Winter starts today!

A friend complaint that I only blog twice a month! Therefore, let me blog a bit of my current adventure. I'm Taupo now and the weather is getting colder each day. Lake taupo is enormous, it is as big as Singapore. Winter starts today, earlier than expected! OMG, I dont want to spend winter here.. it's freaking cold.

I really want to go for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing Expedition but the weather is really bad these few days.. The condition of the track is too dangerous to hike. So, I dont think I m able to do it this time. So sad .. and I need to leave Taupo soon because I have to fly from Auckland to Melbourne on 13 May. Incomplete Mission!

Throwing my stuff one by one along the way ..

As most of you know that I have been travelling since 17 April, hopping from town to town, loading bags from bus to bus, packing and unpacking bag almost everyday. And this is the reason I didnt blog much these days. I promise that I will blog more pictures and interesting stories once I'm done with my "around NZ in 33 days".
Honestly, I am starting to get tired of my travels. loading and unloading bags from ferry and buses, wandering around the town to look for the hostel and getting lost at the bus station with the heavy daypack and backpack on my shoulders. Dont expect the budget hostels to have lift, so climbing up the stairs and steep road are part of the backpacker's life.
Since I started travelling, I have been throwing my clothes, wanted and unwanted along the way. I even got to the point that I almost throw my NZ lonely planet, but luckily I didnt because it's my travel guide! haha ..
The weather is getting colder each day, there were times that I nearly wanted to buy more thick clothes but when I thought about my heavy backpack, I gave up! I MUST travel LIGHT!

Summer & Autumn

My initial plan was to spend summer in NZ but things changed and I had spent my summer and going to spend my autumn here.

NZ is a fascinating country but I love Malaysia, I definitely will come back to Malaysia before winter.

Finally, I had quit my job in the casino and my travel journey will start on 10 April 08. My journey will begin from Christchurch – Kaikoura – Nelson – Greymouth ………

I will stay one night at Kaikoura, Adelphi Lodge.

It’s time to leave Christchurch, the place that I had spent more than 4 months …It was pretty sad to leave this place but I know I have to leave. That's what I am here for, to travel..

Look, Golden Kiwifruit!

I never had a golden kiwifruit in Malaysia. The taste is better than the normal green kiwifruit, and of course better taste comes with a higher price ;). It’s more expensive than normal green kiwifruit.

Botanic Garden, Christchurch

• Shadow of the angels

• Roses

Lunch at Tulsi -26-February-08-

This is the 3^rd time I have been to this Indian restaurant, Tulsi, it’s just few steps away from the Coachman Backpackers. This is the cheapest Indian food I can find in New Zealand and the taste is really good too. The food reminds me of the “Nasi Kandar” in Malaysia. I miss hot and spicy food. :P

~Tulsi Restaurant~

~Lamb Vindaloo~

~Naan~

Not Enough!!! ``24-February-2008``

Nothing seems to have enough..

I don’t have enough time to travel, not enough sleep .. not enough time to read .. and not enough time to plan my travel ..

So many places to go, so many books, but so little time ...

Few days ago, I postponed my flight departure date going back to Malaysia to April 2008. If possible I don’t want to postpone the date again but I have a feeling that I need to change it for the 2^nd time.

Preparing to hit the road --23rd February 2008--

I had finally booked Magic Bus (Navigator Passes), I had a bad experience with the unhelpful and unfriendly staff in YHA, Christchurch City Central. YHA is one of the authorize agent to sell Magic Bus ticket. I ended up going to the office 3 times which I can settle everything in ONE visit. The lady at the YHA reception counter did a mess with my booking and never did she provide the required details to me. That is the important details I as a customer should know(Online Login Id and PIN!) I did ask her during my 2^nd visit to YHA and she told me that I need to obtain the PIN myself through the magic bus website. I went to the cyber café and did what I have been told, there is no function available at the website where I can register myself and obtain the PIN.

Anyway, that’s my story with the YHA. It’s time to start planning my trip and I will be leaving Christchurch soon…. Or maybe not so soon…

Ruth & Nicholas’s wedding registration – 18 February 2008 –

A couple came to Coachman Backpackers and was looking for two witnesses for their wedding registration because they don’t know anyone in New Zealand.

Ruth is from Wales and Nicholas is from the States and they met in Italy. I don’t know how this can happen, I ended up becoming one of their guest. There were only 3 of us, my roommates Verena and Leelou became their wedding witnesses and I was helping them to video record the wonderful moment in their life.

Sometimes, life is just so unexpected and funny. Five of us in the group picture and each of us is living in the different part of the world and appears in their wedding. Ruth(Wales), Nicholas(U.S), Leelou(Australia), Verena(Germany) and Me(Malaysia).

Goodbye to Sue ** 18 February 2008**

I woke up a little bit early today to send Sue to the bus stop. She is going to Auckland to work and to learn English. I have been living this city for some time, making new friends and seeing them leaving this city. This is part of the traveler journey.

Today is another day that I waved and said goodbye to her and waited till the bus disappeared from sight.

Meeting people, becoming friends and travel together if we have the same ‘mission’. When times come, each and everyone us need to go to the way that we have to go ..

Last day at Thai Samurai-17 February 2008-

Today is my last day working for Thai Samurai. I really love working for this restaurant but I have only 10-12 working hours per week with them. It’s just too short and I wouldn’t be able to earn enough to start my travelling with the money that I get from this job. So, I have to quit this job and concentrate on the job at the Christchurch casino.

Goodbye to Emily ##15-January-2008##

Today Emily will leave for apple packing in Nelson. Suddenly, there is something missing. No more laughter and fun in the dorm room. Life becomes so quiet.

It’s Valentine Day! @14 February 2008@

Happy Valentine’s Day. I have to work until 2.30 am today. It’s just so difficult to work in the hospitality area, imagine it’s 2 am and yet I have to put a smile on my face and hide the tired and sleepy look when serving the meal to the customer.

Happy Chinese New Year *7-January-2008*

It’s Chinese New Year but it’s just like any other day in this city, no celebration, no holiday, no firecrackers. I found out from a Korean friend that they also celebrate new year on the same day as Chinese because they are using the lunar calendar too.

This is my first year being away from my family during this time of the year. And, I am not sure that there will be more years that I will be not in Malaysia during the festival. As usual, every year my relatives will ask me when am I going to get marry and this year I don’t have to answer this question ..

3 Challenging Part time Jobs - 3-February-2008 -

My working hours and working days are driving me crazy. The place that I am working opens until 3 am everyday so there were times that I need to work till 2.30 am. And the next morning, I will have to do my house keeping job without pay to exchange for accommodation. I had never worked so hard in my life before. No matter what, I will still choose to enjoy and treasure every single second I have in NZ because I know I will this place one day.
There is still something to see and experience in every job I do here. I don’t know that I required carrying 2 plates with food in 1 hand. They will carry every meal to customer by hand and no TRAY. My hands will be my tray. Here is the picture of me practising in my dorm. In real scenario, it’s a lot more difficult because the plates are hot and heavier due to the food.



I was just worried that the plates will fall. I did have some minor accident where the food just fell and rolled from the table to the floor, but it’s ok. Frankly, carrying so many plates with my hands is really hurting my poor fingers. Life is never easy! ;-)