Happy New Year 2010!

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This New Years eve will be different from the previous. Its almost a tradition that we head up to northern part of Finland, to Ruka for some skiing, snowboarding and good times. This photo is from 07-08 New Year. The New Year celebrations at Ruka has been probably the best way to spend new years.

Fly Away

These couple days has just flown past. I've been working for two days pretty long and busy days. Yesterday after work I went to a japanese restaurant with some guys from work. Well, after couple beers and of course sake bombs. It escalated to a night out with some drinking and dancing involved. We had a lot of fun yesterday, also one cool thing was that when we left the bar we got a ride half way home from a police officer. We didn't get to any trouble, the cops are just pretty laidback here, haha. Me and one guy, Stu were walking still about 45 minutes away from home, when the officer dropped us off, got lucky because Stu's flatmates drove past us and picked us up.

Xmas BBQ

Thats that for Christmas. I had a great time in these past 3 days. On Christmas eve we played a present game with a bunch of people from the hostel. Everyone brought a present and they were put in the middle. We took turns to roll the dice, everytime you got a six you could take one present, and when all of the presents were gone we started the clock. 20 minutes we continued to roll the dice, now if you got six you could steal a present from someone else. We ended up playin that till everyone got one present. We had a great time playin. Christmas day we headed to the beach for some swimming and chillin, after that we had a Christmas BBQ, almost everyone at the hostel brought a dish and then we barbequed them and shared so we got to taste different dishes. All in all the Christmas was great. Nothing compared to Christmas at home, but it was nice to try something else.

Christmas Shoutouts

First of all, Merry Christmas to everyone, especially to family and friends! Christmas is different for me this year. I'm spending it with great weather, sunshine, beaches, swimming in ocean, barbequeing. Yes, its Christmas in New Zealand. The Kiwis celebrate Xmas in the 25th day, so we're having a barbeque tomorrow. So far today I took a sweaty walk down to the bottle shop and got me a bottle of Savignon Blanc for the party here. Enjoyed some of the salmiakki that my parents and cousins sent here. Thanks for that! Went to beach for couple hours to get some Christmas tan and for a swim. I'm gonna make some food after bloggin, checking facebook and etc.

"Someone's got a little bit too much money"

That was mine and Matt's conclusion about one guy who got picked up by a helicopter from the restaurant I'm working in. Imagine spending... I don't know, proabably 10 000 dollars to a helicopter ride to come to eat at a restaurant. Today was extremely busy day at Stonyridge and I was the only dishwasher. Usually there's two, but now, probably the busiest day so far this summer and I was doing dishes by myself. Well gladly I got some help from one of the chefs. I worked for 8 hours today without catching a breath. I was pretty done after work. Now I have atleast 4 days off. Happy Holidays everyone!

Kiwi Life

I'm sorry that I didn't post anything yesterday. I had no internet time and I didn't see the manager at the hostel. Well, yesterday was pretty cool day after work couple beers, some food and then we headed to beach to hang out and had a bonfire there. It was nice to chill at the dark beach sorrounded by thousands of stars, listening to the nightly ocean and talk trash with friends. Today work wasn't that busy so it was good, I'm working tomorrow and tuesday again and then I'll have atleast 4 days christmas vacation I think. It doesn't feel like christmas at all, I don't know what it is, probably the weather. I've never spent christmas with palms trees, beaches and +30 weather.

WMAO

I've been working my ass off in these couple days. Its only six hours, but its super busy and the work is so intense, gotta be on point the whole six hours and working hard, we dont know such thing as coffee break. Gladly the free beer and talking trash with other staff members after work takes the pain away.

Atmosphere

You know whats cool about my job. Let me tell you. The atmosphere of the kitchen and been able to work with cool people. Also, when I get off work I can go to the bar and take myself a beer and go chill on the deck and just relax in the sun after busy day in work.

I Love My Life

I went to Auckland for a suprise visit on monday and came back today. It was so much fun! Friends at Auckland were super happy to see me. It was nice to catch up with them. I planned first to come back to Waiheke on tuesday, but then John called me on tuesday noon because he came back from up north for one night, he continued today to Queenstown. So I met up with John and we took bus to the airport to go to see Mike who works there. He is a kiwi. When he got off we went to Mike's place to chill out and had a barbeque and couple beers. Once again I was stunned about the kiwi hospitality.

