Dive in Tioman

Over last weekend I joined a dive trip to Tioman Island (Malaysia) with my colleague Ivy

It's liveaboat journey, which mean we lived in the boat & visit every dive site with the same boat as well

We boarded at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal on Friday evening 7pm and start our journey from Singapore straight to Tioman Island.

We stayed on boat 2 days & 2 nights. Half of the passenger on boat are having seasick during the dive trip, lucky, I'm not one of them ^o^

I'm quiet enjoyed the wobble 

After the welcome speech by the young South Africa's Dive Instructor, we been leaded to our own room

I stayed with Ivy and a diver named Jo

All rooms are incredible small

It does remind me a backpacker lodge's room

This is our's dive boat

Plenty of marine life in Tioman Island

They are all same as the residents on the land, darker skin color & tiny sizes

Don't close to the Sea Urchin, it's poisonous

I have been stopped for 1 dive after my 2nd dive in Renggis Reef as I caused myself nose bleeding 

This happened when I was force equalized when I'm down into the sea

I need to admit as I had stop diving after I get my dive license 2 years ago in NZ

I came for this boat dive as I need a refresh course before my Bali's dive in Tulemben at July next month

I have no idea to a force equalize can cause a nose bleeding until Marnus (Dive Master) told me that my new recovered from flu was the culprit of my nose bleeding

As nose link with ears and mouth, I had blood clot in my right eye and I swallowed some of the bloods from my nose

Nothing to worry since I knew what cause this happen to me and I will fully recover after a few days

It's just like a normal wound will recover by it's own

I have been stopped for 1 dive only and I continue to dive after 8 hours resting time

Well, it's still bleeding when every time I went up to the surface, but I don't care at all

As long as this sea have no kill shark, I'm safe for dive

Dessert after dive~

Renggis Reef, the dive site which I have my nose bleeding >.<

According to other divers, there's famous with rich marine life down here. Unfortunately, I has been stopped in the half way of dive T.T 

No fate with the creatures here~

This is our notice board for dive site information, located in our kitchen on the back cabin

I can't recognized myself with this taken photo

Don't worry, although the background is black, but I definitely not having a night dive

Probably was Ivy forget to press the flash

Wrong dive position slow down my speed and affected my buoyancy

Duncan, the Australian who taken the rescue course

The dive at Tiger Reef (which I have been banned for dive) wasn't a good dive for all of us. The surface current is too strong and without a good plan and well communication before the dive, no one actually enjoyed on this dive site

Some of us gather in the cabin for movie when night time, but most of them were still gather at the sundeck for chatting.

All latest movie they played in the mid cabin, I watched , , and

I have just a few glimpses on those mentioned movies, what you think?

Me and my dive gear at the dive deck~

I went to the front deck on last day (Sunday) as I have no movie in the cabin and felt not tired at all as we only have 2 dives on Sunday morning.

Total 5 dives for 2 days stayed on the boat, we came to the end of journey on Sunday night. I still need to back for work tomorrow early morning but I arrived at home on 12am after the trip T.T

Packing my holiday mood and restart my working spirit for my battle field tomorrow~

12th March Hanmer Springs

Oh, here comes 1 of my favorites place. I need to declare that our earlier plan is to visit Kaikoura today. As we all experienced the unpredictable weather in South Island, we decided to visit the i-site before our journey start.

p/s: I-Site located in every town/village for the convenient of visitors to book their entrance/bus ticket & ask for the details of journey. You can probably get the latest travel info, maps, souvenirs and perhaps a small exhibition corner in an i-site. I did remember an i-site with a great giant ancient bike display right at the entrance. It did impress me.

Finally we make the decision to Hanmer Springs due to the bad weather is coming and we can't see any whale on raining day in Kaikoura. Make up our mind and we just drive through there.

Hanmer Springs is a small alpine town about 150km northeast of Christchurch. The mineral-rich waters of the Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve, where you can soak in naturally heated pools & spas, are internationally know and the town has become quite touristy due to the day trippers & pensioners on package tours. Lucky, we can still find a parking lot near to the entrance. I did had my pity experience before with friends having our summer thermal spa which almost killed me. 2 days headache after the half an hour summer thermal spa in Hell's Gate (Rotorua).

