Beautiful Northland Video
This video was taken from the window of the Intercity Bus from Paihia to Auckland with the Socialcam app on iPhone 4
Auckland From Above
Huaraki Gulf, Tamaki Drive, Devonport
Motuihi Island
East Auckland
Approaching Auckland International Airport
Churros In Auckland
Toro Churro’s Spanish doughnuts are golden-fried fresh, you can enjoy them with a pot of delicious dipping chocolate, or drizzled with chocolate and caramel.
Toro Churros are made to a traditional recipe, using only natural ingredients,
no preservatives and no additives.
Come & Enjoy Churros
MOBILE LOCATIONS:
Thursdays 10 am – 5 pm at the University of Auckland’s student quadrant
Sundays 6 pm - 10 pm Glenfield Westfield Night Market
Saturdays 6 am – 12 pm at the Otara Market
Saturdays 6 pm - 12 am Pakuranga Westfield Night Market
Sundays 7 am – 12 pm at the Takapuna Market
Website: http://www.torochurro.co.nz/
St. Paul Street in Auckland CBD
28th
February 2012 10:30PM
Tonight my friend Calvin and Reshmi and I
were on our way to Hulucat Teahouse when we witnessed an act of robbery.
We were walking along St. Paul Street. I was
just talking to Reshmi about how dangerous St. Paul Street is during the night time. I
told her about the events happened on that street. The next moment we heard
some screaming for HELP!
I turned back and started walking to check
what was going on, and then suddenly a girl who was running away with a bag bumped
into my friend Calvin. The bag fell onto the footpath. Another girl who was the
victim came running behind her she picked up her bag. I grabbed robber's jacket
with one hand and with other hand I got my cellphone to call the cops. In
meantime we were joined by other people who also heard the scream.
The thief took her Jacket off that I was
holding and tried to run away. We saw a car passing by, people inside the car opened
the passenger door for her. But the other people nearby wouldn’t let her
run away and caught her. The car went away but came back again after one minute
and once again the girl tried to run away but again people didn't let her go. I
was still talking on the phone with the police. Police wanted me to describe
the appearance of the girl. I gave the phone to another witness and I saw the
thief running to AUT Campus. But she couldn't go any further as the gates were
locked and so came back. By this time we had the AUT Security with us. At that
time I gave the Jacket back to her. She was crying. She told my friend
Calvin, those guys in the car made her take the bag. She also said they would
make her kill herself. Calvin said to her, if what you have said to us is true then
police will help you. Running away will not help you. When I looked at her she
was scared and crying. Calvin told her, “You will be fine, if everything you
told us is true tell the police, they will help you, and protect you. You will
be safe.
The police also wanted to talk to the thief on the phone. After she finishes talking to the police, I asked her, Do you need water? She didn't reply. But I still went and bought water for her from a convenience store. When I was returned most of the people were going back home, some of them even saw me carrying a bottle and I told them I was taking this water for her.
“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your
enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27”
“And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least
of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” Mathew 1o:42
Calvin & I along with AUT security guards were waiting for the police to arrive. I talked to the victim and told her and her friend how dangerous St. Paul Street is at night time. They are not many people on the street to help you. And you were lucky to get your things back; actually I wanted to tell her how God helped her in this situation. But I didn't know how to!
At the same time Calvin was talking to the thief and she said, look at them (the victim & her friend) they have everything, iPhone, money, etc., I don't have anything. Even you (Calvin) have a nice leather jacket. (He was wearing a new leather jacket that night) from that point; Calvin understood another thing about her intention when she attempted the robbery. She did need money. He asked her, “Are you a Kiwi?” She nodded. He said, “Then you should have better treatment then us!” Calvin told her, “We are Asians, immigrants, or international student; we work hard to earn every single coin for all these things” Of course not every single Asian is as hard working as that, but his point was actually to tell her that even if you got nothing, you still shouldn’t steal. She ranted, “I can’t even get a job! Every time I get anything, people just take it away from Me.”, Calvin asked. “Even your family?”
She sat silently on the edge of the AUT Art
& Design building. But from that conversation we understood the complex background
of that thief. Calvin told the victim But if you steal from her, she will not
able to communicate with her family back in her country, and most of us young
Asians are here for study, we are alone here. If you steal her phone, you might
steal her only possession. And if you continue stealing from anyone, what will
they have left? What would they have? Do you want everyone to be like you? I’m
sure you don’t want that right?” She didn’t answer but her expression showed
she agreed. Calvin told her that nice his leather jacket is Fake. She burst out
a giggle, which was beautiful, it’s a beautiful scene when you see people burst
out with a smile or giggle after a long time of crying.
The police now arrived at the incident some
15-20 minutes after the phone call. The lady officer went to the thief and talked
to her for a while. She took her inside the car and we waited for another
police car to arrive to take the victim & her friend safely back home.
Later at Hulucat, Calvin told me he remembered
the song "People need the Lord" by Steve Green
Every day they pass me by,
I can see it in their eye.
Empty people filled with care,
Headed who knows where?
On they go through private pain,
Living fear to fear.
Laughter hides their silent cries,
Only Jesus hears.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize --people need the Lord?
We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right.
What would be too great a cost
For sharing life with one who's lost?
Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear.
They must hear the words of life
Only we can share.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize that we must give our lives,
For people need the Lord.
