Cardrona, A Unique Stop at South Island, New Zealand - South Island, Here We Come

 

As we continued the trip in our South Island, New Zealand road trip, here's one of the special place I'd like to share to you all.

To those who have been following the stories of our travel recently, you know that we had a road trip starting from Christchurch to so many cities along the way to the southern part of South Island Aotearoa New Zealand. Some of the cities we visited include Akaroa, Fairlie, Lake Tekapo, Mt. Cook, Twizel, and Cardrona, then down to Wakana, Queenstown, Invercargill, Bluff, Balclutha, The Caitlins and Dunedin. A lot of cities indeed and we were 11 days on the road!

Anyway, on our way down from Mt. Cook area heading to Queenstown, we stopped at Cardrona. Cardrona is famously known as the ski-resort area dotted with amazing landscapes and slopes, with historic spots deriving from the gold mining era in this region. 

We drove here from Twizel, after enjoying our remarkable stay near the Aoraki Mt. Cook area and tasting various delicious salmon plates.

Welcome to Cardrona

We didn’t really stop for a long time in this city but we managed to stop at Cardrona Hotel and one unique stop, Bradona.   

Cardrona Hotel is one jewel in the middle of picturesque valley, famous for its rustic and charming setting as well as historical episodes, originating from the gold rush era in this area. 

the story goes back in 1863...

I have to admit I was so intrigued to see what's inside the hotel. Imagine throwing yourself on the gold rush era, starting from 1863, while people were flocking from different corners of the world and tried their luck. Having this hotel as one of the hubs, I can imagine the merry and colorful stories from those episodes of history.

Obi and I in front of Cardrona Hotel and its antique car.

We didn't stay here and although I was originally planning to sit down for a quick coffee or tea, we were already behind scheduled and tired. We managed to take quick pictures in front of the hotel and even when I tried to get some souvenirs, the shops were closed for a while. Well, just our luck. So we skipped enjoying this unique hotel and hopefully we will get a chance to visit this place again. 

There is an Olde School House next to the hotel and we managed to have a quick look as well here. 

Judging from the name, perhaps it used to be the school building back in the days. But now, it becomes shop, art gallery, and artisanal hub where we can get souvenirs and merchandise.

I just love this green corner

After a quick photo at Cardrona Hotel and the surroundings, we stopped at Bradrona.

the panoramic snap of Bradrona

Beautifully placed in the middle of picturesque valley of Central Otago, between Wanaka and Queenstown, the fences in Bradrona were packed with hundreds (or perhaps even thousands) of bras serves as a great reminder about the importance of taking care of ourselves and at the same time spreading the awareness about breast cancer.

Many left their bras with some writings and notes on it, telling a little story and where they are from. Some stated the countries they were originally from, some shared stories about the fight against breast cancer, others wrote the memoirs of their loved ones. So much love in there. It really warms my heart.

Posing with Obi at Bradrona :)

As a breast cancer survivor, I feel like this is the spot that I should not miss while visiting the area. Bradrona is not just a quirky place where people put and left their bras as a form of solidarity to breast cancer survivors, but it also signifies the strong support and love to all cancer fighters. In the reel that I have shared in my Instagram account @insav, you can see more of the place. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Indah Nuria Savitri (@insav)

There is a box for donation for New Zealand Breast Cancer foundation @pinkribbonnz so you are welcomed to contribute to the fight against breast cancer as well.

the donation box at Cardrona

Btw, World Cancer Day 2023 is celebrated in February each year. So when I stopped by here at the end of January and witnessed the overwhelming support to breast cancer fighters and survivors, I feel so blessed that I have received so many supports, help and assistance from my friends and family. Lucky me indeed. And hopefully, in the future, there will be more breakthrough in cancer treatment so we can witness the world with less or even with no cancer. 

In sya Allah.

Right after Cardrona, we stopped by at Wanaka and relaxed at Lake Hawea, and even briefly enjoyed Lindis Pass. Will get back with more stories on those marvelous places.

will get back to you on this...

Ramadhan in Wellington Aoteroa New Zealand - First Week

Ramadhan Kareem..

Bulan penuh berkah yang selalu kita nantikan bersama telah tiba.

Alhamdulillah ini Ramadhan kedua kali untuk kami #TheFrakarsas di Aotearoa New Zealand. Senang sekali rasanya! Tidak terasa sudah hampir dua tahun kami merasakan tinggal di negeri unik di kawasan Pasifik ini dan meskipun banyak suka dukanya, termasuk pindah rumah yang kedua kalinya di Wellington, tapi kami sangat mensyukuri karunia dan berkah-Nya hingga saat ini.

