27th – 31st May 2009, Wednesday to Sunday, Auckland-Whitianga-Rotorua-Waitomo-Taupo

27th – 31st May 2009, Wednesday to Sunday, Auckland-Whitianga-Rotorua-Waitomo-Taupo

This will be my 2nd pass with KIWI, Geyserland and lakes. We depart about 7.25am from ACB and start our journey shortly. The Kiwi driver this time is Felicity, a mid age woman which is really humorous. The very first sight-seeing we get to do is Mt Eden at Auckland city itself. From there we could have a great view of the whole Auckland. Sights weren’t bad… see photo. We stop over for lunch at Thames, a small town.

After which before reaching Whitianga, we stop by a place for natural hot water dip at the Hot Water Beach. At there we dig ourselves a “hole” in the sea shore at those hot water spot… it was kind of fun actually…but our hole always got suddenly too hot or suddenly too cold when the wave crashes in. It is really a complicated feeling. At Whitianga, we stayed at a hostel called Turtle Cove. A simple hostel but the dormitory bed were pretty comfortable and the place is really clean. We had our dinner prepared by the owner. Pretty decent dinner...

Day2, we depart to Rotorua. We start off with a bush walk to the Cathedral Cove, an hour and a half walk to and back. We took some crazy photo on the beach… is really funny… you will understand what I meant when you see the photographs.

Oh, and not forgetting those young chaps on our bus suddenly to decide to perform a FULL MONTY for us... A simple 30min walk in a gold mine after we left Cathedral Cove… is really pitch dark inside the tunnel. I can’t even see my 5 fingers… Then we stop over for lunch at Mata Mata. As usual, I had my tomato bread for lunch… these 3days lunch is all garlic bread or tomato and herb bread. Is actually pretty nice…and my last loaf should be lunch for Waitomo stop. I chose Funky Green Lodge as the accommodation instead of Hot Rock Base. Reason being I wish to see those little hostels as compare to develop hostel. Funky Green is pretty awesome. We had our own twin room, all to ourselves. I did not went for the Te Puia because I was really feeling sick and I know I need the rest. Night time I went to a Tamaki Concert. We board a bus called KEA, also known as the walker in Maori’s language. The driver is really funny… we visited the tribe village and also see their performances. Not a bad stage show. The dinner was really great too… we had typical Maori’s food, or what they call the Hangi Food. On the way back, the driver started to ask individual countries to sing a song. So when it comes to Singapore, me and Jo started to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars. Then there is a song which the driver keeps driving in circles at the round-about. It is really funny and weird… But most importantly, I did have some great fun from the ride.

Day3. We depart 8.40am to Waitomo, a place famous for its caving and glow worms. We started the trip with some random events. I chose the Agrodome show, is actually a farm show where they show many different breeds of sheep, some milking scene and some sheep dogs demo. Is not bad but I was hoping more. Look at those photos… After which we drove up straight to Waitomo.
The afternoon, I had an activity at the caving. I had chosen Black labyrinth, a 3 hours black water rafting. It was AWESOME. Take a lot at our group photos. Photos speak more than a thousand words. I really like it as it wasn’t tedious at all but the water was really cold. The funny thing was I lost 1 shoe, but I don’t remember where I lost it at all. So for about 30minutes, my left foot had only neoprene socks on to keep me warm and the water is about 16oC. Our accommodation for the night is at a place called Kiwi Paka YHA, a 4-beded dormitory no bunk bed. It neatly and tidy and I like it .Our dinner is settle at a pub area where we order BBQ steak and some nice BBQ potatoes, sausage and vegetables salad too. A very filling dinner indeed… And not forgetting some entertainment after we return back to the dorm for the night. As our group got some really young boys, so they can be really crazy at times. After their “around the world” challenge ( to finished 12 different mug of beers from 12 different countries), they were basically high and drunk. At about 1am, they suddenly appeared in our dormitory, naked and the “woohoo” out of the room in a couple of second. I was quite pissed then I am not sure how they ended up in our dormitory. Anyway after which, I heard from Heika that they ended up in her room till the next morning. Poor Heika did not get to have a good sleep at all…

Day4 is the day I’ve been waiting. .
As in for the reason, I am not going to say. Haha… we departed Waitomo at about 7.20am, we headed off to Taup.The weather is bad so we could not do our sky dive at Taupo Lake, is pretty upsetting for me. I’ve been waiting to do that for ages. Before reaching our destination, we stop by a lookout for Huka Fall. It is breathtaking too. Perhaps anything that got to do with the sea and water, I would always be blown away. And also there is another bush walk but I just couldn’t remember the name of the bush, I only remember is the exit of the black labyrinth activity yesterday.

However, I did my sky diving the following day.
They pick us up at 9am and we head off to the Sky diving area. We watched 2 dvds and soon after we are geared up. Malachi is my skydive master for the 15000ft package. When the next group returned, we board the little plane. The view overlooking Lake Taupo is amazing, or perhaps I can say is unbelievable. They mentioned that the whole Singapore can fit into Lake Taupo, can you imagine how big Lake Taupo is, or how small Singapore is… Bao is the first to jump off and I was the 3rd. I couldn’t use words to describe what I’ve seen but there is one thing that I find it funny. When I am about 2000ft above ground, I saw some black little things on the ground. I asked Malachi what are those little things, and he replied saying that they were cows. OMG, they really look like little black chickens. Wahaha… Malachi lets me fly the parachute for some times and as my fingers were freezing, he took over again. Oh, from the photos, I am not sure if you can see how much I enjoy it, if I got the spare $$$, I really will sky dive again at Franz Josez. When we finally touch the ground, I was really hopping and jumping. It was too much for words… Enjoys the photos… and there is a video too but not sure if I can post it… Else it can be seen in my facebook too...