People need the Lord.
I can see it in their eye.
Empty people filled with care,
Headed who knows where?
On they go through private pain,
Living fear to fear.
Laughter hides their silent cries,
Only Jesus hears.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize --people need the Lord?
We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right.
What would be too great a cost
For sharing life with one who's lost?
Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear.
They must hear the words of life
Only we can share.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize that we must give our lives,
For people need the Lord.
People need the Lord.
Bush Walk @ Cascade Falls
It's Summer Time! Enjoy the cool breeze out in Waitakere's as
you walk into the bushes into the largest Kauri forest in Auckland Region
Cascade Kauri is located in the northern part of the Waitakere Ranges and offer great places to explore, See beautiful great kauri trees
These photos are from the Montana Heritage Trail - an 8 km track that provides access to the largest remaining stand of great kauri in Auckland region.
Remember to clean your shoes as you enter the walking tracks to protect giant kauri trees from dying
Tramline track used by Watercare services for the maintenance of the Waitakere Reservoir
Cascade Falls: You won't be able to view or see the falls. This is the closet you can get to the falls
The Track is 15 mins long. It is just before the second bridge on the Auckland City Trail, you will see the short side track directing you to Cascade falls
Do remember to bring your swim gears if you want to swim.
A gum from the Koru
Looking down the Waitakere dam
Waitakere Dam, Auckland City's main water supply
A Face on the tree
REMEMBER TO GET THE MAP FROM THE ARATAKI VISITOR CENTRE
BEFORE YOU WALK ON THIS TRACK
This track is also the part of the 3 Day Hillary Trail
Helping Hand
On the 10th January 2012, I was waiting for almost twenty minutes at the bus stop at Botany Town Centre to transfer to a bus that went to East Tamaki Heights. There was no sign of a bus. I was bored and kept looking at my phone for the bus timetable. Suddenly a dear old Chinese lady aged 75-80 years old came to me with a paper that had some telephone number written on it. At first I didn't understand what she was saying to me because she was speaking in Mandarin or Cantonese. But then I tried to listen more clearly, and I heard the English word 'Taxi'. I understood she wanted me to call the taxi. I called the number. Just as the phone was ringing, I saw my bus arriving at the bus stop. However, the time was 12:55PM and I was worried that I might be late for my 2:00PM appointment. And if I missed this bus I would have to wait for another 15-20 minutes as the bus frequency in East Auckland is very low.
But still I thought I should help her first and then take the bus. I had to wait a few minutes before the operator answered my call.
The operator on the other end told me that there were no taxis available in the area. In the meantime the bus left, and I thought to myself that it’s ok; I can just get another bus. I told the lady that there are no taxis available.
She went back to her seat. I looked around for any convenience stores or NZ Post shops from where I could help her to get a taxi. After a while I went to back to her and told her that we can go to the bank and ask for help.
In the bank, the lady told me that there was a taxi stand right across the street in front of the Starbucks cafe. I took the lady to the stand. I saw the 0800 number for the Taxi service. I called that number and again I had a negative reply from the operator. But she gave me the number of another taxi operator. I called them and they said they will send the taxi in 5 minutes. I told the lady that I will wait until the taxi picks her up, but by then it was almost 1:10 PM.
Eventually a taxi arrived but it was not the one I called, and she decided to take that taxi instead. I helped her with the bags. As I was walking back to the bus stop I saw the taxi I called. I immediately went to the taxi driver and told him that I was sorry but the old lady took another cab and went, and that I was just helping her. He said its ok.
I went back to my bus stop and I finally got my bus. I reached East Tamaki in 10 minutes which was 30 minutes before the actual appointment time.
I was so glad that I helped the lady and didn't leave her all alone at the bus stop and also able to help the old lady despite of the language problem.
Thank You Lord so much for giving me servant heart to help people in need and helping me to understand people even though there have been language barriers.
But still I thought I should help her first and then take the bus. I had to wait a few minutes before the operator answered my call.
The operator on the other end told me that there were no taxis available in the area. In the meantime the bus left, and I thought to myself that it’s ok; I can just get another bus. I told the lady that there are no taxis available.
She went back to her seat. I looked around for any convenience stores or NZ Post shops from where I could help her to get a taxi. After a while I went to back to her and told her that we can go to the bank and ask for help.
In the bank, the lady told me that there was a taxi stand right across the street in front of the Starbucks cafe. I took the lady to the stand. I saw the 0800 number for the Taxi service. I called that number and again I had a negative reply from the operator. But she gave me the number of another taxi operator. I called them and they said they will send the taxi in 5 minutes. I told the lady that I will wait until the taxi picks her up, but by then it was almost 1:10 PM.
Eventually a taxi arrived but it was not the one I called, and she decided to take that taxi instead. I helped her with the bags. As I was walking back to the bus stop I saw the taxi I called. I immediately went to the taxi driver and told him that I was sorry but the old lady took another cab and went, and that I was just helping her. He said its ok.
I went back to my bus stop and I finally got my bus. I reached East Tamaki in 10 minutes which was 30 minutes before the actual appointment time.
I was so glad that I helped the lady and didn't leave her all alone at the bus stop and also able to help the old lady despite of the language problem.
Thank You Lord so much for giving me servant heart to help people in need and helping me to understand people even though there have been language barriers.
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