This might be the first travel post where I actually never been to the place but excited to write about! New Zealand-- the land of the Kiwis, where sheep is more populous than human (they say) and the land of gut-wrenching adventures is one of the places in the entire world I've always dreamed about going.



New Zealand is an island country in the Southwestern of Pacific Ocean (or in the bottom right hand side of Australia, if you're not familiar), compromised to be as big as the United Kingdom and Japan, but with lesser population. A LOT lesser. Roughly only about 4.4 million people lives in New Zealand which I can confirm the city of Jakarta itself has A LOT more people than NZ. But the amount of people there won't matter if the country itself has so much greater things to offer. Due to its strategically-situated location, New Zealand has been winning over hearts of people who loves nature and adventure. However, did you know that New Zealand is also home to the most loving and honest-cultured people of Maori? Maori is the indigenous people of New Zealand that comes from the eastern part of the scattered islands of Polynesia. Maori culture is very much different than many you'd find in a developing country like New Zealand, but that's what makes this country so unique with its diverse culture and tourist spots that will leave you in awe.

New Zealand, or Aotearoa in Maori language, is made up of two large islands. The North island and the South island. Many of my friends who have been to NZ has always mentioned how beautiful the South island is due to its eye-pleasing nature trails and mountainous sights. Nonetheless, if you're an adventure seeker, yet has an itch of a little cityscape experience and curious about cultural diversity, you've gotta explore ALL of New Zealand! Which again, I DREAM of doing.

[caption width="1536" id="attachment_1168" align="alignnone"] Milford Sound, Fiordland[/caption]

[caption width="990" id="attachment_1163" align="alignnone"] Whale watching at Kaikoura[/caption]

As a person who loves thrilling adventure and culture, I think New Zealand would be one of the best place that I should go. Imagine feeling like on top of the world with a gawking sight at the mountainous range of Gertrude Saddle in Milford Sound, Fiordland. Or ticking off a few of my bucket list which was to swim with the whales nearby the east coast of South island, Kaikoura. I heard we can swim with the seals there too! Oh and not to mention my ultimate life goals: Bungy Jumping! I can find many options of the bungy jumping place in New Zealand. Whether to have that ecstatic adrenaline rush at the beautiful sight of Lake Taupo, in the middle of the city in Auckland, or at the "Home of Bungy Jumping" at Kawarau Bridge, Queensland!

[caption width="990" id="attachment_1160" align="alignnone"] Swim with the seals![/caption]

[caption width="931" id="attachment_1159" align="alignnone"] Bungy jump off the Kawarau Bridge, Queensland[/caption]

Walking around the city of Auckland would taught me many things, I'm sure. Besides the bustling city with skyscrapers, I think Auckland would leave me with an emerging sense of wonder that I will learn from meeting its people. Would their culture be the same with city people of Jakarta? I wonder.

[caption width="990" id="attachment_1180" align="alignnone"] Auckland city life[/caption]

[caption width="1536" id="attachment_1179" align="alignnone"] Market places in Auckland[/caption]

Oh and I'm sure you know about that Disney Movie, Moana? Did you know that Moana was inspired by the people of the Polynesian region? Which basically where Maori people of New Zealand comes from! If the Maori people was able to inspire a whole animation movie, can you imagine how wonderful it would be to meet them in real life?

[caption width="990" id="attachment_1158" align="alignnone"] People of Maori[/caption]



A college friend of mine from Malaysia, Mei, stayed in New Zealand for more than half a year with an eventful of stories to tell on her comeback. There's one thing I learn from her stories there, is that New Zealand can be a real surprise. Experiencing adventure of a lifetime, meet and learn about new cultures, and spending time with people who will become your family for life, is a few of many reasons why I want to go to New Zealand.

The way Mei said it, "New Zealand made me a little more matured, a little more inspired, and a little less ignorant. I came out more confident and with so much more drive to become a force to be reckoned with." And I want to confidently say the same thing should I had my chance to go. Taking home a whole new story and becoming someone new who thirst to share her experience, will be another reason why I should go.

In the realms of my dream travel, I've actually been eyeing Dwidayatour for its variety of tour packages that they are offering. Obviously, one of them was the inexplicably wonderful journey to New Zealand! Whether you want to travel for a week, 10 days or even extend up to 21 days, Dwidayatour will be able to fittingly suit your travel purposes. If you are the cityscape kind of person or you want your take on experiencing the life of a Hobbit from The Lord of the Rings, Dwidaya has the package! I can even plan a perfect trip with Dwidayatour depending on the places I want to go, whether it is the snowy alps helicopter ride to Mount Cook, or even laze around in a lavishly vast field of lavender in Lake Tekapo!

[caption width="1200" id="attachment_1167" align="alignnone"] Snowy glaciers at Mount Cook[/caption]

[caption width="1024" id="attachment_1188" align="alignnone"] Lake Tekapo breathtaking sights![/caption]

Making note to that, a perfect trip should be made in a perfect comfort as well! Malaysia Airlines, who have uplifted their service in the aircraft business since emerging with the oneworld alliance group, can be the option that will take me to fulfil my travel dream. Having flight to and from Auckland 7 times a week, only will give me more choices to pick the perfect travel time. If I was thinking to go to during cool season or the winter time, I could take the flight in between June and August. Or at anytime for that matter, Malaysia Airline will make flights from Jakarta in transit to Kuala Lumpur, then Auckland in a comfortable spacious class in their A330-300 airbus. With flatbed seats in their Business Class or generous sizeable seat in their Economy Class, I'm sure to find comfort while enjoying world-class entertainment through its LCD widescreen monitor! The 11-hour long flight wouldn't feel like a burden when I'm fully embracing the moments in flight.

Borrowing a title of a band's album name, Coldplay says it best when they call it Adventure of a Lifetime. Because that's exactly what I intend to experience in the beautiful New Zealand.

All photos from: newzealand.com // purenewzealand.com