Grits - Ooh Aah

Take It Easy

I signed a contract in Stonyridge Vineyard for two months now. It means that I'm gonna be in Waiheke for a while. Feels good to have some kinda picture about whats gonna happen. Its also cool to have a job. Me glad!

In The Mix

This place is so mixed up. Here's so much people from different countries, different backrounds etc. We were hanging out at the yard and having a barbeque and there was people from England, Wales, South Africa, Latvia, Germany, Russia, New Zealand, Denmark, Holland and Finland. Its pretty funny when the different cultures and habits comes together. Like today, I drove a car for the first time on the wrong side of the road and I had a guy originally from South Africa, he has been living in New Zealand for 10 years, and guy from Wales with me and we went to pick up a Russian guy from the harbour in Waiheke, New Zealand. Tomorrow I'm working so I gotta go to sleep soon.

Jobbing

Today I had the trial at Stonyridge's restaurant and it went pretty well. I'm gonna call them tomorrow to get more info about hours etc. So it looks now that I have two jobs. Stonyridge's employees are pretty laidback and the work environment is cool but busy. Its also one of the most popular vineyards so it gets really busy on summer. I talked today to the guy who employes people to work in different vineyards, leaf plocking for example. He said that they're gonna be busy around summer so I have a chance to do some more work.

It Works

I had my first day working in a vineyard. We were plocking leaves, so basicly just pick off the leaves from vine bushes to get more sun exposure to the grapes. It was chardonnay grapes that we were working on today. Its boiling in the sun. Today was like 30° celsius and we were out at the sun for 7 hours, it was crazy. Luckily the supervisor gave us some sun block and water from time to time. After work we headed to the beach for some swimming and cooling down. The manager took us also to another beach that was pretty cool because we had to walk there for a while and once we got there we were the only people on the beach. On the way to the store later on we went to a lookout point to watch the sunset, man, it was so cool! At work today I was talking about christmas that I'm used to in Finland and on guy made a really good point, he said, "why sit around the fireplace when you can go to the beach". Well thats probably what I'm doing this christmas!

Tänään olin töissä yhellä viinitilalla. Meijän työnkuva on vaan repiä lehtiä pois viini "puskasta", että rypäleet saa enemmän auringonvaloo. Se ei oo mitenkään hullun raskasta, mut aika tylsää ja myös se vie vähä voimia ku pitää olla koko päivä paahtavassa auringossa, joku 30°. Onneks meijän pomo kävi tuomassa meille aurinkovoidetta ja vettä välillä ettei ihan kuihduttu pystyyn. Kyseessä oli tänään Chardonnay valkoviini. Pitää varmaa ruveta opetteleen viininjuomista täällä kun tää maa ja varsinki tää saari on ihan täynnä viinitiloja. Töiden jälkeen menin kahen Walesiläisen kanssa, jonka kanssa tein töitä myös, tohon lähi rannalla uimaan ja hengaan. Myöhemmin toi hostellin pomo vei meijät yhelle rannalle, mikä oli aika siisti ku oltiin ainoot siä. Sit käytiin kahen Aucklandilaisen jäbän kanssa ja yhen Wellingtonilaisen tytön kanssa kattomassa auringonlaskua näköalapaikalta. Oli aika huikee auringonlasku, eka tuli mieleen afrikkalaiset luontodokumentit, mutta ilman norsuja. Huomenna meen kahen tunnin kokeilulle yhen suositun viinitilan ravintolaan tiskaan. Toivottavasti saisin hommia sieltä, no sen näkee huomenna. Stonyridge on se paikan nimi, paikalliset jonka kanssa oon puhunu ne sano et siä keittöissä työnskentely on tosi hyvä kesähomma, ainaki ne kokit on lunkeja äijiä mitä oon tavannu. Ei tähän oikee muuta voi sanoo ku: Today was a good day

Hot Long Summer

Today was extremely hot day. It was good, I hung out at the beach with one of my welsh friend that made a surprise trip to Waiheke. The water is pretty cold though, at first it feels like freezing but then once you've gotten over the I'm freezing my balls off stage its actually pretty good and refreshing. I've got tomorrow some vineyard work, I have to get up like 6.30 am.

