Enter the Domain: Auckland Domain and Museum

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Aaron in Aaron's Blog | Comments Off

Right towards the center of the city is a large park known as Aucklan domain. It’s home to a large number of sports fields for public use, a thousand perfect picnic spots, statues both traditional and modern, and the Auckland museum, which dominates the area from its position on high ground. You can really tell that New Zealanders value keeping in touch with their land from the fact that they put so much valuable real estate to being a natural refuge in the city.

The Museum

The Auckland Museum is combination of several museums all tied into one. It is both a cultural museum, with several displays on Polynesian culture and artifacts including a damn impressive 25 meter war canoe, as well as a natural history museum and war memorial. There are three floors, each with different exhibits, as well as a travelling exhibit area. We even got to experience Read more

Found in Auckland: Good Mexican Food!

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Aaron in Aaron's Blog | 2 Comments

I have been living in Japan for the past 7+ years and I love being there. In general, the food to be found in Japan, especially in Tokyo, is amazing and you are hard pressed for find a bad meal. It does, however, have one critical flaw: a sever lack of good Mexican restaurants.

Image my excitemen (and drool) when we came across a Mexican restaurant tucked back into a side street in Auckland. Jalapenos is run by a number of Mexican immigrants (as well as our lovely Columbian waitress), and serves traditional and delicious Mexican dishes with enough on the plate to make you immediately aware that you are no longer in Japan (a land of small servings).

The food was amazing, the atmosphere was chill, and the people were extremely friendly. If you happen to be in Auckland, I highly recommend it. It might not be traditional New Zealand food, but trust me, you’ll forgive yourself.

Jalapeno’s Mexican Grill
Ph: 09 377 8384
www.jalapenos.co.nz

Auckland: First Impressions

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Aaron in Aaron's Blog | Comments Off

A Positive Crisis

Auckland seems like a city going through a mid-life crisis, but in a good way. It is ditching its old industrial spouse and is seeking to attract the young and hip. It has a rich history and has long been a critical part of NZ infrastructure with it’s twin ports, but years of suburban sprawl had left the downtown area depleted and soul-less. Read more

A New Beginning

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Aaron in Aaron's Blog | Comments Off

Nothing like daybreak over the clouds to give you some perspective.

Goodbye for Now: A Dear John Letter to Japan

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Aaron in Aaron's Blog | Comments Off

Dear Japan,

By the time you read this, I will be gone. I’m sorry that I have to leave like this, but the time has come for me to move on. I know that this transition will be tough, but I know we will both get through it and continue to see happy days in the future.

I leave not out of hate or malice, but because I feel that we have grown apart over these past years and I need to see what else the world has to offer. Like so many other couples in long term relationships, I think we have gotten ourselves in a rut, and in order to grow as a person, I need to break these bonds of comfort and venture out in search of new things. Like most things foreign, I know you might not understand this, but I hope that you will put on a polite face, as you always do, and accept that this is just my way. Read more