New Zealand North Island 6 (Matamata)

29 March 2009, we left Rotorua early in the morning heading towards Matamata for a farm stay. On the way we stopped at Skyline Skyride in Fairy Springs Road in Rotorua We rode the gondolas to the top of the mountain overlooking Rotorua City and paid NZ$26 for each person.

From the top, we could see the distant geysers on the foot of the sky. It was a bright sunny day. Since Chom and Indra were so absorbed in shopping in the souvenir shop, I went walking alone, taking photos and exploring the sights.









I met a 60 year old man who encouraged me to go for a lug ride. Lug ride is where you got onto a kind of scooter and manouver it downhill on the track to the foot of the mountain, then take a chairlift up the mountaing again. I was debating whether to get a lug ride but the chairlift up the mountain intimidated me. I still remember falling down the chairlift in Queenstown, NZ South Island in 2002. So the fear was still with me. Now I do regret for not trying and overcoming that fear. Fear can inhibit you from doing what you want to do.







The intimidating chairlifts.













Overlooking the lug route down the mountain.











Auntie and niece in Skyline gondola going up the mountain.








The drive to Matamata was not as interesting passing through flat land all the way. In Matamata town we enquired at the Tourist Information Centre about a trip to Hobbotton. It costs NZ$58 each for that trip and we decided against it. Hobbotton is where they filmed Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. The remnants of the original Hobbotton Village is still there. Since none of us is a fan of Lord of the Ring stories, we didn't miss a thing. Honestly, I didn't have the faintest idea what the story is all about and was never interested to watch.

Looking for Sue and Gordon Mckenzie Farmstay was quite a hassle. There was no signage or direction indicating the farm. We found ourselves lost but lucky we met nice and helpful people there. Finally we arrived at the farm during lunch on time. We wanted to make sure that we weren't late for lunch. Unfortunately there was a misunderstanding with the agent who arranged our stay. We weren't supposed to have lunch there. Had we known we could visit other places first and arrive later, get sandwiches or salad at a cheaper price in town. But since we were there, we were too polite to decline. But Sue, the host was a bubbly red-head and a friendly lady. We shared some amusing conversation and really had a fun getting-to-know-you session. Sue and Gordon have been hosting visitors in their farm for almost 8 years and have met many people from different countries. They have hosted Malaysians but this was the first time she hosted 3 talkative fun-loving travel-the-world lady senior citizens!!

Sue and Gordon have 2 children, Bradley and Lisa (16 & 15). They have quite a vast property including a farm in the south island. I like their farm - quiet and peaceful with clean unpolluted air.



Sue and Gordon McKenzie's farm house in Matamata.















Th.e barn











At dawn. The poles are lights for the tennis court.,











It was a fun farm stay. At 4pm we fed the farm sheep. It was thrilling even though I have fed sheep in Wales before but this time we could hug them, pat and play with them. They rushed for their food eating from our hands and we screamed and laughed like little kids. Their wool was hard and thick. I tried to ride on one but failed because he fled and my shirt was smeared with sheep saliva. I love the little lamb (remember, Mary has a little lamb) It was exciting!! I just wish the farm has more to offer like milking the cows, sheering the sheep, organis vegetables, fruits etc. We met Gordon that night when he returned from his work.




The thrill of feeding the sheep.












Chom and I playing with sheep.













Hei, Look at my perfect profile!!








We left the McKenzies the next morning. Sue and Gordon strongly recommended that we went to Gloworms Cave. I have seen these gloworms in Hokitika in NZ South Island but they said this gloworm cave is the biggest. So we decided to detour our route and visited the gloworm cave.

On the way, we stopped at Otorohanga Kiwi House. It was a good decision. There were other birds to see but in small scale but the attraction is the kiwi bird. Here we were able to see the birds more clearly as the show place was not so dark. Then only we realised that kiwi bird is polka-dotted and always busy pecking for food. This is the only specie that we saw.











In serious conversation with a bird at Otorohanga Kiwi House.






We left Otorohanga for Gloworm Cave but we were a little bit late and therefore have to wait for the next group tour. Visitors are not allowed to go alone. The cave is huge with a hall that can accomodate about 200 or more people. They have special private shows there too. The echo is good for opera singing, I guess.

We boarded a boat to cruise the river where the gloworms are. I was really in awe looking at the bright shining little stars on the roof of the cave - millions of gloworms stuck at the roof making it glittering. They are magnificent!!!! Hokotika cave was not as magnificent as this. In pitch dark, the park ranger manouvered the boat by holding on to a rope, turning the boat a few times for us to enjoy the fascinating sight. Only that particular stretch of cave roof the gloworms are found in abundance. Unfortunately photo-taking and videoing are prohibited.







