10.28.2013

人一定要旅行!

19歲讀大學,問你理想是什麼,你說環遊世界;
23歲讀完大學,你說實習後成為律師再去;
25歲工作穩定,你說買了房子後再說;
30歲有車有房,你說等結婚帶另一半一起去;
33歲有了小孩,你說小孩大一點一起去;
40歲孩子大了,你說養好了老人再去;
結果最後你哪裡都沒有去。。。



旅行,就是離開生活熟悉的地方然後不一樣的歸來。
旅行,就是重新回到出發點然後認識它。
旅行,就是在地圖的一點留下自己的腳印。
旅行,就是體驗不同的地理文化。

所以我們不要偷懶,一定要旅行!一個人見識很重要,見識多了,自然會視野寬廣,然而影響你對很多事情的看法。旅行讓人更有自信,不會在物質世界裡迷失方向。

人生其實就是一場旅行,而旅行就是體會不同的人生。對每一個人說生命就是一場盛大的旅行,而日子就是你經過的每一站風景。然而美景不僅僅是目的地,而是深深的感受沿途的那些人和發生在這片土地的點點滴滴。



真正的旅行是一種生活態度,不在乎目的地和長短,離開熟悉的環境去探索陌生的風景,體會一種從未有過的人生。你不知道明天會遇見誰因為一切都是未知數。

旅行能帶人們回歸真正的自然,找回自己忽略的東西,體會永恆的意義,學會感恩,在靈魂之中發掘真正的自己,豐富自己的人生!旅行不但是在眼裡,更是在心底。如果某天在一個陌生的地方,不必知道自己何去何從,就欣賞這一站的風景而留下感動和美麗。

每一個人心中都有座山,總想翻越這座山去看看世界。但是爬到山頂卻發現還有更多更高更遠的山。我們翻越一座座山後,讓自己走更遠。這就是我們心的旅程讓自己聽見內心的聲音。



旅行是一段時間和空間的改變,無論改變多麼大你都會回到現實。不需要一直留戀過去,放膽去創造未來的美麗旅程!因為旅行最重要的不是結果,而是放下一切去感受當下的過程。

想去的地方就一個人出發吧。哪怕只是搭一般未知去向的巴士也是探索星球呀!



10.26.2013

How to get your IRD Number and Tax Refund in one day?

Hello my NZWH friends! 

Working Holiday in New Zealand in an exciting scheme where you can gain valuable experience by your own funding to travel throughout New Zealand. IRD number is an unique 9-digit number given by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) for your employer to deduct tax from your earnings. 

How are you applying IRD number and getting full tax refund in one day? I'm going to share with you my exciting stories!

Getting an IRD Number in one day

1. Telephone Number

This is the first thing you need to do after you have reached the NZ airport. There are three major telecommunication companies:- 
  • Telekom
  • Vodafone
  • 2 Degrees.
I bought Vodafone because everyone is going to that shop -.- Telekom is an awesome company that you might want to consider. 2 Degrees is not available in the airport, you can find it in the town. But bear in mind that their reception is not so good compared to Telekom or Vodafone.

2.Bank Account

There are several banks in New Zealand:-
  • ANZ
  • BNZ 
  • ASB 
  • Kiwibank

Kiwibank is very convenient because it is integrated with post office. I opened a Kiwibank account after I have settled down. You need to prepare a copy of of your working holidays visa, passport, driving license, phone number, and your address in New Zealand for the application. You can get a bank card right after your application. You can also apply for a Visa card for free if you have settled down in NZ.
*you can apply for your IRD Number in Kiwibank if you are not hurry.*

3. Offer Letter 

I was so lucky to secure a placement in kiwi pack house within one day. For those who are interested in Eastpack, you may e-mail to the HR Manager directly to schedule an interview. [please get the e-mail address from me if you are interested]. She will issue an Offer Letter right after the interview. This Offer Letter is very crucial to obtain your IRD Number within one day.

