NZ: Why A.S likes doing Help Exchange

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Are you traveling long term?

Do you want to stay in a place for at least one week to better known the place and the people?

Do you think that you’ve simply spent too much on your travels that you’d like to keep your spending to a minimum for at least a week?

Do you also concur that traveling presents opportunities to learn new skills and satisfy the inquisitive mind?

If you answered YES to all the questions above, WWOOF-ing and HelpX-ing are the answers for you.

Basically, these 2 offer help exchange opportunities, which means a budget traveller can  work in exchange for accommodation and food.

Back to the post title,

Why A.S likes doing Help Exchange

1. Opportunity to experience the place at a minimal cost

The idea of helping in exchange for accommodation and food definitely saves cost while a traveller stays put at a place a little longer. To A.S, it is not just mere accommodation. It’s an overall experience. So far, she got to taste local homecooked food, lived the life of the locals in their homes, biked around the neighbourhood and whenever she was lucky, she had the opportunity to use the car too.

2. Working and living in an international environment

It’s amazing how people who just got to know each other lived in the same house, shared work time, cooked together, did the dishes together, played games together, explored the place together and celebrated a festival together. Even though it could be as short as 1 week, A.S always left with fond memories.

3. Opportunities to come close with animals

Dealing with animals may not be A.S’s favourite kind of job but it was a new experience feeding the chickens and ducks. It was also a good opportunity to watch the dogs herd the sheep as well as observing the antics of the birds, cattle, sheep and rabbits.

4. Learn new skills

She learnt that sheep actually have long tails, on how to drive a wagon, build a mulch garden, set up the irrigation system for a new garden, prepare local food and practise the local language/slang. In fact, earlier, A.S wrote about her experience helping at a vineyard.

5. Eat healthy organic produce

These hosts are normally self sufficient when it comes to food. They rear their own chickens for eggs and plant their own veggies and herbs for daily use. Thus, it is organically and nutritiously assured. What A.S likes most are the fresh herbs and the abundance of mouthwatering fruits.

6. Live simple life and marvel at the beauty of mother nature

A daily life started with doing 3 or 4 hours of outdoor work followed by the rest of the day free. Most hosts allow usage of bikes to explore the place. A.S personally feels that when she’s deprived of techies or other commitments, she tends to notice how wonderful mother nature is. Simple things like swimming in the lake, picnicking at the park, feeling the breeze blowing on her face as she cycles and gazing at the millions of stars at the otherwise dark sky easily complements the day.

7. Can forget about packing and unpacking for a week or two

Hosts in these WWOOF or HelpX sites normally look for someone who can stay and help for at least 1 week. To A.S, this one week presents a good opportunity to rest the tired feet as well as taking a break from constant planning. Moreover, leaving the packing and unpacking aside for this one week is definitely a bonus.

        Phew!! Finally,this is up and going! Enjoy!

*A.S's current location*

Day/ Date: Fri/ Sept 14th, 2012

-A.S has been back in KL, Malaysia since Aug 16th, 2012 from a total of 3 months in Spain and then, Austria. Burdened with lots of thoughts, plans and to-dos, she'll still try her very best to keep this blog alive. Thank you so much for keeping up with her delays.

A.S appreciates you as an audience to her blog. It keeps her contented knowing she's not writing for herself. She welcomes you to drop in more often, share your thoughts and interact with her here at cyberspace. The posts may be a little behind but she promises to close the gap as much as she can, as she gets limited internet access and the time to update.

Be a fan today to get instant updates the soonest the next post is published!

It's EASY. At the right-most column of this page, you may either choose to:-

1. Receive blog updates by mail

2. Read her up-to-date posts at your MyYahoo, Google, etc. homepage by subscribing thru the links.

3. Read her up-to-date posts on your Facebook wall by 'Like'-ing the fan page A.S created specially for this blog (Scroll down page to search right-most column)

4. If you are a fellow blogger, link to her blog with the HTML code provided.

Thank you very much and A.S hopes you enjoy your stay here. ;)

NZ: A.S's Top 5 Free Things To Do in Turangi

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When one speaks of The Great Walks in NZ, among the popular ones definitely has to be The Tongariro Alpine Crossing in Turangi, North Island. Many are here for this hike and stay for just a night in this small town, but if you are here longer, like A.S, you may want to try these free activities out to better know this place.

1. Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Feel free to check an earlier post out about this great walk. In fact, it is not a mere walk but rather a hike.

2. Tongariro National Park

It seems that Tongariro was the first national park to be established in New Zealand and the fourth in the world. Amazing! This stunning wilderness is a dual World Heritage area, one for its association with Maori culture and the other, for its amazing natural attributes. Again, the video in an earlier post, though only covers the area of the walk/ hike, is enough to take just anyone’s breath away.

3. The Tongariro National Trout Centre

Four kilometres south of Turangi on State Highway 1, there is a trout centre run by the Department of Conservation(DoC). The objective is to raise awareness of the importance of the Taupo trout fishery and freshwater conservation in NZ. Picnicking and wandering through the DOC is free.  However, a minimal fee of NZD 10 for an adult is charged for the entrance which includes the Visitor Centre Museum, Genesis Energy Fresh Water Aquarium, Hatchery, Underwater Viewing Chamber, Children's Pond, River and Bush Walk. Visit the official website for more information.

4. Walking
Popular walks in the area include the Tongariro River Loop Track (1hr), the Te Ponanga Saddle (15mins return), Lake Rotopounamu (2hrs) which is famous for its birdlife, and the Tongariro River Walkway (3hrs return). Walks information can be obtained from the Turangi I-Site. The tracks along the walks are in fact, well marked too.

5. Fishing

Tongariro River is a popular spot for anglers. The best months for brown trout are February to March, while June to September is good for rainbow trout. All anglers require a fishing license. If you have no idea how to fish, like A.S, and just want to tag along and take a look, feel free to go to the river and look out for anglers to tag along with. They may be happy to have you following and watching them but watch your steps too. At some points, they may walk into and stand in the water.

Alas, A.S and friend  didn't stay long enough to cheer for the catch. 

Post publishing addition
"Opps, the video title should read Tongariro River Walk instead."

*A.S's current location*

Day/ Date: Sun/ Sept 2 nd, 2012

-A.S has been back in KL, Malaysia since Aug 16th, 2012 from a total of 3 months in Spain and then, Austria. Burdened with lots of thoughts, plans and to-dos, she'll still try her very best to keep this blog alive. Thank you so much for keeping up with her delays.

A.S appreciates you as an audience to her blog. It keeps her contented knowing she's not writing for herself. She welcomes you to drop in more often, share your thoughts and interact with her here at cyberspace. The posts may be a little behind but she promises to close the gap as much as she can, as she gets limited internet access and the time to update.

Be a fan today to get instant updates the soonest the next post is published!

It's EASY. At the right-most column of this page, you may either choose to:-

1. Receive blog updates by mail

2. Read her up-to-date posts at your MyYahoo, Google, etc. homepage by subscribing thru the links.

3. Read her up-to-date posts on your Facebook wall by 'Like'-ing the fan page A.S created specially for this blog (Scroll down page to search right-most column)

4. If you are a fellow blogger, link to her blog with the HTML code provided.

Thank you very much and A.S hopes you enjoy your stay here. ;)

A.S's Top 20 Things To Do in NZ (revisited)

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Following is a copy of this original list prepared for the 6 months Working Holidays in NZ last year. Hopefully, it gives you a rough idea of planning what to do while you're there so as you do not miss them. A.S knows the pain of arriving at a new city and then going, "Oh, I was there and I didn't do it!" or "Are you sure that I could have done it cheaper where I was?" or worse, when you're finally done and flew home, "What a waste, I didn't do it when I was in NZ."


Let's see how many 'YES!' now that she is done with NZ.

1. Sky diving at Taupo - YES! Check this out.

2. Bungy jumping at Queenstown - NOPE, but she did the cliff hanger swing at Taupo

3. Zorbing at Rotorua - YES! Picture below.

4. Camping in a motorhome at one of the National Parks in the South Island - YES, but in a car at Lake Tekapo

5. Doing the 7hrs Tongariro Alpine Crossing at the Tongariro National Park - YES! Check this out.

6. Experience the dairy farm life and try her hands on milking the cows - YES, it was a farm with 900 cows and thus, milking manually was out of the question.