As we have experienced before, we are doing Ramadhan and fasting in the country where majority of the population is non-Moslem. So as always, we have to be able to manage our expectation and circumstances during this blessed holy month. It's not really a problem for me and my husband as adults but for my kids, who still need to go to school from 8.50 - 3.10 PM everyday, fasting is still a bit challenging. But I do trust that Bo et Obi will be able to handle all these challenges during Ramadhan. They even have many school activities and events such as sports, fun cross country and more. 

Nikmat berpuasa di negara orang tetap kami rasakan berkat keberadaan keluarga besar Umat Muslim Indonesia (UMI) Wellington. UMI Wellington adalah kumpulan para umat muslim Indonesia yang ada di Wellington dan UMI telah berdiri cukup lama,  sejak tahun 2008. 

bersama Obi, Shirin dan Tussie .. bagian dari keluarga besar KBRI Wellington 

Dari 9 pendiri asli UMI, saat ini jemaah anggota UMI sudah mencapai kurang lebih 1000 orang. Sebagian besar ada di Wellington, namun banyak juga yang pindah ke kota lain di Selandia Baru ataupun kembali ke Indonesia karena masa tugas atau belajarnya sudah selesai.

Berbagai kebiasaan unik yang kita jalani di tanah air sebagian bisa kita rasakan saat kumpul bersama keluarga besar UMI Wellington. Salah satunya adalah seperti kegiatan Tarling atau Taraweh keliling yang diruanrumahi berbagai komunitas muslim Indonesia di Wellington secara bergiliran.

Minggu pertama Ramadhan 1444H, keluarga besar Hutt City menjadi tuan rumah Tarling pertama di bulan Ramadhan 1444H dilakukan di Naenae College, Lower Hutt. Alhamdulillah .. acara berjalan lancar dan senang banget ikutan Tarling karena yang hadir di acara berbuka puasa sampai pelaksanaan sholat taraweh ramai, menambah keceriaan Ramadhan. 

mendengarkan ceramah sambil menunggu waktu berbuka

Tarling kali ini diawali dengan ceramah dari Ustadz Ali Al-Bahar yang dilakukan secara daring mengenai keutamaan Ramadhan. Ceramah yang menyejukkan dan menyegarkang kembali ingatan kita akan indahnya bulan suci ini. 

Flyer tarling dengan keluarga besar Hutt City

Selesai ceramah, kita menunggu sebentar hingga azan berbuka. Bahagianya saat mendengar azan walaupun hanya di ruangan yang kita sewa dan kami pun segera berbuka puasa. Tak lama kemuadian, kami melakukan shalat maghrib berjamaah, yang dilanjutkan dengan makan malam. Kali ini, makan malam yang disediakan antara lain terdiri dari nasi putih, daging sapi lada hitam, sup brenebon, dan ayam bakar bumbu kecap, lengkap dengan lalapan dan sambal serta kerupuk. Untuk takjil, ada bubur kacang hiaju, kue pukis, bakwan, risol, mini donat dan juga kurma. Alhamdulillaaaah, nikmat tak terkira. 

ayam bakar, anyone?

Usai makan malam, kami pun melanjutkan ibadah sholat taraweh hingga selesai. Sesudahnya, kami membantu panitia membereskan tempat pertemuan yang kita sewa dan kembali pulang untuk istirahat dan bersiap untuk sahur di hari berikutnya.

 Selama acara, tidak lupa kami mengabadikan banyak foto bersama teman - teman yang hadir dalam Tarling kali ini. Rasanya seperti mini reuni, walaupun kami kerap bertemu di pengajian, baik yang berlangsung luring maupun daring.

cheers from all the ladies yang menjadi panitia Tarling kali ini

Oh ya teman - teman... saat ini UMI Wellington sedang berikhtiar mendirikan masjid untuk mendirikan masjid Indonesia pertama di Wellington, Selandia Baru. Ikhtiar besar ini dilakukan dengan semangat tinggi dan niat baik untuk mendapat ridha  dan berkah-Nya. Memang tidak mudah dan memnbutuhkan biaya yang sangat besar namun in sya Allah UMI Wellington, bahu - membahu dengan umat muslim lainnya di seluruh dunia, berusaha menwujudkan mimpi indah ini. Saya sendiri mendapat kepercayaan untuk bergabung dengan pengurus UMI tahun 2023 dan juga bagian dari panitia pembangunan masjid UMI Wellington. Bismillahirrahmanirrahim semoga segalanya berjalan lancar ya.

