Seoul Part 2

Day 2

Early morning, 7am at the temperature of -4 degree, we walked to the Myeondong Subway Station, just 15 minutes from the Guest House to wait for tour bus that we have booked via Klook to Elysian Ski Resort. Why Elysian? The fees for skiing is among the cheapest here and we were not expecting more other than playing ski (as we were both the first timer).

The rates

The journey to the resort took about 1 hour bus ride. The location is just nearby Nami Island. The bus reached late from the scheduled time which was 8.30am. A lot of busses stopped by at the road side waiting for passengers, heading to different locations, hence we need to search around which one was our bus 😅. After 10 minutes searching, we managed to get into our bus.

We, first stopped by at Equipment & Ski Suits Rental Shop which is located just nearby the resort. Anything about skiing can be found here - suits, helmets, gloves, googles, socks and many many more. Since I already had my own gloves and socks, I only decided to choose the suits and google only (Both of this were already included in our package so I no need to pay extra!).

Choices of suits 

There are variety of sizes and colours, so no worries. you can choose your preference and desires. I choose red, which is my forever favourite colour. We change our cloth in the fitting room and ready for skiing!

Wearing the suits and ready to go! 

We got into the bus and being brought to the resort nearby. After obtained our tickets, we went to the ski boots and pole rental counters for foot and height measurementiin orfer to ensure I got the right sizes of boots and poles. Me & Tim changed our shoes to the boots. Mmm..so heavy and I walked like a robot. I felt like lazy to walk with this heavy shoes and how to ski with this burden on my leg?? Sigh..

Being the first timer, we need to join the ski lessons. They taught us few things:

1) How to read the slope map. Normally for beginner, the colour of the slope is green (it might be differs between countries)

Elysian Slope

2) How to wear the ski boots. You will walk like a robot when you wear this

3) How to carry your ski and poles

4) How to start skiing and brakes the ski using your knee.

After half an hour joining the lessons, we started skiing. Most of our team went to the beginner slope, which was slightly higher by riding the chairlift. To go there, you need to pay extra 50k Kwon for the chairlift fare. As a beginner, i didnt want to spent more for the chairlift. Just enough to practise myself at the lower level slope as shown in the picture below.

In front of me was the entrance to the beginner and intermediate level. Both need to ride chairlift. 

So, i fell down for the first time as i cannot control my leg hahah.. And i cannot wake up since the boots were too heavy. And i also cannot pull off the boots from the ski. So many drama here 😁😁😁. Finally, Tim helped me to pull off the boots and pull ny hands to get me up.

So, i fell down 🤣🤣🤣

I cannot wake up myself

After 2 times fell down, we had our lunch, Bimbimbap. So yummy when you having your meals i front of white snowy field. 

Bimbimbap 

After the lunch, we went up to the higher slope, just a bit higher 🤣🤣 using the walkaway. 

The walkway. Self carrying the ski and poles

A bit crowded up here, we tried to skiing here, end up fell down again 🤣🤣 (sakit dowh!) 

Nice view at my back! 

Around 4pm, we stopped skiing and went to the changing room for prayer, return our boots, ski and poles and waiting for the others to come down. Very tired since i pushed hard my knees and legs to get the ski to move, not forget the pain suffered every time i fell down huhu.. 

So, i concluded that skiing is an extreme sports.. 😁😁

Around 5pm, we get into the bus, stopped by at the rental outlets to return the suits and google and heading back to Seoul. 

More than hour journey due to bad traffics, we reached seoul around 8.30pm. Felt lost energy already 😭. 

We had Mc D as our dinner and walk around Myeondong street before we went back to guest house to rest. Tomorrow is another long journey.. Gegegegege

Me, in front of the rental outlets

To be continued... 

Seoul Part 1

Seoul 15/12/18 - 19/12/18

My second trip to Seoul went well in last December 18, from 15 to 19. My only aim was to skiing. Since my good friend, Tim was in Seoul cum a tour guide there, so i have decided to join her private trip. At the same time, i deemed supported my friend's business as well right?

Day 1

Arrived at KLIA around 10.30am, the crowded is not huge, hence, within 10mins i managed to check in and dropped my luggage at the counter (this time i became a trollypacker) . Since i still have plenty of time before boarding, i have decided to utilise my Golden Lounge voucher given by CIMB Enrich Credit Card. At least, i can had a rest, ate some meals and perform Jamak Prayer there. I never use these facilities before nor entered into the Golden Lounge 😅. There are 3 Golden Lounges at KLIA namely Domestic Lounge, Regional Lounge and Golden Lounge Satellite. So, i went the third one since it is the nearest to the boarding gate.

Located at Satellite Building, near the Surau

The luxurious interior. Yeah, i felt like a rich people 😝

The deserts

So, i took only this few among the choices 😁

Muslimah Prayer Room

I spent around 1.5hrs here before proceeding to the gate for boarding. 

After 6hrs flight, i reached Incheon International Airport. Tim was already there waiting for me. We not met each other since last Hari Raya. 

Tim brought me to the guest house, riding subway from Incheon Airport to Chungmuro Station. To ride Subway, you need to have T Money. You can purchase it at Subway Station and top up at vending machine which is also available at the station. 

T Money Card

It was really cold weather and the temperature outside is about 0° at that time. The guest house located about 10 mins walking from Chungmuro Station. 

Arrived at the guest house, i took a bath and had a rest. The next day will be a long journey to us 😁. 

The Subway Station

Chungmuro Station 

To be continued... 

Live the truth

Going through these hectic days, i really need a vitamin-sea. The datelines, workloads and the tiredness. Even its recurring but yet frequent changes in reporting requirement enough to make accountants getting crazy all the time, something like that.. 

By the way, the picture above reminded me of my solo travel to Sydney in 2017. I miss to travel solo again, thats much more suits me, i believe. 

Its not even in the list to go to Sydney but my misfortune to fall sick in that year lead me there. What happened? Me and my good friend supposedly to go to New Zealand in Sept 2017, ended up I fall sick (for few months) and need to cancel my flight and Air Asia had converted the tickets  value into the Store Credits. Rather than letting the store credit points burned, i bought another tickets two months later (when i am halfly recovered) to go to Sydney. Why alone? Too last minute ticket and trip. Nobody afford to cover such expensive expenses. Why Sydney? With