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!!!