Going Back today

I'm going back today. I'm taking the 10.00 am New Zealand Air to Auckland and then MAS MH130 at 14:15 and schedule to arrive at KLIA at 8.00 pm. Allahu Akbar wa lillahil hamd.

Eidul Adha at Wellington, New Zealand

The Muslim celebrated the Eidul Adha here in New Zealand on Saturday, 28 November 2009. We went to the Wellington Masjid at for the Eid Prayer. The prayer started at 8.30am sharp. The whole gathering end at 9 am. I still have to go to the NLP class (lambat sikit la).

You can browse more photos in our the Eid @ Wellington 2009 album. (@Picasa by Google).

Owhiro Bay, Wellington

Today, after sending my wife to her workshop, I went to Owhiro Bay taking the bus no. 29 to Happy Valley and Island Bay. The was very nice.  The sky was clear and the wind was not strong.  Owhiro Bay would probably be the westerly bay accessible by public transport.

Arrived at Owhiro Bay at about 10.15 am.  After taking photos, I walk by the coastal road toward Island Bay.  It took me more than 30 minutes.  There was no bus.


Or you want to view them from my Picasa Album - click below:

Wellington (Owhiro Bay)

Prayer Time at Wellington Today

Wellington:
Fajr 4:06 Sunrise 5:48
Zuhr 1:07
Asr 5:05
Maghrib 8:27
Isha 10:01

Today: To Christchurch from Mapua

Now it's morning, November 18, 2009.  We are at Corru Gates Acommodation in Mapua. We will continue our journey to Christchurch at 9.00 pm this morning taking the Pacific coast road.  Initially we plan to go through Author's Pass but considering the distance & time (7 hrs ++), we decided to take the Pacific coastal route.  Anyway we have not seen the Pacific yet.  

Thursday, Nov 19, 2009. We arrived safely at Christchurch around 7.30 pm. But only at 8.15 we found the motel.

Wellington's Sunday Market at Vivian & Victoria,

Every Sunday morning there is a Sunday market (Pasar Tani) at Vivian St & Victoria St parking lot. It is only 5 minutes walk from our hotel.  Many varieties of vegetable sold here. Good price. You can even find fresh serai & daun limau purut (for tomyam).


View Larger Map

Click to view more photos in my Picasa album.

Wellington's Sunday Market

Dinner at Br Haniff's Residance

(Evening, Sunday, 15 November)Br Haniff invited us to his house for dinner. He is probably the oldest Muslim brother in Wellington. Retired, he has been in Wellington for more than 30 years. We prayed Magrib together at his house.

Br Haniff & me.

(From left) My wife, Johanna (Br Haniff wife), Rihanna (hia daughter) and him.

My new FB album: At Tongariro National Park (Day 3)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=43027&id=1406596678&ref=mf

Wellington, Friday, 13 November, 2009

The weather today was very beautiful, sunny with wind not very strong.  As usual we took the 9.14 am bus to Brooklyn Village.  Coming back, I walked down taking the Wellington Central Park Walking track.  It was very good.  The park & it's tracks were very well taken care.  

Salam from Wellington

Wellington, Thursday, 12 November, 2009.  Alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala for all His  ni'mah that He has bestowed upon us. We are sorry that we have not been updating our blog after the Day 1 (3rd of November).  It has been very busy and we had not enough time for Internet & sleep. Internet here is expensive.  In Whitianga we have to pay NZD10 for an hour for the Wifi. At Taupo, NZD10 a day (or night actually).  But we spent most of the time skyping with the children at home.
We are now in Wellington.  We arrived here as planned on the Friday, 6th of November, but quite late in the afternoon.  We are staying at the Capital View Motor Inn, in a double bed studio with kitchen. We don't have the harbor view, but the hill view.  It a pleasant place and we are very happy with it.  It is close to the bus stop, to major Wellington streets where the buses stop, but not too buzy into the city.  An oriental shop where you can find durian (frozen) and lemon grass (also frozen) just two blocks away, on Hoppers St.  So, by today, it is the sixth day in Wellington (counting Friday the 6th).
I'll write our experiences as we traveled from Auckland to Wellington in the following blogs.  Today, I went to the Wellington Islamic Centre at Kilbirnie by bus.  I met Br Sultan Yusuff, and Br Hanafi.  Br Sultan is the current CEO of FIANZ and Br Hanafi is a Kiwi veteran, retired Fijian descent. Very happy to meet them.  I'll get their pictures.

Day 1: Tuesday, 3rd November 2009 (Arrival)

Arrived safely at Auckland International Airport as schedule.  It took about 45 min to clear the immigration & customs. Then collect the rental car (Ace) and we are off to the Coromandel Peninsular.  We did not go to Coromandel Town 'cause short of time.  After passing Thames, we took a "short cut" from Tapu to Corogien.  It was a beautiful pass but a little "rough".  It like our Frazer's Hill Rd with gravel road.  If not because of that man saying that "This is the way" we would have turn back.
We arrived at Whitianga at about 7.30 pm.  Magrib is at 8.04.  It already late for us to do anything tonite.  Tomorrow we would look around Whitianga and continue our journey to Rotorua & Taupo.  We will upload some pictures maybe tomorrow. Wassalam.              

One day to departure

Checking for last minutes needs.  Went to look for UV Protection lotion last nite.  We are surprised at the price.  120ml tube cast about RM23-35. You need the UV protection cream at New Zealand.  One can get 1 degree burn if you don't apply it while tramping at their highlands.  We are going to Tongariro Crossing on the 5th November (Day 3).  It will be a whole day (6-7 hrs) walk under the NZ sky that have little ozone left.  We better get that UV protection.  We don't want to catch skin cancer while having the good time there.