sad day

I am not being Auckland this place very long, only about 2 months. However, now I already facing the situation which is going to say goodbye. One of my best friend here, XueYing from Beijing University is going to be back today. Therefore, we had a nice dinner yesterday with her, in a chinese restaurant. XueYing, Ritu and Wafa went together. Before going my friend just said are u guys going to have a international meeting or what? because is just a weird combination, a Chinese from China, a French, a Indian, and a Malaysian. Haha.. I just feel funny with that. But the funniest part is in the restaurant, my French friend and the Indian friend keep asking about the menu, like they ask what's kai lan(1 kind of vegetable), Yeong Zhao chao fan(yeong zhao fried rice),
Wafa(French): What's Yeong Zhao?
Issac: A place in China
Wafa: Why the name of a place appear on the menu?
Issac: Because that place is special with fried rice
Wafa: How special it is?
Issac and waiter: it is more yummy
Wafa: that means other place cant cook nice fried rice?
Issac and waiter: ............. =.="

There is just a long conversation and so funny when ordering and all of us are laughing, all the others just stare at us. More funny part is they try to use chopstick, Ritu keep trying it and finally successfully pick up a pea. However, Wafa gave up and just use the fork and knife eat the fried rice and vegetable. This is the first time I have ever seen people use fork and knife eat fried rice and chinese vegetable.. Hahaha... XueYing, Ritu, Issac and Wafa(weird combination)

All of them are not usual people, XueYing is student in Beijing University doing phD now, studying in what epidemiology(hear the name also feel headache), she is invited here to do some research topic, and her research essay is going to be published in a medical magazine very soon, INCREDIBLE!!! Ritu is a health science master student, Wafa is a master student as well in France university, have a contract with Auckland University to teach French, so she is a lecturer here. =.=". Only me, I am not anything, haha.....

Today is the last day meeting with her, all of us with an upset face, just say hate saying goodbye. We just staying with her about 2 hours, all only chatting, and left our works. Finally, she is really gone. I have never expected this kind of moment came that soon, I know it will keep coming, because some of my best friends are going to leave after this semester. But I just dont like it...

Backpaker in Hamilton, Waikato

A few days before I know there is a hot-air balloon festival in Hamilton, a city with 2 hours drive from Auckland, so I decide to go there alone, being a backpacker!! Because I will meet Winsome, a kiwi asian friend here, and I stay 1 night in my friend hostel, who is doing biomedicine and doing practical in the Waikato Hospital, so I can save the motel money, hehe...Actually I also can't believe that I can get there with only a map and my friend got shocked when see me there, haha.. The next day morning, I woke up at 6.30am to see the balloons launch into the sky.One of the remarkable balloon,.Unfortunately the weather is not that nice, cloudy and likely to rain, so is not that nice actually, a bit disappointed.After that, I went to Hamilton Garden, is a nice garden here and I just know from the tourist guide, the most important is it is free!!! Haha... The Garden is so big and I spent 3 hours to finish walking, but is extremely nice there. On the way, I know 1 new friend here, he is alone from Israel, Erez to visit here, so chat with him and happy to know 1 more friend in this place.Do u think where am I? Traditional Japanese House? Hehe.. This is Japanese Garden. For the following, I think no need to say also what it is, is Chinese Garden.This is the Chinese Bamboo Garden, but I feel more to Japanese This is American Modernist Garden, simple.This is English Garden,I feel quite nice and peaceful.This is the Indian Garden, not that big but filled with so many flowers, like nobleman house.Finally, come to the biggest I think, is the Italian Renaissance Garden,, this is Italian style pagoda. Actually I feel it a bot look like the Babylon Hanging Garden. After visiting these paradise gardens, Erez has to go because he has to drive to Wellington after this, we just continue chatting and have a nice time here, we change the email and give him my NZ phone number and he may call me when he is back to Auckland, I never think can know a new friend here, he is Erez. Besides than these, they have many other gardens, but I juts take some are nice, like this Rogers Rose Garden, I have never ever seen this much roses in my life!!!!This is what Hammillia Garden, but I only see a big lawn here.This is herb garden.For this, I also don't know what flower is this, haha...Sustainable Backyard Garden.Rhododendron Lawn.Perfume Garden.Kitchen Garden. Dessert plants.Tropical plants, same like Malaysia.Tropical flowers, I think.I don't know what is this actually, but there are some chinese style chairs around this stage, so I think is a space of Chinese people perform the opera, just like we see in the drama. That's all for my garden trip, and this is the exit of the garden.

Then, I walked about an hour with the map back to the city center to take a bus back to Auckland. Actually I am planning to go further down, Matamata, where is the place takes The Lord of The Ring, so I think it must be very nice and only 1 hour drive from here. However, there has only morning bus and I have to wait for another day. Moreover, visit to the Hobbiton has to be paid. Therefore, I have to cancel my plan due to saving money, hehe.. If it is free, I may stay there 1 more day in the bus station, hehe. Anyway, I am really happy with this trip because I never think I am be able doing this kind of backpacking, with only a bag and a map visit around. I told my friends all said that I am really brave , I think so as well. Before in Malaysia, alone visiting I think is fool, but here I feel comfortable and relaxing, maybe I have been more independent. hehe.. Anyway, have to take a rest for a few days just continue my holiday trip!!!!Happy Holiday!!!

Devonport 1 day trip

Finally we went to Devonport with Zhengtaur, Jian Xin, Steph and Zhi Yuen. We walked along the beach and then climbed the first hill here, North Head. It was a hill being used in the World War 2.The views here are just gorgeous, and I don't know how to describe it at all, is just awesome.. We can find lots of historical remains here, even tunnels!!!. Then we ran to another hill, Mt.Victoria to see the sunset because it is even higher and beautiful views there., can u see the process of this sunset?Hehe..This is yeng le gua... Is Issac me lo... Besides that, there are some cute mushrooms here.Nice mushroom!Besides that, this is the best night view I have ever seen!!. Today I came to a right place see the night view, it is awesome!!!