Surviving at backpacker house

After a week in Christchurch, we had a long travel day from 7am to 4pm down to Motueka (where our apple pack house is) with total of 471km. 

Most of people will chose to stay at backpacker house (BBH) when backpacking because you’ll probably spend less on BBH than you would pay anywhere else. Happy Apple Backpackers is the BBH we have lived for 2 weeks in Motueka.

Nice garden they have and I'm sure it would be great in the summer but not winter!

Relax in the TV lounge to help you enjoy your free time. I particularly love the fireplace in TV lounge because it keeps me warm during the frosty night. TV lounge also the place where you’ll meet new people from all over the world. You are never really on your own there will always be someone outthere, but of course you'll be forced out of being shy as well.

Well equipped kitchen but with all sorts of regulation like well label all foods with name and room no. to prevent it to be stolen and to show that it isn't left over from guests who have moved on. If it isn't labelled and dated, they will throw it out because the fridges and freezers are being cleaned out twice weekly. Kitchen's peak hour is usually at 5pm where everyone is back from work, I'd said the kitchen is like a battlefield, you conquer the kitchen you win. 

The shared batheroom cleaniness is average and the restriction is worst. Because the showers is solar powered, so you'll need to press a button, then turn on the shower in order to have hot shower but there is a five minute limit on it's use and you'll need to wait for another 2 minutes to get another 5 minutes of hot water. Imagine yourself standing pause in the bathroom under zero degree Celsius for 2 minutes to wait for a hot shower. I found that's really ridiculous yet I can only say nothing in this world is free and you might not be comfortable with the consequences.

After 2 weeks staying with the same and different people here, I have to say staying here feels like living in a little home where everybody knows everybody and people that come and go. Although this place was by no means "clean" and tidy but I got very good vibes from the overall atmosphere. That could be due to the wonderful people who were  staying there at the time.

Unfortunately this has it’s cons as well. Having more people working and living or just staying for quite some time, make friends. However these friends will end up having to leave at a certain stage, continue their travels, visas run out… and you have to see a good friend go hoping you will someday meet them again. Of course you just earned yourself a place to visit when you will continue traveling which is always a good thing.

By the time I'm leaving the bbh I actually ask myself is there any reason for me to come back? The answer is absolutely yes but not during winter because I'd probably spend a little extra for a place with hot shower without limits first.

趴趴走@ Akaroa

Akaroa, South Island. (12 May 2012)

Another place we have visited during our time at Christchurch were, Akaroa. Only one and a half hour, about 85km from Christchurch. It is an ideal destination for romantic weekend or short break away from Christchurch.

Along the journey, moo moo and mie mie were waving and welcoming you.

We stop in the Little River, over Hilltop, and down to Akaroa. Little River was a railway and now is a cycling and walking track and also very popular stop over for its café and art gallery. 

Something magic happens when you cross the Hilltop to Akaroa. My eyes are irresistibly drawn to such beautiful view of the Akaroa harbour. The long, thin peninsula in the harbour and the middle of the volcano that stretches out in the harbour waters below.

There's a coffee house at the hilltop, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee with the stunning views.

Akaroa is a beautiful harbour town  situated on an extinct volcanic shorelin with an historic French settlement.

The beautiful Akaroa harbour dominates the landscape and is home to a variety of sea and bird life. 

There are activities for everyone including wildlife cruises, swimming with the dolphins, boat hire and sea kayaking. A cruise with Akaroa Dolphins is the ideal way to enjoy this beautiful place for most of the people but not for us *sob sob*

By way of walking, with charming vistas and stunning views to reward every footstep. The area still has a French influence, reflected in many local placenames. Here history oozes from every corner and parts of the town are registered as an Historic Area in recognition of its remarkable collection of Historic buildings. Many streets have French names, and there are descendants of the original French families still living in Akaroa.

Lunch with stunning views, seafood chowder soup, fish & chips & beer = luxury!!!

Just us, the scenery and the sea.

Our day ended with delicious korean food at Christchurch. Ya, it's a fulfilling day!

趴趴走 之 New Brighton, Christchurch

New Brighton, Christchurch (11 May 12)

New Brighton is a coastal village with full of nature beauty and attractions, and can be reached within an hour from Christchurch. One of attractions the New Brighton Pier, as an icon and landmark for New Brighton. 

Seagulls is everywhere and you can easily catch them is guess.

The New Brighton Beach is lovely, it’s a long stretch of sand. It was cloudy day when we were there, the wind was so strong till blew me away.

Pier Side Cafe and Bar is a beach bar & restaurant in the seaside suburb of New Brighton. How we wish we can enjoy the coffee while watch the wave in there, but we didn't because is too expensive for backpacker to do such luxury enjoyment.

The New Brighton Library situated right on the beach. 

You could get a stunning views from the library, looking over the changing sky, the blue or greenish waters of the Pacific Ocean. You could also browse through the books in the library, plug into a listening post and enjoy a range of music, or surf the net with the free WiFi.

