The Whisper of Aotearoa

The evil side of me tends to complain that New Zealand does not have much to offer apart from their naturally gifted  landscape and their extreme crazy interest on adrenaline rush sports . Always. Even after half a year in the land of the long white cloud. The pakeha "the non-indigenous" of New Zealand  namely the European has dominated big part of their presented culture. Dunedin as a Scottish town,  Christchurch as a English town, and there is this French town in the North island. Needless to mention the Asian conquered Auckland. Fair enough that New Zealand is a migration country. 

John Key and the crew emphasized on not to lose the genuine identity of the Maori culture every now and then. But I guess Rotorua is the only place that you don't feel like you are just in another English town. Forgive me for not being traveling enough, to see enough to make the judgement. I hope New Zealand can prove me wrong at the later stage of my journey.

5 Months Since........

 

Well Well...my last entry was like two months ago and it was about my new accommodation back in Motueka. There were so many happenings that I wish to keep it updated. Abel Tasman National Park, Golden Bay, Lake Rotoiti, Motueka's Farewell, and welcoming Blenheim...these are the "a lots" that I'm suppose to share but laziness beat all the intention. Okie...I guess I will just do a quick summary to cut the queue short.

The Abel Tasman National Park, The smallest national park yet the most crowded and used of it kind in New Zealand. It was so happen that I was based in Motueka for three months which is the entrance to the national park and it makes no excuse for me to pull my lazy legs on the tramping track of the national park. The whole track needs three days to cover but we opted for the parts which said to be the most scenic. And yeah, it was beautiful but least to breathtaking.

It was in New Zealand that I encountered one of the most stunning beach, The Wharariki Beach of Golden Bay. The sea breeze washing it sea shores and make you feel like you are actually in a desert. A slight 20 mins hill walk across a valley leads me to one of the most dramatic landscape I ever seen. The sea breeze washing it sea shores and make you feel like you are actually in a desert.

 It was in this beach that you get free mussels to pick with cuddly fur seals by the side.

Then, Lake Rotoiti of Nelson national park which provide postcard standard's view.

I end up in Blenheim of Malborough region for 3 weeks. This is the golden place of New Zealand Wine industry. It was in Blenheim that I got the outdoor working experience. Wrapping and pruning @ mere 2 degrees in a bloody winter morning ain't an experience to behold. Trust me !! 

My mobile life style then brought me to try the infamous crayfish mornay of Kaikoura, a whale watching little town.

I got myself back to Christchurch again. A city that I first landed in New Zealand. Time flies and it had been five months since. It was here that I decided to gave up my initial intention five months ago and yeah, I'm still living pretty well without you.

And now here I am, the city of sails, Auckland. Perhaps the only real metropolitan of New Zealand. It is great to be back on a city life style. 


A rainy day @ Auckland Library.

Mummy Mummy.....I just moved in to a new house...

 

 I finally moved in to a new place after two odd months in a backpackers alike budget accommodation which is not so budget at all. My new place, twin oaks cottage is much cheaper goes at only NZD50 per week before the utilities bill. Most importantly with a great sense of family feeling and not a bloody backpackers where travelers come and go the next day.

A very Kiwi's cuddly cottage.

With magnificent view surrounding the neighborhood. A view that you will usually paying money for your resort to be located at.

A living room which is great for movie watching. We will be spending endless night on movies and the FIFA world cup is coming soon. Hopefully there will be live telecast on the Kiwi's national TV.

 

 The only drawback - bunk bed which is making a lot of noise.

 We start off our house warming with a steamboat in this bloody cold winter night.

There might be vandalism in the area ? as i noticed a car with chips and chicken bones on top. Or perhaps the Kiwis prefer to savor their fried chicken and chips on their car's roof.

Crossover Potluck - 08 May 2010

It was my 9th weeks of apples packing with K&Mclean packhouse. My hands are now officially numb, senseless and immune to the cut of the freaking boxes. That is how a man's hands suppose to be anyway, rough and tough.

With the apple packing season coming near to its end. We have to bid farewell almost every week. Luz, a hongkies from our accommodation and Jane, a Taiwanese of the other house are the lucky one this week. We all decided to throw a crossover potluck party at their place.

