I've been struck by the similarities between Auckland, NZ, and Vancouver, Canada. At the opposite ends of their own hemispheres, both cities are new, young metropolises roped in by distinct geography, separated by a border from their big brother, and a modern mecca for immigrants, especially from Asia.

It's also really windy and rains often.

What I'm trying to do now is figure out the equivalent neighborhoods from Vancouver here in Auckland. Ponsonby must be Kitsilano; Parnel is Yaletown; Davenport is Cole Harbor.

The one big difference between the two, however, is that greenspace in Vancouver is a dime a dozen. In Auckland, you've got to work to find a nice flat part for throwing a frisbee around in.