Hike Trail: Feb 2011

Torea Saddle (beginning of uphill ascent)

The second installation of this hiking entry will be from my recent walk (in fact I just got back from it today!) at the Marlborough Sound, NZ. The Queen Charlotte Track is actually a 71 km long track and trampers are expected to hikes for at least 3-4 days to finish the walk. My day walk was the last third of the length-- 22.5 km from Torea Bay to Anakiwa. All and all, this walk was designed for moderate trampers, i.e. people with moderate physical fitness and a good pair of walking shoes. I am planning to come back again and do the other two-third of the length when I am able to. One thing I love about hiking in NZ is that its track are all properly maintained, thanks to the DoC care. It's one thing that Malaysian Govt should learn to encourage bush walks tourism.

Properly maintained track is important to minimized damages

I hopped onto the chartered boat cruise, Endeavour Express as early as 9 a.m. to kick start my journey. By 9.30 a.m. I was well on my way up to where the real hike walkway starts at Torea Saddle. This is the start of 8 km of majority of uphill walk; I am expected to take 4 hours to finish this section.

Kenepuru Sound

Looking back to uphill ascent walk. Boy, did it kill my legs or what?!

The view from high altitudes are spectacular. Here's the Kenepuru Sound magic bursting through an overcast day. It's a shame that the Sun has been hiding behind the thick clouds, but nevertheless this did not diminished the views as far as my eyes can see. After walking for an hour or so, it started to drizzle and pouring a bit here and there throughout my first section of the walk. I looked at the bright side and put away contempt for the awful weather and sitting on it.

Some greens I've found in the pathway..

It's probably this quite cold weather that helped me cut the walk time down to 3 hours. I was so surprised that I've finished this ascent hike in time for my lunch break. I had a stop overlooking the Te Mahia Bay for my 20 mins lunch break. The weather improve slightly in that it's not trickling anymore around noon, despite it's being overcast.

Te Mahia Saddle

Second part of the walk (14.5 km)

A little bit more to go!

The rest of the track is as easy as this..

By now I've realized that I may be running out of time to catch my boat home if I delay my second section of the walk by any minute. My backpack are lighter too now that some fruits are eaten and water is down to half.

The second section is a 14.5 km long cruise walk. It's through thick bushes with no extreme uphills ascent in contrast to the 1st section I've done earlier. I am supposed to take 4 hours for this walk. This walk is through much of private property lands; so essentially some fences here and there.

Rewarded with a view of Omahau Bay

I managed to finish this section in 3 hours. Again a feat that I was a bit disappointed of since it's much easier to navigate yet it took me quite a while to finish it. Maybe my legs are getting too tired or my pace gone down. Either ways, I've much time to actually fell asleep waiting for my boat at the wharf while reading my book. I've got an extra 45 mins time, so I didn't feel guilty falling asleep!

End of Walk, Anakiwa Wharf

Terribly heavy eyes...

By the time I got into the boat, I met another hiker who'd done the 3 days feat tramp of Queen Charlotte track. Boy, did he looked terrible after the tramp! As we talked, we've become acquaintances and I got to know that he, Yahael, an Israeli is on a 3 months mission to sightseeing NZ. A feat that I doubt I can last.

Yahael as it turned out had tramp around North Island for the last 1 month, and this is the start of his hike on the South Island. The poor guy apparently has ran out of water and food since 11 am that morning of his 3rd day, and I feel pitiful for him that I offered my energy bar which he declined respectfully. Not giving up, I persuaded the guy to take my water since he's sounded like he's losing his voice while earnestly making a friendly conversation with me! Yahael took several sips, and I felt like I've offered half of my inheritance to a a beggar! :P

At the end of the conversation, I offered him to come to stay at my backpacker hostel since he's got no planned stay. Luckily we've got room left for him to stay for the night, and we've become good friends in a matter of hours! I shall talk more of him and Israel in my future entries.

A bird eye view from Cessna of Queen Charlotte Track

Comment: Yahael is my 2nd encounter with an Israeli who's from Israel so far. I think it's magic meeting given that my passport would never allow me to go near to his country, yet thousands of miles away I get to meet an Israeli and carry on a conversation as if he's my neighbor for centuries! Sometime I don't get it why our govt barred us from entering Israel...

Hike Trail: Jan 2011

Well, this was supposed to be written in January when I did this day walk. But as you can see, it's now dated February--and I am desperate to share this over 16 km walk covering a third of the Motutapu Island. It's a feat to finish it in less than 3 hours, and admittedly I felt the walk was rather easy. There aren't many battling hills and thick bushes in this conservation island and I feel much like going there for a picnic away from the city.

I started off at Home Bay, where the ferry dropped me off at the little jetty that they've there. It took the ferry about 30 mins from the city harbor to reach there. The funny thing about the ferry schedule is that its frequencies to Motutapu Island is every second and forth Saturdays of each month of the year.

When I got off, it smelled like sheep and cow dungs everywhere. Yes, these animals are scattered around the perimeter of the island, where the DOC rangers reared them for some reasons or another. Anyhow, as I walk through the Rotary Centennial Track (consisted of thick planted native trees for conservation) the smell fades away. When I re-emerge from the other end of the 10 mins walkway, it almost felt like surreal! As if a parallel world exists!

View from the Rotary Centennial Track

View at the end of the Rotary Centennial Track

At this end, I saw some relics from WW2 military post in the island. These concrete+metal buildings looked old, and decrepit. So I walked on (clearly I wasn't interested!) and embarked on the 1.5 hours walk along the valleys to reach the north point of the island (aptly named the Billy Goat Point). And along the way I stopped here and there to rest my eyes on the undulating fields.

Breathing in the glorious lunch break at Waikarapupu Bay Point

Waikarapupu Bay

Sandy Bay with Rangitoto at the background

When I reached my end of the track (back to Home Bay where the ferry picks me up), I've got some time to kill and I took that opportunity to lay down on my back and eat my apple. I saw rich people cruising in their expensive yatchs, making me long for winning the lottery by millions! Jealousy is indeed a grave sin!

Home Bay

Comment: This is the beginning of my hike highlights entries--planning to go see the lush sceneries around every month! :)

Egypt Raising!

I'll be writing something about politics, and Gen Y.

We learn one of the biggest historical moments just happened this week in Egypt, and Tunisia--and perhaps other repressed countries will soon oust their corrupt leaders. As I go through the webpages on BBCs, the force behind the rallies that free the countries from these selfish leaders are the Gen Ys. Those who are educated, awarded degrees that merit respects, have to end up selling stuff in an illegal market (for example) or even worse remained unemployed more years than they spent earning their qualifications. These are the people who got fed up with the self indulging, enriching leaders while they (the people) lose many nights of sleeps working hard to earn themselves meals for the week.

I'm proud to be on their sides, the Gen Y. They are the living examples of people who are willing to die to gain freedom. They bled, sweat and cried through the uprising because they want their hopes and voices to echo deeply into the palatial mansions of the self serving politicians. We the Gen Y, can say it out loud that we don't want a corrupt person/people to continue enjoying all the benefits by themselves exclusively. And they ring across the Internet world, and like the domino effect they merged into one uber-power that not even any guns can stop.