Helper Experience (1): Bridal Studio

28.11.2014

I am going to end my helper life in this bridal studio soon, Kylin image. The company, is the largest chinese bridal saloon in New Zealand. 

I have a great experience with them, different from ordinary working holiday life, i got the chance to learn how a professional bridal studio carry out their job. 

Recognizing the types of bridal dress was the first thing i get in touch with. Those dresses can be different in fabric materials, ornaments, shapes of the dress, skirt lenght, sleeve, and neck. For bridegroom, it is much more simple, just a set of western suit or vest with a bow tie or neck tie.

After the bride has picked her favorite dress, our professional stylish designer will make-up and set the hair for her. I have learned little make-up refining technique and also styling hair for the guy. I found some passion on that area, hope with this basic I can continue practising the skills.

That is the rough outline about my job. More importantly i met a group of nice people here. They treat me very well and look after me like their family. 

This is Joan, the photograher. We were taking our dinner on the car during exterior shotting.

Credit to the photographer, 亮大叔 (Liam)! @Below Zero Ice Bar.

We (Wendy, Liam, and me) when to the Below Zero Ice Bar @ Queenstown.

Playing Jenga during our free time.

My last luxury meal with them before i leave.. Steamboat time!!

• Speak up own opinion, confidently! •

• Cherish the beauty of every language •

Made in New Zealand

26.11.2014

This post was specially wrote to introduce the typical local stuffs in New Zealand. I will keep update this post when i discover something new! Cheers.

1. CookieTime

CookieTime shop @ Queenstown.

So far i only tried this original chocolate chunk cookie. I love this cookie, it was not too sweet and just nice for me. Taste it hot by oven it 10-15mins. My tea time favorite. (Visit it's factory at Templeton, Christchurch and you can buy cheaper cookies there.)

• Rating: 4/5

2. L&P Sour Lemon

It is a sour fizzy soft drink. If you are a soft drink lover, must try this in New Zealand. 

• Rating: 5/5

3. Whittaker's L&P White Chocolate

This white chocolate is special! It is so different from ordinary chocolate as you can feel the sparkling inside your mouth when u eat it.

• Rating: 4/5

4. Heartland Potato Chips

Heartland has few different tastes of potato chips, but I solely like it's southern salt favour, not too salty yet not tasteless. It makes me non-stop eating! 

• Rating: 5/5

Happy Monthiversary!

21.11.2014

Happy monthiversary dear New Zealand!

Time flies.. I had spent a month of my lifetime in New Zealand. It is a dream that the dream is come true. An amazing journey that would engrave on my memory forever.

Still remember those days before i left Malaysia, unexpectedly, friends and family send me a lot of wishes and presents. I cherish and heart it very much. This is my first time travel so far and so long, I bet i have made someone surprise as people see me to be a little flower that always being protected. Yet, I love explore and challenge my limits. I insist what i wished. 

I love my boy, the man of mine, miss him so much. He supported me 100% for pursueing my dream, do what I want. His action sometime make me doubt, is he just so willing to let me go? Together with him for about 4 years plus, he knows what going on in my mind and hope I can enjoy this wondeful journey fully. Ya, it is a journey that can grow both of us up and it is good for us.

Life in New Zealand, dragged me from a hustle bustle life into a free and relaxing world. Here, I have no responsibility and the sole concern is travelling. My stretched brain finally have the chance to relieve and absorb those little things happen around me. I start realise, the pass i was keep tensing up myself, narrow my attention into a single spot and makes me neglect more exciting stuff around me. 

I have poor memory and have no sense of direction, it is a big problem of mine as I am going to travel alone in this country. It is a starting for me, everything start from zero. I acknowledge my weaknesses and seek for true solution. Here, I learn how to live a life.

I have just got a notice from my boss that my job is going to end soon yet i did not expect to be such early. Plan can change at anytime. Step out from the comfort zone, life would not be fun if it is just goes so smoothly. I know I can face it and solve it, God give me the opportunity to know how far i can go.

Travelling, way to meet people as well as mixing culture and languages. The history of a place, the principle behind a machanism, I start lay my emphasis on it, is very fascinating.

Yes, my life in New Zealand, I must walk the way I am.

A Western Wedding Ceremony

11.11.2014

I just ended a wedding event at the Stoneridge Estate. It is my first time attending western style wedding, a pretty nice experience.

Stoneridge Estate, by its name, the manor is build with stone houses surrounded by beautiful garden.

The scenery outside the bride's house. There are grapes planting.

The following are the design inside the house. I am so greatful to have the chance to visit here.

I at their living room. The room got abit messy.. Hahah!

The bar counter.

Staircase up to the room.

The bride's room.

Nice decoration.

The groom. Looking for his bride?

Wedding rings.

Lovely flower.

The gloom is signing the wedding certificate.

Beautiful bride and the handsome bridegroom.

The wedding car outside the chapel.

This is Kevan, the driver. A very friendly and funny guy.

Rolls-Royce. Little 'Jeeves' is already 40 years old. Jeeves means servent in english. Kevin has another car named 'I do'. Awesome!

Lake Tekapo

10.11.2014

This scenary was taken up on the Mount John. The left is Lake Alexandre and the right is Lake Tekapo.

Today is the day i follow my colleagues to Lake Tekapo for taking pre-wedding photo. 

