Showing posts with label Christchurch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christchurch. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Walking around Christchurch


What are we doing in the second day?
Still, staying in Christchurch, it’s time to kick a start.

So we decided to go to the South City Mall, where the only IRD branch in Christchurch was located. 
Frankly speaking, it’s quite enjoyable when you walked on the street in such a cooling weather, but it’s not fun, not at all, when it’s windy, and all you have is only a cotton jacket.

After the IRD, it’s time to open a bank account. 
Not sure what are the differences between banks at NZ, but we chose ASB simply because it’s hard to find a bank after the massive damage of the City Centre, and ASB is the first bank we met. 
(Of course, we listed some banks like Kiwibank, BNZ but gave up all when we saw ASB, finally, in one of the container of Re:START. And it said “Temporary Bank of ASB”, HURRAY!)

Yay, everything’s done! Let’s have a look around the city.


The Re:START city.

It’s a temporary city after the earthquake. Like what you see from my previous post, the heart of Christchurch is a mess. Life goes on. Re:START means a lot to the Kiwis, hopes and revive, it’s like a button to click start for the whole rebuilding project.


Unique huh? Containers as shops.

Bridge of Remembrance


Every city has its own story. This bridge is to commemorate those who sacrificed during WW1.

Sergeant Henry James Nicholas VC MM


Sergeant Nicholas was awarded the Victoria Cross after leading an assault on a German strongpoint at Polderhock, Belgium on 3 December 1917 during World War 1.
He was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field in a separate action in 1918.
Sergeant Nicholas was killed in action 19 days before Armistice Day on a bridge at Beaudignies Village, near Le Quesney, France. He is buried in the Vertigurul Churchyard, Romeries, France.


Urgh, another photo to show how melancholy the city was after the incident.


See the collapsed roof of this tower?

I guess every major city has this…directional signboard?


Here’s the one in Christchurch, oh yay, don’t overlook the Casino behind, where we really did pay a visit without trying any single game inside. It’s small, really small, with only 4 games available: Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette, and Slotting machines. BORING

Christchurch Art Gallery

Canterbury Museum


“Lo These Are Parts of HIS Ways But How Little A Portion Is Heard of HIM”
How much you inspired from this quote?


Armstrong Lawn of Christchurch Botanic Gardens


See how colorful the flowers are?

Making calls in this Garden, try our luck to get a job in our second arrival day. 
Guess what? Thanks to Facebook we actually get one. But wait, it’s suspicious I have to say, it’s too good to be true. It sounds pathetic that I don’t really believe in luck but I always have a good one, God I Love you, whoever you are.

We actually heading to the Central Library Peterborough but it closed at 6pm.


Argh, it’s 6:20 pm now :’(

And we really wish to settle things down since we got a job at Levin, a small town located in the South part of North Island. Things like flight tickets and bus transfers really getting my head cracks but thanks to my dear team mates, they are really good in making deals. 

Okay I contributed nothing but I support without making any objection. This is seriously the best I could do ß says to my dear team mates, TQVM J

(I have to say, I hate objections and too much suggestions sometimes when I don’t asked for it. Too many choices bring chaos and it never comes to a perfect solution. Says I’m dictated whatever.)


Guess what? We ended up stealing the internet line outside the library. 
It is freezing cold as I always said and we couldn’t felt our feet and hands. 
And I noticed that it’s really bad when you couldn’t touch your touch-screen-mobile with gloves on. 
When we settled, it’s 8pm. 

Let’s call it a day.



Bell popo's Handy Tips:

1 – The only IRD Branch in Christchurch located at South City Mall. And there’s a library inside where you can have free Wi-Fi. Library is always the best place to get free access to internet.

2 – There are banks in Re:START city. Consider it if you wish to get an account of ASB or KiwiBanks. Not sure the others but you can try.

3 – There’s an I-Site counter in the Christchurch Botanic Garden, besides Canterbury Museum.


Good Luck.

Saturday, March 03, 2012

纽西兰 - 基督城 - Day 1


29/2/2012

终于到了这天,等待了一整年的计划终于实现。
纽西兰打工度假,有着太多的憧憬,太多的顾虑,太多的计划
却保持一种心态-既来之,则安之

直到飞机起飞的这天,我仍然没有太多的想法。
没他啦,计划永远比不上变化不是吗?

