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

Snowboarding @ Mt. Hutt

23-24.07.2015

The main reason I plan to spend a year in New Zealand is to experience the four seasons. Well done, I have completed my mission! 

SPRING with the dull ice flowers @ Lake Tekapo; SUMMER activity: the Monster slide @ Christchurch; AUTUMN view @ Arrowtown; WINTER snowboard @ Mt. Hutt ski field.

Snowboarding is really fun and cool! After ended the factory job, I and a bunch of carrot-mates travelled to Mt. Hutt for our ski/snowboard session. We get a discounted group price with an all-day lift pass, lesson, ski/snowboard equipments and clothing rental. All together with gears and shuttle bus fare from Methven to Mt. Hutt, we only need to pay for about NZD160. 

This is my first time snowboarding, so I cannot comment much on the facilities there. Yet, the skifield there is large. I recomend for those first-timer, spend two day for ski/snowboard as the first day you needed to learn for a whole day while the next day, you can have fun!

My carrot friends! We celebrated the end of our job and ready for our ski/snowboarding on the next day.

Big Al's SnowSport, where we rented our helmet, goggles, and gloves. Note: those are not rented on the mountain.

Took the Snowman shuttle bus to Mt. Hutt (NZD20 return).

Hahah.. I was so professional!

The snowboard stand.

Stephenie and I, the organisers of the trip, took photo with our snowboard coach, Erick.

We love snowboarding!! 

Horticulture Job (2): JPNZ

20.07.2015

I had spent about 5 months working in Juice Product New Zealand (JPNZ). It is a japanese-owned company which operated by the local in Timaru. The factory produce mainly carrot juice, other than that, it also make juice from black currant and beetroot.

After worked in the factory I just realise that there is not only have orange colour carrots, it also come with yellow, red and purple.

Working in JPNZ was tiring but indeed, it is a way to earn and can save up an amount of money for travelling. The factory operate 24/7, a seasonal job which run from February to Octorber. Two shifts of workers, each work for 12 hours a day, with one or two day off in a week.

The operation composed of different positions:

• Yardman: Work outdoor, take care of the flow of carrots from the hooper into the factory.

• Grader/Cutter: Distinguish and remove spoil carrot/foreign substances.

• Operator: Run and fix the operation of the machine.

• Lab: Juice quality testing.

• Packer: Pack the juice in drums for export.

• Cleaner: do laundry for uniform and keep the cafeteria clean.

• Red head: Supervisor who manage people and jobs.

Cleaning in progress (CIP)!

Basically in every 36 hours, the factory will carry out a whole cleaning to maintain the stardard of cleanliness and hygiene. We hose, we foam, we brush, we water-blast the external; while the operator perform chemical cleaning inside the machine.

All in all, the job was physically consumed yet it is a good experience for me. The first time working in a factory, a chance for me to explore how the carrot juice is made. Besides, I had a great time with my carrot mates, working and living together through the days.. with different emotions mixed together.