Snow Mountains Trips

03 Sepember 2008
Time: 8.30 a.m.
Itinerary: Auckland -> Rotorua -> Whakapapa -> Ohakune

As the winter is quickly coming to an end, we had to get to the snow! After doing some research online, we set our trip on the 2nd - 4th September. And the weather forecasts were looking pretty good! We needed some transport, so we rented a little yellow car from Exploremore. Damn good rates. $27/day including insurance. We intended to drive down to the mountain, Mount Rapehu and reach there early in the morning to start our skiing. http://www.mtruapehu.com/winter/the-ski-areas/ Its the only commercial ski field in the North Island. There're plenty of ski fields in the South, so we had to head to this one.

Day 01

We started our journey from Auckland and drove down through Rotorua (Stayed overnight), Lake Taupo and to the ski fields. In the beginning of our drive, we were in awe of the surroundings, the green landscape dotted with small lil sheeps. Soon, we realised everywhere is like that. Hahaha. So breathtakingly beautiful. The drive from Auckland to Rotorua wasn't too long.. 2 hrs plus. http://www.rotoruanz.com/ Rotorua is a thermal valley, full of thermal reserves. Once you arrived at this place, you will feel like you're a in different world. Hot steam coming out of the drains, the smell of sulphur everywhere. It takes some getting used to, the smell. The town is shit small, as with most NZ towns. But there are alot of activities, if you have the money. Rafting, Zorbing, bungee, skydiving, mudbaths etc..

Most of the popular thermal reserves are privately owned, because then they probably can take care of the place and prevent people from damaging it. We chose a popular reserve with the most powerful Geyser, Te Puia. Bloody entrance fee is $45 bucks per person. That rocked me hard man. http://www.tepuia.com/ Quite nice lah actually, it includes a Maori performance with the famous 'Haka' and some singing and dancing. After the costly thermal reserve, we went to a free on near the city centre. A place where we had lunch and soaked our legs in the naturally heated pool. Alot of the motels and hostels are actually naturally heated - the floor of the room is hot and steamy.

At Rotorua, we stayed in the best backpacker hostel ever. The Treks Backpacker. http://www.treks.co.nz/ We had actually intended to stay at another hostel, but we drove past this one and it caught our attention. The design is clean and it is very comfortable. The whole place is spotless and all the cutlery and utensils are new. We are so in love with the kitchen. We will definitely stay there again.

Day 02

We woke up early and head to the snow. We drove past the famous Lake Taupo, the lake which is the size of Singapore. We took some photographs at the scenic lookout and its amazingly beautiful. Mount Rapehu actually has 2 ski fields on either side of the mountain; Whakapapa and Turoa. We decide to go to Whakapapa today and Turoa the next day. The drive up the mountain wasn't very long, and definitely is unforgettable. As I drive, the brown sand...and the trees by the road started turning white. From bits of white, to an entire road, to a mountain. Everything is white. We stopped at a carpark and every car around us started gearing up. We were the only ones renting the equipment. Hahha.

It's definitely not a cheap sport; it costs us $130 each for the lift pass, a lesson, all gear. We bought the wrong lesson, we got the advanced lesson but we have not even snowboard before! When we reach the top of the ski lifts, we told the instructor and they got an instructor to teach us, private lesson. Wah... so lucky. Private lessons usually have to pay $30 more. I have tried skiing before and to put it simply, nothing beats snowboarding! Think you have played something extremely fun in your life? Multiply that by 10 you get probably get snowboarding! I'm totally addicted to it. Next time get our own gear and season lift pass. LOL. By the time we finish our lesson, its already close to 1pm. We stayed at the beginners slope for fear that we slide down the cliff. We decide to go down the slope at 3+pm because the lifts closes at 4. We literally rolled down. At every turn, we fell because beginners don't really learn that much of turning left and right. We fell and slided, fell again and slide again, all the way down to the bottom. We were tired but happy, it was the greatest fun we had.

We thought it might be freezing cold at the mountains, but at 2 degrees, and snowboarding, we were sweating tremendously in our jackets! I was all wet when I got into the car. We reluctantly left the snow field and headed down the mountain. As we wanted to try Turoa tomorrow, we have to tavel to Ohakune to find a place to sleep, which is much nearer to the Turoa ski field. Ohakune is the land of the carrots. and probably potatoes. Haha. They produce alot of carrots and they have a huge statue of a carrot near their City Centre.

Day 03

We woke up damn early today, want to get the most of our day. By the time the ski lifts open, we're there already. Today, we're not going to stop. We're just gonna board, board and board.. take lifts up, board down, take lifts again..come down. Yeah! Turoa is a much better ski field! Lesser kids, lesser people and better slopes for us! We experimented at the beginner's area before we decided to take the plunge. We never looked back. Sliding, cutting the snow, falling, flying, we did everything. The boards were heavy but non of that mattered. It was the greatest fun we had in a long long time. We played a full day, got our money's worth and went back with sore knees, ass, hands..everywhere. But with a smile on our faces. Snowboarding rules!

A Legend of China Man

We move in early 2 days, first day moving in is busy tidying the room. 3 rooms at upstair, downstair is salon own by our owner, behind the shop is kitchen and toilet. Our room is the biggest among others.

