Mt. Albert Neighborhood

View of the neighborhood

From Mt. Albert Domain

Dog exercise area

Exit/ Entrance of Mt. Albert Domain

Summit Drive goes up to Mt. Albert Domain, and Kitenui is just across

The school's got a farm! And this is just behind our street.

Found this a couple of paces from our place, quite handy to send mail

Mt. Albert Aquatic Center, just next to Mt. Albert Grammar School

Apricot Muffins

Today's walk somehow ended up at the supermarket.

Too many biscuits

I noticed the aisle of biscuits seemed endless. And on my right were a couple of other snacks, including dried apricots. I thought I'd sample some and use it for my muffins. So when I got home I put these ingredients together to see if this second attempt on baking muffins would be better. I put together some flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, egg, butter, milk and vanilla then the dried apricots. I lowered the heat this time then popped them in the pre-heated oven. It smelled sweet and not burned this time. I tried one and it's actually good.
 

Preparing the batter

Spooning the batter in the silicon mold

Not too pretty but actually tastes good

One Night of Wonder

Britomart at night

Quay Street along the harbor

Crossing Queen Street

There really isn't much people here in Auckland even if it's already the biggest city (population-wise) in New Zealand. And seeing the city to be alive on New Year's Eve is perhaps the busiest that it can get apart from hosting the rugby cup. The crowd still follow traffic rules (at least most people do) and the only thing that people get concerned about here is that not a lot of young Kiwis can handle their alcohol.

December Holidays Amidst Strangers

Canapes

Christmas eve with backpackers from Manila at a Pinoy's house in Te Atatu Peninsula

Somewhere at Te Atatu peninsula, still within Auckland, four young Pinoy families got together at a new home to celebrate Christmas. I never thought I'd still be alone during the December holidays. So, I just tagged along kind folks who opened their doors to me to keep me occupied on what's usually such a busy and memorable evening with my family.

Waiting for the fireworks at the Auckland harbor with Pinoy families

Whereas on New Year's Eve, I spent the night at the city to see the fireworks. What surprised me was that people flocked towards the harbor at just about the same time to see the fireworks that barely lasted for 10 minutes. And soon after, everyone left almost at the same time going back to their homes or to party venues.

Sky City becomes a living torch

As with everything that I've experienced here in Auckland, nothing went over the top. I'm so used to seeing pyrotechnics shows that I felt that the supposedly "biggest" fireworks display was really nothing compared to the regular fireworks at Enchanted Kingdom, not even close to ones that are done during weekends at the Mall of Asia.