Auckland habits

For starters, I have to admit that ever since I came back to Singapore, some of my actions and words are considered weird to the locals. One of which is my usual conversation pick up line that I used in Auckland 'So where you're from?'

I was trying to strike a conversation with a local and this was my first conversation and she looked at me with a puzzeled face and replied after I prompted her again and again 'Singapore lol'. This hit me real hard and for that moment, I realized that I am back in Singapore.

Other habits were the hiking habits that I picked up over there while trying to save money. My latest self record was walking from macperson mrt to city hall mrt. I pretty much proud of my bus 11 strength.

I never realized Auckland has such a huge impact on me, the other day where I let the television run, there was this program hosted by pornsak about the orgins of food and I saw the grey and white goose in the program and my heart is omg! thats new Zealand! but it turn out to be in Austrila.His hiking in the show makes me miss the hiking period that I did and all of a sudden, I just have that urge to hike around Singapore as well. Perhaps its like what May said: 'I'm sure you will find your way back here." which I'm certain am.

The third habit might be my lunch habit as the day is longer than in Auckland, I actually do have the need to prepare my lunch in case of any gastric acting up. My lunch box includes an apple or fruit/ one slice bread and a pack of hot make drink power. To the locals, they were like omg! this is certaintly not enough but to be honest my cravings disappear for the local food sold out there and when mum advise me to intake some rice and carbo as a balance, I actually cooked the dish my self: noodles with apples stir fry. Instead of 2 days, I find myself being able to share that normal portion to 3 days. Yes today is the 3rd day.

Note to self: I so need a mircowave, eating it cold is that awful!

Anyways, up to this point, no one tell me that I am weird but I could feel that to some I am weird. In the past, I would switch back to the norm but now I care less for it.

Life is never a single color but of multiples, this is the same for people in a country. I love my life style and I would want it to stay that way.Welcome to my life!

On the job hunt... and the power of reflection

For the past 21 days back in Singapore, I have been attending interviews after interviews. Most of the interviews turned out to be insurances or multi layer marketing.

The agents were recommending me jobs that pays $6 to $6.50 per hour for temp jobs and on the monthly scale, it was around 1300 to 1400 per month. This is like low. With all that negativeness, it sort of turn me back to what I was before I left for Auckland. Snacking and snacking at the front of my computer trying to drop resumes all the time.

Yesterday was 21 July 2010, I have a messy morning. My job agent send me the interview details last min and I have to take a cab down to science park 2 for an interview. The rocking of the cab made me dizzy and I was suffering from a mess head ache as I was waiting for the interviewer so I did something that I have not done for that long.

I closed my eyes and imagined that I was back in my apartment room 24A in Auckland. I got out of my room, walk towards the lodge area and then exit from the door to the carparks and walk up the slope towards the path to new lynn. But before new lynn, it was the sunday market. I recalled the noisy market, the locals shopping around and then on my way to the new lynn shopping mall where the kiwis were drinking and eating desserts, the stores there as well as the way back, the creek that I walked everyday, Unitec and my friends there. All that brought me a smile to my face as I recalled each of them. I open my eyes again, sure I was still in Singapore but my mind was totally lighter with the burdens and stress disappearing. I no longer feel the stress of the Singapore life and the duties that I have for.

The interview turn out great. As usual I was asked about my accent. Well this was something that I did not notice while I was in Auckland. Back in Singapore, the locals were asking me if I was a Singapore PR or was I a foreigner. Why? To the locals, I speak with an accent that was not the typical Singapore English. So to my peers in Auckland, have fun returning home with an accent haha!

After the interview, I listen to my heart once again and walk around in IMM like I did when I was in Auckland. I walked around Daiso and bought black sugar sweets which is so nice!

Then I took the train to east point and wrote my reflection on my diary. Here's what I wrote for my reflection:

'I decided that since it was so hard for me to re adapt back to the life of Singapore, Why should I forced myself back to the mainstream? I was kind of like forcing myself back to the mainstream til today. Therefore why don't I try to be myself, listen to my heart and try living in Singapore? I was snacking away during that 21 days and if I have not keep a close look out on my weight, it could bounce back easily. It was due to the stress from trying to bend in back the way of life in Singapore and my mind was getting heavier each day and my smile was getting weaker...After imaging of Auckland, my smile turn stronger and my mind turn lighter.'

