The Integrative Stream

First Impressions

After a six hour flight from Boston to Los Angeles, a fast scamper around the circumference of LAX, and another twelve hours in the back of a 747, I’ve made it to Auckland. Took a walk after getting to my hotel, subcumbed to a brief nap after lunch, and then went out to find a cybercafe.

So far–and my observations are strictly limited–New Zealand seems to be an appealing cross between the US East Coast and England, with a little bit of California mized in. The cab driver waxed lyrical on the subject of Seattle as he ferried me in from the airport. Bookstores are stocked with both UK and US editions, sushi is plentiful, and everything doesn’t shut down at 5pm. Quite a few of the coffee shops and cafes are open 24 hours.

I’m currently sitting in a basement cybercafe with a nice fast network connection, surrounded mostly by backpackers and other tourists. I tried to find a WiFi connection and failed miserably; after going online here and checking the jwire list, it turns out they’re all over the place – they just don’t advertise. T-Mobile doesn’t have a footprint here, so it’s local providers all the way, and they haven’t figured out the bit about putting a sticker in the window.

Finally, some thoughts on Air New Zealand. Advertising enhanced coach accomodations is a dangerous thing when you haven’t actually rolled them out to all your planes. The 747 I was on had not been updated, and however nice the new fittings may be, the old fittings are the worst I’ve had on a long-haul flight in a very long time. Maybe Cathay Pacific, American and–mirabile volu–Virgin Atlantic have spoiled me with their seatback TV seats in economy class. And the footrest below the seat in front of me kept falling down. The movie was “The Dukes of Hazzard”. And so on.

Although, to be fair, the flight left on time and arrived a few minutes early, with both myself and my luggage. And the little folding headrest on the back of the seat (which never seems to stay in place) actually stayed in place. So that was good. Not really looking forward to the flight home, though, since I probably won’t be able to sleep going east.