况且随行的两位朋友,一位超有主见,一位随遇而安,这样的组合,没什么是解决不了的 J

在程搭巴士前往机场的当儿,巴士突然冒烟。

你知道,想象力超丰富的 Bell 婆婆立即想到 Final Destination 的情景,恐慌啊!
原来行李摆放处的灯泡烧着了,巴士司机随手往旁边的草丛一丢,巴士继续行驶 @@
(其实个人觉得很危险咯又没有公德心!)

好不容易提心吊胆来到机场,闷闷地上网晃时间,就到了2230 pm, 是时候 check in
好不容易又到了登机时间,好不容易飞机开始起飞,好不容易在飞机上过了超级难熬的10小时,终于在纽西兰时间下午2时到达啦!


1/3/2012

天啊!
你看这蓝边,才深深觉得大马的光害多严重啊!


渐渐的看到雪白的海岸线,一望无际的山川,顶端似乎还是白茫茫一片的“雪山”,远处还有褐色的山丘。

心里是兴奋莫名。

不怕你笑酱紫套句话,Bell 婆婆这么大个人没见过这等情景啊!还和友人说,哇!这世人在飞机上度过的时间都不比这次漫长。天啊!我差一点点就到南极了!实在难以相信~


一下机,不得了!这是夏天啊?这是夏天吧?
怎么温度只有区区的…..15度?呢?冷风兮兮,衣着单薄如我人者不太能经得起风的考验啊!

拿了行李,一路上笑脸迎人(人说伸手不到笑脸人)过关斩将~
终于过关了!这里的人超好哦!有礼貌到!

一出境边看见传说中背包客的救星 – I-site, 过去问了两问大约知道个什么东东后,想说到申请BBH Membership Card so待会 check in 能享有会员优惠价,谁知,机场没有 BBH Counter L

随即出闸准备搭 shuttle van 到预定的 BBH – Foley Towers
转个身,遇到个马来西亚人来问“咦,你们也是 working holiday 哦?我一个人,能 join你们吗?”

就这样我们这组暂时又多了一位大佬~为何说暂时?因为大佬第二天便回马来西亚了~
大佬!你说一个月后回来的!放长双眼看你会回来不~

好啦,终于到达目的的咯~哇!怎么人家的 BBH 都比家里干净漂亮 =.= $45申请了 Membership Card 后就能入房间咯!有美到咯!有舒服到咯!Receptionist 有帅到咯!

基于心急又赶时间的原因,我们也不敢怠慢,一直烦着Receptionist 帅哥问个不停,又大约知道方向后就出去走走逛逛买日常用品了。

一路上经过地震区,现变成废墟。


说真的,地震后,基督城便犹如死城寂寂无人的街道显得更加冷清

像是把一整年的路都走光后,终于到了超市,随口问问后就买了张电话卡,超精打细算的买了最便宜的食材与日常用品后,又随路走了回去。
别看天空晴朗,其实已是晚上八时,本来就冷清的街道刮起了风,还下起毛毛雨!

第一天,      宽待自己,经过Subway就来个晚餐吧!
这才知道,英文虽是国际语言,每个国家的音却大不同啊!

这一天,漫长疲惫却满足。
洗了个热水澡,上床回温兼充电,真的,太冷了。


Bell 婆婆温馨提示
1.   
1.   1.  未出发前,请再三准备好至少两份 Passport, Driving License (English), Working Holiday Visa –> Original & Photocopy 各一份。还有,请携带你在大马的银行卡/ Credit Card…任何有你名字在上面的“有力量的卡”。在这里大马身份证变得很没价值。

2.    2. 虽说要show proof 你至少需拥有 NZD 2250 才能过关。但除非你样衰或执行人员心血来潮,否则应该没多大问题。 However, 有能力的话还是准备一下比较好。 Bell 婆婆带现金 NZD 1000 Bank draft NZD 1250。随即便能 bank in 进你在 NZ 的户口。

3.   3.       在纽西兰, 2 Degree / Vodaphone 是两家比较有信誉的电讯公司。2 Degree 收费较便宜, Vodaphone 在郊区线路较广。在这里别想拿 data plan 除非你超有钱,这是奢侈。而且你会想念大马随时都在线上的感觉,因为这里 wifi 不是免费。

4.   4.       地震后,市中心重新规划。拿到地图时请工作人员为你画上 Red Zone 行走时便不会走冤枉路了。


 Good Luck !