Untuk informasi lengkapnya, check out our website untuk informasi tentang UMI dan juga proposal pembangunan masjid/Indonesian Islamic Center di Wellington, Selandia Baru di link berikut ini ya:

*www.umiwellington.org.nz*

Sekiranya teman - teman ingin berpartisipasi dan bergabung bersama kami untuk mencari berkah-Nya, klik link www.launchgood.com di bawah ini yaaa..

https://www.launchgood.com/campaign/lets_build_a_mosque_in_wellington_new_zealand?src=1827062&fbclid=IwAR0Q38NfCDmfLlhI8vJCXA4tm0-VE4ERpDpD6nC0ZgXDz8N60YfKFFrsK0o#!/

Selain melalui platform Launchgood, berikut Info rekening donasi

Pembangunan Masjid Indonesia di Wellington, NZ

Rekening Indonesia: 

BRI 3781-01-000007-566

Atas nama Irdan Moh Arkan 

Rekening New Zealand:

Westpac Bank: 03-0525-0022413-001

Swift code: WPACNZ2W

Stay tune for more news on this campaign, termasuk Tabligh Akbar Online bersama untuk kick-off rencana baik ini 

Mohon bantuan doa, penyebaran informasi terkait rencana baik ini, dan juga dukungan donasi untuk mewujudkan masjid Indonesia ini. Jangan bosan - bosan ya kalau aku broadcast informasi ini berkali - kali nantinya.

Let’s build Indonesian Islamic Center and mosque in Wellington, New Zealand

Wassalamualaikum warrahmatullahi wabarakatuh

Ramadhan Kareem from Aotearoa New Zealand

Assalamualaikum warrahmatullahi wabarakatuh 

Alhamdulillaaah.. Ramadhan is here.

Semoga kita semua selalu dalam lindungan-Nya dan mendapat segala berkah, ampunan, dan petunjuk-Nya di bulan suci ini 🙏.

The holy month of Ramadhan is here and I am so blessed to  be able to enjoy this month of repentance, self-resistance, perseverance and empathy. The month when, once again, we are given the chance to reborn, to be a better self.

In sya Allah, this will be our second Ramadhan in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Read our first Ramadhan in Wellington here : Welcoming Ramadhan in Wellington

For 2024 or 1444H in Islamic calendar, we are enjoying Ramadhan in the middle of Fall, right after summer down here. In terms of time, it’s pretty much similar to the length of fasting in Indonesia. 

In the first week of Ramadhan, until the end of March, we roughly started the fasting at 6 AM until 7.30 PM. So it is around 13.5 hours fasting. Later in the beginning of April 2023, we will have daylight saving, when the time is adjusted in accordance with the movement of the sun. Then our fasting will start from 5.11 AM to 6.17 PM. So, it's pretty much similar to Indonesia. So, my family and I are super happy.

As you know, while we were posted in Geneva, Switzerland and New York City, US, we experienced Ramadan in the middle of long summer days. Well, it was quite an experience and alhamdulillah, everything run smoothly at that time.  

Read our Ramadhan story in New York City here: Ramadhan with the Kids

I sincerely hope Ramadhan will bring all the best of us and may we all who observe it will manage to do all the good deeds and get jannah as we deserve. And what makes this Ramadhan special is that us, Umat Muslim Indonesia (UMI) Wellington, is planning to build an Indonesian mosque in Wellington, New Zealand. Last week, on the first weekend in this Ramadhan, we had Tarling or Taraweh Keliling, hosted by one group of Indonesia community in Wellington. I guess I will share the event on a separate post. 

Saat ini, UMI Wellington sedang berikhtiar untuk mendirikan masjid Indonesia di Wellington, Selandia Baru. Ikhtiar besar yang dilakukan dengan semangat tinggi dan niat baik untuk mendapat ridha  dan berkah-Nya.

Untuk informasi lengkapnya, check out our website untuk informasi tentang UMI dan juga proposal pembangunan masjid/Indonesian Islamic Center di Wellington, Selandia Baru di www.umiwellington.org.nz

Sekiranya teman - teman ingin berpartisipasi dan bergabung bersama kami untuk mencari berkah-Nya, klik link www.launchgood.com dan bisa mencari kampanye let's build a mosque in Wellington New Zealand

Selain melalui platform Launchgood, berikut Info rekening donasi Pembangunan Masjid Indonesia di Wellington, NZ, jika teman - teman berkenan bergabung.

