Christian & Mari Down Under: March 2007

Coromandel

This weekend we went on a trip to Coromandel with ANSA (a norwegian student association). Coromandel is a really beautiful place especially during summer so it was summeractivites on the program. We were 30 Norwegian on the trip and we had rented a whole house, so it was a really great weekend. We went sailing, jet boating, relaxed on the beach and barbecued in real kiwi style.

Jorgen climbing to the top of the sailboat

Sailing is fun!

Enjoying the boat trip

A bunch of relaxed Norwegian students

June and Jorgen on jet boat trip

Cathedral Cove

At the place we lived they had a lot of different instruments. Here is June on drums and other guy playing a saw.

Christian is trying to play a Maori instrument

Marita, Ingrid, Peter and Christian enjoying a kiwi barbie

Sjur and June holding an auction. This Freia Melkesjokolade bought me and Christian for the nice sum of 350 NOK. The money collected during the auction went to childrenhome in Thailand. So we supported a good cause and got Norwegian chocolate:)

Hahei beach

Hahei beach 2

Some sporty Norwegians

Berried alive in the sand

HSBC Round The Bays 2007

Today we've participated in the biggest fun-run on the global hemisphere - HSBC Round The Bays 2007. A team of 50 international students joined up with 70 000 others to run 8.4 km along the coastline from Auckland CBD to St. Heliers Bay. The run itself is not a very serious one -we used as much as 51 mins, ie we did not exhaust ourselves! As always, we bring you guys pics from the event!

The crazy Norwegians warming up

Our team leader trying to get control of the iSpace team

Pretty crowded as the starting canon (yes, they used a canon) went off

How the hell am I going to win this thing when there are 35 000 people before me @ the starting line?

Reinhard (DE) all warmed up and ready to compete!

Chaos in the starting area

NZ' prime minister Helen Clark wished us all good luck @ the start

Phew! Puste-pese! Hoste-harke! Then make an effort and smile to the photographer!

The camera went off as we were trying to push our way through the starting area

Jihaa! Almost won, just 28596 persons crossed the finishing line before me. As serious athletes stretching is mandatory after finishing a running/wrestling-session

Tramping on Waiheke Island

On Saturday the 17th of March we took the 35-minute ferry ride to Waiheke Island, where we did a 7-hour tramp along the coast, through the rainforest & on the beaches. Waiheke is said the favourite destination of many aucklanders, and after spending no more than a day out there it is easy to understand why.

Waiheke Island is a picturesque blend of farmland, forest, beaches, vineyards and olive groves. There is a great range of activities on Waiheke: options include mountain biking, sea kayaking or a relaxed vineyard tour. The delectable cuisine on offer is complemented by a range of award-winning wines produced at the island's many wineries. Significant industries on the island include winemaking, olive production, tourism, arts, crafts and media.

Photo I @ lookout

Mari hugging her favorite palm tree

Photo II @ lookout

A (very) white guy and even more beautiful nature

We found this deserted beach right next to Turtle Island (in the background)...

...where we enjoyed our lunch.

Mari relaxing during our lunch break.

Visiting a wineyard (ie stealing grapes )

One of the more crowded bays of Waiheke

Waiheke Island as it appears when you arrive @ the ferry terminal

Photographic evidence that Mari was actually there

Some stupid tourist we met

Mari demonstrating tramping techniques

Having a minor break looking at the sailboats

Surfing Piha beach

Yesterday we went surfing on Piha beach with a bunch of other xchange students. We had a blast of a day - we got two good sessions before Sun&Salt dried up our eyes and and burned our skin so badly that we had to seek cover in the shade.

PS! Sorry that we don't bring pics from the surf itself - we were just too busy out there!