Well speaking of reflection when I was in Auckland, every morning, I would spend time in front of my computer reflecting on what I did the day before. It was till the 10 days trip with Sunny that I bought a little notebook and wrote my reflection for each day in that book should I be unable to switch on my computer.

Since then, the book has been with me all the time recording my reflections, things i ate and i did as well as the resumes for the job applications that I submit online. Reflection sort of like highlight to the self of what they have been doing and make the individual realized their faults and try to correct it. If not for that book, I would have bounced back in my weight and not lose a kg. The other point that it serve, it keeps me motivated. As I read my past reflection in Queenstown, a smile was brought to my face.

Upon reaching at East point, i walked around the building, have my eyes checked and then walked home from east point. Its my weekly to do for keeping my legs in shape as well as seasoning my legs to enable them to cover further distances so that I could save more on the travel fares haha.

That night, I went to bed like old times at 8 plus.

Vegetarian Tian at Tcc: At the bottom is fried tofu, potato, carrots, cheese, mushroom, pumpkin, bamboo shoot and then mushroom again with salads at the sides.

On the job hunt... and the power of reflection

For the past 21 days back in Singapore, I have been attending interviews after interviews. Most of the interviews turned out to be insurances or multi layer marketing.

After the interview, I listen to my heart once again and walk around in IMM like I did when I was in Auckland. I walked around Daiso and bought black sugar sweets which is so nice!

Then I took the train to east point and wrote my reflection on my diary. Here's what I wrote for my reflection:

That night, I went to bed like old times at 8 plus.

Vegetarian Tian at Tcc: At the bottom is fried tofu, potato, carrots, cheese, mushroom, pumpkin, bamboo shoot and then mushroom again with salads at the sides.

Life back in Singapore

Today is 19 July 2010, its more than half a month since I touched down back in Singapore. I done a couple of meet ups with my peers here as well as rushing my butts off to and from one interview to another which turns out to be either insurance or multiple level marketing or data mining jobs. Job aspects was not that fruitful for a marketer inspirer, the openings are mostly for people with exposure in that area and the stress and reality of Singapore were falling on my shoulders, urging me to plunge back to the very world that I once left and to accept the way it is. At some point of time, it got me stress and snacking a lot. But luckily, I have my little note with me that has my reflections in Auckland as well as my thoughts at every moment in my life which allows me to maintain and lost one kg since I got back here. It acts as my motivation to stay strong as well.

In my next post, I might discuss about the power of having time for self reflection. But back to the topic that I want this post to have: The life back in Singapore.

Firstly, I did not really find Singapore the same back as the way I left it for Auckland. I mean things seems different. So what does it feels like? Here are some illustration:

1. Switching on the television for the first time since you return only to find the very channel that was familiar to you has a feeling of being foreign to you.

2. Totally piss off by the language that the locals speak and feel like shutting the television off after hearing them speak for some time.

P.S: Before I get bashed by readers, it is a fact that our English need to improve. When I was in Auckland, I came across my friend's blog and in her blog was a post about what a local choose to introduce to the class, Singlish... not the magnificent structure of our esplanade, our casino to be at Marina Bay Sands, our newly universal studio or our largest shopping center Vivo. Singlish was introduced to the class about the uniques of Singapore. Well I did not really want foreigners to remember Singapore this way. The way we speak with the la, hor, ar all that stuff. I want people to remember Singapore for its culture of how people treat each other or its world class buildings that somehow one could feel proud of. The other point of view as feedback to me was that Singaporeans spoke like a train with no stopping and lump their words all together. In Auckland, I was always to prove myself different and that I am from Singapore, a country that has more to offer and unique than Singlish. But, there is no denial that Singlish is what makes us unique and we could not bash the very aspect of it.Well for me, I will continue improving the way I spoke as I am more comfortable in speaking english now as well as confident in it.

3. Finding the main meals here too full for my consumption and hence it will be more worth off for me to cook at home.

4. Missing the english spoken in New Zealand as well as the servings of food there.

5. I miss my walkings there! and finding it hot in Singapore and cold in some of the shopping centers which i never felt that way.

