Spring Grove Farm Park

Last summer in 2008 I joined a trip to Spring Grove Farm Park. It was a rainy day, but our excitement was not affected by the weather. We were ready with our rain coat and umbrella. Our journey took about 45 minutes by bus from Palmy. Our group consist about 20 people and most of them brought their kids along to give them an interesting learning and amazing hands on experience to animals.

"Hallooo.... cameraman overhere, model!! look at the camera"

Located at the Pohangina Valley, this farm offers laid-back and hands-on experience with a variety of animal breeds. Open in spring, summer and autum 10 am – 7 pm weekend and holiday.

Let's get some experience, cuddle a rabbit, feed the animals or go eyeball to eyeball with Ollie a friendly ostrich. It was our first time experienced visiting farm since we have been in New Zealand and hopefully not the last.

Last Christmas, 2008

Christmas celebration in New Zealand is bit different as I imagine before. It’s totally different when we talk about weather. Here we celebrate Christmas in summer. Look funny ey. That’s mean no snow, no snow man and no gifts opening in front of fired chimney. And do you know what funny about Mr. Santa, sometimes he wears short sleeve suit. So what on earth they said Mr. Santa lives in the North Pole. How he can survives in that warm red suit in NZ’s hot weather. It’s Nonsense. As in Malaysia, All shopping centre and shops take any opportunity to promote the event to sell more goods and hold a lot of end-of-year sales besides selling goods for Christmas. But on the other hands, they all closed on the day of Christmas. It seems like first day Aidil Fitri in Malaysia.

Me and some of Malaysian friends were invited to the Christmas party which held in St. Alban Church. Ops! That wasn’t ritual ceremony but kind of fun party. 50% of guests were from different countries; China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Russia, German, Spain, Pakistan, India and many more. As written in the invitation letter all guests should bring some food from their own culture. So that evening I brought the easiest dish to prepare ‘kuih ketayap’ while my friend Diyana came along with her ‘kuih bingka’. Actually we have no much time to prepare a complicated dish coz in that same day me, Diyana and Zeeras’s had organized some barbeque party for Aidil Adha celebration which started at 12.00 o’clock. Penat woooo……

That day, me and my gang were present 3 songs; Maori song, Spain and English. Hmm hampeh… although we had practiced before, we still didn’t memorize the lyrics. But everybody have fun. Whilst kiwi and the gang presented Christmas songs.

Mr. Santa came bit late but kids were waiting patiently. All parents look bored for waiting too long. Luckily they served food as first. But we were facing another big problem in how to recognize which was halal food. Luckily there was a kiwi’s Muslim woman named Lina approached us and showed us which food we can eat. Do you know what funny about Lina was. At first I met her with free hair and after a few minutes I saw her with veil. No comment as I’m not perfect about Muslimah’s dress.

Suddenly we heard a sound of some humming tune…”Dum te dum, dum te dum…HOHOHO!!!!!! outside the hall. Finally Mr. Santa Came with his sack full with present. And kids start screaming happily. Now time for present… yeeeehaaaa!!!!!

"What a glum-faced photo", Actually asyraff scared of big Santa behind.
"See, I've told you right, he can do nothing"

"It was the highest christmas tree in Palmy"

Te Apiti Wind Farm

Actually it was our first visit to the Meridian Energy’s Te Apiti Wind Farm one of the most famous trademark in New Zealand. This place only about 20 minutes from our place. This wind farm is located on Saddle Road north of the Manawatu Gorge, 10 kilometres from the city of Palmerston North. It is situated within 1,150 hectares of farmland owned by several landowners. This place is open for public from 8.30 to 5 pm

Te Apiti Wind Farm is the first wind farm to supply electricity. Nowadays New Zealand has 8 operating wind farms which supply about 2.5% of New Zealand’s annual electricity generation. This total electricity generated is same amount of electricity as 145,000 New Zealand homes use in a year.

We can see the view of wind farm from our place but it just a tiny turbine more look like as turbine in Teletubbies World. But when I reached this place .... WOW!!!!!!!!! My jaw was almost dropping down... We felt like in the land of giant. There are 55 turbine with gigantic blade was spinning over our head. The tower with 70 meter height as if going to fall down on us. What amazing experience.

