74 : Windy Wellington

Hi, its been quite a while aite?

I really really really miss writing but I feel like giving up since my hard disk died on me and most of my NZ pictures were also gone. What's left is just whatever I have in my phone gallery and my dropbox Y__Y

Anyways, after 3 hours journey crossing Cook Straits; I safely arrived the North Island again before the storm making it's way to the South Island (phewww!) Will, my former co-worker back in Dunedin; was already waiting for me when I got down from the ferry, waving at me from far. And..I didn't know that he came with his mom! (Pictures all gone, dangg!) His mom is such a sweetheart, giving me a lift and even offered me a spare couch in her living room for the night.

Magnificent view from Will's crib

 I had a lovely chat with his mom and later, joined by his dad. Will's mom even cooked me a very lovely dinner.

Morning view from my "bed"

Next morning, I was bidding farewell to his mom and headed to the hostel where I booked for about 3 nights, Wellywood Backpackers. We went by foot, and it was actually quite a journey with my heavy backpack hehe Lucky me, Will was there to help me carry my backpack (and his guitar too!) to the nearest train station, Crofton Downs.

Bright sky @ Crofton Down train station

I can't really remember the duration of the journey to city center, maybe it's around half an hour?
Will then brought me to the hostel for check in and he left for his busking session with his mate.

Wellington Railway Station. MAJOR LOVE!

The hostel is so fancy in that zebra design, I know. Pic from google.

After sorting out life everything, I was heading out with no plans and trying to look out for I-sites to get information since the reception looked a lil bit overwhelmed with people at that time. Traveling alone allowed me to take my own sweet time to explore the city, anyways.

To be continued..

73 : Work Exchange in Dunedin

Hello!

As written in previous post, I would love to share about my experience in doing work exchange / work for accommodation (WFA). Basically, WFA is a NON-PAID job where you work for few hours per day for free accommodation/meals.

I managed to get WFA in Penny's Backpackers Lodge, Dunedin as a receptionist / front desk. It requires me to work 5 hours / day, 4x a week to get 1 week of free accommodation. Easy job : entertain walk-in guests, replying booking emails, answering inquiries and HAVE FUN hahahaha!

It was so much fun since we got to meet lots of travelers from around the world. Sipping my morning coffee in the kitchen while listening to others travel plan of the day was one of the things that I enjoyed the most :)

On a very sunny day, we normally leave the building and walk around the town enjoying the sun and observing people. Or enjoying few scoops of goodness, called ice-cream!

Our $3 of awesome-ness!

Enjoying the sun in front of The Clock Tower with lovely roomates. Room 2 FTW!

Or just watching movies in the living room. HAHA!

We stayed there around a month, we feel like we are living with our extended family. Hence, the family dinner. We cooked and enjoyed the meal together, like a real family. FUNTAIMZ!

I made cekodok ikan bilis for them! (and there was Floyd's legendary lamb curry yo!)

I was glad to be part of Penny's big family. I did return to the hostel and worked in the laundry team before I traveled through the West Coast of South Island.

Home, away from home.

So peeps, try to look for WFA to get new experiences mixing around with locals/travelers if you have any chances. It might be hard at first, but hey; you can absolutely do it! :D

72 : Crossing Cook Strait

Greetings!

When I was working in a hostel back in Dunedin, I met this one cool kid named Will; or William to be exact. He said that I should go Wellington and enjoy the wind there. So I did.

Took the morning ferry from Picton jetty to Wellington, on the day the storm crossing through Aotearoa. After biding farewell to my host in Nelson (she is the nicest, even asked me to come back if anything goes wrong on my way to Welly) and my West-coast travel partners; I took off via Bluebridge ferry.

Boarding pass to return before boarding the bus. The bus will take the ferry passengers from the counter to the ferry.

I was expecting a very small version of ferry compared to the real one. Duhh..

Went outside to check things out.

Gloomiest weather since I first landed in Aotearoa.

So, I boarded on a Santa Regina..

Gloomy and cold.

The neighbour.

Living hall

By the time I reached Wellington after 3 hours journey, Will and his lovely mom were already there waiting for me. I was so lucky because he was in town at that time and this beautiful soul even offered me a spare couch in his parents house for that night. YEAY! We went back home and his lovely mother cook a very nice dinner for me :)


ps : Got inspired to update from this pocketchuboi. Hiks.
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71 : On New Zealand Working Holiday Visa Application

Assalam and a very good day to you guys!

Since I got quite a number of questions through emails/facebook messenger/whatsapp/table talks, I would love to share with you guys on how to apply for once-in-a-lifetime working holiday visa in New Zealand. Pardon my writings, dear grammar nazi! :p

First, go to Immigration New Zealand website.

