Tandem Skydiving, Hang Gliding & Paragliding

No. I didn't do any of those. I paid the deposit for skydiving in Wanaka but the wind was too strong and so it was cancelled.

I'm in Queenstown now. I paid for tandem hang gliding but the road to the mountains were closed because of the bad weather yesterday.

I tried paragliding next. Actually went all the way up to the launching place but had to cancelled at the last moment because of the strong wind coming.

3 disappointments! Sigh. But it's not worth risking my life for this. Somehow, I think God is preventing me from doing these things. Haha. My mum will be glad I couldn't do any of these! She would have thought I'm a daredevil.

I'm off to Dunedin tomorrow. The last stop before I go back to Christchurch and then fly back to Malaysia.

I'm in my fifth and last week. Can you believe how time has just flown?

Glazier Hike

I went for a 6-hour glazier hike yesterday. And truthfully I had no what I was going in for until I was there. It was very very difficult. And I created a few records there.

1. The only Asian in the team of 12
2. The shortest and smallest hiker
3. The slowest hiker
4. The one falls down the most frequently (no sense of balance and it's a wonder I didn't come down with a sprained ankle)
5. The one who always calls for help (getting stuck, not sure where to put my foot)

I'm getting famous for all the wrong reasons. Everyone there knows my name.

One of the hikers there talked to me halfway through the journey and when I told him my name, he asked me, "Are you the one who got stuck?". My reply - "There can be no one else." His reply - "You can blame it on your short legs." Haha....yeah, I have to work twice harder to haul myself up and it's a lot of work!

The only time I feel I had the advantage over everyone else is when we get in between the small holes. I seem to do it at ease..because I'm small. Just slide in and out.

And when we descend, the guide put me right behind her, so that she can watch over me and to make sure I don't fall behind the group. Famous for the wrong reason!

But it's really great to be between the ice. It's like being in an ice world. And I don't feel cold at all! They provide good raincoats and with so much hiking....I was taking my layers off...down to 2 layers at the first 2 hours of the hike! And I grew to love the ice axe, which helped me get a good grip of the ice and hauled myself up incredible steps. But the boots weighed a tonne...each! I'm lifting incredible weight in every stpe I take! And when we put on the ice talons (spikes for ice grips) I could hardly walk.

Going down was hard. My legs were shaking so badly and I felt like calling the helicopter for help. The guide was great...giving me all the encouragement.

That's my adventure! I had great trouble walking today....especially descending stairs. Hope it'll be alright soon.

I will keep to flat roads from now on.

Franz Josef

I'm now in Franz Josef. It's my 4th day travelling. I was in Greymouth the day before. Later, in about 45 min, I'm going to kayak in a beautiful lake and hopefully I'll be able to see sunset.

Tomorrow, I'll be doing 6 hours of glacier hiking. That's going to be interesting...and I hope not too tiring.

Just a short entry.

From Way Down Under 4

I know this is not the 4th news you have received from me. But still, I have to follow the chronology.

I went to Kaikoura yesterday. It's a beautiful town in the east coast. I did whale watching. It's really amazing seeing sperm whales from a near distance ( about 200m away). The boat was rocky though. I have strong motion sickness. And I had taken the medicine before I got on the boat. But after sometime, the drowsiness set into me, not to mention some dizziness. And I had no mood going out of the boat. But thankfully, I have already seen the whales and snapped many photos!

After that, I hiked up to the lookout. I had no idea it was that high up. I was sweating in the cold weather before I reached the top. Now that's something that doesn't happen everyday in winter. Anyway, I saw a beautiful view of Kaikoura from the lookout. It was so breathtaking.

This morning, I got out of YHA (the place I'm staying in) at about 8am. In NZ, the sun rises at about 7.30am and sets at about 6pm. I walked along the beach and watched the beautiful sunrise that shone upon the sea and also add a golden touch to the snow-capped mountain. It was such a mezmerising sight!

Then, I did dolphin watch. Only 2 persons out of about 30 did watch. The rest swam with dolphins. It was twice the price to swim with dolphins. Besides, the sea is freezing cold in winter. And it's not so much fun when you swim alone, without some friends. So I was contended with watching.

