Open Market in Auckland, NZ

At the time of booking of our Motel in Auckland before the tour of NZ, we had no inkling that the largest Sunday One-Day-Market is within walking distance from the Motel.

So early Sunday morning on 6 March 2016, we decided to have a look at this place. True to its claim, it is huge with many stalls set up in an open space which normally serves as public car park. The atmosphere is very Polynesian and Asian with many of the stalls manned by the locals of Maoris and Asian origin.

Alpaca in Queenstown, NZ

When driving along the highways in NZ, it is not unusual that you would occasionally notice someone stopping beside grazing land to take photos of sheep, cows and cattle. It is said that having a photo of these animals is proof of having visited NZ.

NZ had a sheep population of 30 million compared to its human population of 4.5 million. in 1982, it peaked at 70 million. Dairy cattle population is a distant second behind the sheep at 6.7 million.

Finding alpaca required extra effort because it is still considered rare in NZ. Paqocha Alpaca, an alpaca farm in Gibbson Valley was "found" in Tripadvisor before we made our trip to NZ. It is impossible to locate this place without a GPS. The farm is very small, barely 20 number are kept in a piece of 7-acre land. Visit to the farm required prior booking. Entrance fee of NZ$50 charged per head is rather pricey.  Fortunately, we were the only visitors that afternoon on 25 February 2016 and there was a mild drizzle at that time. The lady owner only charged us half price!

The alpacas in the farm is of the Suri species. The more common one however is the Huacaya species. Their fleeces are soft and virtually free of guard hair. The alpacas in the farm are "friendly" and get along with humans well as long as their foreheads are not touched. They love to have their necks being stroked. 

Besides sheep and cattle, we also saw free range pig farming.

******************************************************

Migration

During my tour of New Zealand, I took the opportunity to reconnect with several friends who had previously lived in Malaysia. Our conversations and reunions stirred up memories and reflections, reminding me of the Chinese TV drama The Great Southern Migration, which chronicles the long history of Chinese diaspora.

From ancient times, people from the Middle Kingdom have journeyed southward in search of new opportunities, and that movement has never truly ceased. Even today, many continue to uproot themselves, settling in far-flung corners of the world. I’ve often wondered what draws so many to New Zealand - a relatively small, remote country nestled in the southern hemisphere.

The motivations for migration vary. For many, the primary reason is their children's education, seeking better schooling systems and a more nurturing environment. Others are drawn by the promise of a more equitable and balanced economic landscape. For some - especially the elderly - the decision is shaped by family. When children and grandchildren are no longer in Malaysia, relocating becomes a matter of staying close to loved ones in their twilight years.

I must admit, these thoughts strike close to home. The question of where we might spend our later years, and how close we want to be to our children, is one that lingers in the back of our minds. It’s a deeply personal and emotional matter - one that, like many others in our generation, we have yet to fully resolve.

William, my university mate from our days at the University of Malaya in the 1970s, is among the many parents who chose to migrate primarily for their children's tertiary education. He opted for New Zealand, in part because the overall cost of migration was more affordable compared to moving to Australia.

After reaching the pensionable age of 55, William left his hometown of Sibu, Sarawak, and eventually settled in Christchurch. His family had moved to New Zealand much earlier, paving the way for his relocation. Interestingly, despite being retired in Malaysia, William is now employed with the Auckland City Council. From what I understand, his decision to return to the workforce may be motivated by the desire to qualify for a second pension - this time from the New Zealand government.

It’s said that New Zealand citizens or permanent residents are eligible to receive a state pension after working for a minimum of 10 years, regardless of whether they are employed in the public or private sector. More surprisingly, the pension amount is standardized - meaning everyone, from manual laborers to former CEOs, receives the same payout. This reflects New Zealand's emphasis on social equity and basic security for all its residents.

Christchurch, which suffered devastating damage during the February 2011 earthquake, may actually be a practical place for a civil engineer to settle, given the extensive rebuilding required in the aftermath. The scale of reconstruction - covering both public infrastructure and private properties - has provided a surge in demand for engineering expertise.

However, while employment opportunities may be available, living in Christchurch comes with the lingering psychological weight of potential future earthquakes. That said, the seismic risk is believed to have significantly lessened since 2011, as most of the old and structurally unsound buildings have been demolished or retrofitted to modern safety standards (Read here).