150th/Chill Day

This is my 150th post. I had a pretty chill day today. I went to the city to buy new jandals (flip flops) got some food from the super market, ate some good subs, watched some american football and then we went to the beach with guys from the UK to swim and get some Tua Tua's.

Mussels

Palm beach, going to get some mussels.


We had a great weather through weekend, so we chilled out at beaches a lot. On saturday we went to Palm beach to get some mussels then ate them. First we had to boil them so they opened up. Yesterday was also pretty warm. around 26 celcuis in the shadow, so pretty good. I couldn't post anything yesterday beacause the internet wasn't working.

Good Day Sir

This is my room at the hostel right now. Not much privacy, but its okay. I have some cool room mates. Today is pretty nice day, somewhat 2o degrees and partly sunny. I'm gonna hit the beach later on and get some new photos.

Rain

Sticking with the same photo theme. Nothing special happend today. I've just been calling and e-mailin wineries about jobs. The weather is really bad. It's been raining heavily today. Well atleast we are going to the right direction. The manager of the hostel said that the summer weather should come soon. Lets hope it does.

Lovin Life

I've been adjusting to the life here in Waiheke and I like it a lot. Its just so much more peaceful and relaxing than life in Auckland. Like today, I took a book and went to the beach and just sat there on the bench and read little bit and then took a walk on the beach. The beach is probably my favorite place here. The second you go there your mind just goes stress free. I could sit the whole day at the beach and just watch the waves. Tomorrow I'm go do some labouring work, so I got some money coming in, Yei! Things are looking great. I sent some e-mails to on vineyard that are looking for employees. They asked me to send my CV.

Tänään oli kaikenkaikkiaan hyvä päivä. Aamupäivästä sato aika paljon, mut onneks loppu sit joskus kahen aikaan ja rupes aurinko paistaan, täällä keli muuttuu niin nopeesti. Kävin bussilla super marketissa ostamassa vähä lisää ruokaa, toisaalta aika hyvä et Waihekella ei oo paljoo, ainakaan täällä puolella, ravintoloita sun muita, niin oon ruvennu itte kokkailleen kaikkee. Parina ekana päivänä söin makaroonia ja jauhelihaa ja tänää ostin muutamalle päivälle subi aineksiä niin saa vähä vaihtelua toho ruokavalioon. Kauppareissun jälkeen kun olin syöny ja huomasin ettei TV toimi niin otin tosta yhen kirjan ja menin lukeen tonne rannalle sitä. Kuulostaa varmaan vähä oudolta, kirjoja mitä oon vapaaehtosesti lukenu mahtuu yhteen käteen. Toi ranta on ehkä mun lempi paikka täällä. Aina kun sinne menee nii tulee vaan niin hyvä fiilis, siä on niin rauhallista. Varsinkin kun samaan aikaan siä oli varmaan kolme ihmistä mun lisäks.
Huomenna alan raksaileen yhen jätkän kaa yhtä osaa tästä hostellista ku katto vähä vuoti eilen, koska sato aika kovaa ja omistaja sano et kuollu lintu oli juuttunu vissii rännii. Mut hyvä et on ainaki jotai hommia ny. Oon tässä lähetelly sähköpostia yhelle viinitilalle missä ne ettii työntekijöitä, ne pyysi mua lähettään mun CV:n sinne. Toivottavasti pääsis johki vakihommiin kohta. Sieltä toiselta viinitilalta missä ne ettii tiskaajaa pitäs tulla soittoo tännepäin, mut käyn siä varmaan uudestaa maanantaina.

Hello Waiheke

This photo is not from Waiheke, its from Auckland. I'm now staying at a nice back packers in Waiheke and I love it here. The manager of this hostel is pretty cool guy also. He gave me a free ride from the harbour to the hostel. I also checked out one winery for a dishwashing job, I'm pretty confident for the job. The longest beach in Waiheke is like 2 min walk down 155 stairs. Its one mile long, its so cool to live so near the beach. I'll post some photos from here once I get some.

Bye Bye Auckland

For a while. I'm off to Waiheke soon. I've already booked a room there and the hostel manager is kind enough that he is gonna pick me up at the harbour once I get to Waiheke. Saves me the taxi money. I'll hopefully get a job in a week or so. Lets hope everything goes well. Today is super hot day, I love it. I can't believe its december.

