Finding Work

So four months ago Aaron and I decided to make the jump across the Pacific and try our chances in New Zealand. It has been a busy few months with finding jobs, a place to live, friends, and just adjusting to everything being new again. With the anticipated ups and unexpected downs we have finally leveled out to a feeling of normality.

Some of the taps from Fork & Brewer where I bartend

We decided to live in New Zealand's second largest city Wellington, because from what I've read, it's the "coolest little capital in the world." It's also not as spread out as New Zealand's largest city, Auckland. It has a massive film and video scene here thanks to Peter Jackson's production companies. Almost every other person I've met either works or knows someone who works for Weta or Park Road Post - but that topic is for a different entry.

So far I have found work between bartending and a couple film jobs. The first shoot I procured was for a friend of our new flatmate. She was graduating with her masters in fashion from Massey University and needed a ballet video of routines wearing the dresses she made. She choreographed each routine to mimic the stitch pattern of their respective dress. Below is a clip of one of the dresses.

The second shoot was for Massey's undergraduate fashion show. A ton of work and endless headaches went into that hour long four angle video. I'll have a trailer available soon.

As for the bartending job, well it's just another job in the industry or hospo as they call it here. Despite feeling reluctant, I have managed to find a cool spot to bartend. It's a craft beer bar/restaurant called Fork & Brewer that boasts over 30 taps of New Zealand beer with the occasional import. It also has about ten taps with Fork & Brewer's own house brew.

Outside of Fork & Brewer with Sam

Working here has opened up my eyes on the craft beer industry in New Zealand. After traveling a bit through Europe and also living in Australia I just expected to see the craft beer craziness back in the states only. Wellington gives itself the title of "the craft beer capital of New Zealand." I will talk more about this in a later post.

Hanging around Wellington with Lou

Boat harbour in Oriental Bay

Swimming spot in Oriental Bay 

Our Australian friend Lou

Hanging out at Basque

Our friend and favorite bartender Halena

Matiu/Somes Island

This little island lies right in the Wellington Harbour and is only a 30 minute ferry ride from the waterfront. In recent years the island served as a human and animal quarantine station, an internment camp, and a military defense position. The buildings on the island that helped serve those purposes now lay bare and abandoned. 

On the island looking towards Wellington's waterfront

Graveyard from the days of quarantine

The island was an animal quarantine station for around 100 years. Dogs, sheep, and other livestock stayed here until given the clean bill of health to enter Wellington. 

Old animal quarantine building

Probably for milking cows

Cribs

Aaron sits in a still furnished office

Empty examining room

Some sheep still remain looked after on the island

The old lighthouse that was built in 1900

The gun emplacements were built in 1942, but never had to be used in war

In both World Wars, the island was a camp for enemy alien internees. The summit of the island has five concrete structures that used to be heavy anti-aircraft artillery positions.

Audioscape: Front yard

This is a two minute recording of the sounds from our front deck in Berhampore. Foreground is filled with all the different native birds of Wellington. The midground you can hear traffic and some neighbors talking while in the background there is some game and an announcer. 

This is best listened to with a nice pair of headphones and closed eyes. 

Visiting the seals at the Red Rocks

We decided to take a walk out to the Red Rocks to check out the migrating seal colony. The red Rocks is part of the Te Kapohou Reserve in the Owhiro Bay region of Wellington.

Naked Bus

So if anyone considers taking the Naked Bus from from Auckland to Wellington you might want to consider these five points first.

1. Obvious - Naked does not mean a nudist bus. It's simply referring to the bare-bones price that it costs to book it. Our ticket only cost $23
2. Less obvious - Your bus is likely to break down or have unexpected transfers because of this reduced price.
3. The floor in the aisle to the right of your seat could suddenly start lifting up, exposing the road speeding by below. (Actually happened)
4. Due to poorly planned transfers and delays from breakdowns, you find yourself peeing in the bush outside the "Closed" public toilets. 
5. You will however, (during the daytime) have some amazing sites of mountains and coastlines and stop in some interesting small towns. 

Mount Taranaki

Pre-Departure

Cleaning the apartment and saying goodbye to this awesome roommate.

Saying goodbye to Miso

Waiting to board the plane

A great sunset at LAX

Air New Zealand has some cool lavatories... 

...and some cool lights.