Christchurch Day VI

We woke up early and went to church in the morning. We went to the Catholic Cathedral in Ferry Road. So happen we were lucky. The mass we went for is a choral mass. The church choir stood above the altar and was singing beautifully and so with so much feel. They were accompanied by the pipe organ. The organist was wonderful. I would love to experience that mass again in future.

 

After church, we went back to rest for a while then went out for lunch. We had KFC for lunch under my sister's request. It is bout the same in Malaysia but their coleslaw is different for its sweeter and also the whipped potato is called potato and gravy and it doesn't taste as nice as the one in Malaysia.

 

After lunch, my sister drove us all to Akaroa. It is about an hour and a half drive also. We are heading to the seaside today. Along the way, we saw cows and horses beside sheeps. The road was winding as we have to cross hills to reach the seaside. My dad was hoping we would bypass the winding road if we use the highway but no such luck. I'm thankful our Malaysia highway is straight and the traffic is divided. The view along the way is beautiful. I haven't seen that much green in my life ^_^

 

 
 

We stop a while at the road side to take pictures from high view. It was an excuse for my dad to stop for my sister was driving very fast and my dad was a bit scare. We then continued on and we reach the small town of Akaroa not long after that. There isn't much people there. We collected some sea shells by the beach. After that we drove to the jetty to have a look. There are some cruise companies there. We went in to ask bout the cruise there. It seems that they only have one session a day since it was the start of Spring. My sister bought 2 penguin eggs there to experiment if penguin would come out -_-" I do not know if its real of fake egg.

 

Since it was getting dark, my dad say we have to leave for the highway doesn't have lights and it is winding. We reach back bout evening and stop by a few Hypermarket. We went in to buy some chocolates which was on sale, bought biscuits which was on sales and can't be found in Malaysia and some other snacks. Besides that, my sister wanted to buy a birthday card to be send to our cousin Janice for her birthday is coming.

After that we went out for dinner at Lucky Restaurant. The food here is wonderful and it is cheapest Chinese food that we had. We had fried dumplings (which is so big), Siew Yoke (roasted pork), Pak Choi and fish with vegetable. The siew yoke was real good. It taste as good as the one in Malaysia. After dinner, me, my sister and my dad went for a walk around. My sister was to fly back to Australia for her weekend was over. She went and buy something to remember her trip to Christchurch. She bought a shaking sheep.

 

 

 

When we reach the hotel lobby, we took a few photos by the fire place which was beautiful. We then help her pack her things to go back. We had a wonderful family holiday. Even it was a short one but we had fun and it was real good to see my sister since she went for student exchange program earlier this year. She would be coming back by November and I can't wait for her to come back.

 

Christchurch Day V

We woke up late again today. We got ready and went for lunch in McDonald's. I know it is dumb to go and eat McDonald's when I can eat it in Malaysia. Anyway, there was a special package here in New Zealand. You pay NZ$10 for 2 burgers(McChicken, Filet 'O Fish or Big Mac), a large medium fries and coke. We ordered one of each set and the Big Mac set was a mix and match of a Big Mac and a McChicken.

After lunch, I drove to Mount Hunt which was an hour and a half drive according to the maps. We drove through the country side which is considered the highway. We took pictures along the way. We stopped a while on Rakaia Gorge Bridge where we saw people pushing their boats to the river bank. From there we can see the snowy peak clearer for we are nearer to the foot of the mountain.

 
 

At the foot of the hill, I thought that we just drive till the resort than sit the cable car up. I was so wrong. Since I volunteer to be the driver of the day, I had to drive up the mountain without knowing how the road was like. My goodness! The road was dirt road and any car which speed up, it would just produce a smoke of dust which make visibility close to zero. The road was only 2 cars wide and there was no railing along the way so it is a step plunge down the hill if I do not concentrate on the road.

 

My hand froze as we went higher and higher and there was no resting area at all. I drove for the next half hour up the mountain till there was snow on the side of the road. I thought we had reach when I saw a parking area but I was wrong. There was another 5 minutes drive up the step road which now have snow on both side of the road. I pass the keys to my dad for I was too scare to drive on.

When we reach the top, there were a lot of people. Most of them are preparing to descend for it was pass 3pm. We went and have a look at the skiing area and watch people ski down the hill. My sister then look for an area where we can play snow and have a snow ball fight but can't find. My dad then told us that this is the smallest skiing area and it was the nearest to where we are staying. I was kinda disappointed that I can't play with snow but my sister was a fast thinker. She took me to the kiddie skiing area and played snow with me. Unfortunately the snow was hard for it was artificial snow. We had fun anyway.

