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Café Onion 카페 어니언

8 Achasan-ro 9-gil, Seongsu-dong 2ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Seongsu Station Line 2, Exit 2) 서울 성동구 아차산로9길 8 (성수동2가)

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fiordland

(my favourite part of the trip)

It was raining the morning we arrived. As we cruised down Milford Sound, we were surrounded by thundering waterfalls, trickling rivulets, and shifting mists. We also managed to catch a glimpse of a school of dolphins (they were incredibly quick), and a Fiordland Crested penguin waddled out to greet us as we approached the open Tasman Sea. 

To be overwhelmed by the staggering beauty of nature —it was breathtaking, a little daunting, and possibly the greatest feeling in the world.

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Queenstown

Queenstown was deceptively quiet.

Perhaps it was the low traffic, or word-of-mouth from people about how life at Queenstown tends to peak only during Winter. Nonetheless, pockets of activity can be found all over —tourists luging against a backdrop of alpine scenery, trekkers hiking through Bob’s peak, daydreamers lounging at the wharf, absentmindedly watching the clouds scud across the azure sky.

Lunch affairs worth remembering include Fergburger, which certainly lived up to its name and warranted a second visit the very next day. Not forgetting Ivy and Lola’s, where I’d never thought I’d enjoy an all-vegetable dish.  

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fox & franz josef glaciers

These two glaciers are perhaps the most popular glaciers in New Zealand, partly because they are more accessible as compared to other glaciers hidden within the mountains. 

It started pouring midway through the Franz Josef trail, but we decided to continue anyway. When we finally arrived at the viewing platform, the rain was so heavy that there was hardly anything to be seen. We were a little dispirited but had to leave as it was getting late. However, New Zealand weather proved to be as unpredictable as it gets, as no sooner after we began our descent, the rain stopped. The clouds parted a little, and a shaft of sunlight shone through, spotlighting the glacial peak. What a sight to behold.

Dinner time saw us at Alice May Restaurant, where I had the best oven-baked salmon —a melt-in-the-mouth kinda marvel. And that delicious bed of asparagus & pea risotto, which temporarily made me forget all about my dislike for peas!

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greymouth

After a few days in Christchurch, we finally hit the road! En route to Greymouth, we passed by several landmarks, like the jagged rocky wonderland of Castle Hill, and Arthur’s Pass. The sky was a faultless, relentless blue for the most part, which was a pleasant contrast to the grey days we had in Christchurch.

Greymouth is a rather quaint town. We had a quick lunch at DP1 café, and ventured through Point Elizabeth walkway for an evening view of the beach. The next day, we explored the streets and were greeted by a parade of Christmas decorations. Christmas was coming, and there was a warm buzz in the air as everyone gathered in town in anticipation for the festivities. 

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christchurch

This is the start of a very long overdue documentation of my trip to nz last December (summer). Late, but nonetheless necessary! So, in retrospect:  

We first landed in Christchurch, where we rented a car which would help us journey south thereafter. Here, we visited the Botanic Gardens, where the summer blooms peppered the place with a riot of colours (the roses were unreal). Also visited the cardboard cathedral, which is made of recycled materials from the broken homes of the earthquake in 2011. Had one of our meals at Little High eatery (where Mel and I fought over finishing that last bit of milkshake). 

Despite the lingering effects of the earthquake, modern entities have also emerged in Christchurch (such as Re: Start Mall, made using shipping containers). Roaming the streets also had us admiring the various street art, which offered a burst of colour amidst the rustic ruins. All these rendered the place an interesting blend of historic and contemporary elements.

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park bench deli