6. Feeling unfamiliar with the streets of Singapore which I am suppose to be familiar with.

7. Finding clothes expensive and miss clearance of clothes in New Zealand but then I actually could save alot as my mum's old clothes could be worn by me now which save me lots!

8. Cotton on is my to shop list since it would be easier for me to find the size of clothes.

9. Fruits, vegetables has it cravings on me but not the others.

10. I snack at home but not when I am out as there was no crave for snack when I am out.

In a nut shell, my stage of life back here was like realizing how much I have changed, so much so that my views and values were different. Sometimes different from the main stream. My dress codes has changed and my old habits were minimum. I was finding work to do! Cleaning the house all day like what I did in New Zealand. Was it boring, not at all, it just give me a sense of satisfaction and that mum could rest more. Its been hard on her taking care of all the housework as well as my ever playful Ban! Well he matured too but still as playful and sometimes you just laugh at him.

Smile was like an everyday must do. Smile at my reflection or in the mirror, taking self portrait and smiling at the photo that I have taken. The best thing in life was to be able to smile again. Once you like your smile, you just love yourself each day even more. This is what keeps me motivated. Because I love who I am now, I will not do things that I do not felt happy with. The ability to smile again and pass that warm to others is dear to me now and I would do all I can to have that ability. Think about it give a smile to anyone and lighten up their life, as they smile back to you, your spirits gets lit and you feel good. It does not cost much to smile but its priceless to feel happy and good.

As feedback, I might have a slower readapting ability but facts are that I just not want to move back to the mainstream and be back at square one. Its my weapon to fend off the negative aspects of this very country. People tend to bend to reality and its negativeness and at times, its unhealthy to your soul and heart. I learn that whether a day turns out to be happy or sad, its really my choice.

So what are my new habits you might ask?

Well firstly, I spend less time on computers and more on housework.

Listen to BBC news to the very english accent that I missed.

Have a target of breaking to a smile everyday.

Oats, yogurt, milk for breakfast. None for lunch or a beverage during lunch and then some side meals such as buns or vegetables for dinner. No fast food, fried, oily or junk food (its good for the skin okies)

Reading Eat, Pray, Love currently. Yes I bought that book from popular. Reading it out loud to pratice my English.

At least jog, climb the stairs each day. A fruit a day or two?

Writing my feelings in my by the side notebook so that I know what I feel and what I want to be able to not bend myself into reality.

'Today is a fairytale' is my everyday must listen song because it brings smiles to me and to remind me to seek living life each day as a fairytale and that how bless life is for me. Life does not need to be in reality, it could be in a fairytale with positiveness and smile at situations. Nutshell: Enjoying moments of life as much as I can

More time with my family as I realized how much they mean to me when I was in Auckland. Life's never been this great!

Frutti salad from pizza hut: Well do away with the mayo I would say!

My Auckland Journey

Times really flies, too fast at times. I remember when I first step into the lands of New Zealand, I was regretting for my stubborn decision to hold onto the opportunity of what most people wanted 'to be able to study and live life aboard'. I wasn't ready neither prepared to face what this foreign land has to offer. There was so much uncertaintly, so much things for me to learn, so much values for me to throw and adapt new ones.

I have to admit, I cried almost every day when I reached Auckland as I missed home alot and I was so confused with the system there. There were no friends that I could held on, no warm cosy home that I could run back to. I was like being throw out in the unknown, left to survive on my own till the endof june where I would return back to my cosy nest.

Life was hard when you held on your values and refuse to change. Sooner or later, I learn to accept the fact that I would be living in this country for 4 months or so and that I need to learn to be independent in finding my way around this country. Once you start to accept the fact and work on it. Life seems easier and less painful.

