Day 5- Wanaka

Day 5- NZ

5th day- travelling to Wanaka. From Fox Glacier town to Wanaka takes us around about 4 hours. Not a long journey I remember.

On the way, there were many nice sceneries. Now that I am back in Sg, I miss those majestic and yet so serene lakes, mountains, and streams.

Found this lake by chance. We were ahead of schedule so we followed the sign and found this nice lake to our pleasant surprise. Not many people there, only a couple of tourist having their morning breakfast by the lake. =)

Wanaka is a medium size town. Bcos of the beautiful Lake Wanaka, property market there is pretty vibrant. Many more houses as compared to the other small town.

There is a post office there and Paul shops for a souvenir for his sister.

This is our self-contained little room. Clean, neat, with awesome view of Lake Wanaka!

We had a little grass patch right outside our container-room. Its almost private to us becos becos hardly anyone walks pass since our room is toward the end of the estate. I recommend this backpacker accommodation to anyone who goes to Wanaka. =)

At our Wanaka backpacker hostel, I had my first try of cooking in a community hostel. Was a bit intimidated by somewhere that is not my kitchen. N the voices around me are so foreign. Nonetheless, I had my first try of maggie mee! There was this girl who was very pro in cooking. She was fussing around many things and I was impressed by her! But I thought she took too long to cook bcos by the time we finished cooking, and eating, and washing, she is still there in the kitchen cooking! Aiyo..

2nd day dinner was slightly better than the first day. We cooked rice and satisfy our craving for our asian staple.

Although it was very cold the next morning, and the wind was blowing, we insisted on having our breakfast outside our room! The bench is just outside our room and it was facing Lake Wanaka. So blessed! Whatever we cooked turn cold very quickly so toward the end of the meal, we were just eating cold bread and sausages.

The place was also very pleasant and neat and we felt very safe to wash our clothes in the shared laundry area.

Library- Paul's favorite place. I am just posing for the photo.

I was actually slight afraid that the horse will attack me so I didnt dare to go near. The horse did scare me a little when it kept turning toward where I was. See it quite obediently posed for the picture right. I should have been more bold and patted it. No more chance.. sigh..

PUZZLING WORLD- A place of interesting situated in Lake Wanaka. The optical illusions in this place is fascinating. I heard that they have not change a thing in 6 years but tourists are still coming from all over the world to visit them. Brilliant!

The end of my Day5. Conclusion? Wanaka is lovely. So lovely, we extended one more night of stay there...The place where I want to retire...

NZ Day4

NZ- Day 4

Franz Josepf Glacier

I think this is Day3 or 4. Cant really remember. But i know it was an awesome day!

We opted for the heli-hike, where we can take a helicopter up the glacier and another 3 hours hike on the glacier itself.

We wondered if we shd spent the money but decided that if we dont do it now, we will never get another chance again. And so heli we did!

It was bit scary at first cos its really loud, but after awhile, got use to the big headphone tt helps us to listen to the pilot's command.

The view on the high places are really nice. "God has all the snow in His storehouse."

When we reach the glacier, we have to be helped with our shoes first. The guide was helping me to put the spikes on my boots so I dont slipped on the ice and fall.

See how blue and white the glacier is..

We were encouraged to try the water that flows through the glacier. Other than icy cold, I think its just really clean without the pollution of the earth.

The boots is rather heavy and after 3 hours of walk on ice, I burn my butt with ice, became a little tanner with the high UV exposure, experienced another side of God's creation, fell in love with this part of NZ.

N of course to end the day with a big meal at Fox Glacier Inn resturant. =)

Cooking in office

Cooking in the office for the past 3 days was fun. Corrie did brilliant in the little pantry we had! Healthy, no oil, low salt, more vege, less meat, brown rice.. sounds like cow? Not at all! We had salmon, bak kut, soup, vege, vege and lots of vege..

Though some unhappiness in the office, but focus on the little blessings makes life easier.

Empathy.

To empathise means to leave the our own shoes for the moment and step into the world of another. It involves leaving my world, values, culture, thoughts and suspend our judgement for that moment of empathy. It definitely involves my feelings. (Modified from John Powell, not my wisdom)

But she told me I cannot feel what my clients feel. I am only to identify, and understand but not to feel along. How on earth am I suppose to do that? I am not convinced by what she say anyway, and much less to carry out what she say.

Its hard to communicate what to non-SW about SW. Our proj was a platform to demonstrate the love of God to the community and I find her becoming more and more financial base. She question my fundamental belief about how I see my r/s with my client, I didnt have the answer. Now I kn0w- Outreach to demonstrate God's love. If outreach, then I will be all things to all man as Paul say. But in what context to be what to man?