New Zealand, here I come!

flight

this was my first time ever to do things like these - ride a plane and travel out of the country (and i did it alone!)

of course i was nervous and excited. tips came flying from everywhere. i got too many of it i was overwhelmed. so i decided to just go with my instinct. it hasn't failed me before.

the flight from manila to singapore was short and fun. i was seated with two filipina (in the middle row) who took advantage of the bread rolls too much the steward had to tell them they'd be given some after everybody's already served. :-P

the singapore to christchurch flight was the long one - 10 hours. i had a window seat with a foreigner and a filipino. food was really great but window seat is not good for toilet breaks.

Christchurch

it was a very warm welcome indeed! i got off the taxi and stood on this very driveway to find a really sweet and thoughtful welcome written on the pavement.

we went up the cathedral tower and almost bought another tshirt saying "i made it" but it's no way near our adventure in sagada so we didnt but in all honesty, it's not for unfit people to climb up that steep stair. (as if we're both fit but we tried. hehe.)

we have something inside that chalice that only three people knows.

the tram ride is a very touristy thing to do because it loops around the city center and they were restored so you're riding on something antique. oldie! (blocked people who wanted to get off the tram just to get this photo. cheers mate! :-P)

this is me pretending to be a totem pole. poking of tongue out is a customary way of maori greeting. (let those tongues out! :-P)

new brighton beach. we tried to explore every place in christchurch and though it's really cold to swim, we still had fun running and catching ball. just in front of the beach is the new brighton library which is really cool coz you get to sit comfortably, looking out the calming sea and just chill. of course, you should at least pretend to read.

garden city. before i traveled to nz, i read from a newspaper travel article that christchurch is known as the garden city with its award winning gardens. unfortunately, i went there during the end of winter so i wasn't really able to witness the fabulousness of christchurch in that sense. judging from these blossoms that's already amazing considering it's still a few weeks from spring is a good sign of more awesomeness to come. :-) i left just at the start of spring and it's really exciting to see the very first spring blossoms and the most workaholic butterflies - out so early!



christchurch gondola. again the first time to try a gondola ride and im afraid of heights! im glad my tour guide kept me distracted. :-)

you can see lyttleton harbour from up the gondola station (top photo). this was taken just outside the souvenir shop. we decided to walk our way down (after our gondola ride up). martin hurt his back when he slipped while walking down a muddy area (he was distracted coz he was trying to guide me through it). this would lead to the scariest part of my vacation coz he'd wake up one night complaining that his back is hurting so much. it was so bad he had to call a medical assistance hotline. he was advised to take some pain killer then wait and see til morning. fortunately, the pain eased in the morning and we didnt have to see a doctor.

according to maori history, british migrants arrived in the lyttleton harbour in 1850. they rested in this area while trying to get to the other side of the hill.

hector's dolphin
a nice cruise gave us the chance to see this little dolphins up close at the lyttleton harbour. it was so cold to be at the watching deck but heck! it's better than just looking through the windows. we were splashed wet when the tide got really huge but the complimentary choco worked wonders.

we hiked up a hill to go to a cave martin found during one of his "walks". it's way up of a park on the way to sumner. it was crazy to have found it during a leisurely walk (i sure wouldn't call it leisure activity). after that we went to the sumner beach, ate ice cream and i almost froze coz the wind was so cold!

akaroa

(photo courtesy of www.akaroa.com)

we are stepping on thousands of future gemstones and precious stones just waiting to be transformed at birdlings flat

here is where they polish those gray stones into their shining beauty.

we had fun taking pictures of me pretending to throw snow balls that i forgot those gloves that i have in my hand and martin had to ask the driver if we can still get it. the cafe was already closed when we passed by it on our way back so they met the day after and he got it back. yey! that was my very first snow experience. im still waiting for my actual snowing experience though. :-)

akaroa harbour. this place is a romantic get-away! it's like you're in a different time zone when you're here. it's so laid back, so old-time romance, gosh! if you're not yet in love, you will! well.. that is if you're with someone worth falling in love with. hehe. we had fun following the walk paths and the less traveled paths too. we were a bit lost after a while but we finally found our way to the road. had to dodge a few golf balls while crossing a green lawn though. hehe. just kidding. the guy playing was so friendly and helpful. fish and chips was highly recommended so we had to try that (chips only for him) and gosh oh gosh! try the crumbed oyster - to roll-your-eyes for! there are still one or two things we have to do there (akaroa website says there has never been a better time than autumn and i'll be in christchurch again that time! *hints, hints*)

the closest i've been near a sheep. this was when we visited the willowbank wildlife reserve. we saw lots of animals including the very elusive and shy kiwi bird. they're inside a really really dark room. guests were told they can't take pictures, make loud noises or try to approach or pet the birds coz they get scared easily. it was so dark we almost didn't see them but when we did, wow! it was really exciting!

wellington

we went up to wellington to meet with his brother and sister-in-law. took the train to picton and ferry to wellington. some pictures were not shown to protect the author's credibility :-P


this is me and kevin playing petanque (the goal is to throw metal balls as close to the piglet which is suppose to be a small wooden ball but i dont remember us using one, we just used stone).
brotherly chess competition. it was so windy the chess pieces were all tumbling. i dont remember if they finished the game or the wind finished it for them. :-)

from left to right - cate, kevin, martin and me after our kiddie games.

dosai. i ordered this when all i really wanted was a "light meal". gosh! foreign land and their large servings. hehe. in fairness, it's yummy and crunchy (though i didnt like the dips)

we found this plank on our way to the te papa museum. this was not in any way scripted. the dove just happened to be there and didnt leave even when we took pictures.

back in christchurch...

cats in christchurch are so cute! they'd let you pet them too!



eating while seated on a swing. cool idea!

my very first breakfast in bed! im having vegetarian sausage, pita bread and reheated stir-fried vegetable. i never even imagined myself ever getting this special and romantic treatment but im so happy!

thank you so so so much!