Been quite a while since I updated.Well,for a start,I am in Blenheim,working in the vineyards to save enough for my glacier trips and kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park.I happen to walk into a backpackers,which is also a worker's accomodation,and so I met a group of Malaysian Chinese boys (all aged 23)and a old Malaysian couple who's also working for the same boss.
The moment I came in,the couple told me the boss is a very bad Indian man (from India)and that I shouldn't work for him.Well,I am just gonna be here for a short while so I didn't care.The Indian man was bad allrite,his name is A.J,and he told me that " I have met many Malaysian girls,they all look horrible,but you are cute,".What an idiot.He even called me to the beach for a swim.As the days progressed,I met 2 German girls,and proceeded to move in with them in a holiday park,staying in a caravan.The 3 of us and the 6 Malaysian guys always hang out together.And working with A.J is like working for a slavemaster.He never respects his employees and calls everyone idiots.The last straw came on Thursday,when he complained the blocks wasn't being worked well and he wants us all to re-do the whole thing WITHOUT PAY.The German girls,1 Taiwanese girl and I walked out,in the hot sweltering sun,and didn't know the way out (Vineyards are all usually situated in the mountains or some deep inside narrow roads).As such,we walked and came across a farmhouse and asked the occupant for a number of a cab.It turned out that the man was the manager of the vineyard and A.J was contracting for him.Apa lagi,we complained to him and he said he'll "sort A.J out".
We are now working with the Malaysian guys,and we will finish next week.I decided to stay a lil longer coz the 2 German girls,Suzie and Yohanna,are going to the glaciers and I could hitch a ride.Suits me just fine coz I am getting tired of the vineyard work and going by myself is gonna be very very expensive.
Else,we went to The Nativity Church for midnight mass on Christmas Eve,and went to pub to dance.We sat all night talking to the Malaysian guys and only went home at 3.30am.
We are going to Nelson to celebrate the New Year,where I am meeting another French friend and a Japanese friend,and we all are planning to spread our sleeping bags in the beach and sleep there until the first sun of 2007 rises.
Happy 2007 to all and I miss everyone.Now I feel HSBC is the best place I've ever worked!Looks like I owe Anba an apology..hehe..
Love you all!!

I ran outta money in Christchurch.I was there after a bad bad night in Ashburton,my next stop after Dunedin.Initially I was going to work in Ashburton and base myself there for the next trips to Lake Tekapo,Mount Cook and Franz Josef Glaciers,but I arrived in Ashburton at about 6.30pm,this guy who owns the backpackers I called picked me up and drove me to this huge mansion situated in a quiet road and was so far away from civilization!The house looks like the castles you get to see in horror movies.It was messy and dirty and this guy lives there alone.Well,too tired to argue, he gave me a room,and I put my stuff there and told him I am outta there the next morning.
He took me on a tour of the 'horror mansion" and some fields around,I just had a cup of Oats and couldn't sleep at all that night.I was awake playing games on my phone (Thank God for Nokia phones!).I was outta there by 8am,sat wandering the streets of Ashburton until 12.20pm,when the bus came and I hopped on to Christchurch.
Was in Christchurch for 2 nights,and hopped on the bus again to Blenheim,my first stop when I forst came to South Island.Hopefully after the glaciers trip I will be going off to North Island,I am due to start a short course in Event Management in Auckland University of Technology in January,and planning to meet and work with Kate and Megan again in Kerikeri,3 hours north of Auckland.I believe time is running pretty fast,and before I know it I will be bundled in the huge Airbus Thai Airways plane,bound for home!

I am in Queenstown having a blast.Well,OK,not so blast.Firstly,I lost my glasses.yes,my friend,my trusted ol' glasses is missing =(.It was my last day in the vineyards and I took it off while working and hung it in my sweater, and the next thing I know it was gone.
I did try searching the area,but each rows of the vineyards are almost 1 km long so searching for long is out of the question.Finally,I resigned to fact that I will have to make a new glasses.But guess what?A new pair of glasses is costing me $500!That's about RM1200 if you make the convertion and I got my old glasses for only RM80.I am still pondering my options..a friend has agreed to make a new pair in Malaysia and send it over so I am waiting.
Else,I went up the Queenstown Gondola and did a 12 hour trip to Milford Sound (Queenstown-Te Anau-Milford Sound and return).By the time I got back to Queenstown I was so exhausted I just slumped on the bed.
Milford Sound was good,and I can tell you that Kiwis are great when it comes to hospitality.They make sure they deliver the best to you,and that includes GOOD customer service.Although it was only two of us on board the EcoTours van to Te Anau,the driver was giving us a full commentary on board,including some Maori legend regarding the existence of Lake Wakatipu,the second largest lake in New Zealand.I am amazed at how knowledgeable they are.Apart from that,they also give you the freedom to stop at anywhere you like for some photo shoots,toilet stops,and you can ask them anything you want to.I certainly felt I got my money's worth (The trip cost me $150),not to mention the spectacular sunset we saw on the way home last night.And I also captured a rainbow at one of the waterfalls we stopped at!I even got in on video!It was amazing.The picture is on the link,so you can have a look at it.Too bad I lost my glasses.
I am leaving to Dunedin later today at 3pm,will be going to Baldwin St,the steepest street in the world and maybe to St Kilda's Beach.That depends on how tired I am.Then I am going to Ashburton to work again and going up north on 31st December.Sandra texted me last night and I heard some good news from her.My Taiwanese friends had a small farewell party for me before I left,and I even taught Shen the song "Theepidika".LOLZ..We were so bored in the vineyard and that's what happened.
You will be amazed to see the amount of Malaysian Indians in Alexandra/Roxburgh,who are here on a visitor's visa and wanting to apply for seasonal work permit.It's like seeing illegal immigrants in Malaysia.And nobody is on a working holiday!According to them working holiday visa is hard to get.I believe if you go through the right channel,working holiday is easy.And working holiday visa gives you the rights to work anywhere in NZ,in any industry.Seasonal work permit only allows you to work in certain parts of NZ,and you can't work in any other industry.So you are stuck with fruits all the time.Although the outdoor work can be fun,it is also weather dependant,and it is not usually an easy task all the time.
Well,that's my 2 cents worth.I've gotta go have my brunch and catch my bus to Dunedin.I miss you all and do write.Love you all loads!!