Eagles nest and exploring the city

I checked into my accommodation earlier today, the Eagles Nest Backpackers located on the main street Victoria Street in the heart of the city. I choose to stay at this back packer accommodation as it is characteristic of youth tourism practices, providing a cheap place to stay. It was also appealing due to its central location so it was easy to get around and explore the city and it provided an avenue to stay with and meet other like minded tourists which plays a big part in the youth travel experience in terms of the relationships they form being of high importance.

Once settled in I decided to head out and explore the city and the sights it had to offer.

This represents my first interaction with Hamilton and highlights this phenomenon of collecting places. Collecting places is highly evident among youth tourists, look at any blog or social networking site and they are saturated with the images of young tourists in exotic, exciting locations taking part in adventurous activities they have undertaken on their travels. These photos represent a form of collection, with the main use of these photos/videos, souvenir's, language etc. is to be put on display back home and act as a form of visual and physical proof. I have framed Hamilton as containing a set of valuable experiences and knowledge which i aim to set out and collect with the goal of accumulating cultural capital. Cultural capital in turn is converted to narrate new identities (both public and personal) and act as a marker of difference in class, social and economic identities.

My interaction with Hamilton in terms of photos, experience's and souvenir's allows me to collect the place, it in a sense allows me to collect Hamilton's experiences and knowledge on offer and tick it off my list. This gained cultural capital from my time in Hamilton will further allow me to distinguish myself from others based on my tourism consumption practices and can provide me a higher degree of class and social based identity on my return, due to my valued experiences and knowledge (cultural capital) collected on my travel's. This search for cultural capital in the tourist experience which can be beneficial to the tourist upon return plays a role in dictating the tourist experience in terms of places to travel and activities to partake in, all with the fundamental quest for cultural capital in mind.

Battle of the Cities

I leave Auckland early this morning eager to reach my new destination, Hamilton or "Hamiltron city of the future". It seems Aucklander's however don't share my same enthusiasm instead making suggestions to bypass Hamilton altogether and continue on my journey. Regardless with my enthusiasm levels intact and excitement levels high to experience this "true" rural New Zealand city i set on my way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEH9MYOqiCY&feature+related

(video of Hamilton City)

Now at the halfway mark of my trip i have decided to base myself in Hamilton for around a week, in which time i hope to experience the "real" Hamilton and the surrounding areas which the city markets itself as the perfect base to be located. Centeral North Island Ski fields a couple hours drive to the South, flanked by the world class waves of Raglan, the stunning beaches of the Coromandel to its East and just a short drive to Auckland if you really have to. It seems to me the feeling between the two city's is mutual.

As i drive into Hamilton i am met with this low lying fog like an image straight out of the lord of rings, i am later told fog is charcetrisitc of the Waikato region. Fog or no fog i am glad to be in Hamilton and look forward to my following week here.

Arrival

Kia Ora, Gidday, Hi my name is Luke Desforges I work at Sheffield University and have a background in geography and education. I have decided to take 2 months out of work at the university in order to travel "down under" to further my research into youth tourist culture and this quest for cultural capital.



I am planning to spend a month in Australia starting in Perth making my way to Sydney where I plan to head up the East Coast of Australia, from there I will fly out to Auckland/ New Zealand where I will travel down the North Island via Hamilton, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington and on to the beautiful South Island for my final week before heading back home.



My blog is very much centred on youth and this phenomenon of "collecting places" for the purpose of accumulation of cultural capital which if collected correctly can be displayed and of value back in the "real" world. As such I will strive throughout my trip to experience my journeys through the eyes of a some what younger tourist and search for this "authentic" youth tourist experience in order to draw greater insights into this exciting area of tourism.



Enjoy.