23rd -26th May 2009, Saturday-Monday. Auckland-Paihia-Cape Regina-Paihia-Auckland

23rd -26th May 2009, Saturday-Monday. Auckland-Paihia-Cape Regina-Paihia-Auckland

This will be the first time onboard with KIWI, doing my Awesome Top Bit. The very first person that I come in contact is Jarrade, our driver for the day. He is a fun person with a smiley face always. I started off the journey at 7.10am and along the way, there were several stops. Honestly, I don’t remember if we had any sigh-seeing, haha… but we arrived at Pipi Patch Base at Paihia around 1pm. I did not plan anything for the afternoon, just feel like laze around and enjoy the layback time. I only remember I had a nap which, when I woke up is already almost time for the BBQ dinner I had order from the reception. Well, the dinner wasn’t too bad, there was a steak, a sausage, a grilled potato and vegetable salads plus a pin of Export Gold (is actually a beer). Well, people that knows me, know that I don’t take beef, correct? But, I started to taste beef when I am here. Hmmm, I kind of like it but for sure when I am back home, beef will not eaten at home, is religious…Oh, not forgetting I met a new friend from Austria, Heike.

Day 2, we depart for the Dolphins Cruise-Hole in the Rock.

This is a 4hours tour which I really hope to see my favorite dolphins and swim with them; else if I had to wait till Kaikoura, the freezing water is not something that is fun to be deal with. Unlucky is the word to describe for the cruise, no dolphins were sought and really I only get to see HOLE IN THE ROCK… Ya, a BIG hole in the rock. Sigh, what a trip… I was really disappointed but no choice… the trip end about 1pm where I decide to stop at Russell Island for a short walk and explored. Nothing much in particular, seems layback and I settle my lunch there-Chicken Pasta with bacon and mushroom-NZD16… Not cheap isn’t it… but I am too hungry to think otherwise…

When we got back to Pipi Patch, the 3 of us is getting kind of bored, so we played a game called TWISTER. I’ve not played this game before but have seen how funny it can get. From the photo you can see we are all twisted…



Day3 is a day trip to Cape Regina. On the way we stop by a place called Puketi Kauri Forest, where some of the trees are awfully huge and old. I think I had some photo to show but I need to find it.
After which, if I remember correctly we drove to our next destination where the light house is. The weather got a bit bad as it start to drizzle. This light house is located at a place where the Tasman Sea will meet with the Pacific Ocean. From a rock description it says, “Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Regina) marks the separation of the Tasman Sea from the Pacific Ocean. For Maori, these turbulent waters are where the male sea, Te Moana ta Pukapuka o Tawhaki meets the female sea Te Tai o Whitireia. The whirlpools where the current clash are like those that dance in the wake of a waka (canoe). They represent the coming together of the male and female- and the creation of life.” This is meaningful isn’t it? I did saw those waves clashing into each other, and think about what it had written, is somewhat beautiful. By the time when I got onto the bus, I am literally wet from head to toe. Next we were drove to a place where we are supposed to do the sand surfing. This is actually heaps of fun but due to the weather, I only manage to do it twice. Instead of calling it sand surfing, I think I should rename it to “mud surfing”. My 2nd surf wasn’t too good as towards the end, I actually roll down instead of surfing down, so I am actually pretty dirty, but is alright.

90Mile Beach is the one that follows. Is really amazing and I really adore the sea. We were driven to a point where we can pick clams on the shore. I started digging and have fun out of it. My photo tells everything. After all the digging, the driver showed us how it eat it life. The initial sight was kind of gross. We hit 2 shells together till one of the shell breaks into pieces, then we dig out their “fresh” and eat it. Honestly, it is really tasty, though I am not sure if they are in pain but is really tasty. I had a few of it, and it reminds me of eating sashimi. The trip end when we grab our dinner ( is actually only about 4pm) at a fish and chip located at Mangonui, a small little town… pretty tasty too…

Day4 is the day where we were departed back to Auckland. The bus only leave at 3pm and initially we plan to get the voucher again to do the dolphin cruise but is raining all day. We are STUCK at the hostel. So the next things we realize is DVD Movie marathon-Big Daddy and Mr Deed by Adam Sandler, then the 3rd one, I suddenly cannot recalled. Haha. Really getting old…and guess what, we watch another movie on the bus, The Wedding Crasher.

Upon returning to ACB, we hurried to the supermarket-FoodTown as we were all very hungry. The dorm that we stayed in, wasn’t fantastic but still alright for me. In the dorm there were 2 very funny youngster, Charlotte and Eillster(I think I got the boy name wrong). The girl is 19 from London and the boy is also 19 from England. Charlotte is basically complaining about the not grown-up boy about not being able to make his own bed, not able to cook and even do his laundry. 2 funny fellow that I met… And this mark the end of my Awesome Top Bit Trip.

22nd May 2009, Friday

22nd May 2009, Friday.
This day marked the end of my working in Wellington and started of a fun and thrill journey around New Zealand. I really had a hard time trying to pack my bag-pack yesterday. But thanks god, it all went in. I am glad that Carl gave us a lift to the airport which saved us a lot of hassle and definitely money. Our flight departed at 1pm and we were at the airport ready by 12.15pm.

Very soon we were back to the Hostel where we are so familiar with, ACB- Auckland Central Base. We did nothing much in particular as we need to be prepared for the start of our journey…