Hostel Review | Noah's Ark Backpackers in Greymouth, New Zealand

I stayed here during my trip to South Island, New Zealand a couple of years back. The reason I picked this hostel is because it sounded and looked interesting on the website, coupled with good reviews, strategic location, reasonable rates and awesomely cute decor, how could I say no. Right?

What attracted me the most is the thematic decor in each room, in fact, I was praying hard that I get the zebra room as I thought it was the coolest. Instead we got a lion room, oh well... (I am a sucker for all these.... hehhehee...)

The main attraction here is actually Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes and trekking. For those planning to stay in Greymouth to visit Punakaiki, you can stay here for a night.

They offer simple and standard facilities such as :

BBQ, Bicycle Hire, Common Room, Free Internet Access, Free WiFi, Hot Showers, Kitchen, Laundry Facilities, Linen Included, Luggage Storage, Tours/Travel Desk, Washing machine etc.

The room I prayed to get. Sigh...

My sis would want this room I bet!

Detailing.

The dorm. As you can see it is rather clean and well organised.

Piggy was not forgotten. I told him whatever it is, I don't want this room. Hehheheh...

Common room.

Clean, neat and tidy.

This indicates the dorm size.

Internet access, and that's my room :)

Front desk/tour desk/Information counter etc.

Tips :

• You can easiloy book via BBH, Hostelbookers, HostelWorld, Booking.com, Hostels.com, Agoda or directly to them.
• Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Blowholes
• Trekking activities is available
• Take a horse trek through the scenic landscapes
• Swimming, surfing, fishing, and kayaking
• Rock climbing, bouldering and caving in the limestone formations
• If you are renting a car, please drive below 50kph within the city
• The only thing you need to note (for the Muslims) is that they have a dog here but he is pretty friendly and harmless.  

Noah's Ark Backpackers 

16 Chapel St, Greymouth 7805, New Zealand

+64 3-768 4868
URL : http://www.noahs.co.nz/

Day 3 | Bhubing Palace, Chiang Mai

I know! I know! Am jumping my entry all over the place from one country to another, many apologies! Just that as I blog on one, I happen to go on Cuti-cuti Malaysia road trip; and being KIASU me, I want to do teaser entry on it too (GREEDY). Sigh..... anyways... I have always complete my story mory of my trip, right!??! So worry not yah!

Before I start, I would like to make a statement to #TravelholicAwesome (wow! Suspense dak!!??!), this entry is partially dedicated to Kak Coco Channel (KCC - I can't dedicated fully cause am selfish maah... cit!). Why???? Because.... pokok pokok pokok (trees/plant), bunga bunga bunga (flowers)..... :) Bila nak gi Chiang Mai nih, KCC? So, yang lain; sila jeles!

On our 3rd day in Chiang Mai, Kak LV took us to Bhubing Palace; a Royal Residence located in Doi Buak Ha, Muang District. About less then a hour drive from where we stay (ie near Anusarn Night Market).

Excerpt from Wikipedia :

It was built in 1961 to accommodate the royal family during state visits to the north of the country. There is also a guesthouse for receiving foreign dignitaries. It is built in the mountains overlooking Chiang Mai, to take advantage of the cool mountain air. The rose gardens are particularly famous (Suan Suwaree), and many flowers are grown here that could not otherwise be grown in Thailand.

Yes, we believe it was a cross breed of Cherry Blossom species in Japan (but awat besau sangat pokok nye). I tried googling it but obviously hard to get any info, so if anyone of you knows anything about this tree breed, do share with me okay. Thank you in advance!

It was a nice ride up the mountain palace, oh yah! The palace is situated on top of the hill/mountain, thus the weather is chilly/cooling suitable for this wonderful trees. Macam cool kan... One must remember, Chiang Mai is slightly cooller/chillier in winter season.... and at night you felt it even more. So, bawak light jacket tau.

Here is how the flowers look like. Mind the "un-sharpness" and "un-focusness", come-on give me a break; back in 2009 am not that experience taking al-changgih pics lar... aside from that, it's beautiful right? Right? Right? Hhahahha... I think I bokeh the wrong section, apa apalah monyet.

Okay, here is the entrance... the compound is huge but since it is a private property, we can't go in as suspected.

One of the cottages here... the pics abit blueish and greenish cause I was playing with accent GREEN function on my camera, sigh...... regret gilos.

This is our darling host, Kak LV (Elvy). She was based here for 5 years or so, but now relocated to Kuching. JOM KUCHING!

KCC!!!!! FLOWER POWER tak?!?

I honestly and sincerely am clueless on the species or name of these flowers. All I know is that, it look BEAUTIFUL!

