my love hate relationship

with new zealand.

i was reminded yet again how i'm in love with nz when me and mag travelled to sunny nelson on labour weekend. i fell in love with nz again.

the beautiful drive, lovely weather, amazing scenery and just leaving all the work stuff and the world behind was exactly what i needed. it was absolutely wonderful. it was like you were on a long holiday. no worries and just having real fun....ahhh...

until work started on tuesday. brought back to earth with freezing wet weather the next day. i was in shorts and tshirt the previous day and the next i was in winter clothings...wat the hell??!

anyway here are some lovely pictures from the trip! =)

interislander ferry ride..





found someone's shoe collection along the drive to nelson



nelson city..artist in action..





having lunch in sunny nelson..



the most amazing b&b place...




looks simple and nice outside..



but inside it is old skool! very well presented and preserved..


antique and vintage



as if you have travelled back to the past..



look at that old skool key!



hello old skool!



the boss relaxing..



the place is amazing..so old but still so classy..


fell in love with the place as soon as i entered the house...5stars!!



best fish & chips ever! if you happened to be in nelson, i think this place has the best fish and chips. it is called Haven Fish & Chips on 268 Wakefield Quay, Nelson. HEAVENLY!

next day we headed towards golden bay..


making sure we stop for real fruit ice-cream along the way..



deserted house with scary/dead/zombie sheep.....scaryy..



presenting our next destination..

pupu springs..



however..there is no shit in the water..just extremely crystal clear water....
unfortunately the water is protected and you cannot drink or touch the water...damn!


i definitely felt like jumping in for a swim!

mag posing..

me imitating..
we were kinda starving after walking around the springs so we were looking for a place for lunch and mag so happened discovered this hidden gem in a brochure..


anatoki salmon farm



free fishing rod, free entry..you pay wat you catch and they can clean, cook or package it for you at a small fee. as inexperience fishing ppl we tried our luck.

however after awhile we realized that catching salmon is different from normal fishing. you don't just cast out and wait..u must cast out and when it hits the water for few seconds...if the bait is not bitten by the fish, you have to reel in and cast again...after realizing that...it was still pretty tough to catch one..until helped came from a friendly family beside us that obviously have done this lots of times...they gave us some of their remaining bait(which can be bought for $2). when we cast our line out this time, the kids threw some of the bait near my hook and we immediately got a salmon!



this was the second fish we got! bigger than the first..GO team darren & mag! haha


however..when u catch the fish..u got to unhook the salmon and then grab the knife provided and stabbed the poor fish on the head ...1cm from the eyes..it almost instantly kills the fish..
the first fish suffered as it was a very angry fish. i did not kill the first fish as i have never done it before. the friendly family helped us kill the fish. he didn't quite get the head. however the second one fish i have to be the killer as the family left...so i had to step up and stab the fish in the head...it almost instantly kill the fish.
btw this wasn't my first time fishing but it was the first time i have to kill the fish..brutal but i felt good...not good as i like killing...okay nvm..u all thinking i'm some sort of psycho killer now..haha
the last time when i fish was like in primary school..sweet memories..
it was definitely fun and enjoyable. the thrill and rush when the fish bites the bait..


it was all worth it! look at mag..never had so much fun..



and after 20mins..our very own smoked salmon served in a pizza box, soft drinks, with garlic bread and the sun shining brightly above us..ahhhhhh.....orgasmic!! this is definitely a must do if you are in nelson!
it was a super super weekend. one of the most enjoyable holiday i had in nz.
damn..gonna miss kiwi life!