30 years later

To dearest Robin and Linus: 30 years later, let's do this too, if I ain't kicking the bucket yet.

Linus, your treat of Maui please... :)

Backpackers, Britz and Maui

3 different types of caravan, catered to different markets. They have their individual models and not covered here. Brief analysis below:

Backpackers - as the name suggests, it's for backpacker (not for long term or younger backpackers, since they may often find the options of buying a converted caravan cheaper). Suited for short/long rental, for people who claim to be backpackers and insist on slight luxury aka flashpackers. Usually medium in mileage and about 5 years old. Manual transmission.

Britz - slightly more luxurious than backpackers, but not much different to warrant a more expensive price. Usually low in mileage ~20000km and about 3 years old. Good point is its auto gear. Recommended for a party of 6, model frontier, where it sleeps 6 and cost will be splitted and cheaper.

Maui - most Atas market. Can cost up to 200 per day on high season without insurance yet. Very luxurious as it comes with red wine glasses. Recommended for me when I earn 10k per month. Very low on mileage ~10000km and usually 2 years and below. Auto gear of course. What more to say on a Mercedes caravan? Photos below to salivate on Maui!

First night

Tonight marks the first night spent in Kiwiland. In the airport itself, we had enquired further on the rental campervan pricing. We had looked into the Backpacker van (not Maui not Britz) and it seemed really not too bad a deal, except that the insurance quoted is slightly towards the high side. Other than that, the low winter season makes the rental kinda affordable. Knowing we cannot analyse well after a long yet comfortable journey, we made some really adhoc decision there and then, to rent our blue Toyota Vits from airport to make travelling slightly easier for 3 days before we decide anything on the campervan.

Along the way, the damage resulting from the earthquake to Christchurch city isn't that exaggerated that you or I might have thought it was. There were ruins, but not much, come to think bout it, there is only a square boundary in the cathedral area marked as red zone, maybe 1km by 1km at max? We checked in to the local backpacker hostel - Around the World. Quiet little hostel, fellow travellers friendly as usual. Well it should be, considering its winter now.

It should be about 8pm in Singapore, but 12midnight in Christchurch. The night temperature now is 0degree, but it shouldn't really make any difference since we are indoor. There will be quite a few decisions to be made coming along, but as long as we remain focus on what is the next step on plan, the rest will be easy to juggle. Let's stay positive for the end of the day, since its only the first day and I still have long to go ya?

Time to hit the bed after a long day.