NZWH 2013/2014 Summery

Been back from NZ for almost a year..
After being away for 9mths, it's time to come back to face reality..
I think this trip is a very good experience..
I've seen lots, feel lots, realized lots, thought lots and learned lots too..
Other than that, I've met lots of friends too..
A fruitful trip I'll never regret..

I heard about this program from a Malaysian friend..
It sounds interesting and I could experience something different from being in Singapore..
At the same time, I also wanted to test myself..
If I could survive without having parents around..
Sometimes, I felt that we've been living too comfortably under our parent's care and protection that the younger generation nowadays are kinda weak, without survivor skills..

Initially, I thought I wouldn't stay there for long..
Probably a month or two, finished spending the money I had and I would be back..uselessly..
In the end, I even extended my visa for 3 more months..Hahaha.. -.-'
(By right, Max stay was 6 mth.. for Singaporean)
Returned Gloriously..Never throw face.. :)
I should say..Must thank god for guiding and taking care of me..
N it proved that I have survivor skills.. I'm a survivor!.. Hahahaha...

I was very determined to go for this trip but wasn't sure how to go about applying, the processes, where to go when I've arrived and how to get there..
I also needed some advices like when is the best time to go etc...
was advised that I could check with STA travel(a travel agency)..
Googled and found their webpage..
and finally brought out my courage to visit one of their branch to enquire..

Although I found out that most of the people who went did all the arrangements and paperwork on their own..
by doing so, could save lots of money..
But back then..I'm a novice, I knew nuts..so...
They assisted me for applying of the NZWH visa, purchasing of air ticket, travel insurance, buses to the 1st hostel and accommodation for the 1st week..
Other than that, I'm very much on my own..
I remembered emailing them regarding changing of my return flight date but received no reply..
Fortunately, in the end, I managed to get in contact with the airline side and settled it on my own..
If you just need assistance for a head start, they could be of help..
Anything after that..don't expect too much uhh.. :x

I guess this program has been popular in other countries..
I heard that every year people are fighting for the space to go as there's a quota for every country..
Probably not alot of people knows about this program in our country, it's not full that I have a chance to go.. :)
Actually I applied halfheartedly and tot if I didn't get the space, I'll just admit fate N give up..
Coz there's some criteria for the visa..I probably doesn't fit one of it..I tot I might not be able to go..
Lots of mixed feeling thou..
Angels and Devils are always fighting around me..


Before going, I've tried to look for information regarding attractions, transportation and accommodations..
but did not managed to get much useful ones..
They don't have subway/buses that runs regularly that connects between city to town..
They do have 2 bus company that runs between city/town..but need to book in advance and at certain date/timing only..
As I have not been there before, lots of road name I've not heard before..
I've set out with lots of unknown, no directions, no plans..
Totally take a step, watch a step..

I only get most of the information/answer/recommendation as I move ard..
It's all from the people I've met..
There's no fix route, Plans just keep changing..
Ever made a perfect plan, but forced to change due to weather conditions..
Life there is very much different from living in Asia..
Living in Asia is seriously more tense and competitive..
Culture difference..

Anyway, Most important things for a start!..
Basic things, must get it done!..(can be done at airport)
get a local sim card!..for internet and communication..cheaper too..
apply for BBH/YHA member card!..for discount on selected hostel..
I only applied BBH..they got quite a few of properties in every town..just choose wisely..
if quality does matters to u..YHA would suits u better..but location wise varies..

If you R planning to get a job later on..
U'll needa set up a Local Bank Account.. ANZ/BNZ(more commonly used)
IRD account..(like income tax..can claim tax return at the end of trip)
can't remember..I think I applied it at a post office..submit a fee and a few documents..they'll give u a receipt..

I had lots of my 1st time there..
1st time washing my own clothes..
1st time doing my own meals planning, marketing, cooking, washing..
learned a few new dishes from people I've met..
came out with lots of money saving skill, lazy people technique..
do my own financial planning, trip planning..
1st time going to the top of hill..
1st time packing my own lunch box..
Loved the Hot pool, Mud pool, Hot water Beach..
Tried Bungee and Skydiving..woohoo..
1st time going to snow mountain..
1st time hitch hiking..
1st time seeing sooo many cows and sheeps..
1st time seeing penguin, seal, milky way..
1st time experiencing wind storm, mini earthquake..

