Kaikoura

3-17.08.2015

Throwback to those days when i was in Kaikoura, the memories are truely beautiful and nostalgic. I had spent about 2 weeks in Kaikoura; although most of the days were in bad weather, I managed to accomplish my must-do tasks there, fortunately! 

Living in Kaikoura gave me a real feel of  backpacker life. I was working for accomodation in a backpacker hostel, staying in a staff room, with around 10 travellers from around the world. I remember the first day I when into the dorm room, there was no neatly-make bed and everywhere was so messy. Luckily the room was comfy enough after cleaning. 

That is the first impression I have had when I first reached in Kaikoura. I was really glad and appreciate that I met a group of nice and friendly friends. My life in Kaikoura would probably be very lonely without them. We when to Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway together, had our first clayfish, watch movie, share food, having fun and of course working together. 

The most epic scene I had seen during our cleaning time. We were very hardworking and cooperative team indeed! 

Seal colony! Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway with them - Cicil (France); Amber (UK, Liverpool); Yuko (Japan).

I cannot believe that I dare to follow Amber, climbed up on this steep little hill! I would surely fall from this hill if I miss a step. Arghh.. 

P/S: I did not reach until the top of the hill....

Our crayfish feast @ Kaikoura Seafood BBQ. Dani (North UK) on the left and Yuko in the middle.

My second sunrise in New Zealand. 

Dolphins encounter. I took a ferryboat to watch dolphins. They were the Dusky Dolphins, hundreds of them in the sea. Amazing yet unpleasent experience.. due to my serious seasick, vomitted for 4 times continueously. OMG.

•Price: NZD90 (*Tips: Bookme.com for NZD45)

•Rating: 4/5

•Comment: nice experience to watch wildlife dolphins on boat. Dolphins are interactive and friendly animals, it will be much more fun if you choose to swim with them.

*P/S: Kaikoura rich with wildlife sea animals. Other than dolphins, you can go for whales or albatrosses watching.

I when to the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway again by myself one day before I left. The walkway was really amazing. It is one of my favorite walk in New Zealand (*Pick a nice weather of course). The walkway take about 3 hours to finish the Peninsula one round, start from the Kaikoura i-site. Along the way u can see wildlife seals and pups; blue sea and its coastline; green field and the mountains. I am sure it would not make you disappointed, the combination of all will give you a picture that better than what you imagine!

The seals. They love sunbath a lot.

I love the colour of the sea so much!

The green field and mountains.

Oh ya! The last thing and a surprise for me, I found ba~ ba~ black sheep here! Their face is black, but the fur is in white. Hahaha...

The people I met in Kaikoura.. 

'Briss' (France) the reception and Damian (NZ) the manager. They are very nice and generous people. The jobs they ordered were very easy. 

We were all the helpers in Dusky Lodge. We spent time together, share our culture share the fun! ;)

***** The Food of the Place *****

1. Kaikoura Seafood BBQ

•Rating: 4/5

•Comment: You can find the stall when you walk along the Peninsula Walkway (50mins from i-site). The only one stall located just beside the road. The price is relatively cheap, most of the seafood cost less than NZD10; and for crayfish feast, price start from NZD25++ depending on size.

2. Poppy's ice-cream

•Rating: 4/5

•Comment: The real fruit mixed berries ice-cream! They offer other fruits like banana and mango as well. It was nice but I perfer the one I ate in Hanmer Springs. Poppy's rich with milk texture over the fruity taste.

3. Continental Seafood 

•Rating: 5/5

•Comment: I love the fish fillet here! I ordered take away for a few times from this restaurant. Price is not expensive and the seafoods are fresh. The fish (whiting) i ate was very soft and smooth, no thick flour outside and was crunchy. The top were paua nudget and scallop.. worth to try. :)

Quake City: Christchurch

27.7-2.8.2015

On 22 February 2011, a destructive earthquake striked right in the heart of the Christchurch city, magnitude 6.3, had caused 185 deaths. Today, we can see the city is full of on-going constructions. You can feel how intense the effect of earthquake goes over the city of christchurch and the people there.

The symbolic Christchurch Cathedral have partly ruined by the earthquake in 2011. It is currently replaced by a Transitional Cathedral.

The Transitional Cathedral a.k.a Cardboard Cathedral in Christchurch. 

The internal view of the Transitional Cathedral, designed by a Japanese architect who built it using cardboards.

Constructions are still on going.

When you take a city tour in Christchurch, you can easily found there is numbers of pop-up objects by the streets. 

185 Empty chairs. It brings sense of sorrow to the people who seen this. It reflected the loss of lives result of the earthquake.

The shapes and the sizes of each chairs pay tribute to the uniqueness of each person represent.

***** Little Explore in the Christchurch City Center *****

Playing with my photography skills while taking the bus to the city.

The Canterbury Museum. F.O.C and you are allow to take pictures inside.

•Rating: 5/5

The Art Center is close upon construction.

Christchurch is a Garden City. Unfortunately, I did not manage to explore it. It is a huge and beautiful garden, you should visit it one day when you have time.

•Rating: 5/5

The Peacock Fountain in the Botanic Garden.

 

Christchurch tramway.

Punting on tha avon.

At the Cathedral Square.

The New Regents Street.

Beautiful gardening at the Victoria Street.

Christchurch casino just after the Victoria Street. There is a weekly lucky draw on every Friday, you can easily win a thousand dollar by just enter the casino if you are lucky enough.

*P/S: must be a member, F.O.C.

***** Food of the Place *****

1. Duo Restaurant

 

It is located just opposite the Botanic Garden. I highly recommend this restaurant. Its environment is nice and relaxing; offer lunch special that give a great value meal, big portion and delicious! 

•Rating: 5/5

2. Dimitris Greek Food

It is a little food caravan located in the Restart Mall. It has a high rating in TripAdvisor, great souvilaki in Christchurch. Yet I am not fancy on it.

•Rating: 3/5

3. Mrs Huggins Oven Fresh Cookies.

2 cookies for NZD3.5. It has different types of cookies you can choose.

•Rating: 4/5

Hitch-hiking to Oamaru!

26.07.2015

Hitch-hiking is common in New Zealand. The country is relatively safer and the people there are nice and friendly. Though, it is hard if there is 3 people hitch-hiking together, yet I and my friends had did it together!

We hitched hike from Timaru to Oamaru, one ride, waiting time about 30-45mins.

The bags were not a few!

The signature Thumb Up.

Hitch-hiking tips:

🚗 Less people less bags.

🚙 In the early of the day.

🚛 On the main road near the highway,  direction to your destination. Not recommend in the town area.

🚐 Not necessary to write a board. Just thumb up.

🚚 Ask the driver where is he/she heading to instead of tell them your destination.

We had been waiting for half an hour beside the road but there was no one stopping their car for us. After that, we changed our strategy, we separated ourself along the road to test our luck again.

God bless about 10mins, a 34-year-old guy stopped his car and keen to fetch all of us instead of just one.

I had a nice talk with him. He can build house, stay in Karitane, a place great for surfing. Yup, he loves surfing a lot.

***** Great Adventures in Oamaru *****

The people we met: 

Uncle Eric, a 66-year-old man from Malaysia. I salute him a lot! We met him in the Empire backpacker hostel and he was wwoofing there! He travel backpack around New Zealand by himself, keep improving his English and learn internet surfing. A strong man, physically and mentally.

The penguin we saw:

The must-see blue penguin in Oamaru. Yet I can't really see its blue fur in the dark night. 

The coffee we took:

Relaxing coffee time @ Steam.

• Rating: 4/5