Yet, it's different this time with the windy weather during early Autumn. I can't even wait for a second to bath myself into the warm pool. Wait a second, read before you jump in, there's different signboard shown various degree of temperature for different pools. I start from the nearest one to the changing room, 32 degree I guessed. Move slowly to others, until the hottest one I have been soak was 45 degree! Just for about 10 mins I'm with the 45 degree water until I felt a bit giddiness then I left.

We left everything in the locker. Just before we go into the water, we took picture with my camera built hand phone. Just about a second and I felt almost freeze when I went out from the water for this picture.

Sue help me on my picture, wooo.... so comfortable in the warm water now ^o^ I have been slept half an hour in a 38 degree pool (I guess is 38/40 maybe), Sue and May couldn't find me when I rest my head on a stone and fall in sleep with whole of my body in the water. I never have this comfort before~~~

I thought I should feel warmer than before after sometimes but obviously not. With the drizzling above, I'm addicted to the warm of the water and not willing to get out, until I found myself almost soak for 2 hours in the pool, and I left the pool and run straight to the changing room to away myself from the expose cold weather.

Guess what, it's snowing just now! We drove away the thermal reserve and notice the white snow on both sides of road. No wonder that cold~~ Anyway, I love this place. Hanmer Springs is a quite town and everything closes rather early in the evening. The town does not have much else of interest for the backpacker beside some nice walk and cycling tracks (we can't walk/cycling during rain/snowing day). There are opportunities in the area for jet boating, bungy jumping, heli-skiing, and horse riding. Yet, the famous activity here is still SPA-ing.

11th March 2010 From Tekapo Heading to Akaroa

The early morning we left Tekapo and pass by this Salmon Field (Tekapo Canal Salmon Farm) 

Sue & Mei said they are going to buy their breakfast & lunch over here. The salmon fish here is really fresh but I don't think I'm bear to eat them. If you study the character of the fish before, you might rather respect them than to eat them.

You can get to this farm on the way from Lake Tekapo toward Lake Pukaki. They are located at Canal Road, Twizel. I thought the river which contribute to this farm is flow from Tekapo to Pukaki, and finally I open the map found out there's no river connected between these two lake but the other which is Lake Benmore. Once again we thanks to the professor who draw the map~

Farewell with Tekapo, we are straight heading to Akaroa, the banks of Peninsula. We need to cross over Chirstchurch in order to reach Akaroa as that is only one way in.

Akaroa was established by French settlers just after the British colonisation of NZ, and the town still has a distinctly French charm. There are great cafes and boutiques along its streets, nice colonial architecture and restaurants serving French cuisine. Even the street names are French. The Akaroa Harbour is spectacular. Along the sea side, we pray for a little curious head come out from the water surface but we never see any. The Banks Peninsula today offers the visitor outstanding natural beauty and abundant marine life. I was pray for a dolphin.

I wasn't took many photo when I visited Akaroa, but my eyes were attracted by a memorial tower called The Glorious Dead. 

It's built to commemorate those who contributed their lives in those wars wrote in our history book. 103 lives sacrificed during World War 1.

7 men who gave their lives during the Anglo-Boer War, well know as South African War.

28 men who paid the ultimate sacrifice during World War 2

Behind all these sad memories, I did found an paint artist statue somewhere nearby the memorial tower

End of my visit in Akaroa, I think I did feel something different with others

I bet who ever happen to visit Akaroa will not miss him >.<

温室效应

又是另一篇大学时写的文章
我觉得没那么凑巧，又是跟上一篇文章一样的日期时间，应该是我从电脑把文章抄过去hardisk的时间吧？不晓得了，反正是我写的就对了，B型人不计较那么多的啦~

