More Gold Coast photos

Aboriginal Dance Show (the live didgeridoo performance was fabulous!)

My baby she was so cute!

Surfers Beach Cinema

I held the snake on my shoulders!

Great polar bears, they so cuddly wish I could cuddle but I don't want to be torn apart!

Gold Coast Visit

I am having a great time in Gold Coast, especially have my best friend live here and showing me around, couldn't be better than this. :)

Firstly visit the Q1 building, the highest residential tower in the world, 20th highest building, overlooked the whole Gold Coast area. After that we watched Ratatoiulle on Surfer's beach under the full bright moonlight. Done some shopping, not much. Yesterday went to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, hugged the koala, fed the kangaroos, ride the camel, hold the snake and baby crocodile. Today I went to Seaworld, saw polar bears, dugong, sharks and awesome dolphins, seals and water ski shows. Also, I challenged myself with all the rides, including corkscrew rollercoaster and pirate ship! The rollercoaster was OK but the pirate ship was less desirable, I closed my eyes almost the whole ride, it was so scary, I swear I never want to do it again.

Q1 Building

Surfers beach

Metermaids! (they put coins in people's parking meters)

Camel ride with James

Feeding the roo

I'm in Gold Coast but I miss NZ already!

Well, I was a little bit disappointed when I saw Brisbane, so many people in the airport that almost suffocates me, and there are ugly parts of the city. But it's nice to meet up with my old friend from uni again, looking forward to everything that I will be doing here. :)

Whales

"Little Nick"

"Tiake"

Albatross was flying too fast

Does the sperm whale needs to slow down or us?

Whales and dolphins!

I have fulfilled my childhood dreams of seeing the whales. I went to Kaikoura on Tuesday, and joined the whalewatch tour in Wednesday morning. I saw the sun rising from the edge of the sea, wandering albatrosses, mighty sperm whales, and numerous dusky dolphins. God's creation is truly incredible and wonderful.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

you put everything under his feet:

all flocks and herds,

and the beasts of the field,

the birds the air,

and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is you name in all the earth!

Sunrise at Kaikoura

Dusky dolphins

More adventures coming...

Finally, I left Te Anau. Got little bit annoyed by the airline for my flight from Queenstown to Christchurch because they put me at the seat near aisle so I can hardly see the view outside. I left my memory card in Te Anau, so had to buy a new one in Christchurch. Stored my luggages in the airport in a hurry, cos I don't want to carry them around, but I forgot to take my toothbrush and toiletries! Anyway, I decided not to brush my teeth for one day and chew gums.

It was amazing the way that people who love God is everywhere. I went to Cathedral Square to wait for the bus. There were two old men standing in front of the cathedral reading the bible out loud. I was very touched and impressed, even more when a wife of one of them came and talk to me. She shared about how God has called her husband to read the bible at the square, and how the world needs the gospel. Also I met a few people who involved with them, they were extremely friendly even it was the first time I met them I feel they are not strangers. We laughed and joked and they gave me some advice. They were like my family, indeed they are. I have a new vision: Graphic arts.

I need to ask God continually about the direction I am going. I'm sure he will answer.

Will see the whales tmrw morning, excited.

Had 2 oysters for tea, satisfied. :)

Amazing how God provides, got free wild rice and tuna salad for lunch, and Jane from Te Anau gave me some ham sandwiches and punnet of strawberries and homemade muesli slice.

Priceless, yummy.

I love Te Anau and Fiordland (again!)

Sad I'm leaving here tomorrow. It has been like a dream for my life in here. There were extremely beautiful and excited stuff, there were sad and bad things happened for me at here too. It makes this place more unforgettable for me. There are miracles everyday, surprises everyday, there is almost not a day without surprise. The mood of the environment changes everyday, I've seen the sunny glorious Te Anau, the beautiful sunset pink sky, the break of the dawn, and the 'yukky' stormy rainy days. They all different and attractive. People here are friendly, I am very touched by a lot of different ways.

More Queenstown to Te Anau's photo

Remarkables

Earnslaw's Steamship

Glenorchy, Lake Wakatipu

Lake Mavora

Lake Te Anau, Milford Road

Helicopter flight to Queenstown

I am so blessed for being able to fly on two separate helicopter flights: first to Queenstown, second to Fiordland National Park. These are the photos from Queenstown heliflight. Thanks to Bruce the pilot and my host who is so kind to me.

I love Te Anau and Manapouri

It was so yummy that I had 2 pieces before I took photo!

I am truly blessed by God for my stay in Te Anau. I love here so much and the people here. My workmate Michael is a local who also works at another Pizza place. I told him I don’t have the chance to dine in there because I have to work every night. That night he due to a mistake for the pizza orders, he sent an extra pizza to my house. It was the nicest pizza I’d ever had, seriously not because of him but the pizza was really nice!

Today I had lunch at Café 23 at Manapouri with Beverly and Margi, two lovely senior ladies from church. They are so wonderful even though I did not talk much but I enjoyed listen to everything they talked about. I really admire them and I think they are very attractive even in their old age. Their passion, love, knowledge, wisdom, grace, peace, joy, and hope in God are the qualities that I desire in myself. And they are art lovers and God lovers too!