Okay..
All words..
Hopefully, would update with some pictures soon.. :P

Korea Solo trip 2015 featuring Juno Hair Salon

Seoul!..I'm back!..

This was my 2nd visit to Korea, Seoul..

Something difference is that this time..I'm going alone!..wuuhuu~

Guess Im addicted to going on a solo trip..

It's more free and easy..

No hassle in bookings..I choose my flight, my accommodation...

Sleep at whatever time I want, wake up at whatever time I want..

Shop at my convenience, Rest at my convenience..

Eat whatever I please, but sometimes eating in a group would be better..

Korea has lotsa dish suitable to eat in group.. :/

Anyway..

This time..Eating is not so important, since I've got Braces..

N it's only a short trip of 5D4N with 1D spent in HKG airport due to transit of flight..

This time I'm flying with Cathay Pacific..so, needa transit in HKG.. 

Midnight from Singapore..

Arrived HKG early in the morning..all shops R closed..

Went to next departing gate N took a nap..

When I open my eyes, just nice for sunrise..

N aircraft arrived soon after..

In my must do list..

Namiseon..Popular scenic place shown in drama..

Myeong Dong..stock up my cosmetic products..

Edae..Shopping!..

All famous Lotte Mart..

Overnight stay at JimJilBang..Korean Public Bath House..

N Going for a Hairdo!..Lotsa Korean has nice Hairdo..It got me thinking that there must something different about their Salon..

Actually I wanted to go for Manicure+Pedicure too..

But due to time constraint..Unable to go..Next time!..I'll be back!..

Day 1 - Arrived ICN, took subway to my hostel in Hongik area..

Check in..unpack, get a map of subway for following days planning..

went out to get myself familiarize with de surrounding..

Most importantly..To find de Hair salon for my Hairdo..

Actually I saw 2 Salon on webby before coming..

Juno and Soonsiki..

After a long walk..Finally, I've found Juno Hair Salon..

Wanted to take a look at Soonsiki too..But did not managed to locate that..

No wifi, cant use gps.. -.-'

At least I've managed to locate Juno.. :)

I almost gave up finding...Left hostel at ard 6pm,walked for like an hour plus..

Even had my dinner..found my jjajjangmyeon! but my teeth are aching so much, I couldn't finish.. :'(

N did some shopping..

The moment I enter, there's a lady to welcome me warmly..

Offered me a seat and recommended a stylist for me..

Put on the Hairdressing Robe for me, offered to put my bags in their locker N returned with de locker key..Offered tea too..

I felt so tourist if I started snapping pictures here n there..

So..only took this while waiting..

I tot the equipment so high tech, will adjust from time to time..

But actually was de machine give way n moved one side..hahaha..

Coz the assistant came back to adjust it a minute later..

Ohh..Ohh..something totful that they had was de plastic thingy stick to our forehead..

to protect our face N eyes from the chemical..

make us looked like people of the future..hahaha..

They have a hair curling machine tat make u looks like alien.. :P

Coz most salon in sg are still using the traditional method..

salon having similar machine would cost a bomb..

Their service was awesome loh..

I guess their drink station should be bery well equipped..

After putting the chemical on my hair, was asked what drinks I wanted..

I ordered Hot Chocolate N dey have it!..

OMG!..I'm amazed.. 0.0

it came with some snack too.. <3

Somehow I felt bad luh..

Coz I've arrived ard 8pm and they r closing at 10pm..

From my experience, my hair could not be done within 2hours.. =^.^=

So, I checked with the stylist if need me to come back another day..

she says 2hours can complete..

but in the end..Ha Ha Ha..

I stayed abt half an hour more..

Okay luh..not tat bad..

was bid farewell warmly too..

before I go..my stylist offered me a little gift and her name card for future visit..