I am a person with a lot of pride and when I said something in my heart, I mean it. Before I went to Auckland, I told myself that I will not be like a cry baby and call home demanding for more money because my monthly allowance was not enough. It was not enough as the local meals costed twice as much in Singapore. Due to my pride, I work things out. I cooked my meals to save money on dinning outside and later on cut down on my intake of my meals to save my food stock for more days. If the food stock were expensive, I would make my way to the sunday market to buy cheaper fruits and vegetables even if they did not appear to be nice but to me as long as it was eatable and cheap, I would buy it. My mentality enable me to save more money to travel around Auckland so that I would not miss home that much and be sad all the time. It was this mentality that drove me to savage on chicken frames and salmon frames to subsitutue chicken and salmon, buy bee hoon that was not packed and laid on the ground in the market. If I wanted to travel on trips or need more money, I justsolf what I have like my lens, camera bag and my handphone to fund myself. So is my life really horrible there? No! even when I live my life like a savager, life has its meaning. So what if I survive on frames, eat unhygenic food? I gain more than I lose that is what I feel.

Firstly, I realised how important my family and friends mean to me. There was nothing that I wanted but to fly home back to their love. But still, I could not do that as there was still uncompleted business for me. Not just the semester but to grow up and change.

Next, from my new friends, I realised that the world out that is so much bigger and I am just that small. There is so many things that I did not know and life does not rotate around studies or work. Life has to have a meaning.

I think the most important thing that I gain from Auckland was that I learn to treasure my life even more. In the past like it or not, I used to hate myself but being there, I learn that life has its meaning and I learned to love myself bit by bit each day. I took photos of myself in the mirror each day, learn to smile again in front of the mirror. I was no longer complaining but thankful to what I have, what I can do and I was trying to lead life meaningful without regards. That got me to try things that I dare not do such as selling of bubble tea, wear boots, wear pink haha, try different fruits, coffees and learn about them. I was not afraid of uncertainty anymore. Things turn out simpler when you dare to take the first step to try and ask if you are not certain.

Travelling with Sunny around the south islands was like a dream come true. I always wanted to travel with a friend, learn how to travel free and easy and the best part is to touch and feel snow. Believe me when I saw snow falling outside my room in Queenstown, my heart was all joyed up and I rushed to the balcony with only t-shirts and pants to feel the snow, touch the snow, crush the snow in my hands. The snow was such a beauty. At that instant, it was like mircale. We were told that there was snow in the mountains but never did we expect snow to fall down in the hearts of queenstown. It was the happiest moment then. I learn to prefer flat white as my coffee from that 10 days. To me, a cup of flat white is full of surpises. Everywhereyou went, the pattern on the flatwhite would turn out different and you would never know that pattern drawn on the coffee unless you try it just like life itself.

Life was full of smile and happiness in Auckland. I learn to be grateful to what I have.

Its just seem so funny. I thought I would be dying to fly back home but never did I thought I miss Auckland. During the last few days in Auckland, I actually meet up with my friends there. For the first time, I felt the power of a hug. As I hug my friends, my heart turn sour, I missed them. I want to fly back to Auckland to see them again. I have to admit Auckland have become the turning point in my life and it sort of pull me back from the negative surroundings. I slowed down my pace in life, looked at things in a fresh prespective.

Back in Singapore, I was no longer anixous in the interviews. Things here was just not the same anymore. The language that the locals speak were so uncomfortable to me now, the way the local behave and things they do as well. As the realities sets in of job seeking and life back here, I know that I would be able to smile my way through. Why should I behave like everyone when I know that I would not like it. If I want to do something, felt like doing something I just do it.I wasted 20 odds years accomodating things around me and I am so not going to waste my future doing the same!

I recommend the movie of eat, pray and love or a similar title that I think would be coming soon to the threaters. Its about this character Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) had everything a modern woman is supposed to dream of having - a husband, a house, a successful career - yet like so many others, she found herself lost, confused, and searching for what she really wanted in life. Newly divorced and at a crossroads, Gilbert steps out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life, embarking on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery. In her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali.

I find that the plot is similar to what I experience in Auckland, doing self searching of myself.

christchurch, queenstown, auckland and back home!

16 june 2010

Well to start off the morning, after I have my breakfast, I was packing my stuff for check out and the south islands. Carried the bags to margaux apartment at about 11 and then went to check out the keys at the accommodation office but the book is still with Alok so I have to went back down the hill to 1510 to find him and fill in the forms before I went back to the accommodation office, fill in the bond form, get the form and proceed to the student center to get the cheques. So from 310, I went to 180.