 

We then drove back after staying for half an hour. There was a lot of cars going down when we went down so I decided not to drive and let my dad drive. When we reach the bottom, my sister took over for my dad wants her to try driving there. She had a lot of fun driving but complain bout the speed limit. Hahaha... Along the way back, we were looking for a car wash center for there was some mud stains on the car as we were exiting the car park at Mount Hunt. We found one and me and my sister sat in the car as she drove into the auto car wash. She took a video of the entire process in the car but I can't upload it for the file is too big ^_^

Along the way home we say a hypermarket Countdown and bought some junk food. When we came out, it was dark and it was time for dinner. I drove back to town and we look for a place to eat. Since my parents found the Chinese Restaurant, we ended up having Chinese meal most of the time. We went back to Sampan House Restaurant and ordered a delicious meal. We had 3 layer pork meat, Spicy Chicken, Da Pang Chicken, Lou Shun and Pork fried mee. 

 

 

After dinner we went for a short walk around Cathedral Square before going back for an early rest. While we were in Countdown, we bought a cake to celebrate my dad's birthday. His birthday is not till later in the month but since we are all together, my mum decided to celebrate it earlier. We had a small birthday celebration in the room accompanied by all my sister's soft toys ^_^

 

Christchurch Day IV

Today me and my sister woke up late. It was close to lunch time when we woke up. When we are ready, we went walking round Cathedral Square and the city center to look for Chinese restaurant for my dad would like to eat rice. As we walk, we discover a lot of interesting shops like a lot of video game shop, arcade (they have Initial D Stage 4), sport shops, adult shops and etc. We were close to give up when we saw Sampan House Restaurant, the place we were searching for ^_^

 

We were so happy and we ordered a nice meal. The waitress was nice. The Asian Chinese there would actually talk to you in Chinese and show you the Chinese menu instead of their main menu. We then ordered satay, pork ribs, broccoli, spicy squid, Chinese dumplings and fried rice. It was delicious ^_^

 
 
 

After lunch we waited for my mum to come back for her conference ends after lunch since its the last day. When she came back, we went to Antarctic Centre for a trip to see the Antarctic Expedition and how it is like in Antarctic. As we enter, the workers took a picture for us. Then in the first room there are some history about the Antarctic used as a based. Right after that there was a stimulator room. It was made to stimulate the weather conditions in Antarctic. It was freezing cold. Bbbbbbrrrrrrrrrr...

 

After that we went and see the penguins there. They just got some new blue penguins recently and they are personally hand feed by the caretakers there. We got there just when the penguins are being feed. The caretaker would be cradling the penguin and place the tuna fish in their mouth. After the penguin area we went to another part of the expedition area. Here they show the tools used and also tells us more about Antarctic. There was something like the solar system but there was only the Earth and the Sun where it shows how the Earth rotates around the Sun and how often there is sunlight in Antarctic.

  

Besides that, there was a place where visitors can try on the clothes worn in Antarctic for photo taking session. My sister was excited bout it and took picture of herself wearing one of the coats. As she was busy taking her picture, I saw the box of food that was send to Antarctic. There are all can food and the way it was packed in the box is so compact. The food in that box is actually to cater for bout 4-8 people for one meal.

There was a big screen showing pictures of the Antarctic towards the exit. 
There were beautiful pictures where you see snow everywhere and you do not know where you are unless you carry a compass I think ^_^ The pictures of the seals and penguin's are so cute. At the gift shop, my sister can't resist but bought a soft-toy Husky and a cute small Lamb. Currently the Husky is in Australia with her while the Lamb is with me.

Before we left, we took another picture for my brother didn't go in with us at the first time. They are cool in taking the picture for us. We then bought one of the picture set which consist of 2 big pictures, 4 postcards, a CD-Rom on Antarctic and the booklet. They gave us our first copy of the pictures also. They are so kind. 

We then head off to Botanic Garden for my mum and sister haven't been there. We took a short walk there and also some photos. It was very cold that evening. We ran about to gain some heat. And yes, we look like idiots for we were the only one doing that in the park besides the small kids. We then came across a big tree where the trunk was low. My sister decided 
to climb on it and  asked me to take the photo of her on the trunk then also the tree to show how big the tree was -_-" 

 

 

We then went for dinner since it was getting dark. We went to another Chinese Restaurant but I forgot the name of that shop. We saw it when we were walking back to the hotel after lunch. So we went there and order dinner. There are more students at this restaurant compare to Sampan House but the price is slightly higher than Sampan House. We ordered a mix meat fried rice, a small bowl of white rice, mix vegetables, cashew chicken and one more dish which I forgot what it was -_-" Unfortunately we forgot to take pictures during this meal ^_^

 

After dinner we walk round Cathedral Square where the Cathedral was beautiful. Then there was a touch like figure there. It was bright along the streets so there was no fear of walking in the dark like in Malaysia. As we walk back to the hotel, we stop to get some chocolates for my sister is like a chocolate addict but she didn't grow fat due to that -_-"