Mystical Rotorua

The impressions of Rotorua City Centre to A.S, all compiled into a video below. Enjoy!

The experience you're missing from this video would be the smell as you enter this mystical city and the feel of steam blown to your face. The weather had not been good when A.S was there in early Dec '11. So, it's good that you enjoy this as you stay warm and dry indoor.

The 'Haka' is a Maori traditional performance which if you were a big fan of the recent Rugby World Cup '11 (RWC), you may have noticed that the All Blacks performed this everytime before the game started. In a way, they tried to intimidate their opponents as how Maoris used to intimidate their enemies with this performance back then.

Rotorua is a city which has very strong Maori presence. The Green Lake which is one of the 16 around in Rotorua is considered a sacred lake to them and thus, any form of water activity is prohibited there. Situated at an active volcanic region, the underground steam is used to keep houses warm, to prepare 'Hangi' as well as providing the luxury of having natural hot pools at homes.

*A.S's current location*

Day/ Date: Wed, Jan 18, 2012

- At the west coast of South Island, NZ at Greymouth. Will be heading south later to Hokitika which is only 30 mins drive from here. Was invited to join the locals for Toastmasters meeting here last evening and later at Hokitika which she gladly accepted. She had been part of the meetings in Hamilton, North Island. Tomorrow, the journey continues to Fox Glacier.

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Why Tennis is Cool!

This is what A.S does when she’d like to see some sexy energy with flair. Just look at how the energy is transferred from the entire body to the arms to the ball. Listen to the sound of the hit, the best sound comes from the sweet spot of the racquet. Look at how deft they run and go before the ball so effortlessly. Look at how the legs, arms and body coordination. Look at how powerful the follow through swing is that brings the ball across in light speed. Look at the service, especially, on how the energy is transferred from the bending of the knees, up to the body, then to the arms and racquet, to the ball and across the net at 260km/hr! Look at how the opponent has to stretch, block, and reduce the speed tremendously as he keeps the ball low in the return.

Someday, yes, someday, A.S could play like that. That’s for sure. She believes, when she sets her mind for something, she’d be able to do it!’ It’s left for the work of the subconscious mind. Also, practice, practice, and more practices. Any skills without practice are equivalent to zero. Theories mean nothing unless practiced and polished.

When she was in Hamilton, NZ, she managed to join her local Kiwi aunts playing every Wednesday morning. She’d have to say they were good and she had to struggle to keep up with them. Her weaknesses revolved mainly on controlling the face of her racquet, controlling the speed of the ball, game tactics, speed on the court, and consistency of hit.

Lots of practices required which would keep her busy when she returns. One thing she wishes to see in Malaysia is to make tennis courts more available instead of just at posh condos, club houses or institutions. It should not appear to be a sport for the rich and classy, but a sport which is just as common as badminton, of which courts are as easily available in neighbourhoods.

The energy of the game is just so infectious, don't you reckon so?

NZ: Waitomo Caving Adventures

Waitomo in New Zealand is renowned for adventurous caving adventures which to A.S was something new as she had never tried abseiling into caves. The glow worms were another attraction she had to check out.

Back home in Malaysia, cave are more of tunnels through huge hills or mountains. However, she was marvelled with the caves here in Waitomo. She was driven around the iconic green countryside of NZ before eventually entering one of the farm. She would not have guessed that underneath the pastures where the sheep and cows were grazing, there laid a network of water gushing underground caves with amazing glow worms!!!

This video was recorded as she left the property after the adventure!!

 "Bye, cave! I had a good time!!!"

"Bye sheeps, you are so lucky to live in one of the most amazing place in the world! 

Do you know that?!"

Credits to Waitomo Adventures for this powerful marketing tool
which got A.S signed up and did this 2 weeks back. 

The adventure was cool as!! It surpassed A.S's expectations and yes, dear thrill seeking mates out there, you should not miss this! The operators were so friendly and funny and oh, has A.S told you that they could be as skilled as Spiderman climbing up effortlessly the somewhat smooth cave walls. 

There were spots where she had to abseil down uneven cave-in walls with chilly water pouring over  her. Then, there was also a spot where she was asked to turn off her headlamp, hands on her helmet and let go off the rope to find herself falling into a pool of dark freezing water underneath. Brrrr!!!

Fonterra's 2011 Shout Out Day

Come and join A.S listen to her favourite genre, the acoustic music! Don't you like it as well? Here, performed live to you next to a lake with interesting people, and good food - Fonterra's Tip Top Ice Cream, flavoured milk, yogurt and fresh-off-the-grill hot sausages.

The sun, that, A.S can do without.

The wind, that, it's a love and hate thing. It's nice but it's cold!

10 Fast Facts About NZ

1. It's an environmental friendly country. It's common to come across reminders to use energy saving methods, i.e duvets, hot water bottles or simply layer up instead of using heaters, most homes have clothes lines instead of dryers here which is not a common sight in the USA, reminders to take only quick showers, websites dedicated to ride sharings/ carpoolings as well as having active Greenpeace campaigns which is currently kept busy with the recent oil spill off the coast of Tauranga. `

2. It's common here that people grow their own veggies and rear their own chickens for eggs.

3. Most cafes close at 6pm on weekdays and 4pm on weekends which leave only bars open throughout the night. Quiz nights are popular in bars creating interactive atmosphere and winners are awarded with free food and alcoholic beverages as prizes.

4. There are significantly more butcher shops as well as fresh fruit & veggie shops here as compared to in the USA.

5. Kiwis are particular over the origin of their food. At supermarkets, you'd get to know if the eggs are free range eggs or from chickens reared in cages, which most Kiwis are against. The same goes with meat. On the other hand, for finished goods, manufacturers also like to specify that their goods are made of environment friendly materials or processes.

6. A.S felt like a VIP in busses as several times, there were just in total 3 passengers in a 40 minutes bus ride.

7. Used clothing, accessories and motor vehicles gain high demand here. You can get a used 15 year old Hatchback for as low as $1300 but unless you're lucky, be prepared to spend hundreds of dollars on repairs.

8. Unemployment rate in NZ is currently at 6.5%  as compared to 3.1% in Malaysia. The fact that every year, young Working Holiday Makers from all around the world are making their way here to fill jobs certainly doesn't help to alleviate the situation. It's common that locals here take the opportunity to seek help for their home, farm, orchards, hostels in exchange for accommodation and food instead.

9. If you're a citizen and unemployed, you get $140/wk as benefits. 

10. It's common to have youths, especially, going up to you and say "Do you have $2 spare change?" A.S has been approached 4 times in her 2 months here.