Thankful - Grateful

I have been thinking especially of late - how much I have to be thankful for. There are so many blessings in my life - and most I probably don't even realize.

Just look at the past two weeks - for a moment when there was a possibility of having to cancel my flight because my passport had not been returned to me (and thinking back now - the process of my application was actually quite short - considering I submitted everything so late). Then the harrowing Amazing Race at the airport (especially in Auckland). This to be followed up with Amazing Race part 2 after landing in Palmy.

What about the days to follow? From being assigned a great apartment with a private balcony - where so many do not have.

As I was taking a short hike out to the bridge this evening that over looks Manawatu River (I think) .. I marveled at the beautiful sights all around me.  I realized I am so blessed to be given such an amazing opportunity. Words would not be able to express my gratitude.

I pledge to do much better in this second half of my life.  To be more mindful of the many blessings that surround me. To give thanks daily for the wonders that are constantly unfolding.

Tonight before I log off and go to bed, I want - once again - to thank all of you (those reading and also those who do not follow my blog) for being in my life, for all the blessings you have given me, for making it ever so colorful. I am deeply grateful to all of you.

And to our Heavenly Father - tonite, I do not want to ask for anything but to simply give You praise for your Awesomeness! For bringing me to this point, for also giving both my mom and my sis a safe journey to UK (I am told they have landed and already reached home), for all the battles that have come our way and we have stood strong thru them all (especially thinking of the hard journey for my sis who had to be strong over these past months) .. and for so much more. I know You have been there with us and for us - and for this I am ever so THANKFUL.

Good nite to you all - may our eyes be opened to see and our hearts open to receive all the good things in our life and let our mouths be open to sing praise and give thanks for them all.

Shalom,
Syl

Are you ready? To continue that is?

Here we go .. ready or not.

Let's see - where did we leave off yesterday? Ending of the first night .. The sleep was great. Didn't wake up even once all the way till morning.

Second day (if you count the arrival day as the first day) was about exploring. Went around town looking for stuff needed for the apartment. Felt so weird that not too long ago I was getting rid of stuff and even having to plead with some people to take in stuff I had to give away. Now I am back to searching for stuff needed for the apartment and such. From plates to coffee mugs to this and that.

Even had to find really inexpensive bedsheets for the bed.  The apartment, I was told, will come with a Queen size bed.  But when I got here, I found out that they have a King size bed. Or rather it is two single size bed zipped together to form one BIG bed. Drats. So my soft and smooth bedsheet will not work.  For the night, however, I had to use it to go to sleep. Fortunately, they did provide a duvet and duvet cover. Albeit a bit old (and grandma like looking cover), it kept me warm and toasty. Not that it is "cold" here - but it does get a bit "chilly." No need aircond that's for sure.

Anyway, found a really inexpensive king size sheet at the Salvation Army Family Store. Ya ya - before you go there, you don't need to tell me they are from people who have passed away. A friend already tried to convince me she saw the face of a lady in a plate I picked up from there. Yikes! Luckily I don't care much about that .. not much anyway.  Gotta be trifty all over again - just like Uni days when we had to buy mix and match stuff. But who is complaining? Not me, for sure. Quite fun to rummage around the store for used items. It is kinda like the flea markets or yard sales I used to go to when I was in the US. You do come across a lot of interesting stuff. And - by the way - these are all stuff from people who have passed on. Sometimes, they are just stuff people get rid off because they have to move or make space for new members of the family etc. However you look at it - this can still be a humbling experience to go shopping for "old" and "used" items. No harm in that. So - whiners out there, quit your yapping and horror stories.

I mentioned the Warehouse in yesterday's posting.  Well, as predicted I was back there again on the second day. And the third as well. Today being the fourth day - I decided to skip it. In place, I went to another store called KMart. If you have been to America, you will be familiar with this. It was, over there, a competitor to WalMart. And while I preferred WalMart, KMart is not too bad.  Here, I found it - it is even better than the Warehouse where pricing is concerned. But they didn't seem to have as much as the Warehouse - and plus the Warehouse has free parking.

Anyway, second day was mainly about equipping myself with more stuff needed for around the house - including washing detergent, laundry powder and such. The apartment is coming around just fine - more and more ME in the apartment now. The last shop I went to on the second day was this place called Pak n Save. Household stuff, particularly food items, are best bought here.  It is a BIG supermarket. Meat, vegetables, etc - this is the place to go. But lo and behold when I got there, I found out I had no wallet with me. So no point going around selecting stuff.  So I decided to leave. But before I did that, I kinda stopped by and took peeks at how people check out.  I had done this before when I visited NZ the first time.  They have these self-check out counters. You just scan your items and place them in a bag yourself. At the end, it will ask you if you want to pay by cash or by card (they use some kinda debit card I think - not a credit card) to check out.  Thought I'd get a quick lesson vicariously so I wont look like a nut when I had to do my own checkout.

