NZ: Top 5 Ways Of Experiencing Queenstown (Not Your Usual Guide)

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Here's the shortest and most casual guide ever following the path of A.S.
Warning! Your happiness is not guaranteed, but you're sure to see Queenstown deeper from underwater to the woods and up the hill. Last but not least, you'll leave this town a lot fitter, and also, more blisters. Here goes:-


1.       Make new friends as you enjoy the spectacular road trip from Wanaka.

2.       Hang out at the happening lake front or find yourself a secluded place to take a dip and listen to the sound of breeze and water.

3.       Hike up Queenstown Hill for yet another perspective of the lake and surrounding mountains as you take a bite, snooze and listen to ….. silence.

4.       With more energy, hike up Skyline Trail leading to the theme park on another hill. Alternatively, there’s a Gondola Ride for you.

5.       Enjoy fun rides or simply get excited watching others.

Here for more experiences…

Here to see more of what the Skyline at Queenstown has to offer…

                   Come get excited for over 5 minutes.

This refers to point no. 5

*A.S's current location*

Day/ Date: Thu/ Dec 26th, 2013

-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:-

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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: Hiking in Wanaka

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Dear blog, here’s A.S long delayed trip report back in Wanaka, NZ.

It may be short and hopefully, it is sweet, too.

Jan 22nd, 2012

2^nd day in Wanaka

• Met new friends over breakfast at the hostel and joined them for a hike at Mount Aspiring National Park
• The objective was to get a closer look at the glacier.
• It wasn’t a pleasant ride to get to the starting point of the National Park.
• Imagine a bumpy ride for 10 km maneuvering narrow stony unpaved road but the landscape and encounter with deers and sheep was superb.
• Followed the track but glacier didn’t seem to get any closer after 1 hour’s walk.
• View was however picturesque and there were sheep grazing on the slopes.
• Some streams crossing required without any bridges.

Jan 23rd, 2012

3^rd day in Wanaka

• Met a friend again who stayed at the same hostel in Hokitika a week earlier.
• Joined him to Mount Ithmus overlooking Lake Hawea.
• Awesome hike, awesome solitary getaway, awesome landscape. If you wonder about the sound, pure  “…..”.  Blissful, absolutely blissful.
• So peaceful that A.S and mate stole a nap for 30 minutes.
• That evening, A.S and mate separated and A.S continued her journey to yet another spectacular city, Queenstown.

Next up...

The touristy town - Queenstown

On the 16km bumpy ride...

Finally arriived

Let's go

We're not alone

Perfect spot for a bite

and a snap

Liking the colours

A different set of colours

The glacier, our unaccomplished mission

--- The end of Mount Aspiring National Park ---


---The beginning of hike at Mount Ithmus ---

OUCH. nah, not painful but tedious job.

Ignore them first.

Here and there

Mate busy sharing his photos.

Simply lovely

Mission accomplished

*A.S's current location*

Day/ Date: Sun/ Nov 10th, 2013

-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 Road Trip: Fox Glacier to Wanaka

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This was  indeed no ordinary road trip.
One which struck you with awe and wonderment.
Amazing, truly AMAZING!!
As you can see, no words can really describe this experience in Jan 2012.













*A.S's current location*

Day/ Date: Sun/ Jun 9th, 2013

-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: Hokitika in South Island

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Ask anyone, they would all say, if you could, skip Greymouth. A.S has to agree on this. "It's exactly like the name given to this town. You'll feel like you're entering a grey town as dark clouds loom over you,." shared a Danish traveller at the hostel in Arthur's Pass. "Stop at Hokitika, instead," she added. Having said that, A.S was invited for a special meeting in Greymouth when she hitched a ride. A local Toastmasters meeting for both Greymouth and Hokitka. What a rare chance!

Let these pictures do the talking for Hokitika.

Local kiwi jades

So, you don't find jades only in China.

White jades, really?

Stony beach and these stones sure look precious, no?

A.S is a millionaire, wahahahhah!

The moment when you knew you've chosen the right place for the night.

Upon learning that there's a dairy plant in town.

Finally, it's not another Fonterra's milk tanker.

                                             For a better feel of Hokitika.

*A.S's current location*

Day/ Date: Sat/ Apr 27th, 2013

-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: Kea Birds at Arthur's Pass

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Facts time, mate. If you have not known about Kea Birds, have fun reading up. By looking up these articles, A.S did some reading herself too just a little bit earlier than you.

(click on image to magnify)

Short clip captured in A.S's camera. They're adorable but at the same time disastrous. Look at how stubborn they are pecking the rubber liners on the car. They even appeared and pecked the precious backpacks of some hikers depriving them the peace of enjoying the spectacular view after a tough  4 hours' ascent.

"LISTEN, they're nearby!!"




Video courtesy of ninja2kernow capturing Keas in REAL ACTION!

*A.S's current location*

Day/ Date: Sat/ Apr 6th, 2013

-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: Arthur's Pass in South Island

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The 2 hours' journey to Arthur's Pass from Dunsandel (30 mins drive west from Christchurch) was gladly quite smooth. This is a popular stop for travellers travelling from Christchurch in the East Coast to Greymouth in the West Coast of South Island. A.S managed to get a ride amidst having to wait for some time. She was grateful the ride brought her alllll.. the way to Arthur's Pass.

Arriving there, she was not welcomed by the best weather. It was like entering a region which immediately the sun hid behind thick dark clouds. The wind was so strong that the window panes of the hostel rattled and gave a howling sound. Outside the rain did not fall on a straight path, and the trees were swaying from side to side. Nevertheless, the hostel was gladly so cosy, as A.S made herself a hot coffee, put on an acoustic CD to play, as she read 'Wilderness' at the lounge. Not long after, a Danish girl appeared and they had a good chat. She learnt that it had been raining for the past few days there in Arthur's Pass and she could not do much as well.

Thank goodness, A.S stumbled upon a notice as she explored outside a little when the rain got lighter.

She thought why not. She could stretch her stay here in Arthur's Pass, get to know people,  get first hand tips on exploring the place and ultimately hike up Avalanche Peak. Many thanks to Geoff and Renee for making it possible. Their generosity on making my stay comfortable, the awesome pizzas, lending me their raincoat and a tent, and making sure that I was safe during my hikes on my own. Without them, my stay in Arthur's Pass would not be as memorable and as accomplished!

Arthur's Pass is a great place to go hiking the many tracks.

The most popular track is the 8 hours' Avalanche Peak. 

Follow the link to A.S's Flickr's page for pics' captions.

*A.S's current location*

Day/ Date: Sat/ Feb 23rd, 2013

-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: Top Must-Do Thing In Kaikoura

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The top must-do thing will have to be ‘Swimming With The Dolphins’. Unfortunately, as AkiraSabine (A.S) had a misadventure on the first day of the New Year, she settled for an alternative, 'The Orcas Encounter'.

Nothing could describe how excited she was except this video clip. Watching it now from the comfort of her home brings her back to this awesome moment. It reminds her of the cold wet breeze, the drizzle, the mad rush towards the Orcas, the voices of excitement, the rough sea, the smell of the exhaust and the nausea.

Orcas sighting sounded so much fun but it’s really no simple task. A.S needed the assistance of 3 buckets. Well, not that she filled them all but yes, 3 buckets to fix her nausea. What a shame!

All in all, it was a superb day, great outing and great encounter!

Most importantly, awesome memories!

Check out the video clip below:-

*A.S's current location*

Day/ Date: Thu/ Jan 24th, 2013

-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. ;)