This is the exit of the cave after the gloworms tour.









Happy, we left Gloworms Cave to proceed back to Auckland and passed quint Otorohanga town. The rows of shops were lined with hanging baskets of colourful impatients flowers.










The drive to Auckland was uneventful to me. Again I sat at the back and promptly fell asleep. We checked in Oakwood Manor again for the night. That night we were busy packing our bags and hoping it would not exceed the 20kg limit imposed by MAS. It was fun shopping but packing was always a problem. I still abide by my philosophy - minimize belonging and so didn't do much shopping except for some souvenirs. Since things were double in price compared to our RM, I think I spent buying souvenirs which I could do without. But tht was what travelling is all about.

30 March 2009, we left Oakwood Manor to the airport early and returned the rented car. At the airport we did more shopping. To our frustration we found things in the airport were cheaper than in regular shops in towns. I was so pleased that I found Bilberry and Eyebright supplements there and bought 2 packets which could last me 2 months. By the time I decided to buy another 3 boxes they were gone. I couldn't find this supplements in Malaysia and it is more expensive. Thank God, just recently I found Billberry and Eyebright supplemets in PD but at RM 74 per box it's definitely more costly. But it doesn't matter, I need these for my eyes.

Arrived KLIA safely and Chom's sons took me home. It was a really enjoyable holiday and I really like beautiful, clean NZ. I might go there again, to travel the part I have not covered, insyaallah. Thank you Chom and Indra for your company.

New Zealand North Island 5 (Rotorua)

28 March 2009, we were in Rotorua, a city famous for its tourist attractions. The road to Rotorua was narrow and winding going down the mountain with spectacular view of mountainside and pine tree forest.



Before reaching Rotorua city, we stopped at Arataki, a honey producing centre and bought a few jars of NZ honey. Manuka honey is rather expensive and famous. I thought Manuka is a brand name and was surprised that it is a name of a kind of flowers where the bees get the honey. The flowers are white and so small. The bees must make thousands of trips to get honey from these tiny flowers. I like the taste of Manuka honey but I enjoy more of Pohutukawa flowers, NZ national flower, found in abundance in Bay of Plenty. This is another eye-opening for me - not to take honey for granted!








We stayed 2 days in Rotorua but still, there were many places we couldn't visit. There was a special kind of smell in Rotorua - scent of sulphur due to many geothermal hotspots found in many places in the city, even in the park. There are bubbling hot mud pools, geysers and warm pools and the air was smokey with sulphuric substance. Rotorua is really something different, no wonder it is so famous.
















Rotorua Tourist Centre is already a welcome sight, unique in design. We checked in Cleveland Motel, a family owned motel with geothermal pool. That was the attraction. I wasted no time but quickly got into the warm pool at night when everyone was resting. The pool was mine alone. I felt like soaking my tired body for ever in there. The temperature is constant and so pleasant. It seems the geothermal pool is good to prevent meningitis. But Indra and Chom said they felt their bodies heavy and unsteady when they went in there and they got out fast. I didn't experience that effect but really enjoyed the warm temperature in a cold weather.







Rotorua Tourist Centre from the lake.














In this motel compound I saw 2 NZ national birds which are blue in colour with red beak called Pokeko. It's quite common and we saw a number along the road we travelled. From far I thought it is black but bright blue actually. There were a lot of roses too, blooming with variety of colours and of course my camera was full with roses taken at this motel.








That evening we spent our time at Rotorua Lake, clean and beautiful. I love to see the black swans swimming gracefully, sometimes they flocked together to get food thrown by visitors. There were so many different kinds of ducks - white, black, grey etc with generous number of seagulls. I was so fascinated by the scene and thought of Shah Alam Lake. The local authority, I heard, introduced a few ducks in the lake for people to enjoy but they disappeared the next day. I bet those ducks were sold and already on someone's plate. That's some Malaysian attitude - so selfish


and uncivic minded.






A scenery of Lake Rotorua, NZ.













Lake Rotorua inhibited by ducks of different species.
















Graceful black swans in Rotorua Lake.









The next day we spent our time at a Moari Village - Te Puia. We followed the free guided tour by Hannah who poked on us to pronounce the extraordinary long Moari word at the meeting spot. Here, when we introduced ourselves, 2 guys behind us said they are Malaysians, so we had a conversation. These 2 young guys are MAS staff on holiday in NZ - one is Mahathir, a pilot and the other is Hussin, an aircraft engineer.
