4. IRD Number Application

Go to the IRD Branch is the fastest method you can get your IRD Number within one day. Try to make an appointment before you go to the IRD branch by phone call. You can either go to the Takapuna branch/Manukau branch in Auckland. Get ready your copy of working holiday visa, passport, translated driving license, bank account details, phone number, offer letter and the completed Individual tax [IR 595] application form. Tell the officer that you need the IRD Number urgently by showing them the Offer Letter.
*you can get their IRD Number fast without an Offer Letter provided if you are good in bullshit.*
Then you will get an IRD Number by a phone call from IRD within 24 hours. 

Getting your full tax refund in one day

There are two methods where you can get your tax refund before you leave New Zealand.
  • online application [The IRD Officer advice me to apply it but I have never tried it before. Apply it 1-2 months before you leave new zealand] 
  • go to the IRD Branch

Friday
I reached Auckland on Friday bacause my flights back to Durianland is on Tuesday morning. I went to the Inland Revenue Department to settle my tax refund because I didn't know how to do it online. I filled in Individual tax return [IR 3] form together with my flight details to speed up the tax refund. 

When I met up with the tax specialist, I asked them in regards to the tax relief in New Zealand. The tax specialist said that if your country has a DTA with New Zealand, you may be exempt from NZ income tax. There are many countries that had signed the DTA with New Zealand including Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and most of the Europe Countries.  

For instance, if you are a student visiting NZ, a resident of the other Contracting State [MY/SG/TW/CN] and is present in the NZ solely for the purpose of his education or training shall not be taxed in NZ on payments (including salary or wages) to the extent to which he receives such payments for the purposes of his maintenance can be exempt from tax payment.

After the long discussion with the specialist, I was being exempted from the tax payment and entitled to get the full tax refund. The tax specialist said it is possible to issue a cheque on Monday.

Monday
I was hopeful to get the cheque and cash before I go back home but I did have high expectation. I met up with my best friend and we did some shopping together. I got a call from IRD to get the cheque around 3 o'clock. 

3.05 p.m.
My friend and I took a bus to go to the IRD branch. The bus was moving like a turtle and we have decided to take a cab to IRD branch because it is closing around 4.30p.m. 

3.45 p.m.
The clock are ticking but the taxi has yet to come. Finally we saw the taxi and we reached IRD around 4.o5 p.m.
[Advise: Never take a cab in NZ because it's bloody expensive. It cost around NZD 68 for 15 mins drive FML]

4.05 p.m.
I ran to the IRD to get my cheque. They have issued an ASB cheque to me. I ran to the bank to get the cash because the ASB bank are closing at 4.30pm too. 

4.15 p.m.
They requested to photocopy my passport as a procedural requirement. After the long checking procedure by the ASB, ASB could not give the cash due to the signatory problem on the cheque. ASB asked me to go back to the IRD to ask for clarifications.

4.45 p.m.
The IRD has closed when I ran back. I felt so desperate because both IRD and ASB has closed! I met a staff in IRD exit and she adviced me to bank into Kiwibank instead of taking the cash instantly. I followed her advice and ran to the Kiwibank bank.

5.25 p.m.
When I reached Kiwibank, I realized that ASB Bank did not return my passport!!! HOW AM I GOING BACK HOME TOMORROW MORNING???! I knocked at the ASB's door desperately and I saw an angel waiting for me to get my passport back! They did not have my contact number and I felt so touch when I saw the worker were waiting for me. I can't imagine the consequence if I did not get my passport back on time.
[Lesson learnt: Passport is the most important thing, you can lose everything but not your passport]

So that's how I got my full tax refund in a day. I thought it was the happy ending...

The beginning of nightmare
I received a letter from the IRD after I reached home. They said that I was not entitled to get full refund under the law because they have construed the law wrongly. So I have to pay them back a big sum of money. 

I appealed by giving them 1001 reasons why I should not pay them back but my application was being rejected.

FINALLY, my tax relief was granted last week after several appeals! 

Congratulations to me! *claps*

Conclusion:
Working holidays in New Zealand has filled with so many ups and downs. Many wonderful things happen when you initiate. I might be late to be called to the bar, but I want to be proud when I look back when I reach mid-20s in a few years time. All I want is to meet the best people I could meet at a point of time, tried everything that I wanted to try (cooking, working, woofing, helpX, farming, couch surfing, hitch hiking etc) and done the best that I could have done. 