Since it was still bright out when I left the supermarket - was wondering if I would want to wander around.  Decided to go "home" instead and just settle in.  But enroute back to the apartment, I saw a turn off - and on impulse I decided to turn into this narrow lane going up slight slope. Wasn't sure if it was allowed cos one lady who was jogging along the lane, slowed town and moved aside to let me past. Well, I just went on slowly - not really worried as I had my trusty Waze with me.  After a minute of two of driving, I came to a huge car park.  A couple of cars parked there (and a super bike too) told me it was ok to drive up that lane after all. WOW! What a view from this place. Reminded me of my visit to Apollo Bay last year. View was gorgeous (both in AB and here). The wind was blowing - and it was chilly but pleasant. Stayed awhile - took some shots - admired the beauty and gave thanks for such great opportunity afforded to me. Thought of all those people who would love to see this place but never get to. I am lucky beyond words.

Sleep on the second night wasn't as great as I had loads of dreams.  Sorry can't write them here - cos mainly can't remember them. And if I did, would have to do a lot of censorship anyway - if you know what I mean. Hahahaha.  Maybe it was the lady from the plate my friend claimed to have seen "bothering" me. Who knows?

Third day was also about exploring. Went downtown to settle some business at the postoffice. I think they call it Post Shop.  That was taken care of rather quickly, I decided to take a walk around to check out the place. Looked like what is the town centre with a huge and gorgeous park for people to just sit back and enjoy. Everything seems so peaceful and easy going here.

On the way back, stopped by Pak N Save again to get some food items. Now armed with my wallet - no problemo.  Stocked up a little with the usual "poor man's" items like instant noodles and such. After that, went back to the Indian shop I saw the day earlier to see if I can get any spicy stuff. Also did a takeaway for my lunch (and also dinner since I normally split my meals into two portions).

Indian Food for lunch on Day 3

Got back, got out my food to eat - and dumped a load of laundry into the washer downstairs. After lunch, went down and shifted my laundry into the dryer. One of the great things here - free laundry and dryer any day of the week! Just great!!! No need to hang clothes outside your windows etc as dryers are provided.

On my way back, the office staff stopped me and handed me an electric pan I had asked for.  They normally only provide these to short-term tennants since their cost of staying is a lot higher. But they had agreed to loan me for the time being so I could go hunt for these items myself after I settle in (and did some price comparisons).  Thought I would be able to cook my noodles for the night and kept the left over for the next day - but too bad. The electric fryer would not work.  So back to the original plan - finished up the Nan bread and curry! Still yummy. :)

One more day of running around a bit - on the fourth day.  As mentioned earlier - this time I went to KMart. Found out it was actually attached to the Plaza. Prices here are even better than the Warehouse.  Got me a hot plate for cooking - at half the price from that at the Warehouse.  Couldn't find one in the Salvation Army. So now I get to start cooking - first with the instant noodles of course.

First "home" cooked meal - instant noodles.

Wandered around town a bit after that and then set for "home" to make my lunch. Will take a walk out later to see the river and such - if I can make it that far.

Gonna stop here.

Peace
Syl

And a new journey begins ...

Here we go .. A new chapter in my Journey of Life.

Actually the Journey started a few days ago (23rd November 2015) - but the steps started way earlier.

It's amazing. I am still absorbing this even NOW as I write .. trying to wrap my mind around the idea. Two years ago - I first visited NZ in September 2013.  I made up my mind then - or shortly there after - to move on to NZ.  A year later (October 2014), I returned to NZ (with my mom) to show her the place as well as to confirm for myself this is indeed a move I wanted to make. One year further down the road - I am now actually here in NZ!!

Some may consider this a long period from the point of wanting to come to actually coming here. And yet to some others - it was in a blink of an eye.  For me - I am still amazed.  The past two years, with all the ups and downs, now seem like a speck of dust in the journey of life.  I am here. I am really really here. NOW.

While I am tempted to describe the harrowing last two weeks or so before coming over, I shall not ponder upon the past nor it's troubling moments. Although I have to say that - it has been shown again, far too often we worry too much about nothing.  In the end, all things work out to be as they should be. However it works out.

