Franz Josef Glacier #WHPost6

I didn't expect it to happen so soon---a journey to glacier. NZ's Southern Alps have a number of glacier, the largest being Tasman Glacier (not accessible but can only view by taking a short walk in Mount Cook Village). The most famous glacier, namely Fox Glacier and its twin, Franz Josef Glacier sprawl along South Island West Coast; and it's 5 hours drive from Cromwell.

A big shout out to everyone considering this trip, it worth every penny you spent!

Another big money I've spent other than skydiving xD. One day when I browsed through bookme.co.nz to look up for some promo activity, I found this stunning activity and randomly asked Xt if he interested in joining.

A BIG YES. And so, we went on to book Ice Explorer which costs half a week of our wages $329. What comforting us is it comes along with free hot pools entry.

A 5 hour drive is totally exhausting. What pissed us off is there's no petrol station along the way to Franz Josef. Fuel a full tank before departing is definitely a wise idea.

What a stupid decision we made not to fuel in Cromwell, ended up we paid extra $20 atop of the fuels as service charge to reopen one of the tank. Also, petrol in Franz Josef priced 233.9cents/L which is skyhigh compared to other town.... Fox Glacier on the other hand 220+ *feel like banging wall

Arrived in Franz Josef Montrose (a clean and neat backpacker) at 11pm, definitely recommend this stay which costs us only $55/room.

We've joined the earliest tour at 8.45am. Upon checked in, we were equipped with free hat,waterproof over-trousers, gloves, socks and sturdy leather boots and crampons.

What to bring? Sunglasses, light snack, bottle (to fill up so glacier water) and sunsreen.

1.All ready to set off.

2.7 minutes walk to Heli Pad =D

3.There we were heli transferred to the glacier.

4.Approximately 4 minutes heli flight xD A bird eye's view of the glacier

5.Landed on glacier for the first time. We were guided to put on crampons on our boots.

6.Start our hiking. Unbelievably magnificent and stunning! Due to climate changes, the glacier retreats and reduces in level which is a worrisome issue.

7.Mason, our glacier guide explained that the glacier retreat is because the ice melts faster than it formed. Therefore, since 2014, the glacier is no longer accessible (not safe enough to walk) through walking up the valley. That's why today we need helicopter to transfer and land us onto the glacier face; and it's not cheap.

8.He also explained that the dropped glacier level means it is no longer pressing against the cliffs, leading to a lot of rockfalls.

7. I really like spectacular natural attraction

.Marvel at the beauty of Mother Earth!

8. Blue Ice Arches. We climbed through the cave and it's exhilarating! =D

9. Pretty turquoise ice!

10.The ice appeared to be blue because it is really dense and consolidated that bubble cannot interfere the passage of light. The ice on the glacier has been there for a long time that it's so compact that it is dense enough to absorb every colour except blue.

11. The glacier glistens in turquoise.

12. The brilliant blue crevasse inspire us with awe.=D

13. Glacier water. Quite refreshing but I'm presumptive about the purity of the water.

14.Squeeze through narrow ice tunnels. Fun yea!

15.Bumped into another glacier guide.

16. Awe-inspiring landscape.

17. Do you know 75% of fresh water on Earth comes from glacier?

18. Global warming has posed a hazardous effect on glacier. Previously, glacier retreats and recovers; finger cross that it is going to recover!

19. Mason and me.

20. The whole trip lasted for 4 hours, with 3 hours of ice time =D 

Simply Stunning! ...=DFranz Josef Glacier

Oamaru #WHPost5

Belated post of 19 September..

The most anticipating day of the week has to be Thursday--our day off. I have come up with a list of to-go-places which they are basically all scheduled up to be done.

Last week was Oamaru. Well, not just Oamaru, but it comes in a package--Oamaru Town, Bushy Beach, Moeraki Boulders and Katiki Point.

The highlight of the whole short trip goes to penguin and seal. I got a thing for wildlife and so do Xt.

The decision was made ad hoc that we booked a cabin at the last minute before departing. Oamaru is 227.4km from Cromwell, a 2.45 hours journey. We departed late after work at 6.15pm and arrived in Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony at Waterfront Road.

These pictures will do the talking,

1. We decided not to spend a penny on penguin sightseeing. So that's what we do....we went straight to 'ambush' penguins at Waterfront Road. Blue-eyed penguin (little blue) nests along coastline of Oamaru. It is the smallest penguin of its kinds. To catch a penguin in sight is totally by luck.

By the time we arrived, there was no one there, no nothing. We walked along the sea to see a small harbour and came to ' Blue Penguin Colony' building that was already closed.

Best time to view penguins is just before dark (5.30pm in winter and 9.30pm in summer). So, if according to the guide, we got no chance for penguins.

Just as we wandered back to the harbour, we heard some 'dog-barking' noise, it is hard to tell if that was  from a bird or a dog. Xt being a great observant, discovers the first penguin then more to go.

Due to low light it's quite hard to shoot on animal but this one just stays still like a BOSS! Little Blue, the World's smallest penguin.

2.Our cabin in Waitaki Water Holiday Park, $50/night for 2 persons. It was a starry night and Waitaki Water Holiday Park was deemed a good place for stargazing or star shooting. We made a few shoots despite the chilly weather.

3.Woke up in the morning to sunshine. Good weather day. I'm not a weather person in Malaysia coz I tend for indoor activity thank to toxic sun and hot weather; in NZ everyone talks about today's weather and good weather renders beautiful photosss!

Here's a few shoots.

Right beside our little cabin.

Waitaki Water Holiday Park

nearby beach

4. Our first stop , Oamaru Town. Walked around and saw a super vintage steam train in front of Steampunk HQ. The Steampunk museum features steam-powered technology but we didn't pay a visit (entrance fee $10).

There'll be 30 minutes rail journey tour on every Sunday but this is impossible for us coz we never have day off on Sunday.

5.A lot of vintage shops and cafe around the town.

live the life you dream

6. Church--the attraction

7.2nd stop--Bushy Beach. On penguin searching expedition hehe. No penguin was seen but successfully spotted a seal, opps, TWO (one distant, another was just 1m away)! Just way too cute with its eyes closed, but scare the shit out of me when it made even mildest movement!

LOL! like deadfish

Btw, Bushy Beach is quite spectacular so totally worth stopping by!

8.Moraeki Boulders --- the next stop. Quite a popular attraction (bumped into at least 50 visitors...). Famous for its dinosaur's ball (not the real one lah) which originally form in the sea sediment some 60 million years  ago.

According to reference, a total of 50 large spherical rocks lied along Otago Coastline with the largest of them having a diameter of 2m.

Cracked from my egg shell.

9. The last stop --- Katiki Point. What for? Yellow-eyed penguins of course. By chance you see a peguin, by luck you have them in front of you less than 1metre away.

The journey started with a lazy looking penguin sunbathing itself, suppose the one that did not go fishing..a day off? a sick leave?...We have no idea but it totally made my day thank you xD

Hives of seals around. LOL. So blessed to have my long lens so that I can have a nice closed up 'Portraits' of them

cute horr?

this one very fat...

Aloha!

like a mermaid lol

Very excited when we found out more and more penguins around 3pm (spring time). From what I read, penguins returned to their nest 1-2 hours before sun sets. It seemed they were coming back early!

More penguins? YESSSSS

My favourite shot 

Quarreling?

This vlog pretty sums up our penguins' expedition xD


Till next time.....