Car Broke Down In Cheviot

160909-1030pm

Our car broke down and we stayed in a motel because there isn't any backpackers around. We are stucked in the small town- Cheviot. This motel is nice and big. There are 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, living room with tv. It gives me a very nice and relaxing feeling. Due to this incident, I gotta packed my stuffs. I gotta throw away the unwanted stuffs. Now i'm exactly like a backpacker with only 2 bags. Hehe..hopefully there's a job for me in Christchurch. Praise God!!

An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

Abel Tasman

150908-1040am

Finally i'm in Abel Tasman. A place which is not my main priority. Hence, it's beautiful and magnifiecient. The fog covers the mountains in the morning. As the sun rise now, it is slowly move and vanished (fog). Here is quiet and not many houses. Only a couple of it. The water of the sea is clear. While i'm sitting on a bench, birds flying towards me. Maybe they thought i have food for them. The creation of God is so wonderful! When the sun shines onto the sea, the reflection makes it into a sparkling diamond. And the birds are still expectingg food from me..The birds get near to me, only a feet away. Cars starting to driving into the town, one at each time. And later i'm going to take a boat to the centre of Abel Tasman. It costs me NZD48 (return). I will need to walk for 2 hours and then, they will drive us back to the initial venue where we departed. Now I'm just couldn't wait for the wonders work of God..

An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

Nelson

120908

Life is good sitting on a bench in a windy and chilling weather with the bright sunshine. Looking at the small town. People having their gathering and drink. Nelson is a beautiful town.

An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

Sealord...

I've started working in Sealord in Nelson since a week ago. It's easy job and the wages is good. However, today, I was informed that the season is going to end soon (this coming friday). Again, i gotta find a job AGAIN...

An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

Franz Josef

A bit tired today as i went to Franz Josef. More info can be found here. www.franzjosefglacier.com I've paid NZD140 for the all day trip. It was worth it as all things are included ; shoes, socks, jackt and etc. Nice view. The whole place is covered by ice formed in hundreds years. It was unexpected because at first, i was thinking it will be the same as Tongariro Crossing; the level of tiredness. However, it was a bit easy and relax.

So tomorrow we will depart from here to don't know what place... I will try to post tomorrow then..

An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

South Island

The few days i went to several places in South Island. I went to Lake Tekapo, Queenstown, Milford Sound and monay more. Now I', at Montrose Backpackers in Franz Josef. Later i'm going to watch glow worms FREE of charge.. It's only 10 minutes walking distance. So u guys don't borther to watch glow worms in Waitomo..Besides, the internet is FREE here during winter.

I have too many best SHOT that Jaden took the other day. When i'm free, i will post some too.

An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

Couch Surfing...

I've try another couchsurfing. I've stayed in Sarsha's house in Wellington for 2 days. I am the first surfer for stay at her house. She is a bit 'blur'because she doesn't know what she gotta do. Her family members were very friendly and they cooked us a dinner. I've just love it... and we cooked for them as well...Then in Suddon for a day (yesterday). We've stayed in Angie's house. She is used to become a host. She is friendly too and i've learnt a lot from her hubby. we chat about his job. He's really professional in his work. And now (today) in Craig's house. We only informed Craig at 3pm that we need a place to stay and he already replied us and now i'm in his house. Wonderful guy! He's singer in Christchurch. He trust us. He just left the house with us and he went out.Tomorrow, probably i'm going to watch his performance in a pub.

Another special thing.....tomorrow, we are going to ski in Mt. Hutt. Besides tomorrow is also Winston's birthday!!! We are going to make him to treat us a dinner...I'm just happy for that..kakkakaka....



An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

3rd days leaving Te Puke

I stayed in Rotorua for 2 days since Monday. This is my 2nd time staying in a Couch Surfing's member. I've stayed in Lorraine's house, Rotorua this time. She and her husband were friendly. Her house is fascinating. Well, i was so surprised that her trust on me is so great. She gave us their house key and there was no one in the house at all. I don't think it will happened in Malaysia.