Normally the application will be opened on January 20 and above, every year. (You need to check the website regularly on January to know the exact date) Mind you, the places are VERY VERY VERY limited. According to the website, only 1150 places are offered to all Malaysian every year. During my time, all places were gone in 45 minutes!

READ ALL the requirements stated in the website for Malaysian HERE. If you think that you can fit in the requirements stated, please register yourself HERE. You dont have to wait until the application open, you can start doing it NOW.

So, when the application opens on January; all you need are :

•  a stable internet connection, 
• a credit card (not sure about the debit card & other online banking transactions. i did not own one, so i used my dad's. hey, of course la i paid!) 
• some patience. 

In my case, I woke up at 4 in the morning because the application opened at 5 am (10 am NZ time).
Then, I started to fill up the application at 5 and done with it on 545! There were lots of questions to be answered, merely about oneself; like what you do, what's your interest, do you have criminal records etc. I found it quite easy, just a bit of hassle to go through all the questions!

After filling up all the answers, it's time for the payment! It costs me around NZD165 when i did the application, so I am not sure about the current one. Most likely it's about the same.

If you can get through up until the payment is done, you are in a good health and you dont have any criminal records or problems with immigration in other country; most likely your visa will get approved. YEAY!

I'm trying to help you by answering few normal questions that I easily get after one read the requirements :

• Did you really need to have 2,250NZD in your account? - No. But I borrowed some amounts from family members, just to get it captured in my account statement.

• Did you do medical check up? - No. (Malaysian & Singaporean applicants are on exception to provide medical check up, UNLESS you are applying from New Zealand.)

• Did you have a return ticket with you? -No, I did not have it since I got the visa approved.

• Did you provide your account statement? -Yes, but they didnt ask when i entered New Zealand.

• Did you bring a hard copy of your visa? - Yes.

• What if my passport is about to expire? - You can use the passport number during application, then once the visa approved, you can email NZ Immigration to change your details. Please get it done BEFORE you travel to New Zealand.

For me, with the blessing from Him; it was so easy. My visa got approved within 48 hours after the application. And my immigration matters went smoothly when I entered New Zealand.

Most probably that's all for now. I will try to squeeze some times to write more about my experience in doing WHV and share it with those who are interested to know more about it. But I can't promise when will I write the next post :p

If you have any further questions, shoot me a mail at hazirah(dot)mahadzir(at)gmail(dot)com. I'll try my best to help you guys. Meh, i don't bite!

G'day, mate!

70 : Anniversary

20.10.2014

Today, a year ago;

I landed myself in the land of the long white clouds.

Greeted by a magnificent sunrise, and it made me vow to return to the magical land.

I will, I absolutely will.

My first sunrise in Aotearoa

68 : New Zealand

Hello!
It's been a while since i was here. Alhamdulillah, life is good. New Zealand has been treating me well since day 1 :)

I am currently in Roxburgh, working in a packhouse somewhere in Ettrick. Oh, I am under Working Holiday Scheme for those who doesnt have any idea on what am I doing here hehe. The cherry season just started earlier this month and will continue maybe until mid or end January.

Roxburgh is a small town in Central Otago, somewhere in  between Queenstown and Dunedin. When I said it is small, yes. It is a very small town with a population less than 1000 people. I am staying in The Commercial Backpackers and I think this place is the biggest building ever exist in this little town. It might be  small but it feels like home.

Home for the time being

Backyard / kitchen

Roxburgh town

Before Roxburgh, I was doing work exchange (work for accommodation) in a hostel in Dunedin for about a month. IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST THING EVER HAPPENED TO ME! But I'll write about it in the next post (which I dont know when hehe)

Alhamdulillah life is good here. I do miss home sometimes, but I am loving my life here. Now, I am in torn whether to extend my visa or not. There's some pros and cons but i think i'll pass it for the time being. (typical Hazirah is typical)

The cherry graders!

Cental Organic packers!

Roti canai day in The Commercial

I really want to write more about this but i dont know what and how. If you guys are interested in applying for Working Holiday Scheme, the application for Malaysian will be opened on 22nd of January 2014 at 5.00am (10.00am NZ time). You have to be quick since last year all 1150 places were gone in 30mins. You can check all the requirements and register at New Zealand Immigration website starting from now. Shoot me a mail at miss(dot)kakashi[at]yahoo(dot)com if you have any questions about this WHS and i'll try my best to answer you (whenever I got time for that lah okay). No, I dont bite people. Heh.

(takde ending)

BYE.