It was amazing! The dolphins swam with the boats. And some of them did acrobats. It's really something to see so many dolphins swimming around you.

These are dusky dolphins. They are totally wild and are not trained to be with humans. But they are curious enough to come near one. But any attempt to touch them will send off a danger sign to them. So. in order to keep the dolphins interested in you, you must entertain them! I'm serious! here is a swimmer has to do:
1. Circle with the dolphin (can be quite hard to catch up with the fast movement of dolphins)
2. Do not make a splash when you enter the water from the boat
3. Make noises with your snorkels (this is really funny as they all soounded like monkey!)

The reason for the noise-making is because dolphins live in a world of noise and they will be attracted to you if you make some funny noises.

I didn't get seasick this time. I stayed at the back of the boat in the open. Fresh air and looking at distant land really helps. There was this poor girl though, who threw up so many times....into the sea. I saw the brown liquid splurted out! I was more sorry for her than being disgusted.

It was also a good thing I didn't swim with dolphins. They changed their wet suits into their own clothes in the boat...men and women together! I had no idea how the women could expertly take their bikinis off and put on their bras. I was at the front of the boat and I happened to turn back and saw through the window.....a naked butt! I never turned back anymore. Don't ask!

All in all....vomit and naked butt aside....I had a lot of fun in Kaikoura. I'll be starting my 10-day backpaking trip around the island tomorrow. I'll be taking the train to Greymouth tomorrow morning. And it's going to get colder as I go further down south. Last week, Queenstown was on a high of 2 degrees celcious and was covered with snow.

Kay and Solomon, as well as Yoko and David were so worried about me! I had to devise a plan to lessen their worry - call them every 2 days. If they don't hear from me in 4 days, call the police! Haha...my mum would be glad there are people here being so worried about me.

Please pray for safety. Take care, everyone!

Last Day

It's my last day working in Allanvale School today. Can't believe 3 weeks have passed by so quick! It seems as if I have just landed yesterday.

It wasn't only me who didn't believe this. Other staff went like, "Is it 3 weeks already? We are just getting used to seeing you around. We thought you'll be here for the whole term."

The staff were very nice and helpful. They really made me feel welcomed and belonged. They have been very encouraging. They paid me the nicest compliment:
You are such a sunshine, smiling all the time.
You seem to be like one of us.
On the first day I knew you, I knew you would be a great therapist.
You'll be a great therapist.

But the nicest one of all is from my supervisor, Fleur:
You are like a graduate.

With compliments like, this, no wonder I'll miss the school! But seriously, I will miss the school because of the great working environment. There are just so much I have learned - to be spontaneous, seeing children from different ages, seeing how a multidisciplinary team can work together, how to create an environment that allows many opportunities for children to speak and the list goes on.

I'll miss the staff that has been so kind to me. I'll also miss the students whom I've worked with - from Sophie, who refused to co-opereate till yesterday (wow, she must have known it was my last session with her!) till Tina, who can't seem to stop talking. There's Jordan with a smile that always melts my heart. There's Chen, an autistic Taiwanese who does well in Mandarin but not in English. There's Daniel, who's non-verbal but could signed (sign language) my name. There's Ashleigh who is so sweet. There's John who can't speak but has so much he wants to tell. There are just so many others with so many fond memories!

I was busy writing up my last report in the therapy staffroom when Fleur called my name. I turned around and was surprised to see many people in there. They all gathereed to wish me farewell and to give me a farewell present! I was given a beautiful card with scenery of NZ signed by them, a paus shell hair clip (because I always clip my hair) and a pair of paus shell dangling earrings! They were so beautiful. I was so touched. I just gave everyone of them a hug! How much nicer can they get?

I will certainly bring back fond memories with me. It's funny that everyone of them are already talking about me making my 2nd trip back to NZ! Fleur is now on the quest in finding me a Kiwi man. Haha!

That's Allenvale School. From tomorrow onwards, I'll be starting my backpacking trip. I haven't packed yet as I came back late. I went to Fleur's house for dinner. Her family was so kind to invite me.

