Monday, November 19, 2007

The Land of the Great outdoors

The Long awaiting up date of my trip to New Zealand! Finally, some spare time to load some photos and useful information of the country and people. Think i`m gona try to convert my blog to a traveller's log. Thats provided i`m travelling a few times in one month. But Nov is really my travelling month. Fantastic! Anyway, here goes my log in...

Trip down to New Zealand is surely interesting and refreshing. The Country is clean, kina freezing at times and people are awfully friendly. Its a much slower pace country compare to Singapore with lotsa fantastic view of the greens and blues. Went over on a Sat night to Palmerston North to settle my Education in Massey University. Its a 10hours flight down to Auckland, thereafter, 1 hour flight over to Palmerston North. By the time i`m there with an aching back and terrible messed up bio-clock, its already Sunday's late afternoon and shops were all shutted at 5pm. New Zealand is 5 hours ahead of Singapore!



The Signature Clock Tower that stand tall and proud in the midst of "The Square"
"Te Marae O Hine" - The Courtyard of the daughter of peace
its really really cold and beautiful at night as the tower lights up in different colours
Staying at the top floor of @ The Hub
The suit for the all important interview..
This is one of the few Pub, Bar and Cafe in Palmy. Its a place filled with Uni students, young teenager and young adult that are looking for some place to chillout and a gd meal. Palmy has a few church and most of the people staying around are Christians
Palmy is home to the New Zealand Ruby Museum. Its a place of history, honour and pride!
There are lotsa outdoor activities in New Zealand and Palmy. One of which is Shooting! Guns are easily available off the shelves. Other then that, there is also a great deal of Cycling and off road trails, Water sports and Adventure in the great outdoor.
Travelling around Palmy is pretty easy. If you are going over to the sch which is at the other end of town, juz take a bus from the main street which will cost around NZ$2. Else, cab will be a more direct way of travelling but it will cost you quite abit. Abit more expensive then taking a cab in Singapore but the cab drivers are really friendly and safe! Else, walking will be the best way to travel in Palmy. Everything is build around "The Square". Shopping Centers, Church, Information Center is right at "The Square". So its not to bad to have strong legs and start walking. Another way of travel is to get a car, prices from NZ$19 to NZ$60 a day depend on what kind and how big you want your cruiser to be!
Other interesting place to visit in Palmy will be the Ruby Museum on Cuba St, abt 10 to 15mins walk from "The Square". Its the home ground of the All Blacks Ruby Team and it has a rich history of Ruby Championships and International games. Its free entry to the Museum and photography is allowed! Next will be Ongley Park on Fitzherbert Ave. Its an award winning park in New Zealand for running 4 years if i'm not wrong. Great place for photo taking and enjoying the view. In General, Palmy is a University Town with lotsa young kids and international students. Lotsa interesting avenue can be found around Palmy but it will surely take a long time to show and tell. Therefore if you are goin to Palmerston North for visiting or juz travelling around, head to the information Centre and check out the stuff.

I also went down to the Capital of New Zealand which is abt 2 - 3 hours train ride away from Palmy, Wellington! Taking a train early in the morning at 0615 from the train station is really no joke. Gona take a 20mins walk from where i stay in the freezing cold with the sun still rising off the horizon. Train ride cost around NZ$22 to Wellington and if you are stopping at any other stops before Wellington then its different cost. There is only one train ride from Palmy to Wellington, if you missed it then you can always go down to the main street and take a bus which will cost around NZ$35 for one-way ticket. Which will take slightly more than 3 hours! The Station is located on Bunny St and you can have some breakfast around the area since the shops will open around 1000hrs.