温室效应

我看过很多人的感情是因为谣言太盛而发酵促成的

但是这种谣言对我而言是毒药

我身边一段又一段流产的感情都因为谣言而断送

因为对我而言，以谣言来开始的感情，是有压力的

甚至不是出于两个主角本身的意愿

那是出自于主角身边的配角的意愿

当然，空穴不来风，这点我很清楚

但那个孔穴，可能没想过要让风来浸入

它可能只想让阳光进来，让穴内的植物能茁壮成长而已

不幸的，它不小心让风吹进来了

有时还不是一般的风，是会酿成灾难的气流

它就像长期弥漫在我们社会上的流言蜚语

这种流言蜚语可以酝酿的是温室效应下的幼苗

温室效应严重的话，地球上最先灭迹的就是树苗

即使有幼苗能幸存，能长大成树，但也未必健康

甚至有毒素存在体内

有一天可能毒发暴毙

因此，若希望一棵树能开花结果

首先不能让空气中有酝酿着毒气

以前我很相信谣言止于智者这句话

人家爱说什么由他说去

反正‘谣言止于智者’嘛~

可是…原来这社会上存在的智者，没有我想象中那么多~

时间发酵了

记得从前爱写作，打开这旧的hardisk里突然看到一写从前的一些手稿，读着从前的心情，就像欣赏一套曾经上演过的旧戏一样，有时回味无穷，有时觉得陈腔滥调... 我叙述心情有时也会欺骗自己，因为写完之后自己会有从读一遍的习惯，华丽的用词可以让颓废的自己心情好转起来，也可以让自己不会那么在意真实的丑陋~

这篇手稿，大概是大学时候写的吧~ Hardisk的日期显示的是2008年9月7号，下午5点

时间发酵了

早上五点半，终于回到宿舍了…在巴士上坐了6小时，虽然大多数时候是在睡眠状态下度过，可是根本睡不好。

想起5、6年前刚离开家上学院的自己，最喜欢乘搭晚上的长途巴士，因为不会浪费时间嘛~一上车就睡，睡醒就到，多好~

现在不知怎的，越来越讨厌搭巴士了，觉得真的很浪费时间，而且也再不喜欢搭晚上的长途巴士了，因为在巴士上，我根本睡不好…

或许，我县在已经开始向往乘搭飞机了吧~

很多事情，时间已过，就再也回不到过去,即使是自己本身，也操控不了蜕变后的变化。

我回想起这次假期回家的情况，突然记得在我最无助的时候我曾说过‘风水轮流转’… 以前当我们一家整整齐齐的时候，父亲不常回家；现在我们羽翼已丰，大家已往远方筑梦时，他却在空旷的家中哀怨度日，埋怨我们不粘家、不爱家。这，不是转过来了吗？

看到他，我想起从前的自己，一个总是被遗忘的自己~

他说他一生人当中做了很多愧疚的事，其中一件，就是曾把我忘了在诺大的校园，忘了带回家，我其实知道那时他是去了打麻将，但我很庆幸有上天的眷顾，没有在空无一人的校园内被人肉贩子虏走，那时我才7岁。我听到他说这番话时，心房外呐喊了一声…他终于承认了、他终于知道对不住我，但他不会知道那次的遗忘对我以后的影响…
每件事一开始造了'因',就等着后来的'果'吧~

现在无所谓了，谁没这种过程呢？只是我期望的是他的明瞭，对蜕变的明瞭~

岁月中藏着看不见的酵母，而沉浸在里头的我们总有发酵的时候~

10 March - Mt Cook & Lake Tekapo

不知不觉我们已经来到最想去的地方 - Mount Cook

沿途一直都是光溜溜的草地，纽西兰一贯有的景色，现在是秋天了，所以叶子也从绿转黄，即便天空再湛蓝，也抹不了这片景色带给人萧瑟的感觉

昨天还在Wanaka的我们一早已经动身出发前往Mt.Cook，因为我们只打算瞻仰一下这纽西兰最高的山，并没打算在那里留宿，所以早点到那里也好早点离开到下个目的地

沿途从Wanaka出发一直都是我在开车，其实精神已经不太足够了，所以一面开车一面录影，一面录影一面自己对自己说话企图让自己精神起来~

Mt Cook是一个外地来的船长名叫Captain Cook给取的名字，因为他测量过这座山的高度觉得它很雄伟，就以自己的名字给这座山命名了

最后也不知怎么搞的，他给毛利人杀了煮了来吃，这会不会是跟他名字带煞有关啊？

Mt Cook看过了，我们三个弱女子是没想过要登山的（对，那里开放让人去攀爬的）所以欣赏完了就功德圆满了

我们的下一站就是Lake Tekapo

到达了Tekapo后我们赶紧抓紧时间下榻背包栈，哦，忘了说，从Mt Cook前往Tekapo的路上不是我开的车，路程要大约两、三个小时吧（没记错的话）我已经筋疲力尽了，所以交给没什么开车经验的梦涵来开

