Te Puke ---> Rotorua ---> Taupo ---> Turangi ---> National Park ---> Hamilton ---> Castlerock ---> Waitomo Caves
Cool, im finally on the go again, was travelling with Helen and John and we did Sky diving and Skiing, but right now im travelling on my own as everyone has different travel plans and routes...they have more time in NZ and hence they can take their time and stay on longer in any places they like...
Right now im at Waitomo Caves where im waiting to do Black water rafting and explore the glowworm caves...they are gonna upgrade me to do the abseilling FOC which is worth $165 when ive only paid $90 for the innitial black water rafting trip...reason? being cute is an advantage..haha....but it is actually because of some mishandling of my bookings....
there's no cd rom here hence i cant upload my skiing trip photos as well as the sky diving ones...no words can describe my sky-diving experience....it is...as i said...indescribable...
it was all good fun...jumping off the plane and free falling and parachuting...i can only ask you guys to try it yourself, see if you could put them in words...
The skiing trip was great too, i discovered that i have a natural talent of skiing...it was my first experience and i was skiing down the slopes in no time at all! of course there were some bumps and falls....but no pain, no gain, right?
Ive spent quite some money for the past few days...with some unfortunate events adding toll to wasting more money...yeah...the car couldnt start one morning when we were suppose to do snow boarding...and then i got a speeding ticket for travelling at 68k/h...unbelievable...
now let's see my expenditure for three days...excluding petrol which is NZD $1.70 per litre...and food...
Sky-Diving : $150
Skiing : $80
Speeding ticket: $120
Repairing car: $150
Accommodation for three days: $60
Total: NZD $560
im currently paying $26 a night at the hostel here in Waitomo...really needa find a place to settle down soon...
the plan now is to go back to National park where i left my hand phone charger there and back to Tauranga where i left my camera battery charger...im getting more absent minded as days go by...it must be all the travelling...
i need a job to get some money to purchase my air ticket to Australia...
wish me luck...
more photos soon...
Friday, June 30, 2006
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Ive mentioned before that ever since i arrived in NZ, ive been a very good malaysian ambassador, telling people to visit the country and where they should go, and what to do...
So recently ive received a picture from 'team sweden', three swedish kids that ive met in KeriKeri, and they have just finished their Malaysia tour and have been to various places like Taman Negara, KL, and Perhentian island...all of which that ive recommended them to go...
it's always a good feeling when others visit your country, just like im visiting someone else's country...and i feel that ive done my bit in promoting my own country...i can only wish they dont get bad experiences there...
Dont let me down, malaysia...
Team sweden - Anders, Mattias, and Nicolas
The boys at the twin towers...
So recently ive received a picture from 'team sweden', three swedish kids that ive met in KeriKeri, and they have just finished their Malaysia tour and have been to various places like Taman Negara, KL, and Perhentian island...all of which that ive recommended them to go...
it's always a good feeling when others visit your country, just like im visiting someone else's country...and i feel that ive done my bit in promoting my own country...i can only wish they dont get bad experiences there...
Dont let me down, malaysia...
Team sweden - Anders, Mattias, and Nicolas
The boys at the twin towers...
Out of boredom yesterday, my houseparents were outstation, and all the other folks were working, helen and I thought we would go to the park...so we spent a lovely afternoon strolling under the sun and enjoying the cool breeze...it wasnt so cold when the sun is out...
but really, i cant walk in the park everyday, i really needa move on to a new place soon....that is, national park, turangi, and ohakune...the central plateau...will do so on saturday...
Giant Kiwifruit
Helen reaching out for Kiwi fruit
leaves are all gone now
Resting after a long walk
Giant Maze
Giant Kiwi bird
but really, i cant walk in the park everyday, i really needa move on to a new place soon....that is, national park, turangi, and ohakune...the central plateau...will do so on saturday...
