Phuket, I'm going to Thailand

I left my laptop in Auckland (for safe keeping).  This post and all future posts will be done via my phone.  So please excuse any formatting errors.  That also means no vlogs until I get my compy out of daycare.

After 11 amazing months in New Zealand, I have temporarily left the land of the long white cloud to visit Thailand for 3 weeks.  Pretty sure I'm out of my mind for traveling here alone, but I also don't think I could be anymore prepared or aware.  It took about 26 hours of traveling to get to Phuket.  NZ is not an easy place to leave, there are always a couple stops before you reach your destination annnnnd my last flight was delayed by 2 hours.  Regardless, I made it to Phuket!!!

Maybe the American Horror Story font isn't appropriate for dessert packaging... just sayin'.

Traveling alone hasn't been worrisome up until now.  Here in Thailand my American accent and red hair stand out a lot.  Sooooo I bought a paranoia purse!  It was a great purchase because I'm so much more relaxed as I walk down the street.

Best hostel I've been in yet!  This little cube is all mine.  It has a safe, shelves, an outlet, a lamp and a curtain! 

Welcome to Patong Beach Phuket!!  It's loud, smelly, and humid as hell but interesting none the less.

Fish pedicure!  Couldn't help but think of Kim K.

Chicken and veggies in sweet chili oil... and the sunset

The next day I took a speed boat cruise to Phi Phi island and a couple other islands.  These places were locations for films like The Beach, The Man with the Golden Gun, and a little franchise called Pirates of the Caribbean. 

It was a fun but exhausting day.   The beaches were covered with hundreds of people, there were boats everywhere, and the humidity is inescapable.  I made friends with a wonderful group of Indian Americans.  They were my buddies throughout the adventure.  We swam and snorkled and soaked up some sun!

The water in Thailand isn't drinkable so you have to drink from sealed containers like this Capri Sun-esque water cup!

Monkey feeding!  I didn't actually feed them (because I don't like animals, especially wild ones) but it was nice to see some wildlife!

Lunch was included!   Yummmmmm!

It's important to mention that it was not rainy or foggy.  This is all air pollution.  It's so sad to know how beautiful this place could be if it weren't for the human race. 

P.Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney

Any foodies out there?  According to my extensive Top Chef and Chopped knowledge, Durian smells and tastes like garbage.  So why are the Thai people selling it on the street and with Ice Cream?

One of the rare massage places that is actually for massaging



So, it turns out Thailand has the same plug configuration as the states!  This would have been super convenient if any of my plugs were American, but I'm a true Kiwi now.  I had to buy an American converter... the irony is not lost on me.

Let's take a minute to discuss the Baht.  Confusing as hell to know what you're actually paying.  I've been using my converter app for everything.  But if I don't have my phone I use this little trick...

Move the decimal one space to the left and then divide by 2.

1000 baht > 100/2 = 50ish

This only works for the NZD, which is what I'm paying with (see I'm a true Kiwi).  Sidenote: look how bad the conversion from NZD to USD is!  It was wayyyy better 6 months ago.  Guess I need to spend all my NZD before I go home!

Patong has a CRAZY night life!  I'm not gonna go out to the clubs or bars alone but it's fun to be a spectator! 

Wellington: there and back again

I visited the Weta Workshop in Wellington.  Weta did all the props, prosthetics, and digital FX for the Lord of the Rings films.  Peter Jackson was one of the initial founders of the company.  Though Lord of the Rings is what Weta is known for, they have contributed their skills to over 200 blockbusters.  Some Weta films include: X-Men, Avengers, Chronicles of Narnia, District 9, Avatar, Fast and Furious, Hunger Games and many more!!  

What did I learn from the tour?  SO MUCH!  It was basically Disneyland for a movie buff/digital art student.  But they took our cameras, so here are the stories and facts I can remember.

I can confirm that James Cameron is living in Wellington.  He wants to be more hands on with the production of his 2 Avatar sequels and 1 prequel!  (Really? Yes, really.) 

They showed us the step by step production of the weapons they created for District 9.  The initial 3D mock-up was made using Maya Autodesk!  I used that software for my 3D printing projects in school.  I didn't get anywhere close to designing guns for creepy lobster aliens, but it's cool to know I'm somewhat capable.

There was a 3D printer printing out a tentacle looking object, but our tour guide was not allowed to tell us what film it was for (ugh).

There were a ton of life size sculptures!  My favorite was the 9ft tall Naavi alien from Avatar.  But there was also Sauron and a District 9 alien.

They have a bunch of celebrity heads on file so they can fit prosthetics to match their faces without flying them all the way to Wellington.  We got to hold Elijah Wood's head... it was weird.

We also got to play with props.  There was a LOTR sword, a bow from Narnia, the gun from District 9, and the patented Weta chain mail.

The pictures below are from the display in front of the Weta Workshop.

Bilbo's feet from the Hobbit

Fun fact:  a weta is a HUGE bug that is native to New Zealand.  It's basically a combination of a cricket and a cockroach.  They named the company after the weta because it is an ugly thing that can still be beautiful (much like all the artwork involved to make the orcs gross and terrifying).

After visiting Weta I decided my true fandom needed some re-enforcing.  I hadn't had the time, money, or motivation to fix my Harry Potter tattoo until now.  After 5 years of having a half finished tattoo, my foot finally says Expecto Patronum again!!  Shout out to Andre from Kakapo Ink for his amazing skills!!!

I also treated myself to a new tattoo.  The cloud symbolizes Aotearoa (the Maori word for New Zealand).  Aotearoa means "land of the long white cloud".  I also happen to be obsessed with clouds, so this tattoo could not mean more to me.  It was a perfect way to celebrate my 11 months in NZ.

Peter Jackson also sponsored a exhibit at Te Papa about the battle of Gallipoli.  It was a devastating defeat for the ANZAC troops against the Turkish army in World War 1.  Because the exhibit was founded by Peter Jackson, Weta also got involved and made these amazing statues of some of the brave men that fought in that battle.  These sculptures are about 10ft tall and incredibly realistic.  It really brought the home the concept of the loss of life.