I just got back from 2 week vacation from New Zealand – Australia trip which to be exact took place at the end of April (You must be wondering why it took me so long to write this post, I will explain everything in my next post). It was such a memorable and costly trip (worth it though). If any of you wants to plan for an overseas trip, I would love to recommend New Zealand). Personally, I prefer New Zealand to Australia (but Melbourne is definitely a love) and here are some reasons.
PS: Ok. I have been busy and missed writing a lot of wonderful trips including Taiwan, Binh Chau and Vung Tau… Qing Fei De Yi (Can’t help falling in love with you) was originally the title of my Taiwan trip which was a shame that I did not remember anything, except for buying a phone charger which burnt my Iphone battery. It is just too good to be skipped, so I name it my New Zealand trip, which sounds a bit random! Of course, Cheese is always my best travelling buddy!
#1. Food and drink
I am just an ordinary girl who has a big love for food. During my trip specifically in New Zealand alone, I had opportunities to experience different food coming from Western and Asian cuisines. I just would not say that food was authentic but did come in variation, e.g.: oysters, grilled salmons, grilled meat, beef and other. As New Zealand served all manner of food, I would love to give the spotlight for dessert which I was utterly amazed at how delicious it was. I have never tried any dessert better than New Zealand’s one. As a person whose sweet tooth never comes loose, I would die for passionfruit cheesecakes, ice creams (I tried cookie milkshake in Ben and Jerry’s), and macaroons. They just made me feel like having real orgasm ^^. Wine is New Zealand’s specialty but this topic should not be raised with me. Before joining the tour, me and my sister took a trip to Waiheke where we tasted different wines in different vineyards. If it hadn’t been for it, I would have never known that there is a variety of wines which are also used in different occasions such as for desserts, or seafood… Since I have 0 experience when it comes to alcohol, I could not tell them apart.
Even strawberry milk I bought in a convenience store near my hotel was super cool too. It could be probably because I loved dessert too much, I paid less attention to food. Generally, food was ok and compared with one I had in Australia, it was too way better (My tour served Vietnamese food cooked in a Chinese way).
#2. People
From left to right: Me, Cheese, Jessie and lovely Huyen
They are super nice! They just gave off a friendly vibe and this made me feel like a warm welcome to their country. Even though I got some difficulties hearing their English first (I was so used to Japlish), I could tell that they are genuinely kind at heart (or it could be that people I met were nice). I met Cheese’s friend who was her former colleague in Vietnam – Ms Huyen. Lovely Huyen and her husband generously took us out for sightseeing and we ended up heading to a restaurant near the beach for lunch. Needless to say, it was super delicious and detectable dish I had ever tried. Anyways, New Zealand people are nice and gentle which I had my onee san who was a Victoria University of Wellington graduate confirm. By the way, local people did teach me a precious lesson that I highly appreciate. Here the story goes: At the last stop of our Waiheke trip, we had fun chatting with the owner’s vineyard who asked us about our plan in New Zealand. We said we could not wait to go to Hobbiton – the film set of The Hobbits and asked her if she had come there before. She said “Not yet” and then I realized that local people do not bother to come to so called tourist destinations in their own country. Have I ever gone to Cu Chi tunnel? Not yet.
#3. Guys
(Sorry, I do not take any pictures of guys I know, so it is just an illustration)
I should have included them in #2 but I truly believe New Zealand guys deserve their own slot. At the very first moment I arrived at my hotel, the hotel’s steep and small stair gave me such hard times carrying my almost 30kg luggage. Then, a random guy passed by and asked me if I needed any help. That kind and muscular guy with a beautiful smile finished his business quickly and left an overwhelming me standing there and waving him till the end of the road. Silly me! I should have asked him for coffee and then hang out for dinner. No just joking! He had a girlfriend waiting for him. Such a cool couple!
What did I do in the past life to be blessed in my current one? Did I sacrifice to save my own country? I do not know. Meeting a lot of good people make my heart beat in delight. Once, on our way to get back to our hotel, Cheese wanted to stop by a convenience store to buy strawberry milk. I could clearly recall that it cost 3.30 NZD. I got a small pocket where I kept all chances and coins miscellaneously. I sort of messed them up and no idea that I mistakenly gave the Indian guy in the counter 3.20 NZD and 0.10 SGD. I could not believe him when he said it was not NZD. As I did not have any chances, he finally gave us strawberry milk with the price of 3.20 NZD ^^. I guess he probably did not want to get involved in any troubles with my Goddamn-are-you-kidding-me face.
How come I forgot Tinder? I have enjoyed this app lately which Cheese addressed as only-for-the-desperate app. I give no crap since I met wonderful guys there, even in New Zealand. Put things in perspective, sis ^^.
Finally, sweetie Benny – onee san’s college friend. His name has three initial letters from “Bentley” the supercar, that’s why he is so precious like that luxurious car brand. Ben was super busy with his upcoming exams but still spent time taking me to my meeting point with sis Huyen. Gentle Ben had driving license but was unable to drive us (he did explain to me how driving license in New Zealand worked, my peanut- sized brain did not allow me to remember it though). We took a bus there which was 10 times cheaper than taxi. Oop, I did forget to say the taxi fare from airport to our hotel was around 100 NZD. We are rich kids, aren’t we? LOL.
#4. Sightseeing
(Waiheke island)
(Auckland Domain)
(The Hobbiton)
If you are nature lover or just look for places where you can make a sweet escape from bustles and hustles of big cities, make it to New Zealand. Even when I stay in cities like Auckland, I just could not feel the same way as Ho Chi Minh city where hot temperature makes you feel like stripping off your clothes and staying naked all day. Luscious plants, far-away hills with white dots which are actually sheep, cool breeze and enchanting view of the countryside definitely took my breath away. My favourite place went to the Hobbiton – the hometown of Frodo in Lord of the Ring. Houses are small but enough for me to get inside. My lovely local tourist guide informed that the Hobbit are just around 1.58m in height. That means I am the hobbit and have no difficulty entering the house. Ginger beer was good because it was non-alcohol.
(The Hobbiton)
(Wai-O-Tapu Thermal wonderland)
My least favorite is Wai-O-Tapu Thermal wonderland. This whole area is associated with volcanic activity which results in colored pool. Basically, I dislike something that smells bad, that’s why I put this so called rotten egg smell area the last in my list.
(The Kiwi village)
Kiwi! Kiwi! New Zealand is the place of kiwi which is the name of not only a fruit but also native people in NZ. Whenever I see kiwi, it just reminds me of my allergic-to-kiwi bestie whose face gets swollen after eating this kind of fruit. I should have given her a package of dried kiwi tagged with a heartfelt message: ”No matter how your face turns out to be love, still remember that I love you unconditionally”. We visited a kiwi garden on a rainy day, I did not enjoy it much though.
#5. I looked great in every single photo
I don’t know if there is something called chemistry existing between a person and a place. It could be that in my past life, I was a supermodel living in New Zealand, hence, it came as no surprise that I looked perfectly fine in every picture I took with my Iphone. Even though I knew all along that I did not have any photogenic features and was not a narcissist myself, I just could not help staring at my photos and falling in love with me LOL.
And this is the famous Qing Fei De Yi – Main theme of my favourite Taiwan drama starring F4…
Thanks for reading *bowing head*