At 180, I filled in forms and got my cheque went to the bank opposite the hub to get my cash out and then went to drop my clothes for recycle before I went to find my lecturer but she was not in so I went to Henderson. Thank Goodness! The care bear t-shirt is still there and I bought it and some fruits. Took the bus back to unitec, walk to the mart opposite to get a bar of biscuits and then back to the apartment where I took the 3 luggages to the station.

On the way to the station, a kind guy offered to drive me to the station and he drove me to avonadale station where I took the train to the city. Went to enquire of a bag but it turns out the model is not from Gucci so went back to the station and sat there waiting for sunny.

Sunny came and she has two luggages. Our luggage was so heavy and I cant even stand up straight. In the end, due to all the store within our reach being closed, Sunny have to settle for Subway again for dinner where she just have one for lunch while I was too tired so drank milk.

We took an airbus to the airport and check in, we didn’t know that we have to check in further to get a receipt and did that the last minute. Even when we see ourselves as having the most luggages, there was no space in the cabinet lockers for us to put our luggage so in the end, we settle our luggage under the seats as the seats in front of us is empty.

At 9.30pm, we reach chrischurch and it was 0 degrees. Took the red bus to the city and we walked to our hostel. On the way, Sunny felt hungry and bought herself a burger from KFC.We finally found it after a bar tender show as how to read the map that we have and when we check in, the room was like so disappointing. There wasn’t a private bathroom or toilet. It was a small room with two beds, one on the top and one below and a simple table and that’s all. I cannot register for an internet account as my mastercard expiry date is way longer than 2016. Its stupid. Oh well 10 days without the internet for me. Also, We couldn’t find the heater. After washing, we went to bed.

17 june 2010

Well, woke up at 5 plus in the morning as it was too cold so toss in bed till 6 past half before I took the bar of biscuits to the lodge to see if I can watch the news but then it was like people sleeping there so I cant. Went to the kiosk and buy a hot chocolate and ate biscuits as I insert a one dollar coin to surf for like 10 minutes. A company scheduled me for an interview with them like in july a few days after I reach home and the venue is in eunos.

Then went back to my room, get all my tools for bathing and went to bath and then after bathing, went out to walk around the hostel before I step outside. I didn’t wear gloves and soon find both my hands and feet stiff cold. I am wearing boots! Went back to the hostel, the reception was open so I asked for a towel and a heater and some extra blankets, Then went back my room to type. The receptionist came to our room with a portable heater and blankets and towers free of charge lol.

Then we went to mac to have light breakfast means 2 breakfast for me today and after that we went to walk around the city taking pictures and then to pak and sav to buy breakfast for the next few days.

We also went to the chapel at the other side of the city and then back to the city where Sunny ate lunch and I order 2 herbal tea eggs and treat her one of it. Then we continue walking to the square where we went to the chapel square and climb the tower to the peak of 100 plus steps and then back down. We then went to the visitors’ center and then to the southern encounter to look at the fishes and all that.

Then after that it was like 4 plus to 5 where all the shops closes and every thing turn dark so we walked back to the hostel rest before we went to have Mexican meal. I got a light meal and I could not finish it. We walk around the place before heading home and I was like feeling so bloated even 2 hours later! Shit there goes my effort of weight loss~

18 june 2010

Well, woke up and catch a long bathe with hot water before I proceed to the kitchen area and found free food such as milk, can of spaghetti, chocolates and jam. Told them back to my apartment and ate the chocolates some for breakfast, biscuits and a bread.

We went to check out the musemums. First is the maori follow by the art gallery which both of this sites did not allow us to take photos since it was copyrighted. The art gallery was so huge with lots of works by the artisit/ Then we head down to the Friday market which sunny and I settle for lunch. I bought a fruit pastry and she bought a cheese cake and a bread and a coffee.

After that we went to one of the must go, the museum and it was amazing what was installed for us. From the local culture to asian to mummy to the altanic. Its all in the museum. Then after the museum we went to walk around the botanic gardens which was so huge that we did not cover all.

We decided to come back tomorrow to visit the arts center. After the gardens we shop a while and went back to the bus exchange to get onto bus 28 to lynotton for the lighting up of the festival of light and the fireworks but there was no fireworks today and since it was a quiet place, we took the bus back to the city and went back to the hostel for a short rest.