Some pretty important delegate from Argentina are in the area, so there are lotsa police officers on the streets.. But i'm surprice their TPs are using BMW bikes..
Memorial Cranes that still stand at the harbour. Its part of their history as it was once a trading port in Wellington.
It still work once in a while..
This outdoor activities shop do indoor rock climbing and sells 2nd hand kayaks, water activity stuff and roller blading. They also do trips in groups and courses.
Taking my picture in a museum. This was once the chart of their Mayor back in those days! Interesting Buttons..
Houses in Wellington are mostly build on the hills and facing the harbour. I wld love to buy a house here.. No need air con and everymorning, i will be greeted by fresh ocean breeze.
The Statue that represent the levels and people of Wellington.
There are a few of this stone tablets around the entire coast lines.. Come works of wisdom i guess.
Te Papa Museum, one of the attraction in Wellington. Its' like a Science Centre but it has rich educational values in the art as it educate its' vistors of how New Zealand is form and the future of the Kiwis..Since i have been walking all morning looking at art and culture of the City, i decide to reward myself to a delicious meal at Red Dogs. Its a pretty nice place for a meal as i can watch people walk pass their full glass panel.
Cabonara Pasta and a Pint of Local Beer... Juz what i need...
This is a shop that sells party drugs. I'm not kidding and you din hear me wrong. They have around 15 to 20 kinds of party drugs for dinner party and level of fun! Prices are as cheap as getting a tin of mint from any stalls. They also sell weed and all kind of "smoke". We shld really party sometime in New Zealand.. Damn!
Wellington is full of backpackers and outdoor adventurers. At almost every other street, you can find yourself walking into an outdoor shop looking at track shoes, tents, sleeping bags, ropes and other equipments. There are also slower activites like City & Sea Museum at Queens Wharf or take a Scenic Adventure from the sky with Helipro also located at Queens Wharf. The view will surely blow you away! Else, you can rent a car then go for a Wine trail hunt around Wellington.
Shopping is a must in Wellington. Main shopping streets are Cuba Street and Lambton Quay! Cuba street is like 2 rows of shops that sell funky stuff and Lambton Quay is like Orchard Road..
Although Wellington is known as the Capital of New Zealand, Auckland is considered the hub of all international trades and acts as the 2nd Capital of New Zealand. Auckland is covered with Asian people, especially Japanese and Chinese. I was living on Victoria Street which is one street away from the main shopping area of Auckland. Travellers were everywhere and i can often hear Japanese or Chinese language being spoken on the street.
This is the Sky tower, which is the tallest building in Auckland. You can do Sky Jumps, Sky walks or juz go for the observatory to take some photos or have a cup of coffee at the highest point. This is also the place for Casino 24/7! Went in to take a look and wasn`t really that bad.
Photo from the 2nd top floor..
Walking on thin glass, if it crack then i shall see all you guys in heaven!
Few street away from Skytower is Victoria Park Market, you can get all the local products here.
This was taken as i walked through this block of houses built by the viaduct. The houses are really really nice and this is actually their backyard where the owners can park their boats or yacht.
But if you yacht is too big to go into the backyard, you can always park it behid at the back..
Jus like these few nice looking yacht! The one at the center cost around USD$500,000! Father in heaven, i`m really not asking for much but juz one of that for chirstmas present will be enough. haha....
This boat is not for sale.. its a refurbished boat if i`m not wrong with some high tech equipments on board. Wld love to sale in one of them if i get a chance...
Dinner was at this place call Y.Not! The name of this place remind me of a fren of mine, Nigel, and a place we visited in Singapore! Some horrible experience that really really open my eyes to a different whole back home.
Lamb Rank and local beer as i was the only fool who sat outside by the coast in the cold cold weather. But the waitress are kina pretty and friendly!
Next will be drinking at minus 5. I know, friends must be thinking that i`m crazy when the weather is already soo cold and i`m still going to drink at somewhere with their cooler is turned down to -5 deg. But it was a good experience!
Some travellers i met at the bar. These guys were from LA and Califonia. Came over for holidays as well and will be leaving the next day! Swell group of travellers as we chat the night away and drink. The glasses were made of ice and cocktails were going for a good price! Around the area were some other pubs with live bands or bars for juz chilling out! Its a one stop area for all the night activities. There are also clubs at backpackers' lodge and its RnB all night long.
Breakfast was serve at this Masala Dosa Store in Aotea Market. Aotea Market only open on Sat and Sunday. Juz like a Flea Market but their products are mostly first hand and hand made but the owner or local factories.
another interesting pub at Aotea Market
There are soo much more to do as well in Auckland, like Bungy Jump off Auckland Harbour Bridge for NZ$100, pick up point from viaduct harbour, Rainbow's End Theme Park at Manukau City; not to far away from Auckland city or you can try Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter Underwater World, pick up from Sky city Atrium NZ$2 for bus fare and NZ$29.50 for admissions. If simple outdoor adventure will do juz fine then you can try 4 wheel motor bike Safaris by 4 track Adventure, off Auckland City, pickup from Central City and bus fare is NZ$40 event is like one full or half day worth pricing at NZ$135 to NZ$235.
Shopping Areas are on Queen Street area, Aotea Market and Victoria Park Market. Drink your day away at the Viaduct Harbour as you can find good food, good music and awesome drinks.
More information can be found in all information centre located in all cities. That will and must be the first place to visit to equip yourself with locate area information, maps and important information to make your trip worthwhile.
Well, New Zealand Trip has open up more outdoor adventure sports to me and sure enough if i ever go over to study, my end of semester trip will most likely be working and travelling to these activities. Any frens who are interest can let me kneo we can go over some great adventure..
Next will be LimeSonic Bang at Sentosa. It was a local band party on the beach starting as early as 1300hrs. Till late or rather early the next day 0300hrs the next day. Was the day where i have to condition myself back to the local weather. It damn hot!!
This Ipod shuffle isn't something i bought off the shelve. Its my first present won from LimeSonic Bang.. Yup, there was apparently some Aids contest thingy where they asked some question over the sms and the first one of the set of question will win an ipod shuffle. And i'm the first proud owner to win the first set of question. If i knew, i wun get my Zenstone Plus or Ipod Nano. hai.. now I got some many Mp3 player.. damn...
This is my belated prize from a dear friend of mine, Fir! Nice ehz..
Finally coming to the end of my travel blog on New Zealand. There is juz soo many photos and information to share but if you guys wanna kneo anything juz msg me! Wld love to help as much as i can! Next stop will be Japan... Kawayi, Kiray des shi.mai...