*************************************************

Peter who is originally from Sarawak once worked as a Pastor in the Music Ministry of our Church. After he left our Church, he taught in one Seminary in Singapore for a couple of years. From Singapore, he moved to Auckland and served in churches in similar capacity as he did in our Church. Now, he is free-lanced helping churches and groups in church music.

He is still nostalgic about Sabah and one could sense that it is not unlikely that he might opt to come back to Malaysia after all his children have graduated.

******************************************************

Desiree's parents were keen that we meet up with their daughter in Auckland. Desiree of Generation Y is not a total stranger because we knew her since her youth days in our Church before she left for further study in NZ. 

As it turned out, she was such a great host. She helped find us a Church for our Sunday Worship Service. She took us for a nice lunch and then to Eden Hill to look at both the dormant volcanic crater and the panoramic view of Auckland. We finally said goodbye after she took us to see her place of work and feasting of a variety of food in one massive food bazaar set up once a week in a covered car park of a super market.

After living nine years in Auckland, she is now eager to leave Auckland and to settle down in Brisbane, the place where her husband works. She got married in February 2016 and is expected to move to Australia once her working visa is approved. She was obviously happy at the time of our meeting because her visa was finally approved and she could finally move. We wish them all happiness and everlasting love!

Extreme Sports in NZ

NZ has somehow managed to brand and market their country as the international destination for extreme sports especially for bungee jumping lovers. While there are many bungee jumping sites in many parts of the world, doing it in NZ somehow is the ultimate to "graduation".

Our tour in NZ was not purely looking at beautiful landscapes and scenery alone. We were equally interested to look at extreme sports sites and may be participating in some of them.

Queenstown is one particular site foreigners love to do the bungee jumping. However, there are in fact many more sites in NZ which offer even more extreme experience and excite the adrenaline to the ultimate.

In Queenstown's Kawarau Bungy Centre, jumpers hurl their bodies towards a deep section of the river below the bridge. Because of the deep water, jumpers can opt for "contact-with-water" jumps or "non-contact-with-water" jumps! 

On the contrary, jumpers in Mokai Gravity Canyon, Taihape in the North Island jump towards a section of the river which is only knee deep. Sheer vertical cliffs rise from both sides of the shallow river bed! Asked the reason for jumping into a shallow water section, the staff in Mokai Gravity Canyon explained that shallow water allows rescuers to access "failed jumpers" trapped down in the river below easier compared to deep water with fast current. That sounds scary! Because of the shallow water, no "contact-with-water" jumps are allowed!

We went to Mokai Gravity Canyon twice. First in the late afternoon of 18 February and by the time we arrived, it had closed for business. Early morning the next day, we went there almost immediately after their opening for business. We were told that all jumps and rides of flying fox had been suspended since a days earlier because the river section below the bridge was too deep and current too fast to be safe for jumps and rides. We met a young Canadian couple who came all the way from Canada to do the jump but had to leave disappointed because of this unexpected turn of event.

Lesson for intending jumpers: Always have an alternative jumping site because of the risk of unexpected situation that may render jump impossible or the operation having been suspended!

Bungee jumping in Kawarau Bungy Center.

Flying fox in Kawarau Bungy Center.

*******************************************************

In Taihape's Mokai Gravity Canyon, jump is only
permitted when river water is knee deep.

*******************************************************

There is no bungee jump in Buller Gorge Adventure and Heritage Park in Murchison. This place is known for three things: the 110m long suspended Swingbridge, flying fox which they call Comet Line and the Buller Jet Boat Ride in the Buller River. We tried all three.

Buller jet boat ride is an action-packed and some time nerve wracking experience. The whole idea is to get your adrenaline worked up to the ultimate by the sheer skill and experience of the jet boat operator in maneuvering the jet boat. The jet boat ramps up to a speed of 85Km/hour, twisting and turning along the meandering river over both calm and turbulent water, some time just inch away from hitting the edge of the protruding rocks at the river bank. Just when you breath a sigh of relief, the operator makes an abrupt 360 degrees spin of the boat causing the thrill seekers to yell at the top of their voice. The splash whipped up by the the spin causes all to be drenched and wet!

Being the last ride of the day, our trip lasted 75 minutes, much longer than the usual 40 minutes ride. It was not adrenaline-charged throughout. There were pensive moments when we were kept in awe by the magnificent landscape of the gorge and rocky waterway. We were even offered a drink of in-situ water collected fresh from falls that trickled down from the sheer cliff above!

110m long swingbridge.

Getting ready for the flying fox  or Comet Line.

