Smeagol

After getting lost because Google Maps Directions just plum lied to me, I made it to the zoo this morning. Wellington Zoo's pretty little and the weather was a bit rubbish so a lot of the animals were hiding out of sight. Did manage to see, amongst others, the sun bears, porcupines, giraffes, kangaroos and wallabys though. As well as the red panda despite it's best efforts.

Because I had got in for free, and the weather was rubbish, I treated myself to a cab to the Weta Cave, which would have otherwise been an hour plus' walk. This is the visual effects/props company that is associated with Peter Jackson and did a lot of work on LOTR, King Kong, Master and Commander and some other films. It's in a place called Miramar which houses whole expanses of warehouses involved in the film industry, and the Park Road post production house which looks pretty bitching. According to my informative taxi driver, Peter Jackson has done a lot for the community of Miramar. I've decided not to do an organised LOTR tour, because one of the selling features is the Weta Cave, which I've just been to, and apparently the LOTR film locations aren't that close to the film scenes and also years have passed since filming has taken place. Tomorrow though I intend to go to the Botanics and possibly also a wander up Mt. Victoria which has signs directing to some film locations. So I'm sorta conducting my own LOTR tour.

Managed to walk back from the Cave without getting lost and have since done a load of washing. Going to meet Ralph at 5 and he's rounding up the troops for a night on the Wellington tiles. I'm not sure what to expect...