Friday, August 15, 2008
Introduction
Hello there! We, are the Metamorphic group! Made up of..
Kelman, our group leader
Jess
Mabelline
Mildred
Simon
Gui Ping
Yi Hui
Although we may come from different classes, but the 7-8days trip have certainly brought us together closer.. And metamorphic rocks!! Get the joke? Hahahahahahaha.
Okay, never mind that.
Before the trip, each group was assigned on one topic to focus on during the trip, and do up a blog(which is what you are reading now) as to put up everything we have gone through during the trip. With more focus on our topic that is.
Well, our group, has been assigned to do on.. Globalization!!
Before we start, we have some main points to touch on for the reasons and effects for Globalization on New Zealand;
- Advancing Technology
- Increase the market share of their country
- Promote tourism across the globe
- Export their own products(Meat, dairy products)
- Handling of logistics with high GDP per capita
- Impact of Globalization on New Zealand
Yup, that is all for our introduction. Please give us your support and read on about our fantabulous trip to NZ! :D
Day One - Airport and on the plane!
But back to the point. Of course, Terminal 3 didn't magically drop down or appear at where it is today. One of the main few reasons for constructing it is actually again, as we all definitely confirm plus guarantee chop! know, is to keep our Economy going. Why?
By this way, it would also increase tourism to Singapore. By attracting more foreign airlines to invest, we also increase our revenue from tourism, contributing more to our economy. In order to meet the needs of incoming tourists, the terminal also provides many amenities, such as areas for transitting passengers to rest,
Yup, I guess that's all for our "journey" from the airport to on the plane.
Please keep reading on!!
Day Two - Touch down at Auckland Airport, Mt Eden, and CBD area.
It's actually a crater, if you noticed. Caused by an eruption many many many many many many years ago. You get the idea..
We then went to the CBD area of Auckland, and had our own lunch there. After that, we had a task to do. We were divided into four groups, and had to go in four different directions and walk approximately 200m away from the mid point, observing the stores along the paths we walked through at the same time.
Before we walked back to where we started, we had to do pedastrian counts; count how many people walked past where we were at, and discuss the reasons to account for the number.
CBD in New ZealandThe population is not that large, as compared to singapore's one. we found out that the Asian students, from AUT University, made up the majority of it.
The increase in technology advancement, as a result of globalisation, brings people from different and further parts of the world to New Zealand, making the country more accessible.
In New Zealand, there is a higher skilled labour avaliable. One example is the number of tour guides to inform tourists on the landscapes and the country as they are being brought around the country. They could ask questions about any doubts they have regarding anything about the country, especially students on a geography trip. This is seldom seen in less developed countries like Philippiness.
Another interesting fact would be the rural areas receives more revenue than the urban areas, due to the rearing of animals like cows, goats, sheeps. These animals serve as a major export.
We also realised that lesser tourism are seen in the CBD, although there are many shops around. Majority of the pedestrians seemed to be students and locals. This might be due to the fact that the urban areas are of the working population, and the services are mainly concentrated in the areas, thus lesser of the country's attractions are found there, instead, people travel along the countryside to see more of the country's nature sites and landscape, both for educational and leisure purposes.
In terms of transportation, the urban areas have more access to means of transport like public buses, and the rural people have lesser of them. in the countrysides, tour guides have to drive them around, or they have to own or rent a car to move around. This could be a reflection of the inequality of globalisation within a country, despite the development.
Meat like Beef, and dairy products make up the majority of the exports. As for the imports, many of the clothings in New Zealand are made in China. There is little difference between the prices of certain retail shops like The Body Shop, showing that information is quickly disseminated around the globe, another great positive impacts that globalisation bring about.
Most of the consumers are Asian-owned. for example, Chinese, Japaneses and Koreans.
In comparison of the land in New Zealand and Singapore, the land area in SIngapore is much more expensive than in New Zealand, This is due to the small land area that Singapore owned.
- Language students – learn english- Why do they choose New Zealand? Survey Students why they choose New Zealand to study in, instead of other places such as Australia and Singapore
- Ask Jon why he chose to come to Auckland all the way from Cyprus
- Survey for locals; do they know globalization, how do they think globalization has impacted their lives in terms of the jobs they have, costs of houses/cars they own
Day Three
Day Four - Mount Ruapehu
We then came to Tangiwai, where there was evidence of a recent mud lahar that descended from Mount Ruapehu in March 2007.
After which, we went to a viewing place thingy and see from the top, Lake Taupo.
Day Five
A lake that is about the size of Singapore (cool isn't it?) haha
An fact about the distribution of electricity: 9% for the New Zealand’s power usage, 25% for the North island, 65% for the area around Lake Taupo.
Skyline and Luge
Volcanic Activity Centre
Technology advancements has created things like earthquake simulator, mini tornadoes and geysers, to illustate the effects of natural hazards, to provide the locals and the tourists, especially with educational purposes, first hand information.
With the real life situations, we understood, and experience what we've learned in the books. Indeed, it was a fruitful trip there!
Te Puia-
Day Six - Kiwi Farm, Te Puke School Visit, and arrival at the Marae.
Don't you just feel like being there, under these kiwis, and wait for them to drop into your mouth? X)
Te Puke School Visit
Sidetrack a wee bit.. This group of Te Puke students you see above? What happened was.. We wanted to take a photo with them and asked if we could.. THEN, they got all excited about it and posed. They thought I wanted to take a photo of them only, so oh well. Didn't want to embarrass them and myself so.. *snap* Comes the photo~
Anyway.
We left the school at 2-ish and took a short bus trip to the Marae.. It's pronounced 'Ma-rai' for those who don't know.
The ceremony to walk in was rather.. Very Formal. Like.. Super Formal. We weren't allowed to take photos before the ceremony ended and just nice while we were walking towards the Marae, we saw a beautiful full rainbow. Note; full rainbow. But couldn't take pictures!
But the sunset there was really beautiful.. It's not something you would expect to see in Singapore..
Not only that, the experience we had there was definitely one of a kind. It was quite surprising, when we actually expected to be welcomed by Maori people in their traditional costumes, and their usual songs and dances.. But no, we were proven wrong.
Instead, we were welcomed by only 4-5 of them, who were in normal modern-day clothes; similar to what we were wearing instead. They then told us, they didn't want to be what people refer to as 'Plastic Maoris'. In other words, Maori people who wore the traditional costumes just for show.
The way we were welcomed.. Made us feel true warmth in our hearts (despite the cold weather). They welcomed us in the most sincere way, and of course, we returned their gestures by obliging to their ground rules of the Marae. Like, not eating inside it.-.-"