纽西兰的路又直又少车，虽说没什么开车经验，但也不至于会发生意外的，这总好过让一个精神不济的人来开车来得安全，至少她知道自己没什么经验会更加留意路况

哦，忘了说，要看到Lake Tekapo的全貌非得上Mount John不可，这里有个瞭望台，是一所大学特地盖来研究天文用的，我们来到这里除了看有名的Lake Tekapo之外，还想在晚上的时候来到这里赏星星，这里是纽国唯一可以看到整个银河系和南极十字星的地方呢~

现在天还没暗下来，我们乘这机会多看几眼这碧蓝的湖。这湖真是太美了，对我来说简直就像是天堂才有的湖。湖水之所以蔚蓝的那么通透，除了这湖很干净以外，也托赖了它顶上的一片蓝天，唯有天空的澈蓝印在湖面上才显得湖面一片碧蓝

外面的风实在太大了，我不得不躲进观星屋里，这小屋很别致，到处都是透明玻璃的建材，唯有这样的建设才方便晚上让人们一面喝着热可可、一面仰望星空

在我身后的那个白色圆顶的建筑物是天文学家做研究专用的，至今我还弄不清楚外人是不是可以进去参观的？科学研究室咧~ 

无论如何，我还是觉得这间小玻璃屋给我比较写意的感觉，在这里观望Lake Tekapo就已经很不错了

Lake Tekapo旁有个小石屋，是一所教堂来的。据那里的文字记载，只能容纳23人... 这么小的教堂用来做什么呢？据当地人说，主要是用来进行婚礼的，因为以前的Lake Tekapo很少居民而已，所以没想到要起一间大教堂。其实现在的居民也不多啊，才千来个左右 >.<

无论如何，这间小石屋我觉得很漂亮别致，并不逊色于大教堂的辉煌，反而小得让人感觉很温暖（试想想来祝贺新郎和新娘的宾客不止只有二十多位吧，当大家把小教堂挤得满满的时候，是不是有种热情洋溢的感觉？）

小石屋教堂是这里的地标，每个来过Tekapo的旅客没有一个是不知道这间小教堂的

虽然这里风很大，可是让人意外的是风一点都不冷，给我清爽的感觉，让我也陶醉在蓝天白云当中了

离小教堂不远处有个牧羊狗的石像，也是这里的地标之一

据石碑上所言和我个人的理解，这牧羊犬的石像是当地的牧羊人和政府携手合作给打造起来的。石碑立于1968年，就是四十多年前这里的居民主要是靠牧羊为生的。看到人们对一个帮助他们工作的小伙伴也如此爱护，让我对这里的居民添加了不少好感

我们身为有思想的人类，应该懂得珍惜身边的一切事物，不管是有生命的抑或是没生命的，这一点我觉得纽国人做得很好。他们不随便浪费资源，从他们不爱用塑胶带和宝丽龙饭盒看得出来；他们乐于助人，从他们对待陌生人的友善看得出来；他们珍惜别人给的小帮助，从他们经常把‘谢谢’挂在嘴边和这牧羊犬的铜像看得出来