From Queenstown to Lake Tekapo, it takes around 3.5 hours. On the journey to Lake Tekapo, we passed throught Cromwell, a place famous with its stone fruit production. Maybe my next job would be there, summer coming! And I need to work under horticulture field for 3 months in order to extend my working visa. :(

Cromwell.

The scenery along the way.

Pre-wedding shooting. Michelle and her husband, they are very nice people.

We reach the Lake Tekapo! The view from a high hill.

Beside the Lake Tekapo, we need walk throught the stones road only can reach here.

Hahah.. Playing while working! Carrying tripod that attached with flashlight.

Dull ice flower (鲁冰花) is blossoming! 

Strong wave, u spot it?

The wind is very strong!

The Church of the Good Shepherd @ Lake Tekapo.

Lake Pukaki. Here i need to learn how to climb big stones! 

It is real cold there, but the bride still needed to bear it until the shooting end.

***** The Food Of The Place *****

1. Kohan Japanese Restaurant

The owner of the shop.

Salmon Don, take away and eat on the car in front of the Lake Tekapo. Must make reservation if not you need to wait long queue.

Tempura Udon.

This restaurant is operated by a japanese old couples and they only hire japanese staff. Their famous menu is Kohan Bento Set and Salmon Don. I have also tried their Tempura Udon before. All are really nice, the ingredients are fresh! Oishi ne!

• Rating: 4/5

2. Tekapo Thai Restaurant

I ordered take away for the dish Phat Thai, a stir-fried rice noodles in Thailand. It is delicious as i love hot and spicy food, mixed with their souce, the tofu and chopped roasted peanuts. Yum yum.. 

• Rating: 5/5

The Town of Queens

3.11.2014

Shivering.. the weather now is only 5°C! It is cold.. real cold.

I experienced a lot of my 'first time' in this little town named Queenstown. It is a very beautiful town, surrounded by snowcapped mountains. This scenary is just so amazing! 

It is snowing on the top of the mountain.

I am so greatful that i have the chance to join Kylin Image, a bridal studio, as a helper/assistant. The team of people is very friendly and caring. I wonder... maybe my past-life was a very good woman/man, that's why now i can get this kind of payback. Hahahah! 

My first job in New Zealand, with the friendly them! Explore the new photo shooting scene @ Historic Bridge.

Tricks or treats? On Halloween Day.

My new experience on the Halloween Day! From the top left: Zombie Elsa(Iris), Annabelle(Joan), Geisha(Wendy), The Saw(Liam亮大叔), and Me, the Chinese Doll. @ Remarkable Sweet Store, Arrowtown.

Morning market @ Remarkable Park.

The little cute bulldog. I think it has quite an age @ Queenstown Market.

This is Tim Wilson Gallery @ Queenstown. He is one of the leading landscape artist in New Zealand. His art can change along with the lightning. A must visit gallery, I am pretty sure you will amaze with his work!

I never thought of I will work in a bridal studio one day. I bet it will be a special piece of my life, get to learn how people prepare for wedding shooting session. We send our blessing to those loving couples by serving our very best to them, how meaningful it is! 

(p/s: this job makes me miss my boy a lot!! :_(  )

This is how the wedding photo being taken.

This fat cat crawl to our photo taking scene. It loves wedding dress a lot.

One of the wedding couples, they are Joan's friends. We are taking our lunch at Flame bar and grill, famous with its Ribs and Chips.

Maybe this photo is not obvious enough, but this couples already married for 30 years! They never take their wedding photo before and it is a surprise given by their daughter. Is very sweet! 

***** The Food Of The Place *****

1. Fergburger

It is the most famous burger in Queenstown and the only one in the world. Your trip in Queenstown will not be complete if u din't try this! The burger size is bigger than a face and half a portion is enough for a person unless you are a big eater. Long queue every hour! 

• Rating: 5/5 

2. The Flame

Yummy yummy... This is pork ribs and chips! 3 big pieces of ribs plus chips, the portion is big, but i can't stop eating until all is finish! It is really delicious and i love its chips, soft and crunchy! Just NZD15 for the lunch set.

• Rating: 5/5

3. Patagonia Chocolates

I only try their original hot chocolate, they are selling ice-cream too. The hot chocolate is thick, enjoy it during cold weather! 

• Rating: 4/5

4. Madam Woo

I miss Malaysia food so much and Madam Woo is the only one Malaysian-style restaurant in Queenstown. Ordered Char Kuey Teow and share with my friend as we being told that it would be in a big portion. 

Result: a long wait for the food, small portion not even enough for a person, and it taste sweet and just not original! Regret for choosing Madam Woo and the menu is very expensive.

• Rating: 1/5

5. Aggy's Shack

It is a little cute stall on the roadside in front of the Lake Wakatipu. Their fish is fresh and that's why people choose to visit them. 

• Rating: 4/5

6. At Thai

Treated by the boss, Jason. I picked the Green Curry Chicken (thai spicy), is yummy but pricy.. NZD 18. 

• Rating: 4/5

7. Hot and Spicy Chicken Pie @ Arrowtown Bakery and Cafe

The pie is delivered hot and its portion can really make you full. The pastry is just nice and the stuffing is a lot. NZD5, worth to try once. 

• Rating: 4/5