Lets talk about Mueller Motel here. I booked our accommodation for Franz Josef through an online site and I forgot about me booking this place until about 2 weeks before the trip. I mistakenly remember that we are going to stay at YHA Franz Josef but I couldnt find any booking details to convince myself I am staying in YHA.

Then I found out we are staying in Mueller Motel instead YHA. Okay I booked a motel and not a backpacker. Sounds good anyway. I think the reason why I choose Mueller Motel over YHA is because each room offers an ensuite bathroom which will be more convenient given the competitive room rates that Mueller Motel was offering. I tried looking for maps and website for this motel but failed. Its not in the web at all except various internet booking sites also has listed this motel in their bargain corner/ hotel list. So I wonder… and concluded with ‘Fuck it I am just going to sleep there attitude’ and that’s how we ended up staying in this motel.

So…

After a whole day long long distance drive we reached Mueller Motel without any trouble its just located Off Highway 6 before Franz Josef small kuci town. Its still raining and its very very cold as we are at some remote higher altitude location I suppose. What is describe about Mueller Motel on the booking sites is true. The motel offers a background spectacular view of the snow capped mountain but its too late and too chilly outside to be appreciate that.

Driving around the parking lot there’s no Lobby on the site, and we only notice a small sign indicating motel residents to collect keys at the pub. That’s strange I thought.

I got down from the car and get into the pub and was greeted by an Indian Pub Manager who I later found out to be someone from rich Indian Family from India. The Pub Manager or the Restaurant Manager also happened to be the Motel Manager. Talk about multi managerial post, he’s the man! Anyway, he handed our keys to the rooms and off we went to check -in and rest.

First thing we got to the rooms, Yeobo’s siren activated. Nature calls -_-’

Aiyo.. the toilet’s faulty. Cannot flush properly. So we went to the pub and told the manager the toilet is not in good condition so we asked to change another room.  The manager said he will send a technician to check the toilet and will let us know if they can repair it. So while waiting for that we had our dinner at the pub/restaurant and have some drinks.

See? I am drinking

Frankly the room that we got was facing some bushes, and I really felt uneasy as it was quite dark and I dont like dark places. Who does? But the real issue is still the toilet. After we finish our dinner and the manager came back given us another key to the room next door. We went back and check on our new room. Still the toilet is not functioning well, and the toilet bowl has quite an obvious hairline crack. I am not going to risk cutting my ass while dumping or peeing while on holiday?! No way! So we walk back to the pub and ask for another room.

This time the room is further from the rest of the rooms and the corridor was not lit. We basically walking in pitch blackness not very far away, but its really dark there.

Quekkkkkk… open the door.

Okay no lah, there’s no creaking sound. Its all my imagination. But I do felt uneasy.

This time the room’s toilet roof is leaking and the room has those old musty mushy smell. I quickly ask Yeobo to quickly leave and worst come to worst just go back to the first room we got.

We then went back to the pub again and tell the manager of our findings. At that time I felt like I am a room inspector. This time, the manager gave us several sets of room keys informing us he is not sure which room already cleaned and which is not, but those rooms are located in front. To my delight, front rooms are brighter. The manager then appologize to us for all the trouble.

We went another round to inspect other rooms before settling with one of the last rooms which has functioning toilet but still with  slightly old musty smell which I can bear with and I am so  so so tired already.

Still at the end of this trip, this motel was by far the worst accommodation I ever stayed in NZ and while sleeping I snug under Yeobo’s armpit and cling to him whole night cause I scare got Hantu.

I was so happy when the sun has risen cause no Hantu kacau.