So, please pray for safety and having a good time! I'll be taking lots of photos.

Saturday Night Fever

I went to a dancing competition last night...which happens to be a Saturday night. In case someone doesn't know I have two left feet, I watched the competition, not take part in it.

It wasn't disco. It was ballroom and latin dance. A good description of it will be the movie "Shall We Dance' starring Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez and Susan Sarandon.

It was really a great treat. Eleanor, a Malaysian who married a Kiwi, is a dance enthusiast and she explained to me about foxtrot, quickstep, new vogue, gypsy tap, samba, rhumba, jive and so on. Her daugher also took part in the competition.

I was privileged enough to watch a couple from US (World no. 3) performing a few dances. They were amazing and their steps are perfectly synchronized. Lydia would love this!

The people who took part in this competition ranged from under 8 years old till....I don't know 60? It doesn't matter how old they are. Everyone just danced. That's the beauty of this competition.

This just adds another experience in NZ I can boast of =)

Birthday!

It was my birthday last Sunday (12 June). The day before that, I was planning for a quiet birthday on my one, not wanting to make a big fuss out of it. Perhaps a walk in the Hagley Park ( a huge park) and watch Maori concert later at night.

I stayed up till 12 am and then called home....to give my family to wish me Happy Birthday. So much for not wanting to make a big fuss. I would really want to hear from the dearest people in my life...who knows that it was my birthday without me purposely telling them. My brother picked up the phone and passed it to my mum.

Mum: Why are you calling?
Me: The clock has just struck 12 here.
Mum: Ok...so?
Me: It's alreay 12 o'clock here. Don't you have anything to say to me?
Mum: Huh? Oh! I have forgotten! (laughed) Ok...Happy birthday.

She then passed the phone to my sister.

Sister: What's up?
Me: The clock has just struck 12 here.
Sister: Ok...so?
Me: It's already 12 o'clock here. Don't you have anything to say to me?
Sister: (Laughed) You are so pathetic! You called home to your family to wish you. I must write
this in my blog!

Note the similarity between the 2 conversations? The phone was passed to my brother and again the same conversation. My father wasn't home, thus save me from repeating it another time! That's why, there's a saying: Out of sight, out of mind.

I went to church on the morning of my birthday. I met Kay and Solomon (her husband) there, who invited me to their house for dinner (they didn't know abouot my birthday). I thought it was better to spend time with someone I know rather being alone. So, I postponed the idea of watching the Maori concert. So much for wanting a quiet birthday. I am such a contradiction.

At the start of the church service, I was surprised to see the words 'Happy Birthday' flashed across the white screen. A little girl was having her birthday too. Though it wasn't for me, it was nice to see those magical words and hear a birthday song on my birthday. And I made that 'innocent' remark out loud to Solomon, who was sitting beside me. And all the more they made sure that I came to their house for dinner.

So, how did I spend my birthday?
1. Went for a walk with Kay and Solomon and also their dog, Jess (a friendly, has an affinity for licking and no use for robbers mongrel) at Allandale Reserve. It was a most beautiful place with scenic view.

2. Fleur, my clinical supervisor made a surprise visit and gave me a birthday present. Kay called her and told her of my birthday.

3. Was entertained by Jess. Kay had him doing tricks - go under chair, jump over piano bench, roll over and beg for food! As a speech therapist, Kay decided it would not do her reputation good if she couldn't teach her dog to 'speak' (bark) when instructed to. And Jess did just that.

4. Had a typical Kiwi dinner - roast chicken, roast potatoes with kumra and carrots, steamed vegetables with their family.

5. Went to young adults' service at church at 7pm and heard a most amazing testimony from a Muslim lady who was converted to Christianity. Had the whole church sang a birthday song to me because Solomon announced I was the birthday girl. I was really embarrassed!

6. Went back to Kay's house. Was engrossed in watching 'Dancing with Stars' (NZ reality tv show where celebrities were taught how to dance), when Kay suddenly brought a cake with a lighted candle and the whole family sang my 2nd birthday song. I was so touched and speechless!