7. Kiwis/ Cherries/ Berries/ Nectarines picking or packing because they’re YUMMY! - Picking for own consumption, YES!

8. Sheep shearing experience - Witnessed at The Agrodome in Rotorua.

9. Swimming with the dolphins if there’s such a thing - Booked but missed, SOB!! 

10. Sighting blue penguins and kiwi birds - YES, sighted the blue penguins at night. More in coming posts.

11. Whale watching at Kaikoura - YES! It was awesome. Video to come.

12. Trying the Maori ‘Hangi’ Meal at Rotorua - Could imagine the taste.

13. Visiting live volcanoes in Rotorua and soaking in the geothermal pools - YES! Check this out.

14. Skiing experience - DONE at Snow Planet, an indoor skiing centre at north of Auckland 

15. Surfing experience at one of the many beaches, probably Raglan - Windsurfing in Napier. Picture below.

16. Hitchhiking experience – YES, a bit and people were so kind. Yet, read A.S's tips to staying safe.

17. Abseiling at the Waitomo Caves - YES, it was fun! Check this out!

18. Improving tennis skills – Took some lessons in Hamilton.

19. Visiting the local Toastmaster Clubs – Visited a few NZ clubs in North and South Islands.

20. Car Transfer at the more scenic South Island ( it gives an opportunity to drive and explore NZ without buying a car) - Shared an overnight car ride, instead.

Unplanned Extras

21. Okareka Estate Adventures

22. Lake Taupo on a cruise

23. Indoor Wall Climbing in Wellington

A.S was here windsurfing on a rainy day.
*Pic courtesy of Pandora Kayaks in Napier*

Zorbing - checked!

Addictive!
Stayed for hours and felt the sore in the next few days.

*A.S's current location*

Day/ Date: Mon/ Aug 20th, 2012

-A.S has been back in KL, Malaysia since Aug 16th, 2012 from a total of 3 months in Spain and then, Austria. She admits she has a lot to catch up on her blog updates. Burdened with lots of thoughts, plans and to-dos, she'll still try her very best to keep this blog alive. Thank you so much for keeping up with her delays.

A.S appreciates you as an audience to her blog. It keeps her contented knowing she's not writing for herself. She welcomes you to drop in more often, share your thoughts and interact with her here at cyberspace. The posts may be a little behind but she promises to close the gap as much as she can, as she gets limited internet access and the time to update.

Be a fan today to get instant updates the soonest the next post is published!

It's EASY. At the right-most column of this page, you may either choose to:-

1. Receive blog updates by mail

2. Read her up-to-date posts at your MyYahoo, Google, etc. homepage by subscribing thru the links.

3. Read her up-to-date posts on your Facebook wall by 'Like'-ing the fan page A.S created specially for this blog (Scroll down page to search right-most column)

4. If you are a fellow blogger, link to her blog with the HTML code provided.

Thank you very much and A.S hopes you enjoy your stay here. ;)

NZ's Great Walk: The Tongariro Alpine Crossing

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One day on Facebook...


A.S: I think I'm going to just skip doing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Hiking on stony tracks is not something for my feet. 


Immediately, friends responded...


Friend A: You must be kidding me. That's the best tramp I've ever done in NZ. You just have to do it. I'm sure you won't regret it.


A.S: Really?? Aren't there much nicer ones in the South Island, especially those with glaciers and snowy peaks.


Friend A: Yes, there are but to me, Tongariro is still topping my list.


Friend B: Seriously, do it, A.S!! Come on, it's the greatest walk in NZ. It's just breathtaking! It's not difficult, don't worry!


A.S: Yeah, I'd love to but it's too stony, I don't think I have the best footwear for it.  My leg hurts and I'm having blisters too on my toes. The weather's not too good. It's been rainy. Don't you think that it's a waste to hike up there and see nothing?

But in the end, she was glad that she made it! Yay, yay, yay!!! Sure enough, according to the weather forecast from I-site, Monday was a good day for the hike and yes, she found herself returning to bright sunny weather after the  4 days spent in Napier.

*A.S's current location*

Day/ Date: Sun/ Jun 10th, 2012

- A.S has been here in Spain since May 15th. She's currently in Girona, a town 1 hour's drive Northeast of Barcelona. She admits she has a lot to catch up on her blog updates.  Burdened with lots of thoughts, plans and to-dos, she'll still try her very best to keep this blog alive. Thank you so much for keeping up with her delays.

