Tasman Bay Backpackers, most memorable moments

Tasman Bay Backpackers that famous with the free homemade chocolate pudding and ice cream is located in Nelson, South Island. This is the backpackers hostel, where I live for nearly 3 months, approximately 50% of my time in New Zealand. Some people might have the thought that we shouldn't spend so much time in a place but I'd say this is the best backpackers I had ever stayed. Here, I found my long lost dream, Here, I met awesome people from every corners of the world. Here, I found the real me. And most importantly is the people here that created a home atmosphere and I felt like I'm part of this big family. 

Tasman Bay Backpackers family members includes mixture of different skin colors, nationalities and cultures. Regardless the differences, we hang out together,

we had birthday party together,

we had international gaming together,

we had international cuisine together,

we had drinking party together,

we also had theme party together.

We are Tasman Bay Backpackers family members from Argentina, Austria, Brazil, China, Finland, Germany, Holland, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States. We shared the same aim, we live for travel, we understand that friends come and go but with precious moments we have shared that makes our backpacking life more meaningful and memorable. 

Ladies and gentlemen, let me bring you the Tasman Bay Backpackers family member's show time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-f9fZ9XpXo&feature=share

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-f9fZ9XpXo

打工度假的真相

还记得有些朋友的反应当我告诉他们我会去纽西兰打工度假。什么你要去跳飞机？你要去捞金？你要去找鬼佬？当时听到，还真的有点生气，觉得这些人怎么那么没水准，那么肤浅。如果真的要捞钱应该去新加坡或留在公司努力擦老板的鞋会捞更多更有“钱”途吧。何必脱下高跟鞋漂亮西装名牌包包而在清晨五点骑着自行车穿着工人装的所谓“外劳”呢？

在这里混了四个月，什么样的人都接触过，只能说是大开眼界，然后才慢慢的领悟到其实还真的是有蛮多捞金客或是来鬼混的，更不是为了什么体验生活，什么文化交流。

捞金客
这些人借着打工度假的签证来这里捞金，原因就只为了钱。有几个朋友一天工作两班，每天睡觉时间大概只有三到五小时，一直工作到签证到期的前一周才随便走马看花的旅游几个点，就算是打工度假。更有接触过一些人一直盲目的打工，忘了最初来打工度假的目的，把自己的身体当机器般的用，半夜手脚疼痛掉泪但隔天还是照样工作。对这些人，我只能同情他们为他们感到悲哀。

鬼混者
这些人借着打工度假的签证来这里鬼混，原因就是为了玩。西方国家是真的很开放很自由没错，基本上，只要你还有点姿色有点条件，要找另一半真的不难，什么国家任你选。在这里，常会听到哪个日本妹哪个英国仔和哪个那个搞上了。更离谱的是一个人同时搞上了几个不同国家的，像是联合国的集会。对这些人，我只能劝他们要做好防范措施，好自为之。

打工度假签证主要目的是让我们更深入了解其他国家，当地文化，生活方式并允许打工来补贴旅费生活费。可是，事实还是有那些滥用打工度假的人来捞金或鬼混。对此，我真的很无奈。

虽然在这里混了四个月，可是学到是一些经历有可能在办公室一辈子都学不到看不到的。在工厂里打工才知道以前坐在办公室是多么的幸福，在吃着隔夜饭才知道妈妈煮的饭是全世界最好吃的，睡在背包客栈才知道家是最温暖的，站在山峰才发现世界是多么的大自己多么的渺小，捱过了冬天才知道春天是多么的美丽， 遇到了那么多不同国家不同种族的人才知道自己见识少，要学习的真的很多很多。

世界就是广阔无边的大地图，我们真的不必要原地埋怨，转牛角了，拿起勇气打工度假去或去旅行，可能一生就因此而改变。至少我放下了以前不应该有的执著，找回真正的自己。

纽西兰打工度假@人事物

我觉得这趟旅行最大的收获应该是，在背包客栈遇见来自世界各地的旅人。一直以来都认为环游世界是个遥不可及的梦，但遇到了这些旅人，在他们身上找回自己曾经很想追求的梦想。他们的旅游经历，让我深深的发现，所有事情不是能不能，而是肯不肯！

背包客也是音乐家。

也可以是大厨师。

更也是想环游世界的大梦想家。

在旅行的途中，与他们的相遇，让我的旅途不只是一个人，不再只是风景的记忆，而是这些人的故事和笑容。然后明白这世界有多大，自己有多渺小。

旅行或许是短暂逃离人生的一种方式，但相信这趟旅行所遇到的人事物都会成为我这辈子难忘的回忆 ,值得回味好久好久。

Nelson, the beautiful city

Nelson is my second home after Motueka. Nelson is so much warmer compare to others region in South Island, as it has the highest sunshine hours in New Zealand. Even in winter, frosty morning are often followed by sunny days with average of 13 Celsius degree.

Beautiful Maitai River

Along Maitai River, nice place for picnic and ride.

Christ Church Cathedral, Nelson's landmark that build in 18 century. 

South street Gallery, New Zealand's oldest fully preserved street. Cottage dating from 1863 originally built as homes for local tradesmen.

Jens Hansen Gold & Silversmith, the world's famous ringmakers for the Lord of the Rings movie

The Miyazu Garden, is an authentic Japanese stroll garden featuring ponds, stepping stones and traditional teahouse.

Port Nelson, superyacht berth.

The restaurant that offers stunning sea views.

Tahunanui Beach, white sands, gentle waves and spectacular view of Boulder bank, Haulashore island and Fifeshire rock.

Such a beautiful place that make me don't feel like to leave.

Transform to housekeeper, great wwoofing experience

After quit the vineyard job, I was so lucky that got the offer to do wwoofing at Tasman Bay Backpackers at Nelson. Here, my solo backpacking life started. For those who didn't know what wwoofing is, wwoofing is exchange for food and accommodation between traveller and familities. It's an oppportunity for traveller with limited budget to immerse themselves in local culture, lifestyle and community. 

From Blenheim to Nelson, 114km and took approximately 1.5 hours by bus.

Accommodation exchange at Tasman Bay Backpackers that famous with the free chocolate pudding was my first wwoofing experience. 

Simple little things that make this BBH unique, cozy and warm.

The work arrangement was clearly defined (toilet, bedroom & kitchen), our duties were to keep the BBH clean. We work for about 2 - 3 hours each day doing the housekeeping around the BBH and then would have the rest of the day off. It was a fair arrangement, work an average of 2 - 3 hours per day and in exchange for accommodation and other benefits such as free breakfast, free internet, bikes and a day off.

The other 5 lovely wwoofer: Anna 2 (Germany), Nadine (Germany), Andrea (Canada), Charlotte (France) & Anna 2 (Germany)

The work was not particularly hard and we had lotsa fun while doing housekeeping. 

Needling, one of our recreation.

8.00pm free ice-cream & chocolate pudding time.

I must say that I had a lot of good and interesting experiences at this BBH, and for the most part enjoyed the fun time with other backpacker from different corner of the world.

The combination of enjoyable wwoofing and meaningful friendships made this experience memorable and fulfilling. This, truly, was what I had envisioned wwoofing to be, something I'd probably never have found had I followed the normal, routine traveller's trail.