Lake Manapouri looked extra gorgeous today with the clear sky. It’s ashamed that I forgot to put the memory card back into my camera so I could not take photos. Oh and the rainbow too, I saw rainbow everytime I’m at Manapouri. It is a little thing between me and God, that everytime I saw a rainbow, I knew God is reminding me that He loves me, and He promises me that He will never ever disappoints me.

At night at work I chatted with my workmates from Germany, Japan, and Scotland. I learned so much from them as well as customers from everywhere. I have a passion for Europe and I hope that I can experience Europe as much as New Zealand. I love arts and crafts, humanities, architecture, food and wine, history etc. I dreamt of living in a small village in France, or working in a café in Malta or Madrid, visiting the castles in Germany, old churches everywhere etc. But it is ok, it’s ok if I don’t have the opportunity to go there now or ever, I believe that God has something way better for me, it is just a matter of time. I would not desperate and obsess about it. Malaysia can be just as good. I trust him, and wait patiently for him to reveal his plans in my life.

More Lake Manapouri Photos

Sunset at Lake Manapouri. One of the most beautiful sunset I experienced.

Doubtful Sound

Only 2 more weeks and I will be leaving New Zealand. My feelings are a mixture, hard to describe, I feel happy and look forward to going home, at the same time feeling sad leaving here after been through so many things. There are very good and very bad things happened to me here, mostly good things.

I had a day off on Wednesday, so I went to Doubtful Sound which is part of Fiordland National Park. It was one of the best experiences I had in here. I was very tired the night before so I did not want to get up that early in that morning, and was struggling to decide if I want to Doubtful Sound on that day. Nevertheless, I got up and decided to go since I do not have much time left in Te Anau. I walked to the Real Journeys Visitor Centre at about 8am, was hoping to catch the 8:30am tour. The weather was not good that morning, cloudy and almost rain. When I was about to book my tour, the staff told me that the 8:30am tour was fully booked, so suggested me to join the 11:30am group. But I did not feel like walk home and walk there again, so I asked if there is an earlier tour or is it possible to squeeze me in the 8:30 tour. In the end she squeezed me into the 10:30am tour. I paid and looked for something to do between that time.

I decided to see Ata Whenua, a short movie clip produced by local cinematographers and helicopter pilots to show the beauty of Fiordland. Fiordland cinema is opened to show this movie clip. I love Fiordland Cinema. The entrance of the cinema is Black Dog Bar, it is very cool and the prices of drinks are relatively cheap but high quality. I can order a wide range of wine or coffees and they will bring it to my sofa seats in the cinema. I was the first one in fact the only one who watched the 9am show, and the guy offered me half price (only $5!) for early bird. For the first time I was the only audience in the cinema.

After that I went and waited to board the coach to Lake Manapouri for the tour. I kept praying and praying but the weather seems getting worse and worse. It was cold and raining heavily while I board the coach and the first boat across Lake Manapouri. However I saw a big rainbow before I board the boat. Somehow I knew it was a promise from God that everything will be fine, if I trust Him I will never be disappointed.

Lake Manapouri in the morning

After crossed the Lake Manapouri, we went to visit the Manapouri Underground Power Station. The coach drove into a 2 km deep underground tunnel and we visit the hydroelectric power station. It was very interesting to learn how they built the power station and how does electricity generated by drawing water from the lake into 7 penstocks and 7 turbines. It cost a lot of money and claimed 16 men’s lives as a result to build that power station and Wilmot Pass.

Manapouri Undergound Power Station

Wilmot Pass is the gravel road connecting Lake Manapouri and Doubtful Sound. It is beautiful and tranquil. By the time we get out from the tunnel, we saw blue sky and clouds was clearing. The weather turned out so good by the time we reached Doubtful Sound, it was so beautiful and I thank God for answering my prayers.

Wilmot Pass

We board the second boat Patea Explorer, and cruise the Fiords (mistakenly known as Sound) for 3 hours. Then I was being greedy, I asked God if I could see the dolphins if He allows. I kept reminding myself that, “expect nothing, but receive everything as a gift”, so I won’t be disappointed but grateful. The mountains are stunning, they are carved out by the glaciers thousands years ago. Couldn’t resist myself to take photos as it was magically beautiful. I saw some seals when the boat reach the Tasman Sea, but was a little bit disappointed for not seeing the dolphins.

The boat sailed to a few different arms. When we reached Crooked arm, know what, the dolphins were awaiting for us! There were a pod of 10-20 dolphins playing together, our boat turned off the engine, and manoeuvred in the arm. The dolphins were so friendly, they came and leaping and playing right in front of us, with the stunning mountains as a background, I was so happy and touched that my tears almost fall down. Don’t know why my camera ran out of battery at that time, so I couldn’t take photos of any of it. I guess God was telling me that, enjoy it, just for you, don’t busy taking pictures.

The Waterfalls, vegetations, birdsongs, the evening sunset, everything makes the trip so perfect. I believed God loved me so much to let me enjoy everything He has created. I can’t resist myself but to praise and worship His awesome glory of creation.