Indonesia: 

BRI 3781-01-000007-566  Atas nama Irdan Moh Arkan 

New Zealand

West Pack Bank: 03-0525-0022413-001, Swift code: WPACNZ2W

Stay tune for more news on this campaign, termasuk Tabligh Akbar Online bersama untuk kick-off rencana baik ini 🙏

Mohon bantuan doa, penyebaran informasi terkait rencana baik ini, dan juga dukungan donasi untuk mewujudkan masjid Indonesia ini.

Let’s build Indonesian Islamic Center and mosque in Wellington, New Zealand

🕌🕌🕌🕌🕌🕌

Once again, Ramadhan kareem, dear friends. May Allah SWT bestow us with endless blessings.

Wassalamualaikum warrahmatullahi wabarakatuh

South Island, Here We come - Road Trip in South Island, New Zealand

 Hi, everyone..

It feels like ages since I share some stories and photos here, especially since my family and I have a little break in the South Island of New Zealand in the beginning of 2023.

As I shared this, we have been on the road for quite some times now for our summer break, my first annual leave after moving to Aotearoa, New Zealand. Finally, we get the chance to come back to the South Island after entering this lovely island as we first arrive in New Zealand on November 26th, 2021.  Super excited indeed!

We do have a lot of plans and itineraries prepared as we travel around 11 days.

I shared in my Instagram that we flew from Wellington to Christchurch and started our road trip from there.

So far, we have planned to visit so many cities, among others Christchurch, Akaroa, Fairlie, Lake Tekapo, Mt. Cook, Lake Pukaki, Twizel, Wanaka, Queenstown, Glenorchy, Milford Sound, Te Anau, Manapouri, Riverton, Invercargill, The Caitlins (Slope Point, Curio Bay, McLean Falls, Florence Hills Lookout, Nugget Points Lighthouse, Kaka Point, Balclutha), then Dunedin (where we are going to watch Red Hot Chili Peppers and Post Malone concert YAY!). Milton, Otago, Lanarch Castle and back to Queenstown to fly back to windy Wellington.

Phewww… I know it was a long itinerary but for sure us, the Frakarsas, is super excited and thrilled to continue our adventure. 

Semangaaat dan bismillahirrahmanirahim .. alhamdulillah semua berjalan lancar.

So, South Island, here we come!

I will definitely share our complete story of the Road Trip in South Island, New Zealand. But first, allow me to share some of the highlights of our 11-day trip. One of my favorite destinations is Milford Sound.

the majestic Milford Sound.. with Lady Stirling Fall on the right side

But other cities are amazing as well. 

First, we arrived at Christchurch after flying from Wellington for about 1 hour 15 minutes. Here we stayed one night, picked up our rented car, and explored the city. 

As we landed at Christchurch in the afternoon, we went directly to pick up the car at the airport and headed to the city. First agenda, late lunch! We went to the Riverside Market, having an appointment with Mba Nana, the owner of Indo Tempeh food stall, one of the successful Indonesian entrepreneurs in Christchurch. As the name suggested, Indo Tempeh sells Indonesian delicious cuisines and produces tempe, the famous soy beans cake which has been dubbed as Indonesian traditional food. The Frakarsas is indeed a big fan of it and whenever I find great tempe, wherever I live, I always get them.

collage of our rendezvous with Mba Nana from Indo Tempeh, CHC

After getting our tempe and lunch, we headed to Crowne Plaza Hotel Christchurch to check-in. We only stopped by for a while and then continued the trip to Castle Hill. 

Then, on the next day, Akaroa is our first destination.

Next, Lake Tekapo.


Well, more stories and photos will definitely come, just bear with me okay.
Do you like some of the places I mentioned above?
Which one is your favorite?

Wonderful Wednesday with My Purple World and Friends

Holiday season is here... yaay!

Meri Kirihimete..

To those celebrating, wishing you a wonderful Christmas and you can spend it with your loved one. It is always the best to share special moments to those who have been so good and supportive towards the year. And what a year it has been! 

2022 has been special, especially for us The Frakarsas. Again, this is the year where we gratefully thanks our Rabb for abundant blessings, prosperity and joy. I hope we all have enough time to ponder upon the past year and find the revived spirit to have even a more brilliant year in 2023!

This December we have many plans and road trips being drafted. Some are realized, some still have to wait. I don't say we won't be doing it, but hopefully what we can always replan until we can thick our to-do and to-go list. Honestly, there are so many places and so many things to do where I have to wait, for quite some times, before I can actually visit or do them. I always believe that everything will be perfect at its own time, so be patience and have faith. 

View from one spot in Khandallah, near our new home

For now, I bet you are ready for another edition of Wonderful Wednesday with My Purple World and Friends! Enjoy all the links we have here and again, happy holiday!




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