Queenstown - South Island

The trip started on Tuesday, 28th of July.

From Auckland, Mariana and I flew to Queenstown, South Island of New Zealand. We arrived around 12pm and then went to the city and had Mc Donald`s for lunch, cos we were starving. Afterwards, we walked around the city to find a Backpacker to stay. So we found YHA and BASE. The BASE was cheaper!

As everyone who comes to New Zealand or to the South Island knows, Queenstown is consider the city of Extreme Sports, mainly BUNGY JUMP.

How Mariana was thinking about jumping, we asked some information in the BASE Travel.

There were 3 options of Bungy Jumps: 43 meters which you can touch the water (river); 47 meters that you can jump at night and see all the city; and the most famous, the highest in New Zealand, Nevis Bungy, which is 134 meters high.

I`m really sure that i can`t do it no matter what. I guess i could die before getting to the end, just during the jump, by heart attack. So, i asked informations about doing snowboarding, what i have done twice in my life and i`m not scary!! lol..

Mari was undecided, so we walked around the city, which was really small. So it didn't take long. We went up to the Mount by Gondola, and ride down by Luge.

As the BASE Travel closes at 7.30 pm we had to decide what we were going to do the day after to make the booking.

Still undecided, we just booked to go up to the Remarkable Ski Station. We had a really nice Wednesday. I thought the begining was going to be hard, but i didn`t even fall down during the practice. Mari had some difficult and many tumbles.

After practicing, i went by lift to the top of the Mountain where i had an amazing view and i could have a really nice ride down.

Back to the backpacker, Mari had till 8pm to decide if she was going to jump or not. How i was tired, i slept during this time she had to make the decision. Suddenly, she woke me up saying that she had bought the pass for the 134m Bungy Jump. How i wanted to see this crazy fact i bought a watching pass.

Thursday, day for the Mari`s jump!!! 9 am, time to wake up! We had breakfast and went to the station to get the bus. She met some brazilians the night before and one of the guys said he was going to jump if it was still available. It was! So Thiago and Mariana were the jumpers! Me? Just an expectator and camera man! Lol...

On the way, Thiago was really sure about his decision. However, Mari was all the time saying she was going to give up. Once we got the place, she was definately sure to give up!

Before Mariana there were a few people, including a guy who jumped once, and as he liked, jumped again. Thiago was one of the first ones. When he was ready to jump, the instructor count 3, 2, 1 ... and he pretended to jump but came back and then jumped. When he got back he encorageus Mariana saying it had been nice!!!

Anyway, Mariana was completely scaried!!!

When the instructor called: "Mariana?". Then, she sat down in a chair, which seemed the chair in a Dentist, to put the stuffs in her feet. Shaking her legs, absolutely afraid, she droped the chair and went to the spot to jump. After the counting, she closed her eyes and jumped. I couldn`t believe. She was down there!! 134 meters down!!! Crazy!!!

Once she got up, she was quite dizziness, but all right!! She said "Totally crazy!! I just closed my eyes and jumped!! Never more in my life!!!"

Back to the Backpacker, we get changed and went to the bar to have some beers, as it was her last night in Queenstown, in New Zealand and in Oceania.

After that, we went to bed.

Friday: day to pack everything and go back to Auckland. Already in Auckland we went back to my house to get her stuffs. Packed i went down with her to get the shuttle to the airport!!

One more goodbye to her ... I will miss you, my sister!!!

Moving and working !!

Lot of things to do this day.

First of all, i had to move again. Not to a backpacker, but to an apartment. In the apartment live 2 chilean guys and one argentinean girl. They are all nice!! Before moving, i had dinner with them on Tuesday, and could also sepak a little of Spanish, cos the Chilean guys don't speak English well.

After moving and organizing all my stuffs, i had to buy a shirt for a Trial in a Brazilian Restaurant, Wildfire Churrascaria. So i bought it and went to the restaurant. After 3 hours working as a Passador, i could leave and was told that i got the job and could come back on Saturday!! Finally!!!

Although it was a Brazilian restaurant as Taste of Brazil in Australia, there weren't only brazilians working. There are people from South Africa, England, France, New Zealand, etc, Which is nice for the English.

After it, i just went to the swimming pool of the building where i live, with some beers, just to relax, while the Chilean were at the gym.

Busy day

I just woke up late. Even sleeping early the night before. But when i got out of my room i saw a very nice whether. Sunny!! So i had breakfast and thought about going somewhere different, just because until that time i had gone anywhere out of the city.

