New Camera

Mom bough me a camera, Nikon P300. Loving it! Thank you Mama, love you so much!

New Zealand Budget Trip

I can't believe my roommate and I went to New Zealand...NEW ZEALAND! Happens to be my initials: NZ <3

Cheap Air Tickets

We bought Kuala Lumpur-Christchurch-Kuala Lumpur airfare about RM800 per person when Airasia launched their new route to New Zealand. Cheapest I heard was RM600.

Earthquakes were frequent at that time so we flew to Queensland. Christchurch-Queenstown-Christchurch was RM200 with Jetstar. Driving would take up to 8 hours with the risk of being charged for speeding but boy it'd be lovely to enjoy the picturesque trees and mountains. It was freaking autumn! Sigh. Opted to flying for various reasons.

Took lake cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm

My favourite: Llama! (yes you guess it right, Llama from Emperor New Groove)

Bought a sheepskin cushion large size for $38.00 from the Walter Peak Gift Shop at 4.39 pm


Arrowtown

Took the earliest bus to Arrowtown, to find people was still in their bed. Was shivering like mad, couldn't stand it.

Oh my God...I never thought I would ever see you in this land, rice <3

Walking up to cable car station

Queenstown

Phuket Budget Trip

Yippie! I bought cheap AirAsia tickets, Kuala Lumpur - Phuket RM158/pax return for 3 - 5 November 2011.

When the day finally came (after a year =.='), parked my Kenari at Tune Hotel (RM20 per day) and took RM1 shuttle to LCCT at 4 a.m.! Flight was at 6.55 a.m. Wakaka takut tertinggal plane. 

Leaving out where you'll stay blank

Depart at 6.55 a.m.

Finally, landed around 7.30 a.m. at Phuket International Airport, Thailand! Sawadee kap~

Stepping into the arrival hall, fought this huge crowd selling travel services then went straight outside, looking out for bus to town. Budget maa. Finally took a bus to Phuket Town for 85 baht per head (RM8.50), the distance is more like LCCT to Kuala Lumpur. They stopped at a small bus terminal and our first destination was shopping in some place I read in TripAdvisor, claimed to be a shopping heaven...and looking at the map, it seemed near. Walked according to 3 maps from the airport but the place wasn't as I imagined. But anyway, a fedora hat costs about 80 baht, that's about RM8 and guess what in KL cheapest I found was RM20! 2 funky local t-shirts (brand JApe) for 300 baht.

Bored and hungry, continued walking clueless when suddenly greeted by a local man operating transport services with his car, Toyota Civic. He quoted 500 baht to drive to money changer, a travel agent, two shopping places and one restaurant. Not wanting to waste energy walking under scorching sun, we agreed. Friendly guy, he told us on how Toyota spare parts were hardly available because of the recent Bangkok flood. His English was comprehensible but believe me, 90% of local people I met didn't understand let alone speak English! Let's just say, no matter how bad our English is, we could at least communicate right Malaysians?

He brought us to a travel agency and that was our first mistake. The guy offered us a Simon Cabaret Show, a trip to Phi Phi Island and a FantaSea show for 800 baht for both of us. We spent 80% of our money, I didn't know CIMB card must be activated to withdraw money from foreign ATM and for the first time in my life, we were short of money and I felt so adventurous! The mistake was not on us spending nearly all our money but us buying from travel agent, we should have bought everything from our hostel, it's cheaper.

Anyway we had our lunch which tasted weird and spicy. Luckily there was a cyber cafe next door so we went online to search for accommodation. Two promising hostels, Phuket Siam Hostel and Sea Blue Guest House. Done with searching, we went for a walk. Our driver picked us up 15 minutes late wondering where the hell were we, without any mobile to contact. Anyway, he then explained how he'd be entitled for free gasoline coupon stamp for every place he brought us to so he asked to stop at a place. We knew about this all along so taking the chance, we negotiate price on getting us to Patong. He agreed.

Our driver then brought us to a huge jewelry gallery where young Thai ladies stood by ready to serve us drink and usher us inside, it was all made to impress but I still thought it was a 3 star gallery selling women accessories.  Yes, we didn't stay long.

So along the way to we stopped by a shop selling souvenir and I bought key chains for friends. Around 4 p.m. we reached Patong, our driver didn't know the location of those two hostels, we spent 1 hour hunting down Sea Blue Guest House, which quickly turned ugly and that was our first huge fight.

That night, we went to Simon Cabaret Show, where lady boys of Phuket put up a singing (miming) and dancing on stage. They are really beautiful, long legs and flawless skin, I really am amazed. 

They don't pose for free, tipping costs about 40 Baht I read

That night, went back and slept, just like that. Plan for a night walk and find out if Muay Thai is on, was completely forgotten. The hostel was pretty good, clean, has hot shower and air conditioned. I noticed some Westerners stay for weeks in Phuket because I saw them reading novel and playing laptops on their beds. They must have plenty of time to kill.

Early next morning we stood outside our hostel for mini van to pick us up along with other passengers going to Phi Phi Island. They drove us for some time I fell asleep. Hilly roads and boring sights.

We were given a sticker on our shirt, to mark where we stayed so it'll be easier for the operators send us home later. We got on our ferry and it was like a sea of human flesh. Uncomfortable.

Our ferry

Should have taken speed boat

Only speed boat (under different package) stopped there...damn.

Approaching Phi Phi Island

All passengers opted for snorkeling were transferred to a boat where they shipped us to some place nearby. Snorkeling equipment was free but small charges for flippers. It was my first time snorkeling and I honestly love it! I never knew undersea life is like another world! I couldn't get enough of the colourful fishes and giant clams, sea urchin and corals living in natural habitat.

We went back to Phi Phi Island and since lunch was inclusive in our package, we went straight to Pakarang Restaurant. We were starving from the day before so we ate 3 plates of rice/pasta.

Food was really good

Small shops there remind me of Lake Toba in Medan. Went for a walk before getting back to our ferry.Souvenirs were ready from the photos they took all passengers earlier.

Phi Phi Island

That night we went to FantaSea, a majestic fabulously crafted place, indeed a must go! This must be the highlight of our trip to Phuket. My mind couldn't register everything presented before our eyes, so many things to see and experience! It's a 5 star theme park with so many themes it figuratively blows our mind.

Sadly, my camera died soon after photographing white tigers, I forgot to charge.