....sweet couple ever....

"My beloved family"

"These is my mummy and daddy", Noel Asyraff.

"My little prince Muhammad Noel Asyraff "

"They are all my freinds next door".....Noel Asyraff

"Our good neighbours next door"

"Ops bagi laluan.....woi!!!...Woi!!!! encik biri-biri! nak kemana tu?

Kita dah salah paddock"

Tangimoana

Tangimoana in History

"The name Tangimoana meaning “crying sea” is not the original name for this sleepy little coastal settlement. In earlier times Maori knew this beach, next to the Rangitikei River as Tawhirihoe meaning “ a firm grip on the paddle”. This name is said to date from the late 18th century when a Whanganui taua ( war party) called into the river mouth on their way to Cook Strait. A skirmish with local Maori resulted in the Whanganui people killing many with the paddles of their canoe".

It was our boring day. Nothing to do today. Suddenly my B gave some idea “Ey, why don’t we go to Tangimoana”. Tangimoana????? What place is that????? Actually B already went there with his classmate for their site project visit. I’m not very sure where the exact site they were visited last time. But he told me some about the secret Tangimoana Base which located in a secret place and entry denied for public. He said that the base is for government spy activities and some believes New Zealand spymasters are monitoring the airwaves of the Pacific neighbours and supplying the information to foreign parties. Actually the function of these particular bases is to monitor communications in Pacific regions with independence struggles like Bougainville, East Timor and West Papua. Ops, enough for secret Tangimoana Base as we wouldn’t planned to visit that place.

Actually Tangimoana is one of the Manawatu seaside settlements. It managed by the Department of Conservation. It is a small village set in the sand dune landscape of the area, very close to the sea itself and the mouth of the Rangitikei River. It took about 15-20 minutes journey from Palmy. As I’m not very good about maping so I can’t tell detail how to go to this place.

He also told that they found wild berry area in their visit. Wow! as I’m crazy about taking photos, I thought that was the right place to go. Hmmm…my dreams were blown to pieces when he said he didn’t remember where the place was, coz they went there by bus.

We parked the car about 500 meters from the beach coz the beach access road was covered by the delicate sand. Only large and mobile sand drifts a four wheel drive is recommended. Actually it was a windy day and not the right time to go to the beach. We were almost can’t opened our eyes when the wind was blowing strongly carried delicate sands. We only took about 15 minutes on the beach areas to take photos.

On the way back, we stopped by at the lagoon near the beach. The lagoon is one of several resulting from the formation of sand dunes along the coast which prevented inland water run-off escaping out to sea. At the one spot I saw something that interests me. Hey, that was wild berry. Without further a due, we stopped for a wild. We had no intended to pick for business... hehehe... just picked some and took some photos.

Waitangi Day

Waitangi Day merupakan salah satu hari kebangsaan New Zealand yang disambut Februari 6 setiap tahun. That’s mean today is a public holiday. Biar akak citer apa itu Waitangi Day. Saje kongsi info.

Waitangi Day ialah hari memperingati detik terbina persahabatan antara orang-orang Maori (penduduk asal New Zealand) dengan pendatang kulit putih bangsa Eropah. Hari ini diaggap penting kerana pada asalnya Maori tidak menerima kedatangan orang kulit putih bangsa Eropah yang juga merupakan pendatang haram ke tanah tumpah darah mereka. Pertumpahan darah sering berlaku antara mereka. Maka dalam Perjanjian Waitangi orang-orang Maori bersetuju menerima kedaulatan british dan menganugerahkan kependudukan dan hak pemilikan tanah. Ini kes macam perjanjian antara bangsa Melayu, Cina and India kat Malaysia ‘Jusoli’.

Kat Palmy sambutan Waitangi Day tak meriah pun. Adapun gerai-gerai dibuka kat The Square. Kebanyakannya gerai orang Maori yang jual barang-barang kebudayaan diorang. Ada jugak persembahan nyanyian oleh local people. Itu pun mostly lagu bahasa Maori "@#$%^&*!?"...tak paham satu hapah pun.

"Banyak gerai-garai dibuka kat The Square.... Palmy"
"Gipsi funfair"