I absolutely LOVE the museum! Every time I go along I get excited about going into the 'volcano' house. Although this time the main reason for going was to see the Outrageous Fortune set (totally amazing!) I still managed to visit my favourite part.
If you have been inside the house and watched the video and felt the shakes you will know what I am talking about... Its kinda lame I guess but its fun at the same time. For 5 minutes you get to be a resident in a house that has got to be on Paratai Drive with a killer view of the Auckland Harbour and Rangitoto Island- its not all joy and fun though because as you are watching the news warning of increased volcanic activity in Auckland, steam starts to rise from the water in front of the Island. Suddenly huge amounts of volcanic crap start exploding out of the water and it eventually reaches your house in which time the TV and lights have cut out and then the whole room shakes. After all of this and everything has cleared up you are shown a small volcano has formed in front of Rangitoto and everything is looking pretty desolate but TVNZ still manage to sort their stuff out and air some more news and tell you what has happened!!
So the whole thing seems a little unrealistic, but how can we be sure this wont happen in Auckland? A sign outside the house stated "Not If but When" in regard to a volcano erupting in Auckland....
Why the heck do we live in a city that is riddled with volcanoes? Just the other week scientists discovered another volcano under the inner city suburb of Grafton- I can't help but think maybe there is more?!
I was talking to a friend who is writing a blog on whether we would cope with a volcanic eruption in Auckland and it got me thinking and questioning whether we would?
I have absolutely no idea what to do if a volcano erupts... does anyone else? I always just assumed you are screwed if you happen to be in one. So i did a bit of research and found this US site with tips on what to do if you happen to get stuck near a volcanic eruption: http://www.fema.gov/hazard/volcano/vo_during.shtm and another site hints at staying inside... All I can think of with that is when Mt Tarawera erupted in 1886 people got trapped in their houses because of the lahar?
Kind of a dreary blog this time round... but I think it is important that we think and talk about it if what I saw in the museum is true and its a matter of when rather than if!!
ALSO, I think it is awesome that Auckland has such a cool museum. Its something free and entertaining... and if you don't know about the volcano house I was talking about then you should really go check it out (also if you like Outrageous Fortune you should definitely check that out!!)
Sunday 17 April 2011
Tuesday 5 April 2011
Here comes HOP
Wow! So Auckland is making preparations for becoming a better, more functional city in terms of its public transport. About time. Every other city i have been to has an integrated ticket system that gets you onto multiple forms of transport. It is the most amazing thing when you are a visitor to the city but also imagine how convenient it would be not having to think about whether or not your card works on this bus, that ferry or that train.
When I was in London last year I came across the "oyster card" which is a 'smart card' that can be used on all the buses, trains and tubes throughout the region. AMAZING! I also discovered a similar pass in Sydney, although this was simply an all access day pass it was still an incredible thing for myself as a tourist to have.
The HOP is Auckland's new 'smart card' that one can only assume is being released in time for the rugby world cup to make the city more accessible as well as more user friendly for the influx of tourists we are going to receive (especially now that we will be getting the games from Christchurch too!).
Our Minister of Transport, Stephen Joyce has been quoted saying "integrated ticketing is an important part of establishing a more efficient, effective and user-friendly public transport system." (TVNZ, 04 April)
All I can say is it is about it was established in Auckland and eventually New Zealand! Bring on a better system that is reliable and efficient!
All going to plan, the Hop will end up being a nationwide integrated ticketing system that makes public transport more affordable and justified- the same system across the country will introduce some continuity throughout the cities and make life not only easier for us as kiwis but for all those tourists that visit here every year.
I can't help but think about the system going out to where I live in Howick... sure a change in price may encourage a few more people to ride the bus towards the city centre BUT the main issue is the length of time it takes to travel. The Hop card will not solve this and I feel as though the government is overlooking this as an issue. Areas surrounding Howick such as Flat Bush are one of the major places of growth in Auckland at the moment with a huge amount of migrants moving into the area every year. Should we not be also focusing on the infrastructure for public transport as well as an integrated ticketing system to make it truly effective?
The main reason for London's oyster card being so effective and convenient is because the card is useful to everyone and the entire city is actually connected by an extensive public transport network.
Perhaps the Minister and the government should be thinking about things like bus lanes from the outer city suburbs to improve the speed of public transport before they start talking about making an integrated ticking system that will make the whole system convenient and efficient.
If you want to read more about the Hop smart card check out this article
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/hopping-buses-get-easier-smartcard-4099602
When I was in London last year I came across the "oyster card" which is a 'smart card' that can be used on all the buses, trains and tubes throughout the region. AMAZING! I also discovered a similar pass in Sydney, although this was simply an all access day pass it was still an incredible thing for myself as a tourist to have.
The HOP is Auckland's new 'smart card' that one can only assume is being released in time for the rugby world cup to make the city more accessible as well as more user friendly for the influx of tourists we are going to receive (especially now that we will be getting the games from Christchurch too!).
Our Minister of Transport, Stephen Joyce has been quoted saying "integrated ticketing is an important part of establishing a more efficient, effective and user-friendly public transport system." (TVNZ, 04 April)
All I can say is it is about it was established in Auckland and eventually New Zealand! Bring on a better system that is reliable and efficient!
All going to plan, the Hop will end up being a nationwide integrated ticketing system that makes public transport more affordable and justified- the same system across the country will introduce some continuity throughout the cities and make life not only easier for us as kiwis but for all those tourists that visit here every year.
I can't help but think about the system going out to where I live in Howick... sure a change in price may encourage a few more people to ride the bus towards the city centre BUT the main issue is the length of time it takes to travel. The Hop card will not solve this and I feel as though the government is overlooking this as an issue. Areas surrounding Howick such as Flat Bush are one of the major places of growth in Auckland at the moment with a huge amount of migrants moving into the area every year. Should we not be also focusing on the infrastructure for public transport as well as an integrated ticketing system to make it truly effective?
The main reason for London's oyster card being so effective and convenient is because the card is useful to everyone and the entire city is actually connected by an extensive public transport network.
Perhaps the Minister and the government should be thinking about things like bus lanes from the outer city suburbs to improve the speed of public transport before they start talking about making an integrated ticking system that will make the whole system convenient and efficient.
If you want to read more about the Hop smart card check out this article
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/hopping-buses-get-easier-smartcard-4099602
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