House Hunting

This is the 3rd day we've arrived at the City of Sails. We have to start searching for a room to stay, to share with other housemates an free internet to use. The rent at Surf 'n' Snow amounts to roughly $378 per week, without internet. We have to get something cheaper, else we'll be living on the streets in no time. Anyway, its good that beore we came here, a friend of ours - Amber told us there is a Free Chinese Newspapers with all sorts of classifieds in it, housing, jobs etc. Here is the website: http://www.mpages.co.nz/ It was through this papers that we found our rooms. Not having a car in this kind of country is tough, the public transport is nowhere near Singapore's standards. We have to take bus to view the houses. Everytime you board, its bloody NZD$1.60 minimum.

Anyway, we spend 1 whole day just viewing 4 rooms. The first one was very clean and nice, but too far. Second one was nearer, but junk. And dirty. The third one is along the main road, beside train station, near asian supermarket. Very convienient, albeit alittle dirty. The fouth one is the nicest, clean and neat with a nice and cosy room, though not near any supermarket.

Anyway, we chose the fourth one. Told him we will pay the deposit over the weekend which he didn't like. Well, my draft haven't cleared the bank yet, what can I do?

After thinking it through overnight, I think the 3rd one feels..safer. Alot of chinese there. NZ people can be quite racist towards chinese. We chose this one in the end! Its in Mount Albert. $160 per week is our rent, inclusive of water, electricity, gas and internet. Bloody slow internet too. The rent here goes by weeks, because there's 52 weeks in a year. So the monthly rent (By Singapore Standards) is ($160 x 52)/12 = NZD$693. Not that cheap eh? Considering we're 30 minutes from the City Centre.