Lorraine's Living Room



Night Scene at Lorraine's House

She has 2 cats, 3 horses, 5 hens, cattles and i don't know...hahaha... but i do know that one of the horse is called Zack. He was not afraid of people.

Zack- the horse

I went to quite some place in Rotorua. Hell's Gate was the first one. However i didn't enter as the fees was a bit too expensive; NZD70 for mud spa and thermal spa. Anyway, i did took some pictures.

Instead of Hell's, i went to Polynesian Spa. It is one of the top 10 spa. Nothing much special except it was smelly (sulphur) and hot. Opps, it was indeed special..hahhaa

Then, i head up to take a ride on the cable car. I've played 'The Luge'. It was great. I like it very much. However, my suggestion is book your package in I-Site. It was cheaper compare to the original ticket booth.

At night, my buddies and me cooked a heavy meal for my host- Lorraine and John.

Wai-O-Tapu


And now, i am at Taupo. I did nothing today. Just a lay day for me. Tomorrow morning gotta go to National Park. A day after tomorrow i'm going to skiing.

Yahoo......

An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

Valentines, Tauranga

One more day to go and i'm going to leave Te Puke. I hope this is the finale and i wouldn't be back here. Yesterday I've already confirmed goibg back to Malaysia on 4th Nov 2008. I only need to pay AUD61 for the processing fees. Lucky me as i do not need to pay hundreds for this.

Yesterday i went for dinner at Valentines in Tauranga with my buddies- Jaden, Louis and Winston. The food is only so-so. Not really that superb but is fine to try once. I've tried thrice :) The best part is if there is a birthday promotion; 3 + 1. So i only pay the price of 3 pax.

An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

Special Day...

Today was my last day working in Trevelyan Packhouse and also the opening ceremony of Olympic in Beijing. It was spectacular and extraordinary. Bravo to you China...and it is my BIRTHDAY too...hahaha...while waiting for the show, i've baked a banana cake and i helped Jaden to bake butter a.k.a cheese cake. Luckily it was successful.

Besides, I saw Ong Beng Hee in Bayfair, Mt Mauganui. He came for a competition. He is thin yet good looking. I took a picture with him though.

An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

One more day to go...

One more day to go, and it's my final day in Trevelyan Packhouse. That's also my birthday's eve. We are going to Tauranga's Valentine for buffet dinner on Saturday. I have too many things to do tomorrow. I wanna watch Olympic's opening ceremony and pack my stuffs before leaving. A bit sad to leave this place- Te Puke; my friends and fellow collegues.

An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

Hamilton and Coromandel

Last Friday i went to Hamilton to do my visa extension and I've already got the replied. It was approved. When i was there, the whole North Island was having a big storm. The wind was so strong that many trees are on the road and there was several small landslide along the road too. I stayed at one of my CouchSurfing's member house. It was fascinating. Eventhought it was away too far from the town centre but i've experienced a different way of living. By the way, her name is Carol. What i highly impressed about her was she had many pets; 3 cats, 3 dogs, 2 pigs, peacocks, chickens, cows, sheeps and ducks. It was like a mini zoo.

The next day, i went to Caromandel for the Catheral Cove. I walked nearly half an hour for the journey. It was nothing much to see except the cove itself. I was in an awe because i was surrounding by 'huge' stone and in front of me is the big sea with the big wave. I was a bit scary at that time though.

My last journey was Hot Water Beach. This place is interesting. You can dig a hole on the beach and there will be natural hot water and we can just lie in there and relax. Unfortunately, by the time i reached there, it was already high tide. So i couldn't cross over to the beach.

An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

Chocolate Cake

I woke up at 6am and bake chocolate cake. Besides, nothing much i do. One whole day watch TVB drama. Um... tomorrow gotta work again. 3 more weeks i need to start my travel journey again.. Going to South Island soon...