Sunny decided to cash in her steak at the chancery and I am ok with it so we took another route there and find a place that we did not go before and the stores were open till 10pm (mostly souvenirs) Her place that she want to eat was close so we went to another one that I saw. The Oscars. She went to eat rib eye. The serving was huge and me? I order light meal of ocsar fishcake and the waitress was is that all?

My Oscar fish cake is actually 2 pieces of fish pastry grilled and comes with some salad. I ate that and drank water and it was filling.We chatted a lot about life, political views and stuff and I got to know more about this girl lol. After that we went to shop around the stores and I was there trying on the samples of chocolates and cookies since it was like expensive to buy as well as honey.

Sunny bought a badge and a key holder while I bought chocolate kiwi bar, sweets, handphone strap and badges. I meet a group of Singaporeans that were there on a tour and they were flying off tomorrow back to home. Its been ages since I heard the accent and I ask them how they find the food here and they say it was too salty. That’s cos they went to eat asian food. It’s a no no here lol.

After walking around, we went back to the room, have red wine and did some planning for the next day and I ate the bar of chocolates and biscuits >.<>

I really emvy sunny, she could eat and eat and stay in shape while I am opposite lol.

June 19 2010

Well today is market day. Went to the france market that was near our accommodation and then walk around. It was a small market. Got a small pastry where I share half with sunny.

Then we went over to the secondhand books store where I bought 2 books from it and its heading to the arts center for us. There was another market and I was like exploring the stores, bought a seasalt chocolate for 2 dollars and a pura shell for a dollar.

Then we went to see a show of performance by a street performer. After the show. We went to explore more of the market which I bought Indian pastries for sunny and wanted to let her have 2 but she only have one and I end up eating the 3. It was too much for me! Feel regretful after it!

We then went to explore the arts center and then try exploring the boys’ college but it was not open for public and then we went to punting. It was like riding a small boat across the steam a bit of the Venice atmosphere and then it was the tram ride for us. After that we walked to the central library and then I sneak into farmers and weight myself. With 4 layers of thin clothes, bootes, a cap, a scraf and 2 layers of pants, I weight a horrible 68kg! omg!

Went back to find sunny where we went to the oldest building in Christchurch but its close so we went to the café to surf. I surf for an hour for $3. My business process management lecturer has not given back to me my results for assignment 1 which is like wth!

After surfing, walk back to the hostel to put my stuff and rest and I fell asleep. Woke up at 7 plus and went with sunny to an Indian restaurant. The poor girl is starving while I was like tired and want no food into my body.

Think we are like opposite at times. We been walking all the time for the past 3 days and she was feeling hungry all the time and I was not. But still have to eat dinner or lunch with her and my orders were all half of hers and she was like worrying about me for eating so little. But its like after walking, I just went to sleep! And 7 plus dinner is too late for me.

Anyways at the Indian restaurant I order 3 sides. One banana and coconut. Archa and something that I dunno which is so hot! That one I take like half and left it while I finish the other 2. Was like so bloated even when I go to sleep at 10 plus to 11. Hell! I want to lose weight man!

,20 june 2010

Got up and wash up before I lay in bed to wait for sunny to get up. She did at about 9 plus and we have breakfast and went to the Sunday market in Christchurch. The market is bigger in space and in scale than the one in Auckland but then not much fruits are sold here. Most of it is their cultural stuff. I bought a teddy and sunny got herself a old tin can box.

Then after touring around, went to have lunch. I got myself a red bean bun where Sunny got herself Mexican food nachos!!

After the Sunday market, we asked for directions to get to the air force museum and we walked there to the museum which is a couple of streets to the main road, an overhead flyover and cross the road, walk into the museum. Sunny went to rest herself in the café while I continue to explore. There were lots of aircraft models, badges and things that were used by the pilots.Then there was a wartime home where we get to see how the houses were like during war time..

After the museum, we catch a bus to city but the first bus, we got on does not go to the city and the bus driver drove us to the place we can catch the bus to the city and horn the front bus to wait for us. Nice!

We got to the city and try walking to the south city where I want to buy shoes as my boots worn out after like less than 3 weeks of wearing them and water wet my socks!