I am here now, and that's what matters. As one would say - my entire life up to this moment (and the whole of the Universe) has led me to this point in time.  I would never have imagined - but that had always been in the "plan." And so, I welcome this - and embrace it with yearning and love as much as I possibly can.

There is no doubt there were some pain involved in making the choice to leave - especially those I hold most dear. There remains lingering of the discomfort. I suppose these "pain" will always be there ... Like all else - we have to take them in and embrace them with love.

Landed in Auckland on the 24th Nov 2015. With only a little more than an hour, I had to check out my luggage, go through Customs, re-check myself in (at another terminal as their international and domestic terminals are located in different buildings).

The custom regulations have changed some what since I last visited. And over here, they are extremely strict with their laws.  I spend a considerable amount of time being interviewed and "inspected." At the end, after some "lecturing," I managed to get through with minor confiscation and zero fine. I thank my "lucky stars" for that. Also - point to note, either they are extra careful with international flights coming in and the law has been tightened or they are more relaxed when one comes in via Australia.  Coming in last year, I stopped in Melbourne before journeying to Wellington.  Going thru Customs was, then, a breeze.  Anyway, I made it thru - and that's what counts.

With barely 30 minutes to go before my domestic departure - I made the mistake of trying to check in at the Air New Zealand auto-machines (much like ATMs). It kept telling me my details cannot be found in their system.  Approached an officer who walks around to see if anyone needs help - and she tried it but failed as well. So she referred me to one of the senior officers who were manning some terminals. But they all had long lines. So I waited and waited. By the time I got to my officer, he apologised and said he had to go off. So here we go again waiting on another. When I reached this new guy, he too wanted to take off and called another officer (who happened to be the one who had to leave just now).  Apparently they were having some problem somewhere and the senior officers were being called in to "rescue" whatever was wrong. Well, anyway - this second individual stopped long enough to hear me explain my situation. Thank God I was able to make my story short this one time (hahaha) - and in a second he figured out the problem. He apologized and told me I cannot check in here as I have to do it at the Domestic Terminal (DT).  DUH!!

Quickly went out side the building to try and catch a shuttle to the DT. There I met the first officer I met. I stopped and asked her "Where do I wait for the shuttle to DT?" She politely pointed out the spot and went on to suggest "but if you want to you can follow this green line on the ground and it will lead you to the DT. It's just about two minutes walk."  I thanked her and decided to go for it. Needless to say - it was way more than two minutes.  And I had to run while dragging my huge luggage while carrying another heavy sack on my shoulders. It was truly like those Amazing Race type deal, you know? Well, at least I felt like I was in one of those reality shows - thinking I will get to the DT and be told: "I am sorry you are the last 'team' to arrive, and you have be eliminated." This is one time - I am so glad LoA (Law of Attraction) did not apply (hahaha).

Finally got there, did a quick baggage check in (with the help of another lady officer. Thankfully tho she too is blond, she seemed more knowledgeable than the first blond. (Hahaha - goes to show you can't generalize all blonds, now can you?) Dumped my bag on to the conveyor belt and off I went (continuing my Amazing Race) to the gate. In short - made it in time to sit my bum down for a whole minute before they called for "boarding."

Guess all the running around was too draining - although the trip from Auckland to Palmy (that's what locals call Palmerston North) was approximately 1 hour - I couldn't stay awake and kept falling in and out of sleep through out. Almost missed my free coffee (which was pretty good by the way - even tho they are the type you get on flights).  Or maybe I was too tired to know - just enjoyed the pick-me-upper to help get back some energy into my system.

Reached Palmy with slight delay (15 minutes I think) due to a long wait at the runway after everyone boarded.  Seem two people had gotten onto our plane when they were supposed to have boarded another plane. Boy! Bet they were more stressed than me.

Did a short wait for my baggage claim. Met my ride and was taken to downtown Palmy to "validate" my bank account (which I had opened while still in Malaysia via the internet - hence the need to validate upon my arrival). We went to this shopping mall in Palmy called The Plaza. Pretty cool place tho not as big as KLCC or Pavillion or Gardens - but I wasn't expecting any shopping mall.  I was told the bank closes at 5.30 pm. So we had to rush.

The first officer (a lady but not blond) wasn't very helpful. Told me she could not validate my account as I needed to have a utilities or bank statement from back home to verify my address where I was (in Malaysia) when I opened my account.  I told her I didn't have any but I do have their e-statements on my computer. She told me I would have to provide her with a hardcopy. Asked if I could open my computer and transfer it to her so she can print it? The answer - wouldn't you know it: NO.  Luckily the lady who brought me to the Plaza made a call to her boss and he had offered to help me print out a copy if we went over to his house. So off we went - although I wasn't sure we could get there and be back in less than 30 minutes.