Chocolate Cake Resipe
175g butter softened
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 3/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup cocoa2 cups standard plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup milk
*chocolate icing or icing sugar (optional)

1. Cream butter, vanilla essence and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Sift cocoa, flour and baking powder together. Add to creamed mixture alterbately with
milk.
4. Pour mixture into a greased and lined 22cm round cake tin.
5. Bake at 180 celsius degrees for 30 minutes or until springs back when lightly touched.
6. Leave in tin for 10 minutes before turning out unto a wire rack.
7. When cold, ice with chocolate icing or dust with icing sugar if wished.

*this recipe is from Edmond CookBook*

Mt Maunganui

This place i went for many times and long time ago. There is a small hill which can walk up to the top and see the whole scenery of Mt Maunganui. It's beatiful expecially when it's sunny. There is a shop which sell ice-cream is very popular. The cone is freshly bake.










An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

Cakes...

for the past few weeks. I done couple of things. I had bought plenty of clothes...do some baking...hahha....i've done banana cake and chocolate cake. So you guys can have the recipe from the below...but due to copyright..i think i gotta mentioned the chef name... :)... I think his name is be Edmond...He's recipe book is quite popular in NZ. Most of the household will own one book. So you guys better go and grab one if you wanna cook simple yet great food..

An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

INTERNET, please FASTER

arggghh...connection for the internet too slow!!! I wonder what is NZ doing, not an IT country. So to you all who wanna come to NZ, please be prepared that technology is not that good in NZ. The normal rate for internet connection here is NZD6/hour. Damn expensive...

Today i work till 4.30pm. Actually i'm supposed to work till 6pm but due to unforeseen circumstances, i've knocked off at 4.30pm. NO MONEY again..

Haiz, i've gotta plan for the trip again. One month time, then i need to leave this place, Te Puke and move forward to the South Island. What i wanna do there? NO IDEA... totally blank...

An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

Updates...New pair of shoes

Just a recap of what i have done during these few weeks:

I've finished my kiwi packing season in early June. This is my starting of my travel itenary. I went to Hamilton. I reached there at night but i couldn't find any accomodation because there is a big event there; something associates with Horticultural. Haiz, i've call several backpackers but still can't get any. However at last i found one which is very far frm town but juts opposite Hamilton Garden.

The next day, i am heading to Auckland and stay there for two days. I went to the 'gay' bar which is recommended by a lady whom i met at Hamilton. Nice experience indeed. After Auckland, i'm going to the Bay of Island- see the largest tree in NZ and Cape Reinga. Cool place but it was a raining day. So i couldn't see the best scenery. Cape is the only place whereby Tasman Sea's wave and Pacific Ocean's wave meet together. Kinda cool and is the most north part of NZ.

Um...after several days without work, i think about the money i spent and decided to find a job (hehe.. budget constraints). No job at all and i tried to contact my previous packhouse- Trevelyan. I was told no job at the moment but i can move back there. Luck is on my side, i've got work after a day rest in Te Puke.

TODAY
Work finished at 2pm. I went to Bayfair, The Mount. I bought cheap stuffs- a pair of shoes, underwears, thermal socks. Original price for the shoes is NZD39.90. i think because of 2nd last pair, the price reduced to NZD27.00. And now have winter discount, so is only NZD21++. Underwears (7 pcs) cheap quality but is only NZD8 after discount per box. Thermal socks is only NZD2.01 after discount. Original price is NZD 2.99. And i bought a jacket in K Mart few days back. Original price was NZd79.90. After discount is only NZD55.00.

So my advice is if you wanna buy winter clothings, probably you can buy during near winter. Sometimes have cheap stuffs available. So gotta do shopping regularly. My friends just bought a sleeping bag which can last during winter for only NZD 70 BUT buy 1 get 1 FREE. Thus, only NZD35 each. Cool right...

Tomorrow i wanna go to Tauranga. Shopping for grocery......

Night...

An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

Politics

I was reading Mahathir, Teresa Kok and Hannah Yeoh's blog since i reached New Zealand. From their blogs, i can predict something will be gonna change when i'm back to my country. However, i have something in mind which troubled me. I wonder why Mahathir still can't leave politics eventhough he official resigned from his post as Malaysia's Prime Minister. I doubt there must a reason that MUST keep him bugging the goverment.

