We built a Campervan

I love the idea of living in a van.

Months of working restlessly allow us to be financially prepared purchasing a van. We travelled 3hours to Whakapapa region on a gravel road just to check the van condition. It was listed on Trademe.com (a NZ-based buy and sell website). The initial price was NZ$5500 and in the end we settled for NZ$5000, we took a huge, huge risk (which we regretted short after) for not sending the vehicle for mechanical inspection.

A week later, the van arrives at our doorstep. We name him Bay Max, the adorable, plus-sized inflatable robot in Big Hero 6. He is empty on the inside, we've got a lot of works to do.

Baymax was born in 1987 - he is 28 years old when we first met him.
Yes, all manual and no power-steering.

We decided to build a Campervan myself.

At this of point the COF (certificate of fitness) is expiring and when we have to send in to do inspection. We were told that the van needs a lot of repairs which include rust removal, gearbox leakage, light indicator replacement, underbody rust removal, body dents, and brake adjustments. We asked some shop for quotes and all of that will cost more than the car price ($5000) itself! Then having no choice, we decided to fix them all by ourselves..

Inside Baymax has a simple build up, but we didn't really like it. So we dismantle everything and rebuild it all over. We wanted a bigger table top, more storage, extendable bed frame, electrical system that allows all our gadget to stay recharged without power hook up and water solution.

In the progress to build a simple cabinet with plywood from Bunnings, and used tabletop from Trademe

Grey water tank to store dirty water, and fresh water tank to supply clean water.
You need to have both and also a toilet in order to be a certified campervan where you can overnight at many places.

Extendable bed frame for 2 people to sleep.

Bed time set up.

The best decision is to experience New Zealand with Campervan.

Bay max has a kitchen, living room, sleeping space, and everything else you need to go on a road trip.

Cooking utensils hanging on the cabinet. 

12V deep-cycle battery system with 300W inverter to charge camera batteries and also my Macbook Air.Also built with voltage monitor and switches.

Extra storage on overhead compartment.

Equipment storage.

Enjoy the life, the New Zealand way.

Immerse yourself with the mother nature. Wake up to a beautiful scenery, take a sip of hot boiled-coffee, cook and eat with your own schedule, without having to worry about the checkout time. 

Need a break? no problem, stop and take a nap at any places you want to recharge. You have the luxury to spend your holiday at the slowest pace, which i really enjoy doing so. 

Abel Tasman National Park

Kaikoura Peninsular.

Along the motorway AKL - Taupo.

Vineyard at Blenheim - Kaikoura

Hanmer Spring

Have you ever travel in a campervan before? It's easy, any backpackers can do it, and so can you. If

you have any questions, leave it below the comment box.

byUnknown

in Travel

13:12:00

We built a Campervan

I love the idea of living in a van. Months of working restlessly allow us to be financially prepared purchasing a van. We travelled 3hours...

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Our first experience with Workaway.info - Castlemaine, Australia

At the end of our New Zealand working holiday trip, we have decided to visit to a nearby country before we head back home. Yes, we decided to explore Australia because it was one of the cheapest option to fly into from NZ. 

We were using this website called www.workaway.info, it allows us to be in touch with hosts around the world to do work in exchange for food and accommodation. Carla listing tops the search result and we are very impress on the pictures and fellow members' feedback at her place. [You have to pay an annual fee in order to use their service]

After a quick conversation with the host, she accepted our request and we did the necessary transport arrangement to meet her at Castlemaine.

It was me and Liyi' first time experiencing Workaway.info (work in exchange for accommodation) in Australia. Carla Styles, our host was extremely friendly and informative. We spent time exploring nearby region during our day-off. 

The entire house was built with recycle materials. Each wood-piece, windows, ceilings, and even cabinets were all recycled. Overall it is a very cozy, modern, yet preserving the authentic western country-home architecture.

There are many first time in this place, like mountain bike through the woods, train track, getting lost in the jungle, and finally meet up with our host and her friends just in time to get some beer prior to dinner. Life is just awesome.

Anyone wants to cleanse himself from the root of evil?

 

Heathcote, this is where we taste the first sip of wine in Australia. One of the best thing with workaway.info/couchsurfing.org websites is you go places that locals go. One of the best wine region in Central Victoria but very less oversea' tourists. One of the most enjoyable activity to do in Australia/ New Zealand is picnic, go to any public places with your food and enjoy, no one throws weird judgements on you because it's a norm here.

Me, Liyi, Carla, and 2 other workaway-er picture before they left to Melbourne.

