjoy Waikato and Speights so only buy craft when there isn't an alternate.
Auckland. Arguably the least friendly city I've ever spent time in. Not sure if house prices have gotten to people's head or not, but I went for 3 runs there (mainly around the bays) and small acknowledgments to those who I passed were all 100% ignored. Like I was a weirdo for saying good morning to people. I mean, WTF? Even in central London people generally say hi or at least do a little wave to fellow runners.
After living in London for 7 years, I found Auckland very welcoming and friendly.
Hamilton. This is actually a really nice place, despite all the flak it takes. People are friendly, the run along the Waikato river is as good as anywhere on the planet, and Hamilton Gardens are awesome. People there seem really happy with life, thoroughly enjoyed our time there.
Hamilton is on the improve but isn't a patch on surrounding cities (Auckland and Tauranga)
I found I was disagreeing with most of your post but I kind of see where you are coming from. I find NZ easy to live in but I live in the sticks where everything is a little less complicated or crowded.
The worst part of small town living is that nothing is secret.
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@Hooroo said in Notes From A Small Island:
I don't mind the price of tourist activities. Supply/demand and all that. They aren't set up for Kiwi's living in NZ. They are set up to those who can afford to travel.
Locals whinge about the price of tourist activities the world over. We constantly get it (despite the huge discounts offered for locals).
The impression is we have inflated prices to fleece tourists. The reality is, tourism margins are fucking tiny, the major cost is usually people, and people are expensive, and need to be paid no matter how many visitors turn up. Agents expect the world, and want to pay nothing, and commission levels are inflated by competition.
Tourism is a bloody hard gig to make a buck out of.
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@mariner4life said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Hooroo said in Notes From A Small Island:
I don't mind the price of tourist activities. Supply/demand and all that. They aren't set up for Kiwi's living in NZ. They are set up to those who can afford to travel.
Locals whinge about the price of tourist activities the world over. We constantly get it (despite the huge discounts offered for locals).
The impression is we have inflated prices to fleece tourists. The reality is, tourism margins are fucking tiny, the major cost is usually people, and people are expensive, and need to be paid no matter how many visitors turn up. Agents expect the world, and want to pay nothing, and commission levels are inflated by competition.
Tourism is a bloody hard gig to make a buck out of.
I'd love to know how much Hobbiton makes. That place is always heaving with tourists and it's really expensive to go. They breached their resource consent of 300,000 pax by having 500,000 last year I think. Applying to increase to 600k at Adult rates of $84 per tour. That is reasonable coin even if only 75% are adults.
It's successful enough that someone now does Matamata - Auckland return flights just to get to hobbiton.
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@Hooroo that's an astounding number of people. Our busiest Park in our record year had a bit over half of that!!!
I imagine they are raking it in based on that. It would be well past their "gravy" point, and every extra person is just hitting the bottom line (at a guess, based on one look at their operation, but not understanding their back-of-house).
I wonder what they pay in the way of licensing or royalties?
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@mariner4life said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Hooroo that's an astounding number of people. Our busiest Park in our record year had a bit over half of that!!!
I imagine they are raking it in based on that. It would be well past their "gravy" point, and every extra person is just hitting the bottom line (at a guess, based on one look at their operation, but not understanding their back-of-house).
I wonder what they pay in the way of licensing or royalties?
Good point. I have no idea. I'm sure it's the same guy that originally owned the farm that is creaming it.
I wonder if he offered up his land so long as he could use the model for tourist activities without royalties being paid?
I truly have no idea.
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@Hooroo said in Notes From A Small Island:
@mariner4life said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Hooroo that's an astounding number of people. Our busiest Park in our record year had a bit over half of that!!!
I imagine they are raking it in based on that. It would be well past their "gravy" point, and every extra person is just hitting the bottom line (at a guess, based on one look at their operation, but not understanding their back-of-house).
I wonder what they pay in the way of licensing or royalties?
Good point. I have no idea. I'm sure it's the same guy that originally owned the farm that is creaming it.
I wonder if he offered up his land so long as he could use the model for tourist activities without royalties being paid?
I truly have no idea.
it would take an astonishing lack of foresight for the studio and the estate of Tolkein not to be getting their cut.
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@jegga said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Snowy said in Notes From A Small Island:
@dogmeat said in Notes From A Small Island:
re the friendliness of Aucklanders, I cycled round the Waitemata on Saturday. I decided to test this .
That's because all of the unfriendly, grumpy fluffybunnies have come up here to ruin my live.
It is possible that it is me, not them, that is a little unfriendly, but I'm blaming them.@dogmeat said in Notes From A Small Island:
As an aside shitloads of people out running and riding on a blustery day. Must be all the New Years Resolutions
So should be deserted again by Saturday.