We got to count down first and we went to buy stuff for Tuesday and Monday breakfast. I finally got fruits! 1 banana, 1 permesian and 2 or 3 apples! While sunny got herself a bread and chocolates!

After shopping, we walk to the south city where I try on various shoes and bought one for $20 that’s like converse but not converse lol. The other one that I though of is a purple one but looking at the sole underneath, I rather buy this one.

Rush to the square to take the tram ride around the city and then went to the oldest cinema to watch sherk forever after which was good!

The movie ended at about 7.30 and we walked to a thai restaurant, Today I felt hungry after eating the banana. Given that the sides are mainly fry, I ordered a main course which is duck rice with red curry and the serving is the one that is from Singapore ! its about 10.90 but duck dishes are not that common here expect for roast duck rice. I ate some rice, the rice was good and not too hard like the Indian one yesterday and then the meats, the duck, onions, green pepper, tomato, pineapples. It was like almost the same serving or more from yesterday sides but I did not felt that bloated. The curry was sweet and a bit salt.

After the meal, it was getting too cold for us and we went to our room and after wash up and throwing away the bootes, went to sleep. .

21 june 2010

Woke up late today at 7am and went to wash up but before that went to have breakfast a permanisan fruit. It was raining and we have breakfast at about 9 to 10 am. Then we try walking to the provisional center, the oldest building in chirstchurch but then it was raining so sunny decided to relax in the café.

Ordered a short black and have it for the first time then continue walking to the provisional chambers where we explored. After that we try walking to the contemporary arts center but it was closed today. Sunny was hungry and we walk back to the city MUM’s restaurant where sunny have her lunch and I watch her eat haha!

We went to the fudge factory to register for the tour but it was cancelled and we got free fudge for making the trip there and we bought some chocolates since the lady was so nice. After that, we proceed to the art gallery to look at another exhibition and then walk towards the square to catch a free shuttle bus to the casino.

Nothing much at the casino and I saw how they gambled so was like -…- omg! This is like throwing money into the sea. After one round walk, went out and took the bus around the city for a round and went back to the backpackers where I fell asleep and then woke up ask sunny if she feeling hungry and out we went to the nearby india restaurant that I found when I walk down further. It was better than the first one, we went and I ordered a main course since I was feeling rather hungry and I take home the roti chenai as I could not finish. I finish the main dish and half of the rice. My dish was actually jackfruit cook in curry with bread and rice. I miss jackfruit lol and I never thought that you could cook jackfruit in curry haha

We went back to the backpackers, did some packing for tomorrow and then I blogged as tomorrow is a early flight to queenstown.

22 june 2010

Well, we miss the bus to the airport so we have to take a taxi to the airport. The taxi meter was running like in speed and we got to the airport at about 40 dollars -…-“

Well, we took jet star and after an hour flight, we got to queenstown. The mountains were in snow and we sort of went to check in but since the room is not available, we have to leave our luggage in the storeroom and then walk around before we check in. Queenstown on the first day was not as cold as Christchurch. We went to a nearby café where I ordered flat white and a cookie and sunny her usual haha. We sat there to plan our activities and waited for Sandra to meet us at 12 for lunch. We went for lunch together and I finish the museli that I ordered and after a walk around the lake, Sandra went to her backpackers to get her stuff to go to another place.

After Sandra left, we went to check in the backpackers and book our cruise for tomorrow. Then since it was raining, Sunny did not have any dinner for that day and we went back to the hostel where we wash up and sleep. Before that, I saw Peiying and val there! They went to syndery to study for their bachelors and its like amazing! Fancy meeting people I know in the part of the world and in the same hostel. Sunny went to buy her dinner at the supermarket. Did not eat dinner.Have 2 hours call home and the place was like so noisy! Did not sleep well as it was too cold for me.

23 june 2010

Woke up at 5 plus after a not so well sleep and went to have a long hot shower. Got busy with my stuff at 6 plus to 7 where I decided to go and view the scenery outside. It was snowing in Queenstown. I was so happy to touch and feel the snow!

But then later, we discovered that due to snowing, buses would not be available hence we did not go for the trip of the double deck bus tour but was like went to the same café to drink hot water and then walk around the town to see the snow!

