9 to 10 May 08 - Singapore, Christchurch, Tekapo

Just one day after my last paper of the third academic year (whoo hoo!), the family was to embark on a hard-to-come-by getaway together to one of our common dream destinations, New Zealand! So as you can imagine, my concentration level was at rock bottom, with images of cows and sheep (no thanks to a certain milk advert) creeping into my mind with increasing frequency.

But of course, the time had to arrive! Our flight to Christchurch was to depart from the new state of the art terminal, which was quiet peaceful as passenger traffic was still minimal. Dad didn't really appreciate the abstract carpet design though cos he found it too dazzling haha. On a side note, after much research, the airline that offers the cheapest flight to NZ at this time is... SIA! Haha surprising isn't it?

left: really glad that the family could travel together again cos we hadn't done that in quite a while!
right: dawn breaking

After the 10h-long flight, we were a bit fatigued but thanks to the meals onboard, we had very full stomachs =p. At the Christchurch Airport, we collected our rental car, a Ford Falcon (3 lit. i think) which looked quite seh so loved it! It cost about 110 NZD per day including insurance.

left: the drivers who couldn't wait to get behind the wheel.

It was autumn at that time so the temperature in the day was about 10+ degrees. Upon exiting the airport, the crisp air in our faces provided immediate rejuvenation. A sweet release from the sweltering heat in our sunny island.

Following one of the many good maps provided at the airport, we took the 1 down towards Timaru. Enroute, we stopped at a biweekly farmer's market where vendors hawked their ware from the boots of their vans and trucks! Most sold fresh produce like potatoes, honey, pumpkins and others barbecued steak patties that tantalized even our very full bellies. This was the first time I'd travelled around via driving and I was already loving the freedom that came with it. Spot something interesting. Stop for as long/as short as you wish. Back on the road. :)

right: this man sells manure too!


left: photo-taking break on a very silent expressway.
right: filling their lungs with fresh countryside air!

The next town we came across was Fairlie, a quiet little place where the only hint of human existence was a small restaurant and souvenir shop. From a vantage point near the restaurant, we looked down upon a flock of sheep grazing on green pastures. Bordering the green were the blues, browns and whites of the sky, clouds and nearby mountains half-draping on their cloak of white. The pungent smell from the sheep was too much for Dad to bear so he took cover back in the car. Haha.


above: postcard-perfect Fairlie

To get to Tekapo, we had to cross Burke's Pass, which cuts through the Southern Alps, known as the backbone of the South Island as it literally runs through the middle of the island. For most of the 42 km or so that was Burke's Pass, my eyes hardly took a break from feasting on the splendid mountain range.

Before we knew it, we reached Tekapo - a small town that houses the spectacular gem of Lake Tekapo. Its allure was obvious from the numerous B&Bs and lodges that line the lake. We stayed at Lake Tekapo Scenic Resort, which cost 210 NZD per night for a family unit that afforded a resplendent view of the lake from the living room. After depositing our car and belongings, we took a short walk to the town centre, which was basically just a row of small cafés and a supermarket. In one of the bakeries, we found piping hot ham and egg pies and buttered scones which we gobbled down as we strolled to the edge of the lake and engaged in manic photo-taking. Haha. Unfortunately, none of the photos managed to translate the beauty as we saw it.



left: Mum and her mismatched socks haha!
right: Bro - an apprentice at Shaolin Si.





right: one of the bedrooms in the apartment.

We initially planned to visit Mt John's Observatory from where we would be able to see Mt Cook, NZ's tallest peak and the training ground of Sir Edmund Hillary before he scaled Everest! Alas, by the time we reached the gates of the observatory, it was 2 minutes before closure (5 pm). Quel Dommage!

So we decided to check out a hot spring spa in the vicinity instead. It didn't look very appealing cos the pool of the outdoor hot springs seemed to have sides made of a blue plastic-like material. At least if they'd lined it with artificial rocks, it would've seemed more authentic.

The sun set by 5:30pm. It was one of the prettiest coucher de soleils I'd ever seen. After admiring nature's work for a good moment, there was little to do but to head to the supermarket to get groceries for dinner and breakfast the next day. :)