Friday, November 2, 2007

P.Pangkok Island Trip with 8 Days Magazine




Well, this has been a really tiring trip for me but njoyed myself nevertheless! Bros, we shld go there for relax and chill out by the beach! Do some island hopping or some water sports. Juz that could we take turns to drive if we do! hehe...



On the 26th Oct early morning, we gathered at raffles marina country club located near 2nd link (Tuas) for a short briefing before departing on our close to 10hour jounery to P.Pangkok island, Damai Laut.


I believe i have drove 6ookm up north and 8hours behid the wheel! What a way to spend my birthday. But wasn`t too bad as i had my parents in the car!




The hotel is really nice and is like a country club where they have one of the nicest golf course and private jetty to ferry visitors to P.Pangkok. We were welcome by banners, local drinks and speed check-in to our rooms! Rest is really what i want aft the long speedy drive! My cruise is 140km/h min and max i hid on that day was 180km/h. On the return trip i hid 195km/h, while racin with a E320 Merc. Not to bad ehz!
We were allowed to rest for the night to get back our energy before taking the private ferry to P.pangkok island for our tour!



The best singaporean's past time.. Shopping for whatever that comes along the way!


The stuff on board was soo excited that we manage to fly the first one. He brought more out to test and try! Damn.. I think he must have love to fly kites coz there are at least 15 different kites in that black trash bag!

Trip to P.Pangkok was exciting and enriching with historys and all.. After we return to our rooms, i can`t help but to book meself a slot at the hotel spa and massage parlour! I need to rest and relax my back muscle from all that driving!

The evening entertainment was brought to us by Mediacorp 8days. Host was none other than Irene Ang aka Rosie from PCK Pte Ltd.. She was really well-spoken and able to "Ra-Ra" the crowd. Lotsa fun and laughter could be heard throughout the enitre pool BBQ.

Dinner is serve!!!

There are lucky draws, games and prizes to be won during the entire evening I won something too in the lucky draw. Was some 2nd prize at the draw! Gem or something...
Mommy, you kneo we are family and little jokes like this wun send us into cold war rite! haha.. Aniway, dinner wasn`t that bad and everyone had fun.
The next day was a trip to Kellie's Castle abt an hour away from the hotel and Caving at Gua.
Some information gathered at the enterence of the cave!
Gathering for a light snack before heading in for a 2 hour caving...

First, we toold the water trial into the cave. Was like abit of river crossing but the water level is only till ankle's deep for the beginning! Was thinking if Xiaohui (OCS mate) wld go in for the caving.. hmm...
Getting really dark and wet! All the strutures in the cave are nature and its juz fantastic.




Sorrie guys, had use more photos than words this time round coz a picture paints a thousand words rite! Anyway, i really had to say, its really an interesting trip! Din expect to had soo much fun and see soo many things. Level for Driving in malaysia alsohas up one level. To drive in malaysia is actually quite dangerous if you dun kneo the environment well and the signs along the road! Well, this chapter of road trip has finally ended and next road trip wld most likely with the gang or something!

Next event will be Recce trip to Massey Uni, New Zealand! Departure on the 10th Nov night and be back on the 16th Nov. Can`t wait to go over to settle my study stuff and stay flying all over again! Kina miss holding the controls and doing some aeros. But i guess there wun be ani aeros in commercial flights! hai...

Right after that will be Japan trip to Visit Uncle Itto and Mrs. Itto in Tokyo! -- kon.ni.chi.wa wa.ta.shino na.ma.e wa Louis des! Wa.ta.shi o.moy.mas a.na.ta sek.shi... hahahaha... Wa.ta.shi no shit.te i.ru hi.to ni yo.ku ni.te i.mas! i kap.pu.ru dato o.moy.mas -- which means, " Hello, My name is Louis! I think you are hot... hahahaha... You look like someone i know! i think we are good together" Damn.. Think by the time i say all that she propably walked away.. haha.. Ka.wa.i...