If u r new to tis blog, u beta start from the first post........ else can get v confused!! Yes, I can write in proper English but this blog is a Singlish one with lots of short forms (v mild only lah!)...... so get used to it!!
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All holidays gotta come to an end yeah? After that, SG looks foreign and super crowded to me....... Well, at least I got all NZzzz memories captured here.......
Travel Route:-
26 Nov 07 to 27 Nov 07 Wellington
28 Nov 07 to 30 Nov 07 Picton
01 Dec 07 to 09 Dec 07 Motueka
10 Dec 07 to 10 Dec 07 Farewell Split region (additonal destination)
11 Dec 07 to 11 Dec 07 Motueka
12 Dec 07 to 25 Dec 07 Nelson
26 Dec 07 to 01 Jan 08 Blenheim
02 Jan 08 to 04 Jan 08 Christchurch (additional destination with day trip to Hanmer Springs)
05 Jan 08 to 07 Jan 08 Kaikoura
08 Jan 08 to 09 Jan 08 Christchurch
10 Jan 08 to 10 Jan 08 Oamaru
11 Jan 08 to 11 Jan 08 Dunedin
12 Jan 08 to 12 Jan 08 Queenstown
13 Jan 08 to 14 Jan 08 Te Anau (with day trip to Milford Sounds)
15 Jan 08 to 15 Jan 08 Queenstown
16 Jan 08 to 17 Jan 08 Mt Cook
18 Jan 08 to 20 Jan 08 Christchurch
Total road distance traveled = ~3300 km
Estimated own expenses = ~S$6,000 (including air fare, excluding souveniors)
Fav city/town = Nelson
Fav park = Queens Garden, Nelson
Fav scenery = Mt Cook
Fav lake = Lake Pukaki
Fav coast = Abel Tasman
Fav activity = Sea Kayak...... + the capsize! Woo hoo!!
Fav food = The different kinds of pies & muffins..... Yum!
Days of casual work = 4 (hahahahaaa!!)
Total income earned = NZD 270 (I filed for tax return some more....... hahahaa!!)
Best times = when I am by myself, make decisions/changes without seeking concurrence/approval from the whole world.
Worst times = sick on last few days......... not enough last min shopping!!
heheh...... watz next??! :D
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Christchurch Cultural Precinct
Was sick during last few days at Christchurch so missed alot of attractions of its cultural precinct http://www.culturalprecinct.co.nz/
The Arts Centre is juz opposite our hostel........ guess wat? I never stepped a foot in! gerr.....
Entry to Christchurch Art GalleryTe Puna o Waiwhetu is FREE but I never stepped a foot in!
To all engineers out there......... who says we always gotta follow 'normal practices'
An outdoor Dyslexia Discovery exhibit
The Arts Centre is juz opposite our hostel........ guess wat? I never stepped a foot in! gerr.....Entry to Christchurch Art GalleryTe Puna o Waiwhetu is FREE but I never stepped a foot in!
To all engineers out there......... who says we always gotta follow 'normal practices'
An outdoor Dyslexia Discovery exhibit
TranzAlpine
Always advertised as one of 6 greatest train journeys in the world, the Tranzalpine departs every morning from Christchurch for Greymouth located at the opposite coast of South Island and returns from Gerymouth to Christchurch in the afternoon.
One of several stops along the way, the train is actually gaining alot of altitude when heading to Gerymouth.
There are actually more beautiful sceneries but either I was blocked in the crowded open cabin or I simply missed the photo opportunities (after getting the camera ready, the scenery is gone long already....... was sick on that day lah!)
One of several stops along the way, the train is actually gaining alot of altitude when heading to Gerymouth.
There are actually more beautiful sceneries but either I was blocked in the crowded open cabin or I simply missed the photo opportunities (after getting the camera ready, the scenery is gone long already....... was sick on that day lah!)Actually, after visiting Mt Cook & other great lakes, the sceneries here don't really impress me.... mayb the winter sceneries will look more magnificent!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Lake Tekapo
Another popular attraction near Mt Cook and a glacial-fed lake like Lake Pukaki.
The clouds looks so low, downsizing those mountains.
The clouds looks so low, downsizing those mountains.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Lake Pukaki
The downstream of grey Tasman River is Lake Pukaki, at the south of Mt Cook. It becomes icy blue in colour due to reflection of light from the fine particles in the lake, a characteristic of glacial-fed lakes.
Can see reflections of clouds on the lake........
Beautiful Mt Cook in the background
Can see reflections of clouds on the lake........Beautiful Mt Cook in the background
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Meeting People - Final Part
7. Another Michelle Asian 20+
She could afford to buy gourmet chocolates but kept asking fellow backpackers for food..... non-stop! She oso likes to find travel companions to share costs, but all r avoiding her!
8. Nadine German 26
She shocked us Asians when she kept saying 'Men in Germany r NOTHING! Really NOTHING!!' Though her mum was against it, she still traveled to NZ on her own for a year for work & tour.
9. Chan YF Malaysian 29
Only this asian recognise why I booked all my accommodation, transportation & tours before coming to NZ...... cuz I'm kiasu Singaporean wat! hahahaa..... When it comes to driving on those super winding NZ mountain roads, we always leave it to this gutsy Malaysian.