Giant Kiwifruit
Helen reaching out for Kiwi fruit
leaves are all gone now
Resting after a long walk
Giant Maze
Giant Kiwi bird
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Monday, June 19, 2006
Rotorua
Weather was bad yesterday with pouring rain and howling wind...it was cold! despite that it didnt dampen our mood to travel to Rotorua for a daytrip...so after morning devotion, john, helen, DJ and myself hit the road after putting on some thermals...we packed some light snacks of Sandwiches, cookies, and lamingtons, tonnes of maps and brochures to get us around, and then we set off...
our first stop was the geothermal village of Wakarewarewa where we witnessed some volcanic activies of Geyser and mudpools and hot steam...the place was warm with all that boiling water but it sure stinked badly, from the sulphur, that is...we got used to the smell quickly and moved on to visit the village...We didnt need to pay the entrance fee of $20 because we know someone who's living there...I bought a bone carving necklace for $40 and really love it..i chose the fish hook which represents strength and determination, it also brings peace, prosperity and good health...now that's what i need....
We later went on to do Zorbing...the idea of a Zorb is to roll down the hill in a gigantic ball, and yes, we will be inside the ball...since the weather wasnt so good with strong wind, we had to do the hydro-zorb, and it literally means zorbing with water...as if it wasnt cold enough...anyway we all had great fun even though we were all soaking wet and was freezing to death at the end of the journey...the price was $45 per person but we chose to do it together so it only costs us $31 each...
i wanted to do the luge but the weather really wasnt permitting, so we headed back in the evening, skipping the hot water pool as no one brought their 'togs' (swimsuit-NZ slang)...
there was a power outage when we got back and we all had fun cooking in the dark and having a candle-lit dinner...
it's all good...
Boiling pool and sulphur stained ground
John, Helen and DJ(kiwi) at Wakarewarewa
My bone carving necklace
candle-lit dinner
Skyline up the mountain to do Luge
Zorb
Mud pool
Geyser
DJ and Helen trying out the Maori Flute
Weather was bad yesterday with pouring rain and howling wind...it was cold! despite that it didnt dampen our mood to travel to Rotorua for a daytrip...so after morning devotion, john, helen, DJ and myself hit the road after putting on some thermals...we packed some light snacks of Sandwiches, cookies, and lamingtons, tonnes of maps and brochures to get us around, and then we set off...
our first stop was the geothermal village of Wakarewarewa where we witnessed some volcanic activies of Geyser and mudpools and hot steam...the place was warm with all that boiling water but it sure stinked badly, from the sulphur, that is...we got used to the smell quickly and moved on to visit the village...We didnt need to pay the entrance fee of $20 because we know someone who's living there...I bought a bone carving necklace for $40 and really love it..i chose the fish hook which represents strength and determination, it also brings peace, prosperity and good health...now that's what i need....
We later went on to do Zorbing...the idea of a Zorb is to roll down the hill in a gigantic ball, and yes, we will be inside the ball...since the weather wasnt so good with strong wind, we had to do the hydro-zorb, and it literally means zorbing with water...as if it wasnt cold enough...anyway we all had great fun even though we were all soaking wet and was freezing to death at the end of the journey...the price was $45 per person but we chose to do it together so it only costs us $31 each...
i wanted to do the luge but the weather really wasnt permitting, so we headed back in the evening, skipping the hot water pool as no one brought their 'togs' (swimsuit-NZ slang)...
there was a power outage when we got back and we all had fun cooking in the dark and having a candle-lit dinner...
it's all good...
Boiling pool and sulphur stained ground
John, Helen and DJ(kiwi) at Wakarewarewa
My bone carving necklace
candle-lit dinner
Skyline up the mountain to do Luge
Zorb
Mud pool
Geyser
DJ and Helen trying out the Maori Flute
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Aotearoa - the land of the long white cloud...
This is all so touching...my heart is deeply moved by the hospitality that the maoris has shown...the Hangi was a huge success, there was a congregation from eight nations and from friends and families of our host...they started preparing the food before dawn while we were all still sleeping, and the work went on till noon...
and what a spread it is, ive never seen a feast at such a scale before, we have different meats and vegetable, pumpkins, potatoes, kumaras...dessert was absolutely delicious too...and what a blessed moment when everyone took turn saying grace before we tucked into the food...i chose to say grace in chinese language when it was my turn because i really couldnt think of any malay words at the moment...then we have the french, the czech, brazil, korean, taiwan, england, and maori version...to think of such a cross cultural event taking place where everyone comes together as one, irregardless of the differences and backgrounds...
and after that we have some guests performing maori songs, it was lovely! it's one of those songs and rhythms that touches one's heart...you just didnt want it to come to an end...our housefather later gave us each a token of appreciation - a NewZealand T-shirt...to thank us for staying with them, that is so sweet...
ive decided to stay with them for another week...i just couldnt leave this lovely family, not after such a grand and humble treatment from them...the french couple have decided to stay on too for another week...i dont need to move on in such a haste afterall, ive decided that i have all the time in the world...i can always come back in the summer months...would just wanna spend some quality time with this blessed family right now...
