Wellington with the Patels

Emma's sister, Angela, was traveling to Wellington for a weekend with a friend from university and offered to take me along if I wanted to see that part of the country. Wellington is the southern most tip of the North Island. Prior to leaving for New Zealand my Aunt Vandana's father gave me contact information for some of his family members that are currently living in New Zealand. So I made a few "cold calls"to members of the Patel family and was able to set up accommodations for one of the most amazing weekends.

When I arrived in Wellington Neema, VJ, and Selena (16 years old) drove to Alicetown in the Lower Hutt to pick me up. Neema had arranged for Selena and I to stay with her mother, Shanta, so that I had a bedroom and bathroom. I knew I was spoiled when Shanta greeted me with a warm cup of Milo and a room with an oil heater and electric blanket already running. Shanta and Selena visited the States in 2010 and she repeatedly gave me a hard time about our houses being "too hot." 

Neema and I at their house

Selena and I outside the Wellington Zoo

VJ and I outside the Wellington Zoo

Saturday morning Neema, VJ, and Jaiyden (12 years old) picked me up and we drove to the Mount Victoria lookout which provides panoramic views of the city and the Cook Strait as ferries sail out of the harbor and planes go in and out of the airport. It was unbelievably windy up there so we only stayed long enough for me to take some pictures and read about the earthquakes along the fault line that brought New Zealand land up out of the sea.

View from the top of Mount Victoria

"Business" part of Wellington

The circular building the their new stadium -
VJ told me it is the 2nd largest stadium in
New Zealand next to the one in Auckland and
everyone is very proud of it!

You can see the landing strips for the airport. It is one
of the most difficult airports in NZ to land in because
of the wind and location.

Parliament building which they call "The Beehive"