Apparently she has never been to her boss' place but thankfully she found it with not much of a hassle.  Hooked up my computer to his printer. Initially it wouldn't detect - but after a minute or so, managed to get it to connect.  The print was for like 8 pages. I thanked the guy for the use of his printer and apologized I had to use up so many pieces of paper. His answer: "No worries mate. I think I can survive that."  These NZers are so friendly (cept for the lady from the bank).

The Amazing Race continues - rushed back to the bank just minutes before they shut the draw down "gate." Thankfully God was good and I was able to the other counter staff (there were only 2 of them - that old lady and this chap).  Sam (turns out was his name) was most helpful. Fixed me up and even helped me set up another account so I can use the funds in the account immediately.  Apparently the account I had setup is called an Online Savings Account.  You can't do much with this account other than to save money and transfer money (via internet) for making payments etc.  So I needed to setup another regular savings account.

Poor guy even had to make a call (I am guessing to Auckland's branch where my account is registered) to help with setting up this account. They were having difficulties because it also required a local mobile number - which at that point I did not have.  When he offered to take a chance to validate it via my Malaysian mobile - although a verification code did come through my phone, it still could not be validated.  Hence the call to their HQ - and again, a very nice lady on the other side was most helpful.  Talked with me over the phone and requested I give authorization (and not blame them) if there was a problem from validating it this way. Very quickly - or so it seemed - Sam helped me setup internet banking account on the spot with web access now. By the time we were done it was already perhaps 6:30 pm.  I thanked him and apologised this had kept him back for an hour (him and his supervisor actually).

Now, I needed to get a local sim card so I can use Waze to help me find my way to my apartment. The lady who had brought me to the Mall (and her boyfriend) had another appointment to rush off to, but they still led me to The Warehouse (which will now surely be one of my favorite shopping places) to get a sim card. I didn't mention - the Plaza (entire shopping mall - ad not just the bank) closes at 5:30 pm everyday (except Thursday which is their payday). I told my new "friends" they should go and I will be alright - so they left.

Bought the sim card - but it could not be activated until I log on etc and that would take some time.  It was now already 7 pm or so, and my landlady said she would wait for me until 6 pm at the apartment.  I took a chance and logged on to the guest wifi at the Warehouse (I think they have this around different spots in the city) so that I could search for my apartment.  But then once I get on the road - Waze would be going by memory and no longer via satelite. Didn't have a better choice - so I dived in and just went for it.  Drove around for maybe an hour - got lost in the process - stopped and asked for direction at the gas station but they couldn't tell me where the place was.  So I headed in the direction of Massey University (as I recalled the apartment was opposite from the University). Again I forgot the University is not like our private universities. They are huge and spread far and wide. But anyway - God continued to watch out for me such that although I was lost for sometime, I don't quite know how but I did find the Apartment.

Lynda, my landlady had left by then. But she did leave me a number to call. Her notice was pasted outside the office door and another with more instructions were left in the mailbox outside the office.  Another good thing was phones provided in the common rooms here allow free local calls.  Not knowing how to use it, I approached a resident - and yet another nice chap - was very willing to show me how to make local calls etc.

Finally got in to the apartment after talking to Lynda. Immediately started on my unpacking and putting away stuff. All done in about 2 hours. Was thinking of just calling it a night - but was a wee bit hungry, so I went out again (now equiped with a local sim) using Waze found my way back to the Warehouse (which I think is about 5km to 8km away - not too bad).  Unfortunately by the time I got there, it was past 10 pm and they close at 10 pm.  Bummer.

Enroute back to the apartment, I decided to stop at the gas station I was at earlier as I saw some sandwiches there.  Bought me a pack and some chips and headed back to the apartment. That was my first night. Not bad day really. Got much accomplished.

Ok - time to end here I guess. Will cover more tomorrow as it is now already 12:20 am here (7:20 pm in Malaysia). Suppose most of you (from back home) would be having your dinner now. Thinking of my family as my mom and my sis prepare to leave for UK tonite.  Wishing them a safe and pleasant journey.

Good nite to one and all.

Peace out.
Syl

p/s something I came across on FB today - I will share here in closing.  Espcially on TODAY - Thanksgiving Day (in the US and North America), I give THANKS to ALL of YOU!!

YIKES!!!

Looks like another long long - MIA.  But I am back NOW. Tho not sure for how long.  Last entry was way back in June 2015. WOW!!! How time has flown on by.

Well .. let's get this going again .....