I Dream of New Zealand

I just cannot stop from dreaming of going here and there. I guess it is already my habit to put everything into words whenever I have the desire to step foot here and there. And this actually helps to quench my thirst for traveling after almost 3 months being 'dormant'.

So here I will go, must go and never-say-no go....New Zealand, The Land of Kiwi, The Land of Maoris...whatever you call it. Another 3 weeks solo traveling (or maybe couple...who knows!!) that I badly want to experience, with a less damages to the pocket. Why? Because I am so going there by renting a car and CAMPING!! I cross my fingers that I will be able to get myself a credit card to ease the car renting procedures. I don't particularly enjoy swiping the credit card but for this once a lifetime experience related, I have no choice but to have one.

Before that, I miss the chance to travel to Christchurch from KL with AirAsiaX. Last flight service was in May 2012 and that really hurts ME A LOT!! But I have just found alternative and considerably cheap option to get to New Zealand, so I still have the chance to explore another amazing and stunning country on the southern hemisphere.

Owh by the way, before confidently putting my plan in words, I think it is prudent to remind myself on the preparations I have done for this trip.

THINGS DONE (20%)
- 1 way flight KL - Melbourne
- countless of dreaming

THINGS TO BE DONE (80%....dangggg...still a lot more to do)
- 1 way flight Melbourne - KL (~RM800)
- 1 way flight Melbourne - Christchurch (~RM500)
- 1 way flight Auckland - Melbourne (RM300)
- application for credit card (siggghhhhh.....not one the thing I fancy about)

So, here is the route which is based on my monstrous lust (I am not a monster though) for traveling. 100% total achievement probability will depend on how much money I have at that particular time, and if I'm traveling with a buddy, it depends who my buddy is.

Kuala Lumpur -------> Melbourne ------- > Christchurch

Christchurch
 Day 1

Christchurch -------------> Ashburton 
 Day 2                     1.25 hrs              

Ashburton -------> Geraldine -------> Lake Tekapo --------> Lake Pukaki
Day 3                 1 hr                                  1 hr                                    43 mins

Lake Pukaki  ------------> Timaru ---------> Oamaru
Day 4                        2 hrs                                   1 hr

Oamaru --------->Dunedin  -----------> Barclutha
 Day 5            1 hr                              1.5 hrs              

Barclutha ---------> Invercargill --------> Te Anau
Day 6              1.5 hrs                                 2 hrs

Te Anau --------> Milford Sound ---------->  Te Anau 
Day 7           1.5 hrs                                       1.5 hrs          

Te Anau ---------> Mossburn---------> Lumsden ---------> Kingston -----------> Queenstown 
Day 8                                                                                                          

Queenstown --------->  Omarama ---------> Twizel ---------> Omarama 
Day 9                    2 hrs                                    0.5 hrs                          0.5 hrs

Omarama -----------> Mt. Cook ----------> Omarama  
Day 10              2.25 hrs                              2.25 hrs

Omarama -------> Queenstown  ---------->Wanaka ----------> Haast
Day 11           2 hrs                                     1.25 hrs                              1.75 hrs    

Haast ----------> Fox Glacier  ---------> Franz Joseph --------> Hokitika
Day 12   1.75 hrs                                    0.25 hrs                                    1.75 hrs

Hokitika --------> Greymouth --------> Punakaiki 
Day 13        0.5 hr                                  0.5 hrs        

Punakaiki ----------> Westport --------> Nelson
Day 14          0.75 hrs                                3 hrs          

Nelson ----------> Blenheim ------------> Picton ----------> Wellington    
Day 15       1.5 hrs                                                                          2 hrs 

Wellington --------> Palmerston North----------> Turangi --------->  Taupo
Day 16             2.5 hrs                                             0.75 hrs                             1 hr

Taupo ----------> Rotorua --------> Waitomo Caves ---------> Waitomo Caves
Day 17     1.5 hrs                             1 hrs                                               1 hr                                                     

Waitomo Cave ------------> Hamilton
Day 18                        1 hr

Hamilton -------------> Auckland 
Day 19            1 hr

Auckland ------------> Melbourne ----------> Kuala Lumpur

I think this route is pretty simple. I choose the scenic route and on top of that, I choose to stop at several townships to check out the attractions there. It might be a good idea to drop-by at these towns in case I run out of food stocks and other needs. And it is pretty uneven days spent at both islands, 14 days in the South Island and less than a week on the North Island. More days will be spend in the South Island due to its larger size and return trip is required from one point to one point to avoid driving fatigue.

By the way, this trip must happen and will happen in Spring next year, probably by the last week of September till mid October. I want to see flowers blooming here and there. Lucky I do not have problem with pollen allergies, or else, I will not be able to appreciate the lovely scent and colours of the flowers.

So now,  I am waiting for the airfare promotions by AirAsia soon. It is really good to have AirAsia X around because this company does help travelers to reach places without having to burn a huge amount of money, only if you don't mind planning 1 year ahead of the intended traveling time.

Pictures are the most important element that must be acquired by avid traveler. But before traveling, I personally think it is a good idea to browse for the pictures available online just to get a rough idea what kind of pictures should be obtained and what is environment like. But it does not mean the picture must be the same as what being published on the net; be creative, compose the pictures according to one creativity and skill, and that is satisfaction one can get.

