2nd Summer Holiday in NZ

I planned so much this summer as it's gonna be my last summer in NZ. Though the thought of staying on was strong and the offer of help (should have take it rather than being so naive.. aiks.. ).

I went for 1 or 2 interviews (failed lar)... Once, I went to look for Wai Teng at Lower Hutt after my interview. I took so many pictures, I think the entire 24 negatives were all me only.. Well, the flowers were so pretty.

Went for drag netting also. However, I didn't go into the sea this time around. 1. More ppl joined. 2. Gave others the opportunity. Also, went to collect/ pick mussle from the sea. It's quite a nice experience. The law says: one can only take only if the mussle is as big as the palm. This is to protect the environment and habitat thingy. Then, we cooked them.. Yummy...

Oh.. I also went to public library to get some Chinese book. Else, I will lost it. Think about me unable to speak after only few months of not using it.. Scary..

I also worked quite a bit. 1. Full time in U-Save Autoparts world or as long as 40 hours a week, 2. part-time waitressing (yum-cha and dine in, both also Chinese restaurant), 3. assist in setting up shop (leather shop), 4. picking up trash after national cricket competition (so, we always have free show).. heheh...

Went to fruits picking. I drove up north with Wai Teng to find the place. We enjoyed ourselves so much.

We saw this huge cow on our way and I insisted to take a picture. Wai Teng was so afraid (it's a red car) and she snapped from the car.. pengsan... (Don't fool by the way we dressed, just 2 of us self declared as puteri lilin (afraid of sun)). pengsan...

We picked strawberry and eat at the same time, blueberries, wild berries. So much.. And the pumpkins were so huge and cheap.

I graduated this summer in December.

It's quite fun. We walked/ parade from Parliament house to the City Hall during lunch hour. A lot of friends, relatives, office professionals stand by the roadside waving, cheering, clapping, taking pictures of us. I felt so proud of myself, I felt like as if I was the star. I supposed everyone of us did.

Ba and ma didn't go though I wish they would have. So, Su-poh came.

We took a lot of pictures. We went to botanical garden, the graduation itself, back to uni......

We had a dinner ourselves after the graduation. Just to celebrate. Actually, it's kinda mixed feelings where on one hand, it meant we achieved something, another we will be going into the 'real' world and separated with friends....

I was offered to take up MBA, I didn't due to financial. Though I would like to take that up very much.. It's very interesting to do finance management.

Another highlight of this summer: travel the entire NZ. I found out this company, Connection 18 - 35. It's something like Contiki. I find it slightly cheaper and cover more interesting places. So, I joined the 10 days trip covering North and South Island. Was it nice? I strongly recommend ppl. If one has a chance, self drive in NZ would be the best.

The tour will start from Christchurch. I went to Christchurch earlier, spent 1 - 2 days there. The last time I went was winter. And it's summer now. I was this BMW with the guy who went to Antarctica and back. So, that's the parade...

We headed to Dunedin. The weather changed so much and it's like winter for a day. I was freezing as I didn't prepare for the changed of weather in the midst of summer especially when the Southerly wind blew. We went to look at the returning of penguins. All these were yellow eye-penguin. We were talking in the tunnel and was told not to make noise (not to spoil the habitat) and no flash (not wanting to blind them). It's really interesting to see the parents came back from the ocean and start feeding the young ones...

Of course, we went to the steepest street in Southern hemisphere.

Next we went to West Coast, Milford Sound. It's a national park. Then, we were told that we will get on the cruise ride, out to Tasmania water. Not only that, we will be spending one night on the cruise. It's not a very big cruise. It's just nice. The scenery was awesome. I was really amazed with the creations of God.

The cruise parked at somewhere really quiet for the night and we woke up the next morning looking at the still water and the scenery was just so amazing. I felt so blessed. I have fallen in love with Milford Sound.

For whoever going to New Zealand, Milford Sound is a MUST!!!! The Lord of The Ring was mostly shot here too.

From there, we travelled north to Queenstown. This is a place filled with activities, especially if you are really outdoor type of person and you are adventurous. Also, you will need to have $$$... heheh...

For me, I only took the speedboat which was really exciting. The driver drove so near to the cliff, make 180 degree turning. We had fun by screaming our heart out.. haha.... Then, most of the rest of the time, I was doing sight seeing since I already promised that I will not do bungy jump (else, I wouldn't be landed in NZ, the condition lor).

We went to glacier as well. Actually, only those who wanted to walk on the glacier should go. Miki and I just wanted to go and have a look though not knowing how to get back to where we stayed later. But, we didn't care so much. It's too expensive for us to have those activities especially for new born graduates. :(

So, we just walked, took pictures. We intended to walk back. Yes, it sounds crazy. As we walked and took pictures, there was an elderly couple gave us a ride back. Were we afraid. Sure!! Of course. Stranger!!! But, well, we were willing to take the risks... hahaha... pengsan...

Went to Picton to take the ferry to Wellington. My home. Wow... the place I was so familiar with. By then, I started to get a bit tired already.

We went to Rotorua. A place filled with sulphate. Our clothes, all our clothes I meant, smell like that. Gosh.. Even we close all the doors and windows.