A.S appreciates you as an audience to her blog. It keeps her contented knowing she's not writing for herself. She welcomes you to drop in more often, share your thoughts and interact with her here at cyberspace. The posts may be a little behind but she promises to close the gap as much as she can, as she gets limited internet access and the time to update.

Be a fan today to get instant updates the soonest the next post is published!

It's EASY. At the right-most column of this page, you may either choose to:-

1. Receive blog updates by mail

2. Read her up-to-date posts at your MyYahoo, Google, etc. homepage by subscribing thru the links.

3. Read her up-to-date posts on your Facebook wall by 'Like'-ing the fan page A.S created specially for this blog (Scroll down page to search right-most column)

4. If you are a fellow blogger, link to her blog with the HTML code provided.

Thank you very much and A.S hopes you enjoy your stay here. ;)

NZ: Vineyard Experience in Napier

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So, A.S is now in Spain but she's not going to start talking about Spain. It looks like a big mess now but she'll be taking notes about Spain and write about it later. Let's continue with her journey in NZ. 

It was in December 2011 when she spent about a week in Taupo waiting for the weather to get better but it did not. So, she made her way to Napier which was 2 hours drive to the east coast before she returned to Taupo for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Here, she had the opportunity to live with a host who was honest enough to warn her that he swore a lot, drank a lot and smoked a lot so that she could make up her mind if she was prepared for the eventual choking smoke, drinking and the 'F' word every 10 minutes. Instead, A.S found it rather amusing when she was there. In fact, eventually an American girl joined her and A.S was not sure if she too got influenced by him or she just wanted to connect by behaving the same way. It was really funny. 

So, what did she do here in Napier? It was a vineyard here in supposedly dry area of the North Island in NZ but somehow it was wet and chilly during those 4 days in summer. She should have had more time doing the 'tucking' but ended up just chilling out in this cosy house, going online, watching TV, listening to Breeze FM which apparently was the favourite station of the host, joined him for a dinner party at the neighbour's outside overlooking their own vineyard.

Speaking of 'tucking', it means readjusting the wire up a notch as the plant has grown a little taller. The grape vines are too weak to stand on their own and thus need this wire frame to tuck them in place. At the same time, keeping the vines and the leaves in between the wires on both sides makes a big difference in keeping the vineyard looking neat and tidy. It's no easy work, though. It works your muscle pulling every 6m length of  the taut wires out, and fix it a level up and oh, don't forget to put on a thick pair of gloves. Hands can get pretty sore after awhile with those wires.

Yes, those are the wires.
Notice how neat the vines are instead of  creeping out everywhere.

Don't you  just want to stare at them forever?
And A.S wonders if it would be a starry starry night had it been a clear day.

Yea.. don't you like living in this house too?

Hot coffee sipping in jacket from right here while the radio
was playing overlooking the drizzle and strong wind outside.

*A.S's current location*

Day/ Date: Thu/ Jun 7th, 2012

-A.S has been here in Spain since May 15th. She's currently in Girona, a town 1 hour's drive Northeast of Barcelona. She admits she has a lot to catch up on her blog updates. Burdened with lots of thoughts, plans and to-dos, she'll still try her very best to keep this blog alive. Thank you so much for keeping up with her delays.

A.S appreciates you as an audience to her blog. It keeps her contented knowing she's not writing for herself. She welcomes you to drop in more often, share your thoughts and interact with her here at cyberspace. The posts may be a little behind but she promises to close the gap as much as she can, as she gets limited internet access and the time to update.

Be a fan today to get instant updates the soonest the next post is published!

It's EASY. At the right-most column of this page, you may either choose to:-

1. Receive blog updates by mail

2. Read her up-to-date posts at your MyYahoo, Google, etc. homepage by subscribing thru the links.

3. Read her up-to-date posts on your Facebook wall by 'Like'-ing the fan page A.S created specially for this blog (Scroll down page to search right-most column)

4. If you are a fellow blogger, link to her blog with the HTML code provided.

Thank you very much and A.S hopes you enjoy your stay here. ;)