I took some stuffs, as one more jacket, a book, pringles, water, and thought about going to Mission Bay, kind of beach ... When i left the backpacker, started raining. I talked to myself "Go or not?". Then i said "Yes", cos if i don`t go today, i will go never.

I took the Bus at Britomart Station and 10 min later i was already in Mission Bay. Nothing special!!! Some shops, and a really small beach, no waves. The only nice thing there, was the Fountain.

Looking at the map i realized that there were another two "beaches" just next to Mission Bay. Kohimarama Beach and St Heliers Bay. Both the same as Mission Bay. But the first one was just residential place.

Disappointed and missing the beaches from Sydney i came back to the Backpacker.

There i saw and ad: "Flatmate WANTED". I read the ad and it appealed to me. I saved the phone number and went to the room. I relaxed a little while i was waiting for the American guy to call me to watch the gama ALL BLACKS vs. Australia ... Soccer? No!! RUGBY!! lol... But we were going to a bar.

Nothing to do, i sent a SMS to the girl who wanted a Flatmate. And i made an appointment to have a look in the apartment. So i went there, and i liked. Next Wednesday one more moving!!!

Then, i left there and i saw some people wearing clothes of All blacks and Australia. I started to follow them, and there were going to the stadium by train, departing from Britomart Station. Following them i got into the Kingsland station, where is located the EDEN PARK, where the game was. I went to the counter and it was sold out. No more tickets!!!

I thought: "Where are the CAMBISTAS*??"

*People who buy tickets before the game to sell them much more expensive than they are.

Suddenly, i saw one guy selling tickets. How much??? $100 bucks!! This guy was a Cambista!!The normal price was $50!!

Walking a little bit more, i found two guys selling their friends, who didn`t come, for the same price. I bought it for $50!


So i got in... as i have watched a Rugby match, there is nothing special. The only good fact is that they sell beers inside of the Stadium. I stayed there, drinking to keep warm, because was totally freezing, and taking some pictures by my cel phone.


Resuming the game, Australia started winning for 10x0, but All Blacks changed the score and won for 22x16 (I guess!! I couldn`t see very well the placar, as it was really small.)

Waiter or Vice-president???

Day which i had one more interview for waiter position, in one of the restaurants of the biggest Company in Hospitality of Auckland, and may be in New Zealand, which has: Cassinos, Cinemas, Sky Tower, Cafes, Pubs, etc. = SKY CITY.

How was it? Oh... i felt i was being interviewed for a vice-president position in a Mutinational Company. Why?

There were two women: one of them was the manager of the Spanish restaurant called Bellota, where the position was available. The other one was just an office person, responsible for documents, appointments, etc, and crazy questions. Lol..

It starts as usual:

"Why did you come to New Zealand?"
"What do you intend to do here?"
"How you have a Working Holiday visa, are you planing to travel soon?"

These questions were ok... No worries!!

However, they started asking questions as:

"If you split wine in a customer, what would you do?"
"What do you consider an excellent service in a restaurant?"
"If an intoxicated person ask you for another alcoholic drink, what would you do?"
"Different than Australians, New Zealands people speak too fast. What would you do if you don`t undestand what they said?"

Ok.. these ones were just about know how you work. When it changed, and i felt being interviewed for a very important position:

"What would your last boss tell about you?"
"What do you think your best friend thinks about you?"

At that time, i was waiting for next: "What does your mother think about you?"

There were some other crazy questions that i don`t remember anymore...

My question is:

To be a waiter anywhere, do we need to have good explanations for how to do it, or just know it very well in practice???

Moving out, moving in ...

Wednesday ... Last day at the Hostel where i had made a booking. I could extend it, but too expensive. I can't afford!!

So, after many quotes in all Backpackers of the city, i decided for the Queen Street Backpackers. Moving into a 6 beds room. However, there is only a English guy who is leaving tomorrow. Probably i will be myself for a couple days.

I tried to find one where i could work for accomodation. One of them, Surf 'n' Soul is looking for someone. I'm waiting for their contact, though.

Nothing else than sleep, cook, watch a movie, i have done today...

But yesterday, i went out with my room mate of the Columbia Hostel. The american guy and i had some beers and talked about life.

When we were going back to the Hostel, he met some of his american friends (girsl and guys) who were already drunk and going to a club. Then, we went with them.

There, many other beers... When i realized i had spent $60. To complete the night after the club i stopped at Burguer King and had a Double Whopper meal. Ohhh Gosh!!!