7. Kay's family gave me a present. Kay told me it was what I really came to NZ for. I half expected it to be a scroll with and A grade. Serious! But Kay didn't think so:
We can't give you Jess to take home but we are giving you a man to take home.
A man? So, I came for a Kiwi man. It turned out to be an All Black rugby player....a soft toy. He was the cutest man. Finally, I can tell my mum I am bringing a man home!

8. Ate the most delicious mudcake with the dog sitting at my feet. Kay's children declared that Jess really likes me. And it begged me for food, without being told! It certainly knew how to catch my heart. I would be contented to bring Jess back home with me!

Yoko felt bad for not knowing it was my birthday. A few days later, she went out to town, and brought 2 men back for me! Again...an All Black player and Irish Lions player! Haha....it seems everyone thought I needed macho men like rugby players. Those 2 men were actually gingerbread men. I now have 3 men to bring home. I'm spoilt for choice. They are all cute!

It was a very warm and memorable birthday, spent away from home. God has been too good to me, blessing me so many people who take such good care of me.

I want to thank all of you who have wished me Happy Birthday, either through forced phone calls (my family), email, sms or my blog. And if my cousin, escpy, is reading this, I am expecting a big present when I come back, to make up for the lost years!. Will nains and my sister kindly remind him. And Happy Birthday to him too, this coming Sunday.

God bless, people!

From Way Down Under 3

I'm now sitting in the cold study room where the computer is. It takes time for the heater to warm the room. And it reallllllly take time. I've just read the comments for my previous blog. Thanks, for your concern. I'm sure your prayer helps with my recovery. But when Jack suggested that I think of him....I suddenly shuddered and shivered. Not a very good remedy. My flu might even attack again!

It Got Me!
The flu bug hit me hard. However, the amazing thing is that...I only have running nose on Monday night, on my way back from Nelson. God has been so good to me. He allowed me to enjoy my trip in Nelson before letting the flu go full force.

And so, I had to stay at home on Tues and Wed to rest. I couldn't go to school for I wasn't feeling well and it would be bad if I spread the bug to the students. It was a good rest. Yoko made chicken soup (with lost of garlic, onion and spring onion), which according to them, is a good remedy for cold.

I could go back to school on Thurs. Yeh! It was good to be back. I lost 2 days of clinical hours though. But they are kind enough to let me replace the days after my attachment date has ended.

The good thing about getting sick now is that I've developed an immune system for the NZ flu bug.

On The Way To Nelson
David took the East Coast where we could drive along the coastline. It was beautiful and amazing. We passed by a lot of vineyards, mountains and of course...sheep. There are really a lot of sheep. They are all over NZ!

David and Yoko were so nice to take me to a restaurant in Havelock. For my birthday, which they found out, is in June. They told me to try mussels for I've never tasted before and also because Havelock is really famous for mussels. It was a big pot (about 15 mussels) ...to my surprise. And it was really delicious!

From Zero To Hero (Sort of)
Yoko and David were worried because I ordered mussels with corriander, chili and coconut milk. I've told them before I couldn't eat spicy food and spice sometime cause gastritis. When I saw the mussels, I was looking for signs of chili. Only a few sprinkles. Then, I offered Yoko one of the mussels. She ate it a declared it was spicy. My reaction? "Where's the spice?" My face must have genuinely showed my surprise that she found it spicy. Because I couldn't taste any spice at all!

Then, Yoko and David figured it out. When I said I couldn't take spicy food, I was talking about a completely different threshold. What is spicy for me, is really really really spicy for them! And what is spicy for them, is not spicy at all for them! Voila! I felt like a hero then =)

Nelson
I had a most fantastic time in Nelson. We stayed at David's sister's (Lois) house. Lois was a speech therapist. She gave up her job when she had her first son, till now.

Nelson is north of Christchurch. So it was much warmer. The temperature is around 17 degress celcius.

Nelson is situated at the coastline. So, many people own boats, yacht, etc there. Lois and Simon (her husband) has a motorboat. So, on Sunday, we took the boat and drove to Port nelson. Then, we went on the boat to have picnic at the lighthouse (which is now a tourist spot). It was beautiful, to have picnic , surrounded by water. We went up the lighthouse and the view of the sea is really beautiful.

