NZ-Queenstown

Hi all!

We are currently in Queenstown now. We had a fantastic rate ( thank goodness for WOTIF!) on a motel (Room with kitchen) facing the lake and mountains for just NZD$96 per nite! Its really gorgeous, glass balcony doors lead to the the best view ever! Anyway, its a really touristy town where you can do anything from skydiving, the bungy jumping, jetboating, kayaking, paragliding, tramping, skiing ( in june) etc. The views are fantastic! We didnt do any of those though (where got money!) But the tramps are free so we drove to Glenorchy, the drive to the mini town was superb with the roads winding around Lake Wakatipu with the mountains lining the waters edge. Really Fantastic. Anybody needs a place to go for their honeymoon or 2nd or 3rd honeymoon?

Mt Cook
We went there sometime ago but its worth blogging about.We stayed at the Hermitage which is this really huge hotel right in front of Mt Cook. It was a good thing we stayed for 2 nights cos it was raining the first day and could only go for the Hooker Valley walk (4hrs) the next day. It was a really fantastic walk. Highly recommended! The highest mountain in NZ. Next to the Hermitage is the Sir Edmund Hillary Museum where they keep documents of his life and a mini planetarium (our omnimax is way way much better and bigger....)

Curio Bay
I wonder if I already blogged abt this but anyway, Curio Bay is in the Catlins, near the South eastern end of NZ. The beachhouse we stayed in was right on the beach in front of the sea. Nearby is the fossilized forrest which dates back millions of years ago when NZ was still part of Gondswana (before the plates spilt), can still see the remains of the trees. There is where the penguins come up to their nests in Summer. No cages, no fences, you can go right up to them as long as you maintain a distance of 10 m. They are so cute!

Milford Sound
I'm not listing these sights in order, so if anyone reading this has a map of NZ and wonder if I flew from place to place.... Anyway, it was a long a windy drive up to the sound. It was lovely, but wasnt very impressive, esp after you have been for an Alaskan Cruise... Sorry.....

Singapore!
Hardly miss the place except for all my friends and family! I miss playing MJ at BEC or anywhere else for that matter. The uncrowded and ERPless roads here are a marvel to drive! I'll be missing Chinese New Year too, one of the first ever I think. No ching cheong blasting in your ear when I go to supermarkets. No auntys scrambling for mandarins and blocking your way at the cashiers. No endless queues for parking at Chinatown or all the shopping places. No angpaos for my little ones... ha ha..... No tedious but fun making of pineapple tarts, no new year visiting, no losing money playing blackjack/poker ( i rather lose playing mj... haha).

Well, those of you working, do take care and dun stress! Plan your next hol ok and go for a long long time.....May the force be with you!