Skating Auckland

I went yesterday to take some photos of a skater from Chile, Sebastian. He works at the Billabong store here in Auckland and he just got his skateboard. We had great times cruisin around Auckland and shooting. Here is couple pictures and I'll post some more later.

Exploring Waiheke

The scooter that I rented a.k.a the beast

I went on thursday to Waiheke Island. Its a 45 minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland. Its a small island with a lot of vineyards and it is probably closest to a paradise I've ever been. Theres a lot of beaches there and usually they are not so crowded so you can almost have a beach to yourself. I rented a scooter and drove around the island looking for jobs in wineries., I'm trying to get a job in this one winery. They are looking for a dishwasher, I'm moving to Waiheke next week and try to get the job. I don't really care what kinda job I get as long as its on Waiheke, because I'd like to live there for a while.

Kävin torstaina tuolla Waiheke saarella. Se on 45 minuutin lauttamatkan päässä Aucklandin keskustasta. Se on todella hieno paikka, aika lähellä paratiisia. Vuokrasin skootterin ittelleni päiväks käyttöön 50:llä dollarilla (25€) ja tankki oli täynnä. Ajelin joku neljä tai viis tuntia tuo saarella ja kävin muutamilla viinitiloilla. Yhellä tilalla on tiskaajan paikka auki, yritän saada sen. Ne sano et ne tarvii tiskaajan niitten ravintolaan ja sitten myöhemmin ehkä lisää työntekijöitä viinitilalle. Aika sama minkälaisia töitä on kunhan vaa pääsee asuun tonne Waihekelle. Löysin yhen backpackers hostellin ihan yhen rannan läheltä, joku 5 min kävelymatka. Se hostelli on mäenpäällä joten näköalat on ihan huikeet. Muutan sinne ens viikolla. Siä maksaa vaan 100 dollaria viikko asua (50€).

Jobhunting and Poker

I played in a poker tournament yesterday at the Sky City Casino here in Auckland. 99 players started and I finished 7th, it was awesome, the whole tournament was great fun! I got some more money to pay my accommodation. Job hunting is still going on. I got some new places to call, I'm stayin positive.

Eilen oli hullu työnhaku päällä. Queenstownissa olisi ehkä yks valokuvaushomma, siinä pitäis kuvata turisteja jossain kiiltomato luolassa tai jotai, jos ymmärsin oikein. Kuulostaa ihan hyvältä, mutta mun suunnitelmien mukaan oon vasta menossa etelään tammi-helmikuussa. Täällä on paljon töitä mutta mulla ei oo yhtään työkokemusta niistä hommista, esim. tarjoilija. Niin on vähän kiven alla noi työt. Illalla mentiin sitten kasinolle Zakin ja Kevinin kanssa pokeriturnaukseen. 20 dollarin siisäänosto ja 11 ensimmäistä voitti rahaa, olin seittemäs, pelaajia oli kokonaisuudessaan 99. Oli ehkä yks hienoimmista kokemuksista vähään aikaan. Vaikka pelasin pokeria joku viisi tuntia en ollu tylsistyny missään vaiheessa. Kevin tuli neljänneks tai viidenneks. Kelit on parantunu aika paljon. Ei tarvi aamulla kattella enään farkkuja, shortseilla ja t-paidalla pärjää ihan hyvin.

Summer Reminiscing

When I got my film developed I ran into these photos from last summer. It got me reminiscing how great summer in Finland is.

Clowns & Guitar Heroes

I got inspired to take more shots with my film camera by Jonathan Mannion's home page. I haven't taken so much photos on film, the film in my camera was like 2 years old but I finished it today and got it developed and it brought back memories how nice shooting on film is. Its got a different feel to it, I don't know what but it feels more like real photography. With todays equipment almost anyone can take good photos, so when it comes to film the true photographers will be reconized.

A clip of Jonathan Mannion on Maestro Knows

Portraits

I've taken some portraits of people in my hostel. This guy is the boss/host of the hostels bar activities. He's job is basicly playing poker in the bar's freeroll tournament, socialize with people, host the pool tournament and if he wants, get drunk.

I possibly will get a job next week. I called to this guy in South Island and he said that theres 17 open jobs in wineries, so lets hope its for real and I'll be working next week.

