dEar MicHiyo…

13/01/2012

Day 41

Change of plan from WC. She could only meet me later in the day so I went to the hostel owner for advise on what to do.  The places that they mentioned, I’ve done all that yesterday hehe.. And the looks on their faces when they heard I walked all the way back from Riccarton? =p

In the end, decided to take a bus to New Brighton. Surprisingly, not bad shopping (they have a Roxy/Quicksilver outlet here!) and I found my souvenir shop here after all the hullabaloo!  Bought all souvenirs from this same shop, amazingly =D

Then went to laze the day away at the beautiful library by the sea.

Lunchtime.  Decided to spend some money on good lamb at a fine restaurant but it was past lunch hours already after all my shopping.  Another case of got money also can’t get what u want! Ended up having Egyptian rice at a souvlaki place.

wasn’t too bad hehe..
but then, I was hungry!

Took the bus back to Christchurch again WC came to pick me up.  She made dinner for me and we had a long long chat hehe. She then sent me to airport and after a near-crisis with my overlimit luggage, I was soon bidding New Zealand goodbye.

goodbye New Zealand..

Spent almost all nzd. Going back with only nzd3.70.

And so much more of course.. =)

12/01/2012

Day 40

After a fast breakfast n packing, we made a short trip into the city center to see the aftermath from the earthquake. It was really bad.  Buildings were in either in ruins or in the danger of crumbling down.

Then we went to the Riccarton area so that LY n JM can do some shopping. When they were about to go, suddenly recalled that the leftover fried rice is still in Drifters’ fridge.  So we quickly went back to retrieve it hehe..

They then drove back to Riccarton again and dropped me off there to be on their way back to Malaysia!  Bye gals!

So.. all alone.  I lepak at Riccarton area but there is only ONE souvenir shop!  I’m beginning to think the idea of leaving all souvenir-buying at Christchurch could be the wrong one!  Most of the shops were located in the city center where the earthquake hit, so they are now gone..

Found the location of Sunsom after asking WC (it’s actually just next to Fo Guang Shan building) and I was right opposite! But it doesn’t stock the souvenirs that I’m looking for.. sigh =(

Walked to the Botanic Gardens and it was huge!  Beautiful flowers and plants in bloom all around me.
Soon I got hungry and it was time for lunch, the leftover fried rice!  But there was a problem.. I didn’t have a spoon. -________-”

So I bought a spoon.

shy to ask for a spoon for free, I bought an ice-cream for nzd2.50 to get one!

Then another problem arose.  Where is the bench when u need it?! Finally found an empty bench in the central rose garden. Finished my ice cream, had my lunch, wrote something and slowly sleep took over.  So I plopped in my earphones and took a nap.  *Bliss…

Thereafter, I strolled within the gardens somemore and reached The Canterbury Museum.  It is an amazing museum with lotsa exhibits; Maori history, Paua house and a photography exhibition that tells the splendid story of New Zealand Rugby. There was also a replica of Christchurch street in the olden days and a section on Antarctic.

it’s a cute story!

Toured the museum for 2 hours and got tired.  Souvenir shop!  But still nothing.. Must be the deterrent prices hahaha.  I went into the i-site next to the museum to ask for souvenir shop locations but they told me there’s only one left.  yes, the one I went to at Riccarton haha..

Then I began to make my way around the city center on foot.  This being my first time encountering the aftermath, or anything even remotely related to an earthquake, walking through the ruins and taking in the terrible damage left me dumbfounded.  There was a sign that says something like,

This zone is still unsafe.  You choose to enter this zone at your own risk.  If there is another earthquake, you may not survive.

Wow, very explicit advise.

Anyway, I went about my way and tried my best to walk in open walkways hahaha.  Managed to catch a glimpse of the fallen Christchurch Cathedral’s side door from a crack in the safety hoarding.

Bridge of Remembrance. damaged and not in use.

Re:START!

Thanks to the innovation and great thinking of some people, containers were brought in and stacked according to designs and then you have it, Re:START, a shopping mall in the center of Christchurch hehe.  Banks, retail outlets and cafes filled with people!  This place is such an encouragement while reconstruction for the damaged buildings are in progress.

Soon, I began my long and frightening journey back to the hostel.  The warning message kept on flashing across my mind..  I was super glad when I finally reached, phew..

And I walked 5km in Christchurch today haha..

11/01/2012

Day 39

Had a light breakfast n set off for the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway track.

Another hot day!

While taking pictures of the sea and birds, suddenly realized a huge seal right behind us!
A lady told us that we were a bit too close to the seal. We need to be at least 10m away..

