Lag Jet in Aotearoa.
That’s the Maori name for New Zealand.
But first thing first, let’s rewind to my first day in Auckland.
I thought I’d be having a hard time adjusting to the 2-hour time differences, but surprisingly I woke up at 6 am, which was 4 am in Melbourne, 2 am in Asia, and probably 2021 for the rest of the world.
So no, I don’t have jet lag, you have jet lag.
I know, I can use this time to write!
According to the Maoris, time is circular here - the past, present, and the future are linked - one event contextualizes the other and it is difficult to isolate one without considering how it fits within the bigger pic-
Oh wait, my daughter just walked into the room.
She is also unaffected by jetlag.
So I can only write short paragraphs every day.
I’m always stumped. To create quality content, you need time, but if you’re spending time crafting content, are you really spending quality time with your family?
"Daddy, once we arrive in New Zealand, can we start skiing and build a snowman?"
Maybe it was the photographs of her cousins skiing in Queenstown, and overhearing our conversations over the phone.
My daughter thinks New Zealand is Alaska.
I wanted to explain Auckland isn't a snow globe. In fact, Auckland is what heaven looks like if heaven charges $130 for a tank of fuel.
But you know what, why disappoint her now, when she can disappoint herself in five hour's time?
I had expectations before I became a father too. Most of them fell flat, but in hindsight, those disappointments have to be self-taught.
And along the way, found so much joy in other stuff.
Travelling is parenthood is life.
Learning to cope with disappointments is more important than seeking joy.
Thank for you coming to my TED talk.
I found the most polished-looking coffee stand in the shiny, barely worn-in Commercial Bay, - such beautiful branding, think the bastard child between Market Lane and Dukes in Melbourne - and dropped $5 on a long black.
Different cities, same Japanese barista.
Chika took a sip, and crossed her eyebrows.
Yes, yes, feel the dark roast, the bitter AF tannin.
The coffee here is different.
Let's accept it, and get it out of our system.
People who complain about coffee and beans think they’re connoisseurs, but they’re just a pain in the ass. (Be like me, bring your own grinder and Aeropress.)
Four days later, I'm still trying out long blacks here and there; Chika has switched to black tea, but will get the occasional latte.
Seriously though, if you're here purely as a tourist, Auckland is heaven.
Architectural and design-wise it's like a ‘Japonised’ version of Australia - everything is built to a smaller, nicer, friendlier scale. Ads are more creative, streets are cleaner, people friendlier. I mean, there’s a pork sandwich stand in the middle of a posh area with two tables, and sells out at 12 pm. If that’s not Japan, I don’t know what it is.
I like their speeding poster ‘Slow down bro. Make it home.’ The government sounds like a good friend, rather than TAC’s echoes on death (death), fines (fines) and safety (safety).
The Victorian government has a PDF plan somewhere expecting Melbourne's population to grow from 5 million to 8 million by the year 2050. (How? Extreme breeding? You know they're going to somehow fumble towards that finishing line with a bigger (immigration) and also cheaper (apartments) solution.)
Meanwhile, Auckland is sitting at 1.6m. Heck given the same growth rate you're telling me when my daughter hits 34, Auckland will just be like Melbourne in 2003? That's scary.
(to be continued)