Picking some mandarins for the banquet
Everyone wearing their new T-shirt
My t-Shirt (Kia Mana - Be Strong)
some of the food that was served
Meat slicing
Yummy
treasures unveiled
the hot rocks
the earth is removed to uncover the food
The food was buried underneath the ground, on top of burning rocks
This is all so touching...my heart is deeply moved by the hospitality that the maoris has shown...the Hangi was a huge success, there was a congregation from eight nations and from friends and families of our host...they started preparing the food before dawn while we were all still sleeping, and the work went on till noon...
and what a spread it is, ive never seen a feast at such a scale before, we have different meats and vegetable, pumpkins, potatoes, kumaras...dessert was absolutely delicious too...and what a blessed moment when everyone took turn saying grace before we tucked into the food...i chose to say grace in chinese language when it was my turn because i really couldnt think of any malay words at the moment...then we have the french, the czech, brazil, korean, taiwan, england, and maori version...to think of such a cross cultural event taking place where everyone comes together as one, irregardless of the differences and backgrounds...
and after that we have some guests performing maori songs, it was lovely! it's one of those songs and rhythms that touches one's heart...you just didnt want it to come to an end...our housefather later gave us each a token of appreciation - a NewZealand T-shirt...to thank us for staying with them, that is so sweet...
ive decided to stay with them for another week...i just couldnt leave this lovely family, not after such a grand and humble treatment from them...the french couple have decided to stay on too for another week...i dont need to move on in such a haste afterall, ive decided that i have all the time in the world...i can always come back in the summer months...would just wanna spend some quality time with this blessed family right now...
Picking some mandarins for the banquet
Everyone wearing their new T-shirt
My t-Shirt (Kia Mana - Be Strong)
some of the food that was served
Meat slicing 
Yummy
treasures unveiled
the hot rocks
the earth is removed to uncover the food
The food was buried underneath the ground, on top of burning rocks
It's getting freezingly cold that it is no longer a luxury to walk on the street...im driving most of the time now even when we went clubbing yesternight...the guys protested that i shouldnt drink driving and we should walk to the bar instead, but they later thought it was a good idea afterall when the cold creeps in...
Lucas and John at the bar
icicles on the car window every morning and night
my hotwater bottle
Lucas and John at the bar
icicles on the car window every morning and night
my hotwater bottle
So john was sick the other day and hence decided that he would cook us something special...i still dont see the relation between sick and cooking but anyway, when i came home there was dinner served...it was made of some cauliflower broth and meat and mashed potatoes...and damn, it was scrumptious! im always amazed at how all these guys that ive met here can cook so superbly well...it is always embarrassing because im forever cooking instant meals like pasta and steaks...im glad everyone is taking sympathy on me and feeding me...we malaysian guys should start paying more attention in this area...cooking...
Risotto (Matthew's cooking)
Matthew (France), John (Czech) and Lise (France)
Ada, Reg, Nicky and Helen (Taiwan)
The maori family im staying with ( plus john and matthew)
John (Czech) and Jeannie (Korea)
John's cooking
Risotto (Matthew's cooking)
Matthew (France), John (Czech) and Lise (France)
Ada, Reg, Nicky and Helen (Taiwan)
The maori family im staying with ( plus john and matthew)
John (Czech) and Jeannie (Korea) 
John's cooking
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Te Puke
We were supposed to go skiing today and explore the Tongariro national park for a three-day tour, but there is a slight change of plan, as usual...
