5 March 2014.
The date I arrived to New Plymouth for my assignment as a Finance & Admin Manager for my employer's New Zealand office.
I've taken an approximately 15% net pay increase to relocate to one of the more remote placecs of the Earth, to leave my family, friends and Ben's Den, in the name of career progression. Personally I think its a crap deal financially, but I'll try to take things positively and see where this assignment takes me on an experiential basis.
I'm writing this one month plus into the assignment now, and here are some points I'd mention (good, bad and neutral).
- I stay in a 2 bedroom house with a deck with a seaview, which is larger than Ben's Den. Being a rental property, it lacks the character of my apartment in Singapore. My company pays less rent than what I am charging for Ben's Den in Singapore.
- I now drive a Ford Focus, which is serving me a lot better than my second hand Fiat in Singapore
- It's windy over here! Temperature is cool between the teens to low twenties, and frequently switching between rain and shine is not uncommon.
- The city centre is quiet on most evenings, and locals usually hit the clubs after 11pm on weekends. The latest nightspot closes at 3am.
- There are quite a number of Asian eateries here, but the food does not taste the same as back in Asia. Not disgusting, but just not as good.
- There is one mall in the city centre the size of I12 Katong Mall in Singapore. Specialty shops are further away (located in the Valley). New Plymouth (or New Zealand generally) is not known as a shopping heaven.
- I've registered as a member of Peringa Football Club, and training twice a week now in a bid to improve on my fitness. I'm eligble to play for their games on weekends in the Taranaki Premier Division, but I think I'll work on my fitness first before risking limb and life for this club.
- I've bought a mountain bike, and it has abused me (cycling in the Redwoods of Rotorua).
- Kiwis tend to pronounce their "e"s like "i"s. So my name is often called as "Bin", and people like to have barbecues outside on their "dicks"
It's been quite an adventrue settling in and feeling my way around. It is a small town vibe, but at the same time it does not lack anything. There are amazing beaches along the coast line, and the natural landscape around the region is breathtaking.
I will continue to post memorable travel experiences as they arrive.
The date I arrived to New Plymouth for my assignment as a Finance & Admin Manager for my employer's New Zealand office.
I've taken an approximately 15% net pay increase to relocate to one of the more remote placecs of the Earth, to leave my family, friends and Ben's Den, in the name of career progression. Personally I think its a crap deal financially, but I'll try to take things positively and see where this assignment takes me on an experiential basis.
I'm writing this one month plus into the assignment now, and here are some points I'd mention (good, bad and neutral).
- I stay in a 2 bedroom house with a deck with a seaview, which is larger than Ben's Den. Being a rental property, it lacks the character of my apartment in Singapore. My company pays less rent than what I am charging for Ben's Den in Singapore.
 |
| My outdoor "dick" |
- It's windy over here! Temperature is cool between the teens to low twenties, and frequently switching between rain and shine is not uncommon.
- The city centre is quiet on most evenings, and locals usually hit the clubs after 11pm on weekends. The latest nightspot closes at 3am.
- There are quite a number of Asian eateries here, but the food does not taste the same as back in Asia. Not disgusting, but just not as good.
- There is one mall in the city centre the size of I12 Katong Mall in Singapore. Specialty shops are further away (located in the Valley). New Plymouth (or New Zealand generally) is not known as a shopping heaven.
- I've registered as a member of Peringa Football Club, and training twice a week now in a bid to improve on my fitness. I'm eligble to play for their games on weekends in the Taranaki Premier Division, but I think I'll work on my fitness first before risking limb and life for this club.
- I've bought a mountain bike, and it has abused me (cycling in the Redwoods of Rotorua).
- Kiwis tend to pronounce their "e"s like "i"s. So my name is often called as "Bin", and people like to have barbecues outside on their "dicks"
It's been quite an adventrue settling in and feeling my way around. It is a small town vibe, but at the same time it does not lack anything. There are amazing beaches along the coast line, and the natural landscape around the region is breathtaking.
I will continue to post memorable travel experiences as they arrive.
 |
| The old chimney with Mt Peritutu on the left |
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be nice!