What you should do if you fall sick when you are in foreign country.....

One afternoon me and my housemate was about to get ready for ourshift. We still have 2 hours time to go so both of us were so tempted to head to out favourite Korean BBQ buffet juz along the street.

We indeed had a heaviest lunch ever... with all the mesmerizing dishes laying on the serving table. Delicious Korean Kim Chi, Meats, Vegs, Tibits, Desserts, & not tobe missed the ice cream machince.

Now we both know that we gonna face the trouble to stay awake for the rest of the day. Few hours later, my stomache starts groaning.... i thought i had too much for my lunch. This has been continuously for a long time and i had to go to the loo for several times. The situation got worst and i have to take early off for the day.

My body dy-hydrating... and getting weaker each time. Confirmed then i got food poisioning and this was the worst ever happen in my entire life. I was told medication in overseas is pretty costly, and you cant get medicine from any pharmacies i.e. most of them requires to see if you a letter from the doctor for that particular medicine you request.

I was lucky to have my own first aid kits, which i always take along when i travel/backpack. Even after i had my medicine i was down for another 2 days. After this lessons i told myself, gotta be very careful when eating seafood and what ever meat you eat... owiz make sure its well cook. The Korean and Japanese owiz practice eating raw food like shashimi... eating raw salmon, beef etc. You can only enjoy those food if you are sure the restaurant maintain high quality of food preparation and freshness of the food they serves. And if you travel make sure you have your own first aid kits which contain those medicine you used to have

It's the largest and youngest..... just like me!

Rangitoto Island is the largest, youngest and one of the least modified of about 50 volcanic cones and craters in the Auckland volcanic field. Back in 600 years ago, a series of drastic explosions... a land was erupted from the sea, forming a large volcanic cone and is now extinct. It dominates the local seascape and a visit there is like stepping into another world. The island is a public reserve managed by the Department of Conservation and is famed world-wide as a botanical gem.

We star out journey early, with our groaning empty stomach, we head our way to get a ferry to this undevelop island. Undevelop here, you gotta expect that.. there's no shop, cafe or anything there expect the jetty for the ferry to be on board.

It tooks us 2 hours to make our way to the summit... along with the path way that you could hardly imagine. Crossing all the rocky path, believes to be the formation of lava during the erruption of the island.

One of my off day, my housemate and myself decided to visit the Auckland War Memorial Museum. It tells the story of New Zealand, from our unique flora and fauna and the history at war, to the priceless collection of Maori and Pacific treasures. The Museum’s galleries showcase the natural, cultural, and social history of New Zealand.

The most impressed section for both of us were the two huge "War Memorial Halls", which located on the 4th floor of the building. It's a site of commemoration for the New Zealanders who lost during the war I & II. Name of all those killed in major conflicts of the 20th century are recorded and remembered. Every year (25th Apr), Auckland War Memorial Museum, the RSA and Auckland City Council mark ANZAC day with a series of services and commemorative events.

all in all, can you believe it??? We spent almost 5 hours exploring the exhibit in this 4 story. By the time we finished... it was 3.15pm, and we head to Newmarket for a teabreak. The museum indeed worth going, collection of NZ$ 5.00 (mainly for the maintainance of the building).

For more info, please visit: http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/






A day to the NATURE...

Towards the evening, my friend brought me to Waitakere Range, one of the most visited National Park in New Zealand (which just 45 minutes away from the city. We just glance around the range from one of the platform nearby. From there manage to have a clear views of auckland city and Rangitoto Island (the youngest volcano in NZ).

There are certain day on your weekend - that you might probably felt like doing nothing at all - no outing, shopping and juz stay at home. It never happen to me in Msia, where i slept till noon - without setting my alarm and had a good night sleep for 14hours. Waking up not bcoz of noise, too much sleep or anything, but too hungry to sleep any further.

Walking out from my room, boil some water and start up the laptop for MP3, then head straight to the washroom to have a hot shower. Having instant noodles with bacons and egg (as taken on the pic above) and online screen through my email. Few hours later, i picked up my book and start continue the chapter that i've stop since weeks ago. Time really flies before i realized that it's evening and my friend text me to have dinner at their home. I've been a while since i have home cook food, not counting the food i cook on my own. Menu that we're goin to have is poridge with some chinese style dished. As shown in the photos.