Hee...Thankiew.. ^.^

  

Taken this Picture the next morning at my hostel..

Really Loved my hair now..

I used to have straight hair only..

Easier to manage but dull and boring loh..

Tried getting my hair permed a few years back in sg before..once..

It was disastrous!..I totally cant leave home without washing my hair!..

needa apply some kind of gel to get the curl in shape..

but it make my curl looks not natural and solid/hard.. :(

In the end, I gave up and make it straight back again..

This time..

The curl was really awesome.. :)

Even after a few wash..No needa apply tat stupid gel thingy.. :)

Taken abt 2 weeks after..

Wire came off plus update after 7weeks

Due to that my lower set of teeth was overlapping, the wire being used was thinner..
Thus, it would come off easier..

Especially when eating slightly harder food..

The 1st time when it came off was on the 3rd day of CNY..

wanted to put it back myself, but scared that i'll break the wire..

went to the dentist the following day..

the dentist attached additional wire to secure it, preventing it from coming off again..

Until recently, when I chewed on something hard, the attached wire came off..

At that moment, I got sooo shocked loh.. like so many '!!!' popping ard me..hahaha..

so scared that I'll swallow it.. -.-'

plus..de wire came off from the last bracket again too..

Before that, I've felt it getting loose already..but nv think too much abt it.. :/

Probably coz it's been a few week since it was attached..

My teeth sure has moved lotss.. :)

Below are the comparison..

This is the initial picture taken before putting on Braces..

1st few days of putting on Braces..

this is the recent picture..7 weeks after putting on Braces..

Another view..

Looks like hippopotamus..hahaha.. -.-'

So far, I've changed the top set of teeth de wire, once..

Can't wait for it to straighten and changing of de wire N de rubber colour.. >.<

Finally..Braces on..

Booked my appointment..Took leave..
Finally this day have arrived..
Been looking forward and felt excited for this day to come but also worried that my jaw would dislocate luh..
Cuz needa have my mouth opened for like 3 to 4 hours.. -.-zZ

So..After 3 to 4 hours of battle..
Finally..The final outcome..

I wanted to choose Blue or Green de..

But bcoz CNY is just around the corner, the nurse advised me to have Red instead.. :/

Okay luh..not that bad..

M looking forward to change de colour on my next visit.. >.<

Oh..almost forgot to add..

After the battle of getting the braces on, the dental told me something that I almost fainted..

That is to Extract 1 of my wisdom tooth!!!.. T.T

I kept shaking my head but it was fruitless..

In the end..He went ahead to bring out that scary injection needle again.. >.<

Saying that tooth was useless n would cause harm to the rest of my teeth, so no point keeping, must take out..it's a minor extraction not those complicated kind..

In the end... ...

it's the 2nd battle of the day..

That night, I almost wanted to roll on the floor..

The feeling in my mouth is beyond description!..

Like all my teeth and gums are not mine..tightness, soreness, itchy maybe..

Hurr...

 My New Year new look for de year of 2015..

Happy CNY!..

Good thing is that I had my braces on 1 week before CNY..

I managed to enjoy probably 80% of CNY eve reunion dinner food.. -.-"

So..after Braces on, I could only have soft food..porridge, oat meal, mashed potato, drinkss.

things that doesn't require much chewing..for like 1 week..

after every meal, brush teeth 2 times..

Lots of hard work luh..

Pros > can slim down | Cons > can't eat some nice food

Braces Separator/Spacer

Okayy..
This is my 4th dental visit..
After my 2nd tooth extraction on the right and resting for a week...
Feeling the 4 empty space and some speech issue..
it's still not time yet for Braces!.. -.-'
I still needa put on separators/spacers for another week.. :/
Total of 6 rubbers on de back tooth..2 on the left and 4 on the right..

Not sure can see anot..de blue band at the back..
 

I don't felt much differences after having it on thou..
The sensation comes the moment I tried to chew on food..
OMG!..
my tears fell on my 1st bite.. :'(
Hahaha.. T.T

Will finally have my Braces on next week..
God Bless..