She was one of the inspiration why i turned vegetarian. We exchanged philosophy and thoughts on this topic and i got inspired. At the same time, she showed me vegetarian meal can taste as good, if not better than non-vege meal. 

Thanks again, for having us with you in your beautiful house. 

*If you have any question regarding the experience on using this website, feel free to be in contact, i'd be glad to share my experiences.

byUnknown

in Travel

09:53:00

Our first experience with Workaway.info - Castlemaine, Australia

At the end of our New Zealand working holiday trip, we have decided to visit to a nearby country before we head back home. Yes, we decided ...

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The Joy of My Life - Kai Jun & Lee Yann

He has always been a top student in the school. In fact, I couldn’t recall if he has any transference from his first-rank-class, 1A-5S1 – the classes that only assemble the students with highest academic quality in SMJK Kwang Hua. 

I have known Kai Jun for years, until recently, to my surprise, he accepted my invitation to document himself and his long-run girlfriend, Lee Yann. 

They both met in Form six in High School Klang. They have been together for 6 years or so since Lower Form six, and the love continues to mature, and now he graduated (almost) from Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Aerospace Engineering program. 6 years, which equivalent to 1/4th of their entire life, and it’s still counting… (They’re now 24 years old at present) 

The forecast of 100% rain on the shooting day, but we hoped that nature would bend the rules, just this time. It was a cloudy afternoon; the bleak sky was full of low clouds and drizzling rain as we arrived at the Putrajaya Water Complex.

Drizzling rain and fog provides ideal weather condition for downy mildew, but not for the reason we came here for!

Watching over the concluded rowing competition for the day, we seek for interesting pieces to capture the memories of life. Lee Yann was meek and shy at the first place but slowly get up to the pace and things work really smoothly ever then. She blushed as I requested her to put her lip on his cheek (to kiss him). One thing for sure, they’re one of the most innocent and unsophisticated people I have met, truly an amazing couple.

I wish nothing but him to marry her on a beautiful day with my attendance. Together they will start a new chapter in life, realizing that even in the midst of a storm, the sun will always come out at the end. As we said, I hope I does more than documenting, even better, I would be glad to bring blessings, as much as I can.

Kai Jun and Lee Yann, I really appreciate the opportunity given to me to do this photoshoot… an experience that make me fall more in love with what I do, becoming a happier person behind the camera.

- The Joy of My Life

byUnknown

in portraiture, The Joy Of My Life

11:30:00

The Joy of My Life - Kai Jun & Lee Yann

He has always been a top student in the school. In fact, I couldn’t recall if he has any transference from his first-rank-class, 1A-5S1 –...

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The Joy of my Life - Kaiwen & Guifen

A very close pal of mine for more than 9 years, Kai Wen and I met not in the class, nor school library, we got to know each other in cyber café - yes you heard it right, he used to hang out in cyber café (even until now). Having the privilege to hold a photo-shooting session with him and his-to-be-wifey is just so exciting. Being one of the first couple to get marry among our circle of friends, it is very surprising, yet joyous news to everyone. From our conversation, they seem to have a very uncomplicated scheme for their life. 

They met each other in the 30-Hour Famine DIY Camp, they got chances to talk and spend time together, and their friendship deepened. Not long, until one day they decided love was a part of their future, together. Being together as a couple signify that their life blend, perhaps far beyond that, their lifestyle, family, friends have to merged, and live a happier life ever after.

Allowing her to be unhappy for just a second will leave scar for the rest of my life. If I have to kneel down and say sorry for whatever reason so that I can soothe her nerves; without a doubt, I’ll do it. There’s no need to discuss who’s in fault; nor who’s in the right position, I believe in her, somehow she will realize if she did something she not supposed to.

"Can i have your daughter for the rest of my life, say yes - say yes" 
Feeling much of a surprise, she nod and answer : "Yes"

Toward the next stage of life - Holding your hands, 
we shall grow old together.

There's something magical about photo shoot in the old Klang town...the light is always beautiful…making the photo feel gorgeous... 

Needless to say, Kaiwen was ecstatic to be with his beautiful girlfriend and soon-to-be-wifey. 

For years they waited to become husband and wife and it will soon became a reality as they have planned. With blessings from both families and their friends, I wish they spent the entire life together; “Separate them only when apple grows on banana tree, on 30th of February” – as I remembered someone from the net have quoted this ..

- The Joy of My Life

byUnknown

in portraiture, The Joy Of My Life

07:43:00

The Joy of my Life - Kaiwen & Guifen

A very close pal of mine for more than 9 years, Kai Wen and I met not in the class, nor school library, we got to know each other in cyb...

Read More