At this morning i could see that i got a bit drunk...

Tomorrow, another job interview !! Let's see what happen!!

Ps: I'm now, since yesterday with a terrible stiff neck!!! Massage??? lol...

Monday: Day to start everything!!!

Today is Monday.. 9 am. Time to get out of room and try to get a job!

I think today is the day. Its sunny and not so cold (7 degrees).

Yesterday i made a schedule for the week. Every day in a different area i will have to deliver my CV.

I already have 2 expectations: first one, i received a call from one of my applications by internet, to come for an interview on friday. The job? Waiter in a Cafe; second one, i have talked to a brazilian girl which is going to work in a Vineyard picking fruits. The job is hard! But its a good way to save money. So, i`m waiting for the owner of the house to tell me if is there a place for me.

Meanwhile, i will try to find other jobs. Today i will try as much as i can in the city area and Parnell Rd. And also some backpakers, to get a job for accomodation, which is really easy. Just cleaning 1 or 2 hours a day.

I hope i can get something quickly, otherwise i can start being a homeless..lol..

My last alternative is playing cavaquinho at the street. Maybe i can do it with some Maoris playing Ukulele.

Bureaucracy = Brazil or New Zealand???

It`s hard to match this word Bureaucracy with Developed Countries (First World). It`s common to listen all about this term in Developing Countries (Third World).

However, it`s not what happened to me. To work in New Zealand is necessary to have a correct visa and an IRD number, which is not more than a number for an employer to pay the TAX of your income salary. OK! No problem. Every country you need to provide it.

That`s the point!! To apply for it you need (when a foreign person):

- Complete the application form (OK!!)
- Passport (OK!!)
- Other I.D. (WHY??? My Passport is not enough??)

This I.D. could be:

• a Driver Licence. If overseas it must be translated.
• New Zealand Student photo identification. Impossible!!
• 18+ card = Proof of Majority. OK.. lets get one of this.
• Others... not aplicable.

To get this 18+ card, you need:

• Passport
• Passport Photo
• Proof of Address
• Complete the application form
• Pay $20
• AND = Have the application signed by an authorised witness*.

*What a hell is witness? Google Translator said: Testemunha (in portuguese).

Besides you need all this documents just to prove your are over 18, this WITNESS can`t be anyone. You must mark an appoitment in a Justice of Peace for NZ to have this formulary complete.

Done? Not yet... Only this 18+ card takes from 2 to 3 weeks to be ready. And the IRD one more week.

HOW DIFFICULTY IS TO GIVE US A SIMPLE NUMBER????

I felt i was in Brazil at Poupatempo line or in a "Cartório" (para reconhecer firma).

I already miss Australia... it was so easy. Online, in 3 min, you have already a Pre-TAX number that you can use until receive a letter with the real one.

Resuming... at least 3 weeks to get this IRD number. Whilst it doesn't happen.. let's find a job!!!

New Zealand... new challenge!

The begining wasn't so good!! Why? Lets summarise:

It starts on 6th of July, during the travel from Brazil to New Zealand. I had a VERY NICE neighbour which was next to my seat and didnt stop moving any time. I was really sleepy and every single minute she woke me up with her movents. Anyway i could sleep most of the trip.

However, a really bad thing happend during this travel. I have no idea where and how, but i could loose my camera!! Ok, it is just a camera, i can buy a new one. But not!! It had all my photos from my farewell party, including the BBQ and Vila Country's. My pray is that the air company find it!!

Thirdly. Although i already knew it was going to happen, it is a really boring situation. How i arrived in Auckland on 8th of July at 4 am, i had to wait till the Hostel, where i had a booking, open. It opens at 6 am, and the check in is at 2 pm, though. So, i slept at the airport from 4 till 8 pm. Thinking that the room could be available at 10 am, i woke up at 8h30, had breakfast and got a taxi, which cost miserable $75!!! Then, already in the Hostel, they said my booking was a request, and not a booking. So it wasnt available. However, after few minutes without stress they said they had a room available for me. Nevertheless, i had to wait till 2 pm to do the check in.

Ok.. after that i just walked for 3.30hs around Auckland, which is not so big and made this time useful doing what i had to do, as open a bank account and buying a NZ cel phone. Ah! This cel phone has a camera. Not as my last one, but it helps in the begining!

Almost done, the cel phone i had bought had some problems... So i had to go back to the store to change it.

Back to the Hostel, i made Spaghetti a bolognese for lunch/dinner and then slept!!!

It was the begining...