The other photos was nachos meat balls (home made snack) & Salmons Island (which we had for breakfast on the following day).

Evening Walk..... around Auckland

- City of Sails

The fine weather had mesmerized me to take an evening walk after work. Immediately after i've changed from my office attire to a khakis pant and a polo shirt, I grab the camera burst of from the apartment to catch on with the nice weather before it's sunset. As summer is just few weeks to go, the day time here, seems to be longer than the night... yeah much longer!

On a narrow strip of land between two scenic habours, Auckland is surrounded by more sandy beaches and attractive islands than probably any other city in the world. This is why it's well-known as the "City of Sails". In less than 10 minutes walk i've reached to this stunning place, Viaduct Harbour. AwWw... i just cant wait to on my camera and start taking snapshot at the surroundings.

This is a good place to sit down and relax after a hectic work in the city centre. It's serene, peaceful and awesome... calm sea water with plenty of yatchs parked parallel along the long stretch harbour. Every corner you can find Cafe & Bar Restaurant, which crowded with working preofession who normally catch up a drink right after work. Just behind me was the backgroud of the busy city with the great view of the Sky Tower, which famous for its Bungy Jump & Casino.

Positive Psychology

Recently, I read an article by Dr. Martin Seligman, a former president of the American Psychological Association. In his article, he shared some valuable insights from his latest research. The objective of this research was to discover, based on empirical data collected from around the world, fulfillment in life. He was able to identified the three main sources of fulfillment.

• The first, is living a pleasant life - Hedonic Happiness.
• The second, is using one's higest strengths and virtues in one's various spheres of activity and relationships with others.
• The third one is deploying one's highest strengths in the service of something larger than oneself.

From this three, you will notice the second and the third source of fulfillment provide much deeper and more spriritual feeling of fulfillment than the first one. What i would like to stress here is, happiness is not determined by materials or econimic wealth or social life. The key to leading a fulfilled life, free of regrets, is to dedicate ourself to a cause, a goal that is lager that us. If you are practising it, then you are leading the greatest of all possible lives - lives of unsurpassed value-creation.

ICE Cream time...!

Last Sunday, seem like a boring day to us... my friends decided to go for a beach walk at Mission Bay. Being new to the place, i deperately tag along. Seem like everyone talking bout the Winning Scope - The famous ice cream by "Movenpick" at Mission Bay. I give it a try and i really fallen in love with it! Hei, juz have a look at the ice cream cone i'm holding.... phew... with 2 jumbo scope of flavoured ice cream of your choice and the topping on it. Indeed a good way to indulge after a whole week of stressful work. If any of you coming to NZ one day... I will for sure bring you there!

Feel free to view the site.... I'm sure you will be tempted from here on:

http://www.icecream.co.nz/html/movenpickflavours.htm

At night my friend drop by my apartment for dinner and suppose to be a light dinner but end up having a heavy meals together. Most of us just sitting on the floor and some lay-back on the couch (juz lazy to move around).

Saturday morning... the wonderful weather had caught my interest to explore further around Auckland City. Around the city there are several parks where lots of local when for a jogging, hang-out, or having a evening walk with their friend and their love one. Reached to the end of the Queen Street (one of the busiest & popular streets in the city center), i came across this calm and peaceful park, known as Albert Park (near to Auckland University). This is the place where lots of people hang around sitting on the green ground esp during the Spring & Summer seasons.

Weekend Hanging out - Shopping Spree!

After a few weeks of savings, I'm thinking getting myself a pair of jeans. With a few friend, we met up at Newmarket (a busy street full of boutiques, cafes, and shopping departmetal stores i.e. Farmers, The Warehouse, Two Double Seven & Supree).

We had our lunch at one of the Japanese restaurant, lots of people tough and we just wait to be seated. The meal come in set and it doesn't seem to be so tempting, but the moment i have a taste of it... Hm, i would say there's none any other Jap Restaurant in Msia can beat the taste. It's just marvelous



Late afternoon, we stop by a coffee shop for their famous cappuccino.