Snow
David took the west coast to go back to Christchurch. It's a different view. I could see the snow mountains all the way. And we were getting nearer and nearer to them. David said we actually had to drive on one of the mountains and there's where I would see snow.

A most spectacular view took my breath away. Sunset on the snow mountain. The white cap of the snow on the mountains turned into golden colour and complimented well with the expanse of the sky. It was beautiful. David stopped by the roadside to allow me to capture this image in my camera.

While we drove through the snow mountain, I had my first sight of snow. When David stopped his car by the road, I had my first touch of snow. And then...my first throw of snowballs to David and Yoko! Someone actually built a snowman by the roadside. And I had my first photo of the snowman.

Ta Ta
I will be going out soon...to town where I would be looking for information and arranging my backpacking trip 10 days from now. Then, I'll be walking about the Cathedral Square. I've passed by it before and I thought the cathedral was beautiful.

A very interesting fact told by Lois. Nelson has the city status because it has a cathedral. So, it mean, a city is defined by whether it has a cathedral or not.

Christchurch is getting colder as the day goes by. It could reach -1 at night and a high of 7 in the afternoon. Cold is hardly the apt description as to what I am feeling. But I get warm when I walk back from school (about 30 min walk).

Time for lunch - Nissin instant noodles (David and Yoko are out). Take care, everyone.

From Way Down Under 2

I'm now sitting in a freezing cold computer room. David took the heater away to his room and I insisted that I would be fine. Once in a while, he would pop in and asked if I have turned into a popsicle yet. He might find an ice-block sitting in front of the computer by the time I've finished with this.

Winter Has Arrived!
The weather took a drastic change. It's now on a high of 6 degrees celcius. I was awaken in the middle of the night. It was odd as my face actually turned cold. I was trying to warm my face under a pillow without suffocating myself. Hard choice to make - to die from hypothermia or suffocation.

Sick!
I'm having a little sorethroat now. There's a flu bug going arounf NZ. And being a new person in a new environment, it certainly will attack me. Thank God, it's not going so bad. I'm doing everything I can do speed the healing process and to stop it form going worse. Yoko and David are certainly wonderful. They gave me Manuka honey twice a day, some pill with immunity boost (something like Redoxan) and flu medicine. And I've been praying very hard. It will be tough if I fall sick. That means I won't be able to go to school. And won't be able to enjoy the trip to Nelson this weekend. Please pray for me.

Nelson
Yoko and David are taking me to Nelson, northen part of the South Island. We are going to spend a weekend at David's sister's place.This is going to be exciting. It's a 5-hour journey. We'll leave tomorrow (Sat morning) and come back on Monday. Monday is a public holiday because it's the Queen's birthday. Malaysia is also part of the commonwealth and yet we never celebrate that. But we have enough Kings' birthdays to celebrate, I guess.

Schoolwork
In order for me to enjoy my weekend trip, I also have to complete my therapy preparation, which includes planning, reviewing assessment, writing and so on. Every night, since the 1st day, I have been bringing work back home. There is really a lot of work invloved here. Most of the night, I feel very tired. But it's worse to go unprepared.

I'm using more variety of teaching aids here. I can use pictures, toys, communication book, computer and so on. But this also mean having to learn to take care of the technical stuff e.g. photostating, using computers to draw pictures and lamination.

Goodbye
If I type any longer, I'll turn into an ice-block, or worse....I will get frost bite. The place directly in front of the heater is officially my favourite spot. I do my therapy stuff and reading there. As soon as I turn off the computer, I'll rush myself there.

(Sneeze!) That's my cue to go. Bye!

My Favourite Things (Winter Edition)

Hot morning shower with frost on the windows
Hot tea and coffee and hot water bottle
Jackets and scarves with a matching colour
These are a few of my favourite things

Breathing steam out as I walk in the morning
Reading with music in front of the heater
Soft bed and three blankets for good night sleep
These are a few of my favourite things

When the frost form
When the wind blows
When I'm feeling cold
I simply remember my favourite things
And it makes me feel.....so cold!