Reason Mahathir keep attacking Abdullah Badawi:
1) Abdullah didn't listen and follow to Mahathir's instruction.
2) Mahathir needs someone to replace Abdullah so that he will fleed from Lingam's case.
3) Most of Mahathir & friends businesses are stopped by Abdullah.

Come on, if Mahathir keep in attacking the current goverment (so called BN), PAKATAN will easily win over people hearts. Anyhow, this is how i like it to be. For my opinion, our current BN government is bad. They lacks of ideas to improve our country to become better. I think most of the poticians do not have a good qualifications compare to PAKATAN. Anwar was a lecturer in HARVARD. Teresa obtained two degrees and one master in philosophy. I wonder what BN people have except Khairy (proud attitude).

Sometimes i really wonder, Malaysian always say wanna CHANGE but they themselves do not wanna change. When it is polling time, ask to give a vot to change, they will say, come on nothing can be change. It has been like this for the past decade. Um... how to change if we, as a voter can't even change the mentality.

Bravo to ex-opposition (DAP-KEADILAN-PAS), you've gained 4 states gives most of our GDP. For me, Selangor will be the first state that everyone will be looking at. Well, how it will develop without BN. Economy? Lifestyle? Public safety? Um... and also signboard.

Malaysia signboard is very bad. It always lead us to the highway which we need to pay. Or else, it will show till half way. Come on, BN do something before PAKATAN did (you see, i given you tips now. Hahhahaha...)

Till now....
An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

Life~~

Haiz..today im working again as normal. However, i heard that the kiwi season is going to end soon. Maybe the 2nd week of June. Now i don't know where i wanna go. We've have plan to travel to Auckland then to South Island if there's isn't any kiwi-repacking work for us.

Everyday i was thinking whether am i doing a good move to ask my friends to NZ. Maybe if i didn't ask them to join me, they might have a better life back in Malaysia. Well, there must be good and bad. Good is they can explore and learn new things- same goes to me. On the other hand, from what we calculated last time way back in Malaysia, the money that we earn is not as much as we expected. And the worse is when we live together, all our bad habits can be 'seen' (especially mine). I think i really have a problem to stay with many people. But that's all right. Hopefully, I will try to control so that it will last till the end of our trip. Hehehe...
This trip really give me a lot of changes; my mindset, my next step in my life, what i wanna achieve in the near future and etc.

Sometimes i ponder what is life going to be in the future? Well, is it waiting for the end-time? How should i make my life looks colourful. I really a bit pissed off here in NZ. I don't know y? Haiz....again im chatting with my cousin and i think everyone have their own problems...

Problems......why don't you go away....

However, i'm waiting for another trip to Bangkok. It will be on April- Songkran Festival. I'll be going with my buddies- TEH, GUANG and CARL. I can't wait for the trip now..hehehe


An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand

Hobitton- Matamata

Last Saturday I went to Matamata. A place where it is famous for its location scene for Hobitton-LOTR. I paid NZD58 for viewing the scene (it is only a sheep farm) and sheep farm. It hard to say worth it or not. The place is huge but the place for viewing is very small. No wonder some say is not worth it. Whether worth it or not, i still have to go because of the LOTR. However, for my opinion, it's still worth it because this is the only scene where Hobbit is shot and no where else (i think so, hehehehe...). The scenery is beautiful. There's a big tree, small lake, hill, plenty of sheeps (approximately 6,000 sheeps), and many more. The trip is a bit tired but the most tired person is Ah Teh. He gotta drive early in the morning. We only slept for 4 hours.So during the journey it was completely silence. Maybe if there's a mosquito in the car, we can also hear the buzzing. There's nothing much in Matamata. There are only 3 tourist attraction places. The Hobbiton is one of them. Second is wasterfall and a museum. Eventhough it's small town, we had a great day.


An experience that I encountered @ New Zealand