One of the landscape in the Christchurch CBD
photo by : kiwi_explorer (www.trekearth.com)

Lyttleton, near Christchurch
www.trekearth.com

Ashburton Vintage museum

Ashburton Trotts Garden

Mt. Hutt, Ashburton district

Lupens, Ashburton

Methven

Rakaia Gorge

Rakaia Gorge

Canterbury Plain

* all pictures copied from Google Image, courtesy from the website www.ashburtondistrict.co.nz

There millions of beautiful pictures proving the beauty of New Zealand and they are all driving me insane. So before the chance that I  might be administered by any type of tranquilizers due to hyperactivity of the neurons, I better stop here, and get back to the reality, get a job, work hard and fulfill my dreams. Dear Allah, please grant me the chance to see every corner of your amazing Earth, and grant me the highest of all knowledge from the observations and appreciations I will do. Amennn!!

Dream achievement...still a long way to go.

Cities visited (pink spots) 

I remembered the first time my mother asked me if I want to go to Bangkok with her and a few other relatives, and I thought that would be once a lifetime traveling abroad. But I did not expect my first ever international trip has becoming my cravings until today. I guess that the infectious traveling virus was transmitted to me, being my mum as the vector of the virus. Who else? With a contrasting opinions of traveling with my old man, she never complains about me wasting time and procrastinating my current priority. In fact until today, we are becoming travel companion to each other, though in most trips previously, we had minor argument about this and that. But of course, as a daughter, and of course she as a mum, we need each other to ensure we get to see what we want to see while traveling, and return home safely.

In the past 20 years, when I was a school girl, my mum traveled here and there, to the States, India, China and Australia, without my dad. She really did enjoy herself seeing this beautiful world. At that time, backpack traveling was uncommon so she relied so much on the tour agent. But heyy..at least she managed to achieve her dreams. And when I started to travel, she, too,  travels the way I travel. Thanks to the world-wide-web for being one of the most important information provider and made us work our dream.

In 5 years time, I manage to visit 13 countries only. I cannot deny that I am aiming to visit more countries in this 5 years but it seems that it cannot be fulfilled. And perhaps, I realized that one I visited a country, I would ensure that I reach every part of a country. I cannot afford to travel like those Europeans, Americans or Australians, where they travel for like a month minimum and get to see almost everything in the countries visited. But maybe once I have got my own 'treasure chess' I will do the same thing too, especially in Europe. Ok..ok...keep that Europe thing for later.

At the moment, I have visited countries in South East Asia but I predicted that I will be traveling again to other parts of Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines. Burma is supposed to be re-visited but given the current religious turmoils and some difficulties while traveling there, I guess that plan needs to be kept aside first.

Cities to visit (blue spots)

In Indonesia, I wish to enjoy myself in the stunning Lombok island, dive in Komodo and Raja Ampat, and explore the other side of Indonesia, i.e Flores, Sumbawa, where Islam is not the main practice here. Oh I hope to get a cheap flight to Semarang and hop on a boat to Karimunjawa island. And in another few years time, I will definitely experience diving in Sangalaki where the closest city is Balikpapan. And lastly, I expect to see the different cultures in Makassar of the Sulawesi, where this is the place of one of my ancestors. And looking at this list, I know at least RM20k is needed to cover all places I want to be at. Diving trip is very costly and I guess some shopaholic skanks might downgrade this diving activity. Well, if shopping can fulfill ones 'lusts' and desires, so does traveling and diving. But I do not know what is shopping got to do with gaining life experiences. I hope someone will enlighten me about this.

As for Thailand, I want to fly to Bangkok, and check-out what do they have in Hua Hin and Pattaya, and course to visit the ancient city of Ayutthya. And secondly, I want to re-visit Koh Samui in the right season, as my visit in year 2007 was a disastrous visit as it was monsoon and I did not get to enjoy the beautiful scenery, calm sea and sunny sky. I have no plan to dive in Thailand as most of the diving trips are overly priced and the dive sites are incomparable to the Indonesian dive sites. But I cannot deny that Thailand is generally much cleaner and it has one of the beautiful beaches and islands as far as I can remember.

Vietnam is another nice country to be visited only if one can manage to avoid scams and cheaters. But it is unavoidable, just go with it and enjoy  every single thing Vietnam has to offer. I wish to visit the coastal area of Nha Trang and highland city of Da Lat as a rejuvenation of exhausted soul and re-sparkling the dim and lazy pair of eyes. And I will not forget to shop for the beautiful cloths to *wink*wink*

And finally in Philippines, I want to dive in Anilao and Puerto Galera, and spend some time for eye remediation in Boracay and Palawan.

As for East Asia, I only manage to visit China but a 2-3 trips are needed before I totally done with this charming country. I have jotted what I have in mind when I manage to book cheap flight to and from China for traveling within November and December 2013. This will be a trip where I will try my best to left mt footprints at the numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites around China. The cities where I can easily access the Heritage Sites, include Hangzhou, Suzhou, Huangshan, Nanking, Chengdu, Xi'an, Chongqing and a few others where I cannot recall at this point of time

I still need to make plans for Taiwan and Japan too. If everything goes well, I will be traveling to South Korea, covering 4 cities (Seoul, Busan, Gyeoungju and Jeju) and Japan, covering cities nearby Tokyo, ie. Nikko, Kamakura and Hakone. My 2nd trip to Japan will be somewhere end of next year, covering Kansai region and Sapporo. Japan is such an expensive country to visit but once visited, it is going to be very valuable and fun.

My mission to visit most of the places in Australia is still in progress. Managed to book couple of tickets to Melbourne and Gold Coast where these cities will be my point of entry to get to other destinations. Of course my ultimate goal is to dive in the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, but it seems that it will be a bit expensive to reach Cairns, or alternatively Townsville.

I have endless traveling dreams and it is rather difficult to spill everything here. It seems that the more I travel, the more I will dream, make plans and push myself to ensure those dream come true. Ashkuru ilallah (i am thankful to Allah) for giving me the chance to see the bits of this Earth.