The walk was beautiful! Better than Abel Tasman coastal track I think. And the most exciting part? To walk into a cow farm. The cows were just meters away from us. True, they were babies but I felt like I’ve done the bravest thing ever!

we were unsure if we really should cross the cow farm, so we waited till this lady came along hehe..

Whalers Bay viewpoint. Reminds JM of a butt haha

walking the track!

We ended our track at Whalers Bay and retraced our steps back to the carpark to get our car.  Went back to Albatross for a heavier breakfast n checked out.

First we went to the lavender farm. We didn’t get anything from the gift shop n we hesitated if we should pay the two dollar entrance fee. In the end, we did and spent a long long time taking pictures in the garden.

once paid, considered ours!

Back to town for a walkabout and decided to try the recommended Coopers Catch burger at Coopers Catch.  It was Fantastic!

gip me another one!

Then we did some window-shopping around town..

never me..

the gals tried really hard to dissuade me from paying for whale-watching, so I watched this for free instead hahaha..

Time to kai koura! kai means eat and koura means crayfish haha…

the chosen.

a 58-bucks crayfish, paua patties n a seafood chowder to share.

Then it was time to leave Kaikoura.. Bye!
More wine tasting on our way back haha.. I took over abit of the driving from LY.  Bought an elderflower cordial at one of wineries at Waipara.  We also turned into Pegasus Bay, but it was closed.

We finally reached Christchurch! Accommodation of the night is Drifters Backpackers. First we were welcomed by a really huge dog *trembles.  Then the owners laughed and said that he is only a puppy.  And we were led in to meet his mother, which…… Suffice to say weighs heavier than I do.  Aiks, I confined myself to the room for the rest of the stay hahaha..

Made a trip to New World and then some last-minute shopping at Pak n Save for the gals..

after days of coveting after the Eskimo Pie, finally it’s on offer and we have the green light to purchase! last box somemore!

fried rice for dinner! yummy!

Then it was time to pack for them… I’ll be alone soon!

10/01/2012

Day 38

Sent LY to take a bus to the airport to retrieve our rental car and she was back soon enough.

she made the Corsa looks so much better haha

After the gals did their IRD stuff and me utilizing some free wifi, we were off!

another road trip begins!

Kept on driving with the intention of getting to Culverden for their pies! Stopped at Hurunui for some free wine tasting.  And, we soon decided that it’s not easy to simply try the wine without intention of buying hehe.

finally! there you are.. Culverden Bakery!

Soon, we got to eat the culverden pies. They were good but the custard square was even better!

just look at the queue!

We finally reached Hanmer Springs at 2pm, 3 hours behind schedule haha. Tried out different pools but only the stinky sulphur pool works the best. The rest all not hot enough haha.

pretty crowded still, despite the drizzle..

The rain came soon after and we had soaked for bout 2 hours so it was all good.  Time to shower and go!

Stopped at Marble Point for some vineyard pics and more wine tasting before heading onwards to Kaikoura.

We finally reached our backpacker, Albatross at 7pm.  We were given 2 beds in a room and another bed in a Turkish-themed room (not available anymore?).  The gals were intimidated by the height of the Turkish bed so I took that haha.
Had my favorite kind of dinner.. Rice + egg + vege ^^

the gigantic dice amused us so much hehe

After placing a call to WC to find out more about Christchurch, we decided to change our travel plans.. Spending more time at Kaikoura and skipping Akaroa!

this is LY, laughing uncontrollably after ‘obesing’ JM on her phone…..

09/01/2012

Day 37

We arrived at I-site’s door even before they open for the day hehe. They were so helpful! As we were unable to get a car =(, we can’t do the most preferable Picton-Kaikoura-Christchurch route, which would be a one-way travel and where we could have made a stop at my new-found love, Cloudy Bay Vineyards at Blenheim =(
Oh well…We will head to Christchurch and make a round trip from there to Kaikoura instead lor..

Then it was back to Atlantis for the free breakfast. After settling some of our oncoming lodgings, I hung out abit around town. Went for ice cream together after they got off work..

stumbled upon this whimsically pink ice cream parlor.. nzd2.17 each for this!

Then snapped a few pics here n there n also with the staff at Atlantis and we were off to catch our bus!

7-hour journey.. I was feeling carsick all the way! The gal sitting next to me was half my age!

hay bales made famous by The Amazing Race!

The bus made a brief stop at Kaikoura and we were the last to get on the bus, busy trying to secure our Christchurch lodging for the night.

greeted by the Canterbury Museum

We finally reached Christchurch and it does seem like a beautiful city.. We didn’t get to explore more as it was already late when we were settled in. Free vege from lw’s fren. Yes!  Rice cooker (at last! first in nz!) at our hostel, At The Right Place =D  But the cooker pot was nowhere to be found.  No!