凉畔粉丝，a hit dish in every of our farewell. Have always been the favourite of all, but fail to impress tonight. Perhaps too much chilli ?

Hand Made Dumplings.

 My version of hand made dumplings. A twisted dumpling with a Xiao Long Bao looks.

Claypot chicken rice for those who miss home.

Soupy Bak Kut Teh from Agnes, the boss.

Lots of culinary goodness to satisfy gluttons like me.

Lots of which I know will only meet once in a life time. That's when people comes people goes.We share the happiness and fun together and we wish each other best of luck when bid farewell. Thanks god, there is facebook to keep in touch.

Some crazy moments.

And some lovely memories.

Anzac Day Dawn Service @ Motueka Memorial Park 25 April

Anzac (Australia & New Zealand Army Corps) Day falls on the 25 April and it is unfortunately a Sunday and without a replacement public holiday. Anzac day is the national remembrance day in the honours of army who fought in wars. I was able to make up with the Anzac Day Dawn Service in Motueka Memorial Park.

Artificial poppies, a symbol of remembrance by the R.S.A.

 

The R.S.A was kind enough to serve Fish & Chips as breakfast for everyone who attended the memorial service. It was just right on my spot as I had been craving for fish & chips over the week and most of all these are free and free flow.....

Free flow beer as well....good on you R.S.A..cheers

The Best of New Zealand

What I reckon you should enjoy to the fullest when you are in New Zealand.

The very best full cream fresh milk which got me extra 10 KG in England. And they have the equally good in NZ too. Sinfully delicious.

You can pretty much assume that awesome milk comes with great cheese too.

The NZ ice cream are milky creamy and a twist of fruity Boysenberry will send you near to orgasm.

Super fresh tomatoes, apple cucumbers, apples, kiwi.......thanks to the Kiwi's rich agri, horticulture.

NZ produces some of the finest, prime quality lamb in the world. The excellence of the quality makes my cooking taste like Gordon Ramsay's version.

The salmon here are very reasonably priced that you can have salmon pasta everyday.

I never appreciate the English pie during my England days. Up till I went back to Malaysia that I realized a preparation of a fine pie is a form of kitchen art too. And NZ pie is one of those snacks that I frequent every now and then.

Potato chips/crisps in NZ are very cheap and come with the best quality for junk food. Well..I reckon at least.

Have you ever see a Stingray fin which is a finger's thick ? This sea monster taste like chicken though. Its lack the tenderness of what we usually get back home in Malaysia.

And of course, the best sky view from the land of the long cloud. Happy Easter.

Help Exchange WWOOFING @ Greymouth

I was delighted to start off my first real event in New Zealand with a homestay/help exchange in a lovely family @ Greymouth. Susan, an American who married Jeffrey, the Kiwi and had since settle down for 15 years in the west coast with a very adorable 11 years old young man, Navare. The couple spent a good whole year to built the house themselves with very little professional help. The house is such beautifully situated that you can see sunrise, sunset, scenery mountain and west coast from the living room as well as the master bedroom. You can even has a romantic glance of twinkle in the sky during starry night in their music room. Let alone the stars in the sky to be your companion to sleep.

Greymouth is the biggest town of the west coast with Grey river as the heart of the town. The town used to be the hub of gold mining business in New Zealand.

The weather in the west coast has not particularly win my favor. It has those typical old English gloomy weather lookalike. Gloomy and creepy.

At Susan's place you get to make your own bread. Chelsea the American girl is the best bread baker among us.

Then, you get to have fresh sandwiches for lunch. Fresh tomatoes, lettuces, apple cucumber from Susan's little green house. Life is so beautiful here.

The welcoming dinner. We learn to enjoy the nature taste of food. A perfect getaway from heavy seasoning Malaysian food.

Corned beef stew. Navare's favourite. It's a broth based on whole day cooking of carrots, potatoes, beans, white radish and of course the meat.

I make my first apple cucumber pickle here.

And my first lesson of gold mining from Jeffrey.Cheers. Your family has been a great host.