I just love those lazy moments reading books, watching peopple walk along the pier and beach. Isn't it an essential form of relaxation with no cost. lol

第一站，基督城

First station, Christchurch (9 May 2012)

Christchurch is the first station we touched down. It's the second largest city in New Zealand. Also, the only city that allows you ski at a world-class alpine resort, play golf, bungy jump, raft, mountain bike, hot-air balloon, wind surf, whale watch and visit internationally-acclaimed wineries and gardens within two hours of an international airport according to Christchurch.org.nz.

While waiting for our seasonal work to be started, we have paid a visit by walking around the city. We were attracted by this garden city that surrounding by exotic and indigenous plants. 

Pride of place in this flower-loving town goes to the Botanic Gardens, attractively set within a loop of the winding Avon River. As you can see, lovely ducks and geese enjoying flow along the river.

Surprisingly, their city sightseeing open-top bus is same as the London red double-decker bus. The bus tour takes you to all of Christchurch’s famous landmarks and reveals Christchuch’s colourful history.

Restart is an outdoor retail space that made from shipping containers as temporary buildings in the Christchurch's city center after the powerful natural disaster with 6.3 magnitude earthquake on Feb 2011 at the center city and some suburbs of Christchurch.

Unexpectedly, a year aftershocks, the city is still remains in the "red zone" and under rebuilding the damages in the center of Christchurch. 

It's hard not to gawk in awe at the destruction and demolition. As you can see from the photo we took during our tour, there are still some buildings lie in ruin, empty. Some already-cleared blocks are used as car park. Some buildings that are being held up by the steel reinforcement. Some bumpy roads were jolted out of their usual position.

Despite the fact that the center city of Christchurch is still remains in the 'red zone' and rebuilding, we had a wonderful time in Christchurch, it is a beautiful city with very friendly people.

Challenges to be backpacker

No. 1: Sleeping in an airport

Sleeping in an airport???  Ya it sounds little cheap and degrading but as backpacker need to skim a few dollars off for travel expenses, they usually will stretch out on airport floors.

Airport sleeping seems like quite common in Christchurch Airport and it isn't  illegal to sleep here. They even have sleeping areas  provided you follow their rules and regulation as follows. There are security guards patrolled past all night just to make sure that you're not crossing the border. lol

Since we arrived Christchurch airport at 12am, we also have less money to spend therefore we quickly find a comfortable place and set up our tent in the departure hall and sleep.

Despite the Christchurch Airport was clean and organised, our night was very uncomfortable. I would say that it wouldn't be fun to sleep in the airport. We spent more than 8 hours in an airport and felt uneasy because of weird creepers staring, cleaning staff vacuuming and security guard patrolling. 

Clearly, it isn't a good experience a night in an airport. I could just spend a few dollar more for the sake of a good sleep. I know that's not what backpacker hacking is about. I also know no pain, no gain. But less pain is good too.

P/S: It is not easy to be backpacker, we not only need to be physically strong but also brazen-faced. If my parent know that was what backpacking about, I'm sure they will kill me. So, please.....

New Zealand Working Holiday - New journey in my life

For those planning a working holiday in New Zealand must first obtain a working holiday visa before enter New Zealand. There are 1150 places available under New Zealand Working Holiday Scheme each year that allowing young citizens of Malaysia (before 30) to live and work in New Zealand for upto 6 months and you can leave and re-enter New Zealand any number of times while the visa is valid. The working holiday visa currently costs NZD140 and is usually issued within 48 hours. You must enter the country with 12 months of issue. I was so lucky that my WHS approved for the first time as 1150 places was grabbed and taken within 2 days and there are no places remaining under this scheme for the 2012/2013 quota. 

Now, the most important things for me to do before started my new journey in New Zealand were:

Foodie

In general, we could only able to find these dishes in Malaysia as "Malaysian" foods (rojak) reflects the multicultural aspects of Malaysia that makes these dishes taste so different. Therefore, for people who love spicy and highly-seasoned foods like me, must try all these mouth watering tasty foods before I away for at least 6 months. Because im sure that I gonna miss foods like bakuteh, curry chicken, nasi lemak and etc like crazy! Without wasting time, ladies & gentlemen, here I presents mouth watering tasty "Malaysian" foods:

Farewell

A farewell is necessary before we can meet again.  And meeting again, after moments or lifetime, is certain for those who are friends. Goodbyes are not forever neither the end. They simply means I'll miss you guys until we meet again! My special thanks  for those thrown farewell party/ lunch / dinner with me.

Last but not least (I know is kinda cliche) - 我最亲爱的家人

很想感谢家人，好想对你们说但却说不出口，只有用写的。有点肉麻但却是用最真心的想对你们说：爸爸妈妈，能成为你们的孩子我真的觉得自己很幸运很幸福，应该是上辈子修来的福吧。谢谢你们！因为你们给我真的太多！虽然你们不是很赞成也不是很放心，但我想让你们知道我寻找旅行的意义。我会好好照顾自己，你们也是哦！一定要健康快乐哦！

A goodbye isn't painful because I'm going to say hello again very soon. Goodbye Malaysia, New Zealand here I come :)