Black Tea Rose! Hemmmmm.... first time I heard of such... Have you? Couldn't get it in google, of cause I hardly put effort as I am already sleepy now (1:04am NOW! Gigih!).

My turn to be in pics. Hehheh....

We were thrilled that the "sakura" tree is also part of the in-park decor in this palace area. Nice nehh..

The view from Bhubing Palace.... I here present you - CHIANG MAI!

Most might not know about this, second hand book shop is aplenty here. Kid you not!

The best thing is that the owner is not a local.... jeng jeng jeng... and friendly too ok! Location? I will need to ping Kak LV on this. Hahhaah....

After the book hunt, we went yet to another Night Market, but this time around; it's different. It's the LONGEST and most POPULAR Night Market and said to be cheap!

We walked for 1km or so, after that we call it a night. Hahhaha... what we forgot was that, it's another 1km back to our car!!!! *Faint*. Instead.... we took a tuk tuk to the car, SMART huh!

Excerpt from 1stopchiangmai :

The Chiang Mai Night Market is considered legendary and certainly one of the cheapest places for tourists to shop in Thailand, owing to its close proximity to the source of products and the lower cost of living in Chiang Mai. It is situated along a three-block stretch of Chan Klan Road in the heart of the city, and within walking distance of most hotels.

Cheap? Dirt cheap!

Would you be interested to visit Chiang Mai now? You should!

Day 2b | Bamboo River Rafting in Chiang Mai

Continuing from previous entry.

After riding the elephant around the janggel jungle (well, around sounds abit dramatic right, hahahaa...) and of cause seeing the locals taking the bamboo raft, it was no surprise that the whole group INSISTED to do the same. After all, the river is only knee deep the most (I think). Thus, that is just what we did. We drove about 2-3km further up to where the starting point is located. 

You'll see few raft on standby... we were excited, but at the same time surprised. WHY? Continue reading if you want to know, I have pics to proves it.

We discuss and group ourselves by-raft, Andrea and me-self plus Kak LV's sons will be on the same raft, and the rest... I can't remember. Hhahahaha.... Too excited, me like that.

At first we thought it was easy as the river appears calm... TET!!!! WRONG!!!!

There are a few sections of river rapid and it can get abit scary.... WHY you may ask. Remember earlier on I told you we were "surprised", well... this is way....

The rower is a LITTLE BOY aged 10-12yrs old. TEN!!!!! How crazy is that! It does make sense that I was a wee bit worried right. Aside from the fact I get paranoid easily lah. Wouldn't you?

YUP! This is how it looked like from this end here.... wave wave!

This is when we are at calmer water, the gap narrows between one raft to the other.

Konon surfing ler.... drama giler ok!

At times (eerrrr... all the time), rapid is at this strength and water splashes in.

As we appraoches the elephant sanctuary and the hanging bridge.

Didn't realised the bridge was that high... siou!

It then took us to a picnic sport which I feel Malaysia rivers should adapt this idea.

COOL!!!! 

Finally we reaches the end of the rafting journey.

They took us on the back of their pickup truck. Hemmm.....Reminded of Dan Arif's macho honcho pick-up... ehhehhe... leh buat cam nih lain kali dak?

 

Don't bother to walk to the starting point as it is far.

As we arrive, we saw a MOBILE ROTI CANAI seller. It was super duper YUMMEH! Their's is with milk and chocolate, John Danny would love this I bet!

There, the chocolate....!

If only Malaysia have this! Happy suka sedap gilosss!
 

After all the yummeh roti canai, our pants/shirt was still a bit damp,  so Andrea and myself decided to walk to the nearest destination ie waterfall area. And Kak LV kids too wanted to be as adventurous and hitch hike with us.... crazy neh!?!? My successors (note the plural)! HAHHAHAH.....

 

Four kids and 2 adults.... hitch hiking.

We entered a small village and asked Kak LV eldest son to ask the direction to the waterfall, unfortunately his Thai wasn't as good as the mom. Apalaaarrr...  Just about then, Kak LV drove by and pick us up to our next destination - Maewang Waterfall. Thank goodness for that as the waterfall is another 10km or so.... no way we're gonna walk. Hahhahahaaa...

Here's the thing, Kak LV use to be based in Chiang Mai for 5 years or so, the last few visit to Chiang Mai was to catch up with her. She would then show us all those off-the-beaten-track places. Unfortunately for the last 2 years or so, the whole family was relocated to Kuching. Sodih...

 

After the short rest by the waterfall, we headed home.
 

Another day, another adventure awaits us. Stay tune.

Hyperlink credit : Thailand Travel Tours