Next door is empty suitable for single renting $90 per week. Opposite our room is staying Father and son. They are from China, get to know from owner, father and son studying the same school, Power! I am impress of his father, It's never too old to studying. Finished introducing them, now i got to start describe the place i stay.

First day of moving in, i can't stand the kitchen and toilet.. It is extremely dirty and smelly. A smell of spoilt food in microwave, the fridge is disgusting to us. We spent the whole day to clean the house. Im not offensive China people, the true is "They Don't Have Moral of Hygienic"

One day i was cooking dinner, the floor is a bit wet and u guess what the china man doing? He is using USED TISSUE to clean the floor. I was stunt and look at what he doing. Okay, Im fine because he is a thrifty, but isn't it very dirty? You're spreading the dirt all over the floor instead of cleaning? I just simply can't understand.

Auckland Museum

Okay, moving on now..

After confirming with the $160/week room, we took a bus to Mount Albert to pay her the 2 weeks deposit. Just going there and coming costs $3.20 each 1 way. So.. just to go pay her money, we spent $12.80 on transport. For that distance, in Singapore, it would be $1 each I guess.

Anyway, nobody works on weekends. So we didn't expect any replies to the CV that we sent out. Even on Friday, they would probably be drinking for the second part of the day. This weekend, since we're free, we decide to visit the Auckland Museum. http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/ It's rather near the City Centre, but on top of a bloody hill which makes walking there a real hassle. We got off the bus at Auckland University and thought we take afew shots of the... signboard. Kind of like a "been here" kind of thing.

We cut across the campus and up the damned hill. And it started raining. What luck. Melbourne barely had any rain for years but Auckland just gets all the shit during winter! We walked up the hill, with frozen face and hands and reached the place.

Well, when u get to the entrance, they will hold out their hands and say $10 for 2. Donation? Just bloody say entrance fee mate. The visit to the museum is quite enriching. It's actually called the War Museum, but it really is like a Science Centre/Maori Culture/War Memorial all in one.

Ground Floor - Maori/ Pakeha Culture & History
First Floor - More like children Science Centre
Second Floor - War Memorial

Well, for me, I think there's nothing interesting really. You start with the Maori history and culture on the ground floor, with all the Maori weapons, warships and way of life which is rather interesting. Then as you go up the stairs, you are greeted with snakes-in-jars, stuffed elephant?!, stuffed birds, kiwis, insects and kids play area. What the f*** is that? Thats a weird feeling to say the least; then from that Science Centre, you go up to the War Memorial with all the dead inscribed on walls. There was this one wall which was empty, and it says

"Let these panels never be filled".

Another interesting quote is when the soldiers returned from the war, the commander said,

"When you return, you do not return as heroes, the heroes lie in France".

At the second floor, we saw a Japanese art piece called the "Nest of Many Bowls". Kawaii~!!!

Akira Yagi, b.1955

Yagi has made an acutely detailed, precisely fitted group of covered bowls. First fired supported in a bed of silica sand, the glaze layer was added in a later firing once the procelain had matured.

Another one is a map of Malaysia during the World War. I can't believe it! I saw the name of my hometown appear in Auckland Museum.

Anyway, by the time we finish, it's still raining. It never stopped actually. Anyway, there's a shuttle bus to the city-$3 each. The guy at the information counter told us to take the cab which should cost around $6 to the city. So we stupidly believed him. We got on the cab, he made a U-turn and it's already $4! The meter goes faster than my hearbeat. Bloody hell, I think we should make a U turn and screw that guy. By the time we got to City, it costs us $14. Not a very long distance actually.

Well that sums up our visit to the museum.. Stay tuned.

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.

Interesting Stuff in Auckland City

Woke up in the early morning, got nothing to eat, all we have is a cup of "Watties" that we bought yesterday. So we go near by supermarket called "Foodtown" to shop for groceries. Oh yeah.. something i missed out of my last blog is when we arrived at the surf and snow kitchen, its full of people, man! guess wat they cook? They cook thing that u never expect. Baked cake, oven grilled chicken, sushi rolls, pasta with mussels.... and we had only a cup of hot instant noodle.

Okay... continues my today blog.. after came back from foodtown is already lunch time. The most delicious food we can cook and eat is "pasta with meat" poor thing is the meat is uncooked. uhm... recook again. They don't use the stove with fire, electricity stove got no power, that's why the pork can't be cook properly.

After our brunch, we have many things to do, we went to open bank account. Walk here walk there don't know which bank to go for, at the end we went for the bank with themost branches in the city. Auckland Savings Bank a.k.a Commonwealth Bank in Australia. We almost go into Australia New Zeland bank, but seems like no customer in all their branches. Later we found out that they are having serious financial problem.. heng arh...After Go into ASB I saw a woman came in and withdraw money, her dress is cool man! Check it out.. When you lost your way, you can use her dress to find out where is North, South, East, West.

We started our quest to search for free internet. So we thought Burger King will have some wireless as we always use in Singapore. Nothing is free not in the land of the Kiwi. Internet here cost NZD3 for an hour. We decided to use 15min which is NZD 1 for setting our internet banking. Time is Precious, 15 mins is soooo fast. But i found out that library internet for surfing local website is free, do check out their keyboard, the letters are HUGE!

After settle everything we walk around the city, found a lot of funny signboard, as you translate to Hokkien "Sai" - Shit, "ka" - Leg, it's mean Shit Leg? i was wondering they have Sai Kang?? HAHAHA...