那么朴素、那么单纯、那么懂得感恩的人，让我渐渐爱上了这陌生的土地

临回宿舍用餐之前，我抓紧了时间到靠近湖边的石滩上留了影。之前到过了北岛那全纽国最大的Lake Taupo也没如此震撼，这片碧蓝的湖确实感动了我

没错，美丽的而天然的东西经常可以触动我的心弦

游玩了湖，我们回到下榻的地方准备晚餐。这里是背包栈客厅的地方，从这里可以看到外面的Lake Tekapo

很漂亮精致的窗户不是？我很喜欢这张照片，看到天上的蓝和湖面的蓝连成一线，多漂亮的画面啊~

于是我午餐也做得特别香、吃得也特别美味 ^.^ 这可能就是心态的影响了

我们在这里又从遇到一位以前跟我们一样在Franz Josef 那间Scenic酒店打工的韩国背包客，Hyunah （忘记当时是怎么称呼她的了，总之不是Hyunah就对了。Hyunah是她在面子书上放的名字）她来到这里也是帮酒店打工，据她所说，这里比Franz Josef 好多了，好在哪里呢？因为这里工作没主管嘛~ 我还以为是这里漂亮的湖景让她觉得好呢，呵呵~

唉，看我白天说得那么起劲，还以为晚上一定能看到银河系的星空，结果它太阳下山后就一直下毛毛雨，满天的乌云都把整个漂亮的星空给遮住了，还能看到什么呢？

不过后来我从朋友的朋友处弄来了这张星空下的Tekapo照片来慰籍一下自己，也让朋友们知道我不是空穴来风的，那里真的可以看到漂亮的银河夜空，有图为证啊！

如果梦涵和震美不是赶着要离开纽国的话，我们其实还可以多留一晚等明天天晴再看这难得一见的夜景的，可惜我们的行程已经排满了，多一天或少一天都会影响到原定计划，只好失望的离开了Tekapo了

所以说，幸福不是必然的，有的时候一定要珍惜，珍惜的当儿也要感恩，感恩的当下也要懂得回馈，这样的人间才会充满爱，有了爱世间才会美得让人感动~

9 March_Skydive Wanaka

It has been a month ago since I had make up my mind to skydive in this wonderland, Wanaka

Before I went up to the plane, I saw some of the players write some word on their hands in order to broadcast a message while they are 'flying'

For me, I need to tell all my friends & family which 'Happy Go Lucky' is my principle of living

When the plane reach 12000ft high from ground (took about 5 mins to flight), Mark (The handsome Skydive Instructor) just open the door and get out from the plane without any doubt moment

We enjoy the view and the strong wind before he pull out the parachute. I can see lake Hawea (the deepest lake in Wanaka) on right side and the fourth largest lake on left side, the lake Wanaka

I never worry for a happen of accident, because accident will only happen when I'm too nervous 

Furthermore, Mark is an experience diver, he had dive six thousand time before, I trust him and respect his profession

Clutha River in Wanaka

It just look like a sleeping snake lay on the ground there

Finally, we have a safe landing 

After 5 hours waiting in Wanaka Skydive, I meet up with 2 of my travel friends and we heading to Cardrona Hotel which took about 25 mins drive from Wanaka town area

In my country, we doesn't need a warm stove in a house, but we really need one in NZ. This stove set off with the yellow wall light do warm me up.
Now is still Autumn in NZ, due to the difference location, the humidity and temperature are different. I really like the weather here, cold but moist.

 2 of my travel mates intent to visit another 2 of their travel mates before who are now working for Cardrona Hotel as a housekeeper

I had forgot their name but both of them came from Taiwan. We had been treated with a great dinner as a welcoming dinner by two of them. I ordered myself a set of lamb chop, which I think is the best meal I never have had before in Malaysia, Singapore and even Australia

This is an old cigarette vending machine. Erm... I can't recall the brand of cigarettes selling here, because I'm not a smoker >.<

This is the living room of Cardrona Hotel. It's a great place for gathering and life exchange. When outside is too cold for people, they can have some indoor activity over here with the fire

The appearance of Cardrona Hotel was given me a deep impression. It just a simple warm house, no wonder people like to organize their wedding ceremony in this place

Outside the house we do have another warm stove. I think sandfly probably will not approach the fire and warm, therefore the host make a fire stove here for outdoor gathering ^.^

The vines are every where surrounding the house, I can't call the name of the plants but it's really beautiful when the flowers in full bloom

This is the outlook of Cardrona Hotel. There have an antique car display in-front of the hotel main door. In order to attract more visitors and to set up a landmark for this place. Do you like this place?