Hark-the-Harold

Well once again it has been a long while since my last post. But before I begin allow me to thank everybody who has sent me messages or have celebrated my birthday with me. You guys are so sweet and thanks heaps. Well let’s begin the story.

I worked as usual until I got myself some days off to travel up north to Cape Reinga with Justin, Eva and Jess. It was great fun. At first I was a bit disappointed as I thought that the picture in the travel brochure made the lighthouse at the cape look gorgeous. However, when I get there I stood frozen, staring at the small lighthouse and said ‘is that it?’. Well then like the rest of the other New Zealand’s breathtaking scenery, I was always captivated by the desolateness of the place. The light house is situated on a high cliff, looking down you see a small cape with the sharp v-shape shoreline. It is just the fact that nobody lives at the actual site that gives me the feeling of loneliness and sadness. I came to feel more of these feelings, something which further show the more pessimistic side of me. Strange. The afternoon we went dune boarding, the adrenalin rush was amazing but the climb up the sand dunes was excruciating. Nevertheless I had great fun, while partly is because I was going with my nest friends so it spiced up things a little.

The next week, I was busy moving, seriously, Wellesley Student Apartments have its pros and Cons. It’s a more comfortable place to live in, imagine having your own kitchen and living lounge with a TV! But the sad part is that it quite far from Foodtown and also Taiping, which are my food bank. Though I have decided to give a try to Lim Chor (iu hope I got it right) which is just along K’rd, I have no idea where it is just yet. Well I will have to get used to new place now.

The night itself I flew to Christchurch to meet Mr.Richard or Rick. It was almost like a dream come true to me. I can still remember the last day that he was in KT. I told him that if I ever get a chance to go and study in New Zealand one day I will go and visit him. Strangely enough I have never dismissed the possibility though it may sound remote to me at that time. Well before I knew it I am in Auckland and I contacted him. The visit down there was great, we did not travel much but I did experience one thing, the Kiwi lifestyle and the uniquely ‘Whanau’ lifestyle, which to me, is combining family values with the outdoors. Look that how they spend their holidays, they will go out camping, or go to a regional park nearby for picnic, a barbeque or even a walk, something which I felt was very different from Malaysia (understandable, as we have a way HOTTER climate). We went mountain biking and a few walks around Christchurch. As Rick was a Geography teacher, it was fantastic as he drove me around Christchurch and gave descriptions of the places we went, and of course we drove up to the Banks peninsular, where many high cliffs and great hills for walking. Gosh if I live in Christchurch I will go on these walks every weekend. It’s just sad that Auckland is too urbanized and the nearest regional parks are not even accessible by bus. Nevertheless I have enjoyed a few walks and hopefully my plan of doing the Tongariro’s Crossing will be a success.

I was welling up tears when I was to leave Christchurch, the whole stay over there was so nice and I felt so warm being with them. In many ways I felt like I was an exchange student staying with a family who are so nice towards me. The short three days have given me warmth that was so far away from home. And Rick’s children Rebecca and Nick, both around my age, were very kind towards me as well. I felt so happy through the stay. I do hope of going back there again, fingers-crossed.

Well that’s pretty much what happened. Oh the birthday was great too, went to an Eva’s friend house who happens to share the same birthday as I am. We danced and ate. I was also able for the first time to exhibit my talent of doing the ‘bangra’ dance. I have always liked the music and also I find the dance pretty energetic and groovy. So when the music came along I lost it and start pointing my fingers up the air, shaking my limbs and I was moving to the music, much to the amusement of my friends. It was a blast and I thank everybody for that. After the party I did wonder whether I will ever throw a birthday party of my own one day.

So my life was quite cool and I am looking forward to start uni again. Suddenly I remembered that I have not chosen my last paper yet, drape!