Working life in Roxburgh

Look at those apricots, has to be stripped off the tree...

Apricot thinning is quite easy. Bit tired after few days work with climbing the ladders but overall it was just taking some unripe fruit out of the tree so the fruits can grow in good space and won't be bruised. Easier than apple and strawberry picking for sure!

It was really nice with lots of flexibility in working hours. We can work as long as it is not raining. So after one week, the work ends at Big Cherry. Our boss Chris found us another job doing apricot thinning at the next next orchard. So kind of him. We were treated so nicely, with the occasional gift of smoked eel, wild venison, blue cod fish, from Toni, Mia and Kara =) we also made Kara curry chicken and Hainanese chicken rice in return....

In our spare time during orchard life, we fully utilized the apples that will go to waste soon. (apples picked from this orchard we're staying). So we cook ABC+apple soup, dried apples (or apple chips), Apple sauce, Apple oats cookies
apple dessert among others =)

It gets quite cold at night, lucky we still have the fireplace working..

Blessed to have home cooked meals after a day hard work!

Smoked Eel rice, thanks Tony & Mia for the smoked eel, they are yummyyy!

Garlic Lamb Chop

Special baked apple white choc dessert

Fully utilizing the leftover apples in the orchard, apple cookies!

Mackarel patties

Our lucky 4 leaf clover picked by Mia...

Ice cream with apple sauce

Apple sauce is so easy to make, just add peels of lemon strip, and ground cinnamon with the apples and cook till soft. Then mash it, there we go, the apple sauce. Very nice with ice creams and oatmeals.

Noodle sifu at work

Dried apples

So easy to make, just slice them and out into oven with really low temperature (i use only 60celcius) which takes about 3 hours to dry. Then sprinkle with ground cinnamon.

Cinnamon orange scones

Our treat for Kara, something like Hainanese Chicken rice.. haha

Kara's vege curry

Banana loaf

Arrival to Roxburgh

Teviot Rocky Range

As we travel south from Queenstown, leaving the iconic town of NZ to Dunedin to continue our journey, we pass by this small town of Roxburgh. Well, actually passing by the orchards of Roxburgh before reaching the town with two rows of shops. 

We saw this big Cherry sign and decided to stop and ask if there is any orchard work available. And luck is with us that day, the boss was around and offered us a job doing apricot thinning. Minimum wage, $13.50 an hour but that is all we need. An income to support us for the rest of the trip. No need resume or time commitment, it is definitely the only job we can get around with that short period of one month time. 

We were so excited to finally securing a job! And the best bit is that we can start work the next day! SOOO great! So we went to Roxburgh town, to get groceries at their only supermarket, more like a grocery store to us. 

The backpackers cum Hotel in Roxburgh...

The two rows of shops in Roxburgh... Where we get our internet and supplies...

Antique car show :) to welcome us to Roxburgh!

We also explored around Roxburgh since we had spare time while waiting for work starting the next day. Here we are, at the power dam... 

Our workers' hut @ Big Cherry Orchard

We stayed at this little workers hut together with another Canadian girl, Kara. We also work with cuties Dutch father and daughter, Tony and Mia.

Outside the hut...

Yes, it is a small hut with small kitchen and toilet.. But still more comfy than sleeping in our van though :)

The retail store of Big Cherry, based on honesty system, customers choose whatever they want and put the money in the box ;) This system will never work in Malaysia LOL

Queenstown Lake Front Market & Kawarau Bungy

Would you like a piece of soap cake @ Queenstown's Saturday Lakefront Market***. Nice walk around with local arts and crafts display... 

After the market, we went for an interview at Gibbston Valley, one of the re-known winery in Central Otago. See the wine bottle below:

The interview went well, but they only wanted to hire one of us, and the working hours is short, about 5hours a day in the restaurant. Accommodation will not be provided, so we had to get accomodation in Queenstown and travel an hour return daily. Looking at the expenses and income, it was not worth it to take up the job.

On the way back, we stopped at the Kawarau Bridge Bungee! To see people face their fears and jump! No, we dared not.. Guess it is aging problem, and our guts was not great. Especially after you watch people jumping. LOL... So if you wish to jump, don't stand at the observation deck and see others jumping!

The Kawarau River, color is so special. Emerald blue? :)

We have been almost a week in Queenstown now, failing to get any good news on job offers. SO we have decided to leave this lovely town, and continue our travels towards Dunedin as it was not peak season yet. So when summer comes, we shall look for job after we had finish travelling the bottom part of South Island. Well, that was the plan, but not everything goes according to plan as we travel south... 

Next: Finally we manage to get a job in ROXBURGH!