10. Natalee English 30+
When we first met, this v frank & direct roommate warned me that she snores v loudly, dislikes pple reading with lights on, dislikes pple chatting over the phone at night, dislikes crumpling sounds of plastic bags........ Heh, she forgot she's a host of the hostel ley, shouldn't she be more considerate to my needs?? Anyhow, still a nice English lady.
11. Vicky Taiwanese 30
The most gutsy solo traveler I have met - she jumped off a moving train to retrieve her fallen luggage, ran after the train and hopped back in at the second last cabin....... Wow!
She could afford to buy gourmet chocolates but kept asking fellow backpackers for food..... non-stop! She oso likes to find travel companions to share costs, but all r avoiding her!
8. Nadine German 26
She shocked us Asians when she kept saying 'Men in Germany r NOTHING! Really NOTHING!!' Though her mum was against it, she still traveled to NZ on her own for a year for work & tour.
9. Chan YF Malaysian 29
Only this asian recognise why I booked all my accommodation, transportation & tours before coming to NZ...... cuz I'm kiasu Singaporean wat! hahahaa..... When it comes to driving on those super winding NZ mountain roads, we always leave it to this gutsy Malaysian.
10. Natalee English 30+
When we first met, this v frank & direct roommate warned me that she snores v loudly, dislikes pple reading with lights on, dislikes pple chatting over the phone at night, dislikes crumpling sounds of plastic bags........ Heh, she forgot she's a host of the hostel ley, shouldn't she be more considerate to my needs?? Anyhow, still a nice English lady.
11. Vicky Taiwanese 30
The most gutsy solo traveler I have met - she jumped off a moving train to retrieve her fallen luggage, ran after the train and hopped back in at the second last cabin....... Wow!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Life will find its way
One may not realise the brown 'stains' on rocks are actually microorganisms growing on the bare rock surfaces. Green moss will then grow over the layer of microorganisms....... amazing. We are actually warned not to step on the 'brown' or 'green' rocks.
Vegetation at Mt Cook can somehow survive in the harsh cold environment, such as this one with spiky leaves in which snow can fall off easily.
Vegetation at Mt Cook can somehow survive in the harsh cold environment, such as this one with spiky leaves in which snow can fall off easily.Tasman River
Here's the beginning of Tasman River where its source is from the Tasman Lake in the background, between the mountains.
Floating ice is still melting as it drifts along the river flow, sounds of ice breaking up could be heard occasionally.
The milky river flows for about 25km to Lake Pukaki.
Just by the powerful forces of glacier weathering, rocks are broken down into various shapes & sizes.
Floating ice is still melting as it drifts along the river flow, sounds of ice breaking up could be heard occasionally.
The milky river flows for about 25km to Lake Pukaki.
Just by the powerful forces of glacier weathering, rocks are broken down into various shapes & sizes. Tasman Lake
On one side of the lateral moraine wall is the green mountain valley.......
On the other side is the grey Tasman glacier/lake. The glacier is at the background between the mountains and there is ice beneath the foreground grey weathered rocks/residues.
After the ice beneath melts, Tasman lake is formed as above with some floating ice. The lake is milky grey as it is mixed with fine particles from weathered rocks.
That's our van way below...... din realised we climbed at least 10+ storeys high!Tasman Valley
Went for a tour to Tasman Valley, one of the active glacier valleys in Mt Cook region. Almost everywhere you can find signs of weathered rocks brought down by glacier/snow during winter.
The above is a permanent waterfall which you can't c the end of falls cuz the water seep through the rocks beneath ground.
The green hill is actually a terminal moraine wall which presently marks the end point of the 29km long Tasman glacier/lake. The glacier may retreat or advance after many years and a new terminal moraine will be then formed.
Looking up a rocky lateral moraine which we had to climb up to c Tasman glacier lake.
Kiwis love Sir Ed
Pardon my ignorance but only now I know one of the 2 who first reach Mt Everest is a Kiwi, Sir Edmund Hillary.
Fondly referred as Sir Ed, he is a HERO to ALL Kiwis. For days after his demise on 11 Jan 08, NZ flags were flown at half mast and a black band was tied around the arm of his statue at Mt Cook Hermitage Hotel. A state funeral was also arranged for this only person to appear on NZ currency ($5 notes) during his lifetime.
To commemorate him, many Kiwis suggested to declare his birthday as a public holiday........ heh.......
The best and most expensive hotel at Mt Cook village.
Fondly referred as Sir Ed, he is a HERO to ALL Kiwis. For days after his demise on 11 Jan 08, NZ flags were flown at half mast and a black band was tied around the arm of his statue at Mt Cook Hermitage Hotel. A state funeral was also arranged for this only person to appear on NZ currency ($5 notes) during his lifetime.
To commemorate him, many Kiwis suggested to declare his birthday as a public holiday........ heh.......
The best and most expensive hotel at Mt Cook village.
Mt Cook Surroundings
From icy mountains or barren ones....... they r all at Mt Cook region.......
The ice on mountain is permanent, even in summer.
Notice the moon above this barren weathered mountain
Many years of weathering by snow and glaciers have brought tons of rocks to the ground.
The ice on mountain is permanent, even in summer.Notice the moon above this barren weathered mountain
Many years of weathering by snow and glaciers have brought tons of rocks to the ground.
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