Same old

I haven't done anything really amazing in past couple days. Mostly job hunting, today we called in a bunch of farms for some farm work. Grooming sheep would be a great job. The weathers getting better also, its now warm even when its not sunny.

Work, Work, Work

I'm trying like hell to get a job here. Winery work would be the greatest, but I haven't still landed anything. I've literally sent like 30 e-mails including resumes but the answer seems to be "we are fully staffed right now, call back next week or we'll call you if something comes up.

Oispa niitä töitä jo. Oon lähetelly joka paikkaan sähköpostia, soitellu ja yrittäny tutustua mahdollisimman moneen täällä, mutta ei oo vielä mitään löytynyt. Viinitilalle ois niin helmi päästä töihin. Tosta Aucklandin satamasta 45 minuutin lauttamatkan päässä on Waiheke Island missä on kymmeniä viinitiloja, me mennään huomenna Gaz:in kanssa sinne kierteleen viinitilat läpi ja viedään meidän CV:t samalla. Viinikausi on vasta aluillaan täällä niin on hyvä saada jalka oven väliin hyvässä vaiheessa.

Good Times At Balcony Bar

The Balcony bar at my hostel is up and running. Its on 6th floor right on the center of Auckland. They have BBQ thats becoming daily when the weathers get better, it was first time on friday, you could buy burger, saugage and salad for $6 (=3€) and beer for $5 (=2,5€), so it was a good deal. It seems something like a "family" has formed from people that have stayed around in the hostel for longer.

He's Andy the manager of Balcony Bar. He's from Newcastle so he has a funny accent, he's also a big fan of Newcastle United. U know how Brits love their football.

Fortunate

The movie I just watched got me thinking how fortunate I am to be able to travel, live with no stress, do whatever and go wherever I want. Sometimes we take for granted what we've got. I'm thankful the support I've got from my family and friends and most of all that I've stayed healthy and everythings been good, lets hope it stays that way.

Resume drop off

Today I walked around and dropped off my resumes for different stores, so lets hope i'll get some work soon. Its a nice day today, like 20 degrees and sunny. Cheers to friends back in Finland.

Sunshine

This is one of the nicest sunsets I've ever seen. Its from my kiwi friends balcony overlooking city of Auckland.

Live Your Life

While I've been here I've learned you can do whatever with your life but with great freedom comes responsibility also. I'm learning new things about life everyday, maybe not anything really amazing but stuff that I wouldn't had probably noticed or experienced in Finland. Traveling teaches so much about life.

Mad cookin'

I cooked some pasta carbonara today with Ross, Chris and Darran. It was great. I think I'll be in Auckland for a while, it looks like it. I have an interview for a job tomorrow, lets see how it goes.

Englishmen really like their tea

Atleast a cup per day.

Come on Summer

Summer is arriving in New Zealand. The sun is getting hotter (todays really shitty weather) and always when I'm in the sun I have this wierd feeling, because the sun here is very dangerous.

Multilingual

The variety of languages and cultures that are is this hostel and this city amazes me. Theres a girl talking Japanese or Chinese on skype next to me, on the other side two French guys talking French. I also tasted real Italian parmesan cheese today when we were talking to this Italian guy and heard the longest word of a place there is from a Welsh guy.

Nice ass Boat

The sickest boat ever. It can speed up to 50 knots (around 90 kmh). It holds a record being the fastest boat circumnavigating the globe. These guys are leaving to Antarctica to chase whale hunters.

More info about Ady Gil

Mumbai

One sunday there was an Indian market in the viaduct harbour. So much Indian people, I almost thought I was in India. There was music shows, Indian food, fortune tellers etc.

Jim Jones

Is it really him? Or his Indian cousin?

Kebab Madness

5 dollar kebabs are the thing in Auckland. Seriously almost every third restaurant is a kebab joint. Its crazy.

Weekend

We're hanging out with our kiwi friends today. Tomorrow is holiday for everybody. I'm still open out jobs, don't know what I'm gonna do. Let's see.

British Dudes

British guys are almost impossible to beat at pool. I've made a goal for me to beat one british guy at pool before I leave New Zealand. :D. I've been also looking for a job a lot. I have one interview today, so lets hope everything goes well. I really look forward to start working here and have somewhat more clue about what to do. Now I'm just trying to figure out. Gotta get the job first so then I can decide where to live etc.