Since i've planned to leave in a couple of days to another town, my houseparents have decided that they are gonna throw a 'Hangi' party for all of us...a Hangi is a traditional Maori Feast that is put up whenever there is some kinda celebration going on or when they want to honour a visiting guest...i would like to think that they are not celebrating of my departure but rather to let me experience the Maori culture, as ive mentioned to them before that i would like to try the Hangi one day...It is a real blessing staying in with a Maori family that i get to experience the real maori lifestyle instead of some commercialized village showcasing Maori people to the tourist...Like the one in Rotorua where they charge $20 per entry just to put on a show for you...im experiencing the real deal right now, for free...
so we are to have the feast tomorrow at lunch time where they will dig up a hole and buried the prepared food underneath the groud...a fire will then be lighted up on top of the soil and the food will be cooked with the heat generated...that's the whole idea from a theoretical point of view...ive only seen it on discovery channel to be quite honest...will describe more after tomorrow...
We went shopping earlier with Ada and Reg and i managed to buy some thermal underwears, pantyhose, scarf and beanie, for my skiing trip...ive never put on a pantyhose before, and ive always thought that only gals wear them, so when i told my kiwi friends such, they laughed and said that i will be freezing as hell if i dont put them on...it will be weird wearing tights underneath my pants, but i'll get used to it...
ive also bought a hot water bottle to keep myself warm, and right now im sure im ready to challenge the skiing field...it cant be that cold, right? I'll survive...
another plan diversion is that i think i wont be bringing my car down to south island...ive just checked on the ferry ticket online and it is a whopping $225, just to bring the car accross Cook Straits...such daylight robbery...so the tentative idea is to sell the car here, and get another one down in south island, i really need a car in south island, too many places to go to that is off the beated track...i aspire to grab lotsa breathtaking pictures for your viewing pleasure...
I will need to find a job soon after my skiing trip, as the ski resorts offer only expensive and more expensive packages...not to mention about hiring skiing gears and the lift service up the mountain...alot of money is involved here...
But it will be worthwhile...
Kiwi fruit orchard (i tried picking kiwi fruit for three days)
We were supposed to go skiing today and explore the Tongariro national park for a three-day tour, but there is a slight change of plan, as usual...
Since i've planned to leave in a couple of days to another town, my houseparents have decided that they are gonna throw a 'Hangi' party for all of us...a Hangi is a traditional Maori Feast that is put up whenever there is some kinda celebration going on or when they want to honour a visiting guest...i would like to think that they are not celebrating of my departure but rather to let me experience the Maori culture, as ive mentioned to them before that i would like to try the Hangi one day...It is a real blessing staying in with a Maori family that i get to experience the real maori lifestyle instead of some commercialized village showcasing Maori people to the tourist...Like the one in Rotorua where they charge $20 per entry just to put on a show for you...im experiencing the real deal right now, for free...
so we are to have the feast tomorrow at lunch time where they will dig up a hole and buried the prepared food underneath the groud...a fire will then be lighted up on top of the soil and the food will be cooked with the heat generated...that's the whole idea from a theoretical point of view...ive only seen it on discovery channel to be quite honest...will describe more after tomorrow...
We went shopping earlier with Ada and Reg and i managed to buy some thermal underwears, pantyhose, scarf and beanie, for my skiing trip...ive never put on a pantyhose before, and ive always thought that only gals wear them, so when i told my kiwi friends such, they laughed and said that i will be freezing as hell if i dont put them on...it will be weird wearing tights underneath my pants, but i'll get used to it...
ive also bought a hot water bottle to keep myself warm, and right now im sure im ready to challenge the skiing field...it cant be that cold, right? I'll survive...
another plan diversion is that i think i wont be bringing my car down to south island...ive just checked on the ferry ticket online and it is a whopping $225, just to bring the car accross Cook Straits...such daylight robbery...so the tentative idea is to sell the car here, and get another one down in south island, i really need a car in south island, too many places to go to that is off the beated track...i aspire to grab lotsa breathtaking pictures for your viewing pleasure...
I will need to find a job soon after my skiing trip, as the ski resorts offer only expensive and more expensive packages...not to mention about hiring skiing gears and the lift service up the mountain...alot of money is involved here...
But it will be worthwhile...
Kiwi fruit orchard (i tried picking kiwi fruit for three days)
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Self-drive trip has begun
My gorgeous car
Hot water beach, Whitianga
View from Auckland sky tower with Auckland University in between the domain
Rangitoto Volcanic island
Auckland, City of sail...
Car buried from high tide
Hole in the rock
Sand toboganning 
ninety mile beach
This is where im currently staying
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