Flying fox about to land on the opposite side of the river.

In our ride, we met a couple from Canada and two young men from Dubai.

*******************************************************

We visited two other locations where jet boat rides are available. Huka Falls Jet Boat Ride in Taupo, North Island and Shotover Jet Boat Ride in Shotover Canyon, Arthur Point in Queenstown.

Hukafalls Jet Boat Ride is unique because thrill seekers will be taken to the base of the mighty Huka Falls. This is similar to taking a cruise to the base of Niagara Falls!

Huka Falls, Taupo, North Island.

****************************************************

The embarkation and disembarkation point of Shotover Jet Boat Ride in Arthur Point, Queenstown does not give the kind of the excitement and grandeur that I found in Buller River and Huka Falls. I can only assume that the thrill and excitement probably is hidden somewhere downstream of the launching point of the Shotover River.

Shotover Jet Boat Ride.

Moeraki Boulders, NZ

On 27 March 2016, we left Dunedin and drove towards our next destination - Lake Tekapo. Approx. 30Km before reaching an intermediate coastal town, Oamaru, we noticed a road sign "Moeraki Bounders". We had no prior knowledge of it and had no idea what they were. Since we were on a trip of exploration, we believed it must be some interesting boulders that deserved to be looked at. We immediately made a decision and turned into the road junction that would lead us to Moeraki Bounders Beach.

From a distance, these boulders that litter the beach looked like coconuts with the husks removed. But, they were huge, ranging from diameters of 2ft to 5ft.

With the limited knowledge on geology that I gained in the university, I discovered that these circular boulders in fact were originally buried in the hill just beside the sea. Over million of years, as the sea eroded the hill, these boulders were exposed and strewed over the beach front. Some were very huge when first exposed but gradually reduced in size as the softer outer layers weathered off leaving the hard inner core. Weathering process has not stopped and is on-going. If someone is to come back in 50 years later, he will find the place significantly different from what I saw!

Until today, no one has been able to provide a conclusive answer to explain this unique phenomenon in nature. One can only behold in awe over such wonderful work of nature or an act of God!

Taieri Gorge Train Ride, Dunedin, NZ

We decided to take the Taieri Gorge Railway tour after hearing a brief but enthusiastic recommendation from the motel operator. He was kind enough to assist us by calling the Dunedin Railway Station and booking two tickets on our behalf.

The scenic round-trip journey spans approximately four hours, departing from Dunedin and traveling deep into the heart of the Taieri Gorge before turning around at the remote outpost of Pukerangi.

Originally constructed in the late 19th century, the railway was built to serve as a vital link for transporting people and goods between the Otago hinterland and the coastal city of Dunedin. However, as the road network developed and expanded, the line's use as a commuter service steadily declined. Ownership of the railway changed hands multiple times over the decades, and today it operates as a heritage and tourist railway under private management, offering passengers a nostalgic and scenic experience.

The Taieri Gorge itself is a dramatic and rugged canyon carved over millennia by the Taieri River. Stretching over 40Km in length, the gorge offers breathtaking views of steep rocky walls, deep ravines, and winding riverbanks. At times, the train track clings to the edge of precipitous cliffs, providing thrilling, panoramic views of the river far below.

The railway line is considered an engineering masterpiece, especially given its construction period in the late 1800s. The route includes ten tunnels and crosses a dozen viaducts, many of which were engineering feats of their time. Among these is the Salisbury Tunnel - the longest on the route at 437m - and the iconic Wingatui Viaduct, a 197-meter-long lattice bridge soaring 47m above Mullocky Gully. Completed in 1887, this 16-storey-high structure remains the largest wrought iron viaduct in New Zealand and a testament to 19th-century engineering ingenuity. Its riveted lattice design is supported by seven sturdy concrete and masonry piers, each bearing silent witness to over a century of history.

The journey through the gorge is not only a ride through spectacular landscapes but also a journey through time, connecting New Zealand’s past with its present.

As the train moved towards Pukerangi, the final point, the line slowly starts to climb higher and out of the gorge, passing over bridges and cuttings through several rocky outcrops, on its way to Pukerangi.

Along the route, the train made brief stops at select points where local vendors had set up temporary stalls, offering a variety of handmade crafts, souvenirs, and locally produced goods. These stops provided a chance for passengers to stretch their legs, interact with the locals, and take home a small piece of the region’s culture and creativity.

Final stop at Pukerangi before turning back to Dunedin.