We build a first snow man! And then after walking around the snow, Sunny went to have her lunch at macdonalds and then we went to take the cruise tour. It was nice around the lake. After the cruise tour, we walk around town before we head back to the dorms and I slept while Sunny went outside to buy dinner for herself. I was too tired to have dinner.

24 june 2010

Woke up, have breakfast and bathe and then went with Sunny to take the double decker tour. It was colder than town of the places, we are taken to. Went back to town after the 3 hours tour and felt warm haha! We went to the paragon café to have coffee and then while Sunny went to print her pictures, I ran around to buy a book and to jays jays for clothes haha!

We then hike around the city and walk around the lake, it was nice weather to hike and also to walk around as it was not that cold!

Went to the supermarket to get apple and instant noodle and eat with sunny after that. Tomorrow would be the last day that I would spend in Queenstown and also the last time that I would see Sunny so we settle on a restaurant to eat france food.

25 june 2010

Took the first bus to arrowtown and was like exploring the first place that’s the museum when my stomach ache and I was stuck in the toilet for close to 5 hours. Went out 1 plus and was shaking here and there. The ladies in the museum would not let me out of their sight till the ambulance came and me and sunny went to sit in the ambulance where they check me out.

It turns out I need to eat more leafy vegetables not just wheats and also more fluids into my body because I have a bawler block. And my shaking was due to being in the cold for too long. My lips were purplish. Since I was ok and the ambulance were not on the way to town, that means me and sunny would have to wait for the 4pm bus. Got to the café to get warm water and hot chocolate before we go to the supermarket to get soaps and weetbix and yogert for my stomach.

Took the bus home where I went to buy cookies for magraux and then went to have yogert and a bar of weet bix before I went to the shower to wash myself off from the smell as well as the clothes too.

At night, went to the france restaurant to dine and then went to view the fireworks before I went back to call mum. Sunny got a present for me so I went to buy her a bar of dark chocolates. Then pack my stuff and sleep.

26 june 2010

Woke up at 4 plus as it was too cold. Went for a hot shower and have weetbix before and after that as I was hungry then rest till 6 where I went out to hae coffee, yogert and weetbix.

The breakfast come at 7 and I took some bread home and ate 2 pieces of white bread with jam before I check out and wait for the bus to the airport.

At the airport, got myself a banana, kiwi and flatwhite to keep myself warm. Feeling like a pig now! But then its important to stay warm. Then sit at the airport to blog lol haha.

Well, went into the airplane, the plane was delayed due to the flog in Auckland and it was up in the air for 2 hours before it landed in Auckland. Took the airbus home followed by the bus as my stuff were too many. Magraux let me into an empty room in her apartment but we have to be careful as they might be surpise checks or that someone would move in. Lets hope not for the 3 nights.

Repacked my bag and hang out the clothes that I washed yesterday to dry.

27 june 2010

Its seems that old habits die hard, I woke up at about 9 plus yesterday night to eat 2 weetbits and then as the floor was hard, I woke up at 5plus to eat weetbits 2 and then went to the toilet to bathe as well as ended up cleaning the sink for magraux.

Went back to my room and did some packing of the items into lesser bags so that in case if there was a surpise check, it would be faster to move my stuff.

Then see if the clothes are dry, fold the clothes that are dry into the luggage and the lighter check in one is now heavier than the big luggage lol. Connection here is not as good as in my previous room, might be due to it being further from the campus.

Well I am waiting for at least about 7am before I went to the Sunday market haha and then from there to St lukes or lynn mall haha.

Went to the Sunday market and then eat 2 fruits and from there went to new lynn to shop and to like take the bus to st lukes. Did the shopping at st lukes today and was like so many of the chocolates but they are not for me. Sunny taught me to eat dark chocolates and when I mean dark its 85%

Anyways ate main meal and gain weight today. I have to give in to take some vegetables to restore my system back to what it was lol but not the weight!

28, 29, 30 june

Well did have a gathering with sin before I went to the airport and before that take photos with magraux and Jamie as well as hung.

Spent a night in the airport and after just like a flash and I am back in Singapore. This would be where the next stage of my life will begin.