Te Puia is an amazing place.I was fascinated by its geysers, mudpools and the pungent sulphuric smell. It didn't bother me. I remember visiting Yellowstone Park in Wyoming, USA. witnessing the spurt of Old Faithful every 3 or so minutes. Old Faithful is a geyser which has not let visitors down and faithfully shoots out every 3 minutes at the dot. There are a number of geysers in Te Puai but they spurt out 3-4 times within an hour. It's really exciting hearing the hissing sound when they spurt out - one after another.

Hannah showed us the manuka plant which amazed me, for I can't imagine how the bees managed to suck the honey in such tiny white flowers. No wonder manuka honey costs a little more than the others. At the area where geysers, mudpools and hotsprings were, there were cemented platform where anyone can sit or lie down and feel the warmth of the geothermal activities underneath. We lay down comfortably.
















A geyser spurts out at Te Puai.
















Chom and Indra at the geothermal hotspots.









At the Moari stage show which we paid NZ$45 each, I salute those people in charge for being firm towards tourists. I think they have a lot of experience dealing with stubborn tourists who refused to follow instruction. A group of Chinese people seemed oblivious of the instruction to not rush and push. They rushed and pushed and made so much noise. Everybody was told to take off their shoes and the men were to sit in front seats and ladies at the back. Repeated instructions were given, they disregarded it, so much so, the staff got annoyed. I would too.

According to Moari custom, a leader of a group has to come forward at the welcoming ceremony. An Irish man was appointed to represent the group of tourists. After the ha, ha ceremony, they rubbed noses and welcomed us in. That was where the rushing and pushing happened whereas there were so many seats available. I have watched Moari dances on TV and so it wasn't so extraordinary to me. I wished they could offer more!








The Moari show wasn't spectacular but I volunteered to get on th stage to dance a Moari dance. It wasn't bad actually and I had fun!










Indra doing the Moari dance at the storing house.













The Moari dance show at Te Puai.








Our day 0n 28 March in Rotorua was full of activities and fun. Immediately after Te Puai we decided to go to Paradise Valley Springs to see lion - feeding. I wasn't excited to see lion -feeding actually as I have seen it in Indonesia and feeding tigers in The Lost World of Tambun, Perak. So, I thought it was nothing to shout about. But I was in for a surprise. Feeding the lions at Paradise Valley Spring was something you have to see. There were 8 lions with one dominant male and a very old lioness. The keeper threw lumps of meat over the fence and the lions scuttled to get it. Of course the huge male lion had control. I felt sorry for an old lioness who hid herself and didn't go for the food. Everyone was concerned. But this old lioness had a strategy. She let everyone scrambled and fought for the meat first and she just watched patiently. Finally when every lion was full, she quietly went for it. Smart girl!! These lions need 30 kilos of meat everyday.














Paradise Valley Springs itself is a paradise. The park is cool and green with exciting plants and animals. We saw 2 boys with 2 huge trouts. In the park, there were plentiful of rainbow trouts swimming in the clean, clear river. They were so big!! The park doesn't allow fishing but outside the park, the river offers abundant trouts.




















There are many other animals for visitors to enjoy. This ram is cute. He followed us expecting food and he loved eating from our hands.














With a ram at Paradise Valley Springs Park, NZ.

The walk in Paradise Valley was heaven. There are different types of ferns there but the ferns there were hard and stiff, not like ours. At one look, one may say it is plastic. The ferns grow so well and healthy.
















Feeding the black swans in Paradise Valley Springs.









Sheep herding demonstration at Agrodome.

We left Paradise valley Springs to go to Agrodome Park but unfortunately it was late and almost closing time. We managed to see a demostration on sheep dog doing his work - herding sheep in the pen. The dog was smart and agile, trained to thrill the audience. After the show he came straight to the people to be pat or be admired until his owner whistled for him to heel. This sheep dog is adorable and amazing. It would be great fun to see a real sheep dog at work.

It was a full day for us. I was tired but happy and satisfied with the experience and the fun I had. We went back to Cleveland Motel and I soaked myself again in the geothermal pool there, feeling relaxed and fresh.

New Zealand North Island 4 (Napier, Taupo)

Kia Ora, that's welcome in Moari language.

