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 

Screw up.. Almost!

30.10.2014

This morning I was flying off from Auckland to Queenstown, a town in the south island of New Zealand which full of tourist attractions. I was so lucky that in the last minute I managed to get a job in a nearby area named Lake Hayes. It is a chinese bridal studio operated by Taiwanese, and I worked as a helper for them.

Soon I was going to reach Queenstown.

However, my story was only to begin. Trying new thing is pretty interesting. I did my first hitch hiking in my life after i had touched down at Queenstown airport. I got refused few times as the people there were truely not convenient to fetch, yet i can sense their sincere to help. Finally, i met one elderly man who had dropped his friends off at the airport.

"Good morning sir, is it possible if you can fetch me to Lake Hayes Estate?"

"Oh sure, that's not a problem!"

The man's name is Robin, i called him Mr. Robin. Along the way we introduced ourself and I got to know he is already 60-year-old plus, retired and is currently staying in McKibbin, Arrowtown with his wife. The place is just further away from Lake Hayes. He gave me his e-mail address, welcome me to visit him one day.

By that time, he has had something to do in fact, but he was still trying his best to send me until the exact place i needed to go. He set me down and we said bye to each other. Then, I continued my meeting with the people who took me into the house. 

Life was so smooth until i found out that.. 

"OMG, i have LOST MY DAYPACK!!"

All my important documents were inside, including my passport! I was very worry and kept recall back where I put my bag. In the airport? Outside the house? And finally I was sure that I have put my bag at the backseat of Mr. Robin's car! What a mess!

Luckily I saved Mr. Robin's email address, luckily I knew where he is staying, luckily i managed to contact him, and luckily he is a nice Kiwi! Ya.. I experienced how nice a Kiwi could be like everyone said.

His wife, Mrs. Robin then drove to my place and passed me back my backpack.

I was just almost screwing up my trip in New Zealand.. Almost!!

Auckland

26.10.2014

I was shocked by the transport system in China, from what i listened from 雷雷. The speed limit on the roads in China is very slow where they can only drive the most to 40km/hr other than on the highways. Besides, it can be say that in China, every 300m road will have one traffic light.. oh my God?! 

The population in China is huge, with their advance public transport system like light rail, most of the people there prefer to take the public transport rather than own a car. Therefore, 雷雷 only got herself a driving license when she was planning to come to New Zealand, and started her very first time of driving here! How brave she was!

雷雷drove us for a short Auckland city tour. This is part of Auckland Art Gallery Toi O Tamaki - the creative chairs.

The Albert Park. Can you see the tall tower behind? It is the sign of Auckland, the Sky Tower. 

Can you spot the funny stuff? XD

New Zealand indeed a country of nature. Purely in Auckland, it already has at least 10 parks. You would heart it if you are a mother nature lover, with its fresh air and nice view. The best place for you to relax your mind and body.

The population in New Zealand was just over 4.5 million, with 1/3 of the population is scattered in Auckland. Compare to Malaysia where it has 30 million of people, with almost same square measure of land, New Zealand really has own a little people. You can never worry about the traffic jam like in KL!

In the web has an interesting page titled "New Zealand is home to 3 million people and 60 million sheep", you can read through the page and find out approximately how many sheep and cows were there in New Zealand.

Auckland Port. Rose Garden is just nearby the area but i did not visit it. I must go there one day!

Arghh.. Photo boom!! @ Aotea Centre.

Little picnic with them @ Victoria Park.

The Victoria Park Market.

The wind was so so strong!! @Auckland Harbour.

Photo with a couples of old forks when we were on the way to Maritime Museum, one of them is from Australia. 

The very first time we missed our bus in New Zealand. We need wait for an hour more until the next bus to arrive.

The important purpose of travelling is to explore and discover their specialty and maybe some tips or 'lobang' of living in that particular place. Yup, get the cheap stuff! 

This is the Three Sister Gift Shop, 三姐妹, owned by 3 sisters. The shop not merely sell gift, they also sell travel insurance, bbh card, provide translation service, etc. their selling price is much cheaper than the market price. 

Visit www.sanjiemei.co.nz for more information. Shop is located in the Queen street, Auckland, opposite McDonald, inside the Mid city centre.

***** The food of the Place *****

19-22.09.2015

1. Giapo

Coffeehouse

24.10.2014

Today was the fourth day I touched down in New Zealand. Slowly I adapt to the weather here.

I was staying in a homestay called coffee sunshine (咖啡阳房) located at Releign Road, Northcote. One of the reasons i picked this homestay is because the owner has a little handsome son name 麦咖啡. Cute name right? Hahah! Actually it is his nickname, his real name is 麦家辉 (Nathan Mach). His mother gave him this little nickname is because she likes coffee. After that comes a little daughter, and her name is 麦嘉仪 aka 麦奶茶.

Eating bread in the morning. Spread with 奶酥 made by Vilia. It's tasty!

Vilia, the house owner, is a Taiwanese girl, already migrated to New Zealand for around 3 years. She used to be a backpacker in New Zealand too! A like for her helpfulness, friendliness and generousity. :)

One great experience of working holiday is you can meet people from around the world. Ya, i meet some of them here, they mostly from Taiwan, 2 Malaysian and one from Harbin. We share our culture and i guess soon my chinese will speak like a Taiwanese. 

We at Lake Pupuke with the Harbin girl, 雷雷. Many ducks and geese here!

The first luxury meal we prepare for the dinner in New Zealand. Whole grill chicken and mussels with pasta. Yummy.. And the chicken is only NZD 8.40!!! 

So lucky to meet a chef here! We call him Ah Kit Zai, from Malaysia too. He used to work in hotel restaurant at Dubai. Wou!

Journey begin.

22.10.2014

Good morning Auckland!

This is the 1st morning i say hello to New Zealand. Sense the cold here, once i wake up, and i am wearing gloves sleeping with me.

I am sure my hand caught cold already. The whether now is 15C, can't imagine if it is winter now? 

I got my working holiday visa approved in the January 2014 and i going to become foreign worker here! Huhuh.. Hah! But i am sure it will be a great experience in my life. 

Doing my preparation before my journey begin. 

After settled my accomodation here, the next thing to do is apply IRD (Lembaga Hasil in M'sia) and bank account. While waiting appointment with bank on the coming Friday, my journey today was going to Takapuna and registered an account in IRD. Thanks Vilia, the homestay owner, for her hospitality, fetched me and my travelmates, xiaoxin and shanna, to Takapuna. :)

This is Vilia's 3-year-old son (麦咖啡) and 8-month-old daughter (麦奶茶), cute and obedient. Most important is they do not scare stranger at all! 

(p/s: to know more about my accomodation, visit: www.facebook.com/coffeehousenz)

We at Takapuna beach.

Crispy falafel with Baba Ghanouj gourmet @ Chicpeaz (NZD 7.50). Its fried chicpeaz ball inside is really yummy!

After half-day exploration in Takapuna, welcome to see my dinner tonight! 

The pork sausage we bought have a strong boar taint, we really can't use to it. So, three of us think hard and try to get rid of the smell, that's here come our homemade mee goreng with minced pork meat and vege. Suprisingly it taste nice!