Embassy Adventures

So...Wednesday was just a little bit interesting.

I caught a ride with W, the dad of the family that owns the vineyard where I am working, into central Auckland yesterday morning. My goal for the day was to successfully apply for a Thai tourist visa from the Royal Thai consulate in Auckland.

After printing off the forms I needed to fill out, getting my picture taken for some passport sized photos, and locating a post office, I set off to the consulate. Having written down the address and the level in the building, I found the spot alright, it was only a ten minute or so walk, and headed up to level five, taking the stairs, cuz I guess I try and stay healthy that way ;)

The stairwell was hot and stuffy, so by the time I got to level 5 I was a little sweaty. But to my alarm, I saw that the door was locked with a key pad. Okay. Well, that didn't go as planned. I headed back downstairs, thinking I'd take the elevator, thoroughly confused as to why the stairs which serve as the fire exit would be locked, I mean what if there was fire and you had to use them?

As I headed down the stairs, it quickly became obvious that all the doors were locked from my side of the stairwell. You could get into the stair well, but without a key or passcode, you were stuck.

Well.

What now?

I resolved to knock on the door until someone opened it. Thank goodness someone came along in a few minutes and opened it. "Hi, thank you! Yeah, sorry!" I blurted, "I tried to take the stairs, but then it was locked!"

And I scurried out the building. Behind me, the woman watched through the door, probably thinking I posed some kind of security threat. And on my way out, I took a look at the listings of the businesses in this building and where they were located--I hadn't looked on my way in because I knew where the consulate was.

But there, taped to the glass was a little announcement.

"The Royal Thai Consulate will be closed until January 13th"

It wasn't even open!! All that trouble and it wasn't even open.

I did manage to apply for a visa. After taking refuge in an internet cafe, sending a couple of emails and calling the embassy, I got all the information I needed to send my application in the mail to the embassy in Wellington. Now all I have to do is wait for a package to return.

After those adventures, I decided to hop on a ferry to near by Davenport and eat a picnic lunch there. drinking in the sight of Auckland's beautiful harbor.