Dun•ni•den

4-5.12.2014

Yippie, Mission accomplished! I have done my first journey in Dunedin, when to most of the attractions that needed to be visited in the town centre. Dunedin is sound as 'Dun•ni•den', but not 'Du•ne•din' like i previously pronounced. If Queenstown has beautiful scenery, Dunedin has its beautiful buildings! It's deeply beautiful!

This city is bigger than what I expected. I extend one more day here so that I can have enough time to visit and also compensate for the hard journey that I had been through when the time i just arrive in Dunedin. Yeap, I was carrying an oversize backpack, walking through the steep streets in a rainny day. What a real mess! 

Steep roads everywhere!

This is my first time travel like a backpacker. I choose to stay in a backpacker hostel - Pavlova Palace at Elm Row.

•Rating: 3/5 

•Comment: A distance away from city centre, located on the hillside; comfort bed, friendly people but bicycle service and cleanliness in the kitchen needed to be improved.

Pavlova Palace Backpackers.

This is Pavlova - a local dessert in New Zealand, crisp crust like cotton candy and the inner soft and taste like muah-chee. Sweetness is just nice. 

The roomates. I am staying in a mixed-room, but luckily got a taiwanese girl, 舒舒, accompany me. The guy on the middle is a French, name Lucas. He is very friendly, and her mum is traveling with him together too!

***** The Attractions Of The Place*****

1. Dunedin Public Art Gallery

The art collections here are more and nicer if compare to Auckland Art Gallery. Those postcard sold there is cute and nice.

•Rating: 4/5

2. The Octagon

The center corner of the Dunedin town.

3. Dunedin Railway Station

Tourism point. Beautiful buildings! You can visit sport museum inside.

4. The First Church

A glorious and magnificient church. 

5. Speight's Brewery Tour

It is a beer factory. I din't take a tour inside but i when to their bar and restaurant - Speight's Ale House for dinner.

Highland lamp (NZD14.50) with Speight's Gold Medal Ale (NZD6). The beer taste very fine and not so bitter.

•Rating: 4/5

6. The Baldwin Street

Yeah.. The steepest street in the world! The famous and emblem of Dunedin. You can buy a cert in a small shop down there, mention that you have done the street climbing. 

7. Dunedin Botanic Garden

The flora and fauna, as well as many ducks inside.

•Rating: 3/5

8. University of Otago

Is Summer school! And now is graduation period, I saw many graduate walking around the street and take pictures.

9. Otago Museum

I love this museum! Really a lot of things you can see. You can know the history of how polynesian migrate to New Zealand and thrive a life here. Besides, I love especially the animal attic, a huge number of real animal specimen here, eg. Penguin, Kiwi bird, Kangeroo, Kola Bear, Polar Bear........ Is a lot! And i got to learn a very interesting animal, Rat King (you can search from web for more). 

•Rating: 5/5

10. Cadbury World

Cadbury factory is here! But i din't catch the time to visit it.

11. Toitu Otago Settlers Museum

A point to visit maybe next time.

12. Chinese Garden

Heheh.. I only visit from outside.

13. Street Art Mural Hunting

I hunt most of the mural on the streets. Very nice and some of the drawing is really fine. I like especially the horse with the little boy.

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

1. Chopsticks 101 (台北101)

If you miss chinese food, you can visit this restaurant. Food are nice and in quite a big portion, the price is reasonable too! Free packaging drink from 1pm-5pm, every weekday. 

•Rating: 4/5

2. Best Cafe (Fish and Chips)

This stall mainly sell fish fillet and fried food. I bought dory fish with only NZD2.80 and the fish is so fresh! It's located nearby the Dunedin Railway Station.

•Rating: 4/5

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.