While recalling our travel to NZ on 19-30 March 2009, I remember the event when we were leaving Oakwood Manor to Turanga. Indra has been worried about her blood pressure and we stopped at a clinic in Manukau. Just to check her blood pressure she had to see a doctor and paid NZ$100 for consultation. She met a Chinese doctor originally from Penang. If there are complaints about some supposedly pious Malay lady doctors who refused to touch their patients and just poke here and there using pens and pencils, this particular doctor is another story! Indra came out of the consultation room with disgust on her face. After paying NZ$100 consultation fee, she narrated her experience seeing the doctor. He didn't examine her at all, instead, sat in front of his computer asking her about her complaints and medications and searching Google for medical explanations. He got more information about her medications from Indra than what he should tell her. For that few minutes consultation she had to pay NZ$100 (RM200). So modern technology has cut short human touch even in medical examination and that happened in NZ!!

26 March 2009, we were on our way to Gisbourne and later Napier. I cannot narrate any experience along this route. I was sitting at the back and slept all the way while Chom was driving. This is the reason why I hate not driving. Just sitting at the back was sheer boring and I would fall asleep.The only thing that I can recall was the road was winding and going uphill around the mountains. When I woke up I saw vast areas of pine tree forest on the mountain slopes and wondered whether the pine trees there are planted or grow naturally. We saw a number of lorries ferrying pine timber too. My curiousity was answered when I noticed small and newly planted pine trees at hill slopes. So I made a guess that NZ has a system of timbering. They cut the trees in stages to allow enough supply of timber. They planted the pine trees after they are cut for timber. That's cool.


The journey took passing small towns like Manutuke, Muriwai and Nuhaka before we stopped at a pretty old historic town, Wairoa. We stopped for lunch in Wairoa, visited the museum and tried to pronounce the long Maori word found on the board in the museum.


























Th light house at the background. Taken at the park near Mohaka River in Wairoa.








We checked in Albatross Motel in Napier after visiting a few interesting spots in Napier city. The first attraction was Marineland.



It was an interesting place, more like a rehabilitation centre for injured, abandoned marine animals such as penguins, sea lions, seals, and other animals. It was an interesting visit where we got to see, touch and hold penguins. When I visited Boulders in Cape Town, visitors are not allowed to go near, let alone touch or hold the penguins. It was so exciting having the opportunity to feed and to hold one penguin in my hands. I was the first one to volunteer. The keeper taught the technique to feed and to hold them. Boy, they were quite slippery! They fed on small fish provided by the centre. Pic above shows Indra feeding a penguin at Marineland, Napier.

There was a blind and a limping penguins housed there. Penguins are faithful to their mates for life. I just found out that polar bears are found only on North Pole, whereas penguins are found in South Pole.


Pic shows a penguin without a wing. She will never survive in the wild but saved and nurtured in Marineland.












A penguin happily swimming in the cool pool in Marineland.






The seashore at Napier is black stony beach but oh, so clean. I picked one smooth, almost perfect round black stone for Najidah as souvenir.















The colourful garden at Napier beach.














The scenery opposite our Motel, Albatross Motel. It's very near a busy highway. My night was disturbed with endless sound of lorries and cars.





That night we went to have dinner at an Indian restaurant in Napier. We have been hankering for rice and we ordered baryani rice. It was the lousiest baryani I have ever tasted so far, so soggy and tasteless. What made it worse was, we were not served well. The Indian staff almost ignored us. We guessed it was because we were Asians, we ordered small portion and we were not dressed to kill. Their impression must be, we were not worth paying attention to and of low class compared to their other customers. Indra didn't get her order and we left immediately with disgust in our hearts.

Before leaving the Motel, we spent some time at New Zealand National Aquarium in Napier. There we saw 2 Kiwi birds for the first time but because Kiwi bird is nocturnal, the enclosure was in semi-darkness. Kiwi birds have long beaks and they looked for food poking their long beaks in the soil. With no tail, kiwi bird looks like a hunchback, rounded back. All the while we were watching they were busy looking for food and moved around so fast. It was quite exciting actually to see them alive.









On 27 March 2009, we left Napier for Taupo. Lake Taupo was a major attractions created from a major volcanic eruption, also NZ's largest lake. The drive to Taipo was quite trying, with narrow, winding, mountaineous road and no rest area. So if anybody takes that route, you have to empty your bladder first. We didn't stay long at Taupo. We stopped at a lookout area and took some photos of Taipo city and then drove straight to Huka Falls area to see the crystal clear Waikato River which provides power to the city. Unfortunately we didn't have much time to trek the trail to the waterfall but the scenery around the picnic area is already breathtaking.





Overlooking Lake Taipo.














Waikato River with crystal clear water from Huka Falls.














The landscape enroute to Rotorua from Taupo. Vast area of pine tree forest and young planted pine.






As it was quite late, we drove straight to Rotorua which is about 1 and 1/2 hour ride. By this time, I felt our program was quite tight and wished we could stay a day longer there, not just passing through.