I’m sure the number of your neighbors will mysteriously fall depending on how full your freezer is.
The Aucklanders aren't neighbours just unwelcome invaders. A bit like possums. Strangely enough though I am picking up a new freezer on Wednesday...
@booboo said in Notes From A Small Island:
@jegga @Snowy wouldn't it be about time to start fitting out a new winter wardrobe?
A bit early but best to plan ahead.
@jegga said in Notes From A Small Island:
Buy shares in companies that make skin lotion
Nah. I have mentioned before that it ruins the natural waterproofing. Hollywood bullshit.
@JC said in Notes From A Small Island:
... and hoses.
Actually, yes to that. Best way to get the wife to behave. A good hosing...
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@mariner4life said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Hooroo said in Notes From A Small Island:
@mariner4life said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Hooroo that's an astounding number of people. Our busiest Park in our record year had a bit over half of that!!!
I imagine they are raking it in based on that. It would be well past their "gravy" point, and every extra person is just hitting the bottom line (at a guess, based on one look at their operation, but not understanding their back-of-house).
I wonder what they pay in the way of licensing or royalties?
Good point. I have no idea. I'm sure it's the same guy that originally owned the farm that is creaming it.
I wonder if he offered up his land so long as he could use the model for tourist activities without royalties being paid?
I truly have no idea.
it would take an astonishing lack of foresight for the studio and the estate of Tolkein not to be getting their cut.
I wonder if anyone would have thought it had this type of longevity. I can't believe how popular it still is.
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@Hooroo said in Notes From A Small Island:
@mariner4life said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Hooroo said in Notes From A Small Island:
@mariner4life said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Hooroo that's an astounding number of people. Our busiest Park in our record year had a bit over half of that!!!
I imagine they are raking it in based on that. It would be well past their "gravy" point, and every extra person is just hitting the bottom line (at a guess, based on one look at their operation, but not understanding their back-of-house).
I wonder what they pay in the way of licensing or royalties?
Good point. I have no idea. I'm sure it's the same guy that originally owned the farm that is creaming it.
I wonder if he offered up his land so long as he could use the model for tourist activities without royalties being paid?
I truly have no idea.
it would take an astonishing lack of foresight for the studio and the estate of Tolkein not to be getting their cut.
I wonder if anyone would have thought it had this type of longevity. I can't believe how popular it still is.
surely the Star Wars merchandising taught everyone a lesson?
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@Snowy said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Hooroo said in Notes From A Small Island:
It's successful enough that someone now does Matamata - Auckland return flights
That isn't something that I could have foreseen.
That comment turns my brain inside out.
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@Hooroo said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Snowy said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Hooroo said in Notes From A Small Island:
It's successful enough that someone now does Matamata - Auckland return flights
That isn't something that I could have foreseen.
That turns my brain inside out.
i reckon.
I mean, Matamata is a tip.
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@mariner4life said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Hooroo said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Snowy said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Hooroo said in Notes From A Small Island:
It's successful enough that someone now does Matamata - Auckland return flights
That isn't something that I could have foreseen.
That turns my brain inside out.
i reckon.
I mean, Matamata is a tip.
But you get to land at the lovely Waharoa........
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@Snowy said in Notes From A Small Island:
@JC said in Notes From A Small Island:
... and hoses.
Actually, yes to that. Best way to get the wife to behave. A good hosing...
If Mrs Snowy ever casually glances at this thread you may have some serious explaining to do. And I'm not convinced that as explanations go, "Honestly Darling, it's just a running gag about me being a cannibal serial killer" will reassure her much.
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@JC said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Snowy said in Notes From A Small Island:
@JC said in Notes From A Small Island:
... and hoses.
Actually, yes to that. Best way to get the wife to behave. A good hosing...
If Mrs Snowy ever casually glances at this thread you may have some serious explaining to do. And I'm not convinced that as explanations go, "Honestly Darling, it's just a running gag about me being a cannibal serial killer" will reassure her much.
She would actually get it as her favourite TB channel is CI. She is obsessed with serial killers and murders. If you believe the hype maybe that is why she married one...
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@Snowy said in Notes From A Small Island:
@JC said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Snowy said in Notes From A Small Island:
@JC said in Notes From A Small Island:
... and hoses.
Actually, yes to that. Best way to get the wife to behave. A good hosing...
If Mrs Snowy ever casually glances at this thread you may have some serious explaining to do. And I'm not convinced that as explanations go, "Honestly Darling, it's just a running gag about me being a cannibal serial killer" will reassure her much.
She would actually get it as her favourite TB channel is CI. She is obsessed with serial killers and murders. If you believe the hype maybe that is why she married one...
maybe she is one as well, and you two are going to be a Netflix smash hit in 7 years