We attended the Maori traditional performances, had dinner. The food was cooked with the heat from earth, sulphate. For me, food is food. Only to fill the stomach.. :s

Waikato was my last destination with the group. It's kinda sad to leave them, suddenly, though I was really tired by now. Waikato has this Aurora rabbit which has really long fur where they will have to shave the fur for winter clothing materials. Very expensive, was told by Chooi-Lee as she was in designing industry.

Then, I stopped at Auckland. I stayed with Annette (Taiwanese).

We went to casino in Sky Tower. We didn't go in as we were not interested. I went for my hair cut, 2 hours or more for a dry cut. Gosh.... That guy was really careful, he studied my hair, explained, design, etc... ect.. I only knew my friends were starting to be impatienced. haha.. But, the end result?? We all loved it.. SO MUCH!!!! Worth the time... :)

Then, I travelled back to Wellington from Auckland by bus with Janice and Susanna. It's horrible. DON'T ever travel by bus.. It's super long hours and it's bad!!!!

oh... I nearly forgot. I make this bear as well... I sew it with my own hands. It's a birthday present for my younger sister. For someone like me, who doesn't sew, I was actually very proud of myself. hahah.... Ya.. I post the bear back. Well, later, they told me the connection on the neck was not firm enough and as if it will break his neck anytime.. aiks.. But, I have not seen this bear upon my return... Weird... Must be in one of those box, I figured...

Then, it's almost time to say good-bye. It's sad.... Went dinner with so many friends, so many appointments. I started to miss my room, missed the view from my room, the food by Su-poh, every moment with friends, Vic, the weather, the strong wind in Wellington, the earth quake, the lobsters, the mussle, the stars in summer nights, etc. etc. etc.....

I was once Wellingtonians.

I was really sad to say good-bye at the airport to those who came to send me off. 2 years 1 month or so in NZ. I didn't know when will I see them again. But, surely, I will miss them a lot.. I was so so down in the aircraft. I looked out the window and look at the seas, the ocean, the mountains.... Then, all slowly became smaller, soon disappear. I was tearing a little as I really controlled myself.

There closed a part of chapter of my life. I didn't go home from Wellington. I flew to Brisbane instead. Why? Cos, my younger sister, May Hui, just arrived there and starting her engineering degree with QUT. So, I went over to pass some winter clothing for her. (oh.. my belongings in Wellington, there were being cargo-ed back, should arrive 1 or 2 days later than me). Gave her some money I earned (so proud of myself again... pengsan...). Helped her to settle the bank, took her to her varsity. Basically, helping her to settle down.

Then, this time, I really flew back. Since, there's no direct flight. I had to go to Melbourne airport for transit. Also, I was looking for cheap ticket. The ground crew (he) was so funny, he saw me in my bermuda kinda pants with really nice cartoon and came from behind the counter wanna dance with me.. aiks.... so embarrassing... pengsan lar..

I arrived back to Malaysia (KLIA) about midnight. I have not seen my parents for more than 2 years and vice versa, will they recognise me? Will I recognise them? I was thinking a lot of questions on my way back, some really silly ones..

So, I arrived at KLIA (1st time at this new airport ler.. When I left, I was at Subang airport). Custome clearance was shocking. The officer was asking me question and I couldn't understand him. At first, I thought I didn't pay attention. Then, I got him to repeat himself. I still couldn't get him. I was a little panic, was there anything wrong with my passport? Then, he looked at me puzzled. He asked again, where are you from? (arh.. this I know. This is English...). I told him, I finished studying in New Zealand, now back from Australia. Then, he handed my passport back to me. I still didn't know what he was saying till few days later, I figured, he was asking me in Malay: Cik, dari mana? aiyoo.... pengsan.... How I know lar...

Then, next thing. I lost my luggage. Someone took my luggage. One of it. So, I was making report in English. Was so glad that the officer was helpful.

By the time I cleared everything, it was passed midnight. I came out, didn't see ba and ma. I just sat on the bench waiting. Then, I saw them in hurried and worried. Surprisingly that I was so calm when I told them I lost my luggage. They started to get worry as they didn't see any more passengers came out. They went to check on counter if I boarded, and what happened... haha.... Dramatic....

Reached home about 1am = almost 6am in NZ. I couldn't sleep. And I stayed up...

Upon returning, aside applying to job. I needa adjust myself on the culture here. 2 years can change me so much.. Eg. 1. I wore my shoes into the house (that's what I did when I stayed with Su-gong they all). Shoes right into the bed room. Vacuum lar.. So, mom had to remind me several times. 2. Public transport in Malay. errhh.. I sounded weird. 3. Nasi lemak was super spicy (though I still take spicy food in NZ), nasi lemak was still hot... 4. Weather is so hot and humid...

I was hospitalised right before I went for my interview (I got the job at the end).. Why?? Viral infection. Dad said, it's the nasi lemak and the weather that I cannot take... I agree. I was like fish on land... hahaha.. :D

So, after 10 years now. Many things happened... I still missed those time we spent in NZ..... It's not just words/ blog can do. It's there in my heart and up there in my memory.... :)