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 -_-"

  

Christchurch Day III

Today we went and took our rented car.  This is because my sister is due to arrive from Australia later at night ^_^ So we must get the car today even though we enjoy walking around in the cold weather ^_^ My dad rented a Mitsubishi 380 ES which is a 3 litre car and it is powerful and splendid to drive. I love the car and wanted to take it home but it don't seem to fit in my bag -_-"

 

We had a quite lunch and took a drive to the Christchurch Gondola and along Governors Bay Road where we can see the view is beautiful. Along the winding road, there are a lot of housing area but it is called small towns there. The houses are beautiful. We stop a few times along the road just to take pictures. Here is a picture of the clear blue sea.

 

As we drove further along the road, we saw sheeps on the hill. There were so many of them and I can hear them "talk".

 

We continued our journey till we reach the top of the hill where there is a rest area called Sign of the Kiwi. We stop there to enjoy the beautiful sight of the city. There was also a sign there which tells us how high above sea level we are.

 

 

After resting a while, we went down the hill and came to another building called Sign of the Takahe. We couldn't go in the building for it was under renovation. Along the way down the hill, there are some schools there. The school kids have just finish their day in school and are going home. The student themselves manages the traffic for crossing while being monitored by a teacher. The student that helps with controlling the traffic are as young as 7-8 years of age.

After a long drive along the coastal area, we stopped at Christchurch Gondola station for a rest. I thought of going up the gondola to see the view from the top but my dad told me it is bout the same as what we saw in Sign of the Kiwi. The price to get on the gondola is NZ$22 for adults. I forgot to ask them if there is student price for the ride. Unfortunately I was just blur for not remembering to ask or I'm just scared of the Kiwis. (The people of New Zealand are called Kiwis) I manage to take pictures of the gondola going up the hill. There is also a sign which states how far come countries are.

 

After a long day out, we went back to rest whike waiting for my mum to come back. When she came back, we went out for dinner and rest. When it was 10.30pm, we went to the airport to pick my sister who was flying in from Australia. When she arrived, she say that it isn't that cold in New Zealand -_-" But she bought me my Bumblebee which transform into the new Camaro ^_^