Supreme Seafarers coffee shop: off the beaten path

Despite being located in Britomart Place, the transportation hub in downtown Auckland, Supreme Seafarers requires a determined mind to find.

The main thoroughfare that leads away from the transportation building of Britomart Station has a multitude of eateries, coffee shops, and other retail spaces on either side.  Supreme Seafarers is on Tyler Street, which runs parallel on the waterfront-side to the plaza walkway.  Its relatively small shop sign makes it even more difficult to spot from a distance.

However, once you have arrived there, you're in for a real treat.  Please read below for a summary of this coffee shop.

Overall grade:  5.0/5.0

Unique charms:

• Minimalist decor featuring light-coloured wooden stools (both low and high) paired with round metal tables (brass-alloy surfaces?), high ceiling with exposed cables and pipes, floor-to-ceiling windows and glass main door
• Coffees presented on trays with information leaflets about the origins of the beans and the way they were roasted
• FREE brewed coffee refills!!!

A very small sign, be on the lookout for it!

When I was done with this mug, the kind lady asked if I'd like a refill.  Of course!

Information leaflet with diagrams about the beans' origin and how they were roasted

A clean, minimalist appearance of the location.  I highly recommend this place!

Auckland War Memorial Museum: a place for history enthusiasts

My fondest non-food, non-wine related experience of the trip to Auckland is the day I spent at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

What astounded me most about the place is the friendliness of the staff, who also encourage you to take photos.  Never before have I been to a museum like that, as most want to prevent light damages to the artefacts from camera flashes and also want to keep certain popular exhibits "secret".

If you ever do visit Auckland, be sure to spend at least a day in this 3-storey museum.  It is quite large and has extensive collections on natural history, New Zealand history and a war memorial.  You'll need plenty of time to thoroughly enjoy it all.

Auckland War Memorial Museum is located on top of a hill

As I came to learn from this museum, the phrase "Kia ora" means multiple different things - not only "welcome".

A pristine example of Kiribati armour.  They are made from pufferfish and woven coconut fibre.

The curators even encourage you to witness and document them at work!

The national animal symbol of New Zealand

Every description is bilingual

A cute folklore of why the brave and selfless kiwi no longer can fly.

A Buddha statue with Greco features from the Middle-East.  Maybe every religion is worshiping the one same deity, but in different forms.  Either that or there are multiple deities who form the Truth.  Take your pick.

"For an undivided country"

The fighter plane that protected Britain

There is a button that you can press to start the Spitfire's engine.  Needless to say, every boy (and boy-at-heart) compulsively pressed it --- repeatedly!

A WWII Stengun team

May it be so!

My favourite motto in Latin is also the RNZAF motto.

"RAT-TAT-TAT!!"  As you walk through reproduction trenches and round a corner, this machine gun nest is what you encounter.

Miserable living conditions of soldiers during WWI.

Zealandia: the personification of New Zealand

As a Chinese-Thai, viewing this fighter plane gives me the chills.

Stepping back in time: Auckland in 1866.

Navy band