Is just the second day in NZ and we have been trying to complete our IRD (tax number application) and bank account. These are needed during job application which we hope to get one in order to sustain the budget around. Since we are in Epsom, we walked to Mt. Eden Village approximately 15-20 minutes walk where we can hand in our IRD form to the Post Office and there is also a ASB bank around.

Amy and Stephen showed us the way. We walked passed University of Auckland which is just near the doorstep. The house location is good as is near to the schools around.

- this is one of the branch


- this is where I stay for the time being. There's renovation going on.

We headed our way to Mt. Eden Village and obtained the form from the Post Office. The staffs there are very helpful. There was a question that we can't understand and neither can we get hold of the IRD Department. The question reads - 'Do you qualify for a temporary tax exemption on foreign income?', sounds easy isn't it. But there are notes written describing on this and it seems for us 50 yes on the notes and the other 50 for no. Therefore we went back to the house and confirm with Lean. Moreover we are not able to open the account in ASB as the officer requested us a prove of stay in NZ, which was not even mentioned in the branch at Newmarket.

Once we got back, Lean was checking for us on this clause. At the end, we just give a Yes as although not fully understanding it. Frankly, I don't really take into account what the selection is . After completing the form, we walked back to the Post Office and finally get it done.


- me outside the Post Office, they called it here PostShop

There are only 2 rows of shops here. Some shops taken on the streets.

- Cuckseys Buildings established 1873


- The meat shop, all the meats are displayed door front


- Lotto is just everywhere. The playing of this is abit confusing when i read up the site.


- spectacles shop. And really got my sight to this shop haha...


We then stopped at a shop to buy some snacks. I got the fried chicken drumstick and is NZD 3.80 for 2. Then I chat with the business owner. hehe... why am I not using show owner? I was confused when he told me, here's the defination :
1. Business owner - you own the business but it doesn't means you own the shop. Meaning you rent the property
2. Shop owner - you own the shop, precisely

The business owner is from Guangdong and we end up starting our conversation in Mandarin. He mentioned that the shop cost him NZD 500 per week and owned it for like 2 months only, selling chips and snacks. There is also a stick on menu that written fried snickers bars and mars bars for NZD 2.50 each. What? How is it being fried? haha... I have no idea on this probably Jing Hong may wants to try it. When I saw the menu it just happen that he came to mind (e.g. : snickers for KK climb )


- me and the business owner, Bonzo Burgers


- the first food spent in NZ, deep fried chicken... err... taste so so only , don't let the owner know ya

After finishing, we decided to walk back to the house. Here are some shots taken on the way

- public toilets


- Mt. Eden. Will go one of these days


- the walk in the university compound. The trees really got LOTR feel


- is it true that Moon in oversea is brighter? I don't think so... Malaysia the best