I walked away to talk to local kiwi and trying to understand how their life was. Learning Maori language with all my Maori brothers and sisters was one of my best experiences in NZ! Understanding the place is definitely more important than having photos to proof you have set foot there!

Warren Buffet believes that the best investment you can make is to invest in yourself. The more you learn, the more you earn. I have spent my precious time to invest in myself in this beautiful journey. Find something that you like to do and you will never work a day in your life. Let's start investing in ourselves to figure out what is our true passion and interest :D



Guess where is my favourite place in New Zealand?
1. Lake Tekapo
2. Opotiki
3. Queenstown
4. Christchurch
5. Oamaru  
6. Kaikoura
7. Glenorchy
8. Fairlie
9. Wanaka

Please choose one and send the answer to Googlemei Page.
>>The Malaysian Winner is entitle to get a FREE BBH Card :D






10.12.2013

尋找失去的微笑

如果說生命是一張七彩的唱片,那麼微笑就是一首和諧的歌,它能使生活更加燦爛;如果說生命是一個音符,那麼微笑就是一架鋼琴,它能使你的生活生動起來。池田先生說過不管遇見什麼事情都要開心的面對。我一直也很欣賞路飛的精神。我原本以為我是快樂天使,微笑永遠都沒有截至日期。

但不知何時開始我臉上的微笑漫漫不見了。我真的很努力尋找往日的開心,尋找那遺失的微笑。現在是我人生最最最黃金的假期,想做什麼都可以,想去哪裡都可以,豐衣足食。但我發現自己有越來越多的缺點。漫長的假期竟然請來了憂鬱先生的來探訪!

當我推開一層一層的心門時,我竟然發現自己內心的聲音。我發現自己原來為自己做的決定那麼心疼。做決定的時候考慮很多身邊的人,讓自己比較“輕鬆”過日子,但卻忘記問最真實的內心。自己心理有了答案,卻違背心願。然後看著自己的微笑漸漸消失。雖然就只有短短的九個月,難道地方真的可以磨滅你想學習的決心嗎?那是不可能的,我一定努力去創造價值,為我的決定負責任。我相信唱題會給我最好的路,會便毒為藥。

失去了微笑就像船隻沒有了指南針迷失方向;失去了微笑就像小鳥失去了翅膀飛不上藍天。要知道時間不會因為你不開心就停止不前,生活也不會為了你的悲傷而同情你。為甚麼不讓自己快快樂樂的度過每一天?微笑的面對考驗讓自己更加堅強!

生活就是一面鏡子,你對它笑它也會對你笑。為了自己,微笑吧,放下那些不開心的事。有些事拿得起就該放的下。不要讓自己過得太累,不要背著難過,不要把悲傷壓在肩膀上而變得脆弱。 在家根本不帶面具的我,不需要壓抑自己,想哭就大聲哭吧!然後開心瀟灑面對自己。

有理想遠見是件好事,但是不需要太過擔心未來而忘了珍惜最美好的“當下”。要找回戰勝自己的信心和勇氣,現在要尋找回失去的微笑!


世界為我加油

10.01.2013

Investing in yourself!


"Two roads diverged in a wood, I took the one less traveled by"-Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken

It has been almost eight month since I completed my studies in University. While everyone is busy completing their pupillage before being called to the bar, I am still happily having my looooong holidays. Many people do not really understand why I am wasting my time for those "nonsense".

Many wonderful things happen when you initiate. I might be late to be called to the bar, but I want to be proud when I look back when I reach mid-20s in a few years time. All I want is to meet the best people I could meet at a point of time, tried everything that I wanted to try and done the best that I could have done. I have actually spending time to invest in myself in the holidays when I walked away to talk to local kiwi and trying to understand how their life was. Understanding the place is definitely more important than having photos to proof you have set foot there!

Warren Buffet believes that the best investment you can make is to invest in yourself. The more you learn, the more you earn. Find something that you like to do and you will never work a day in your life. Let's start investing in ourselves to figure out what is our true passion and interest.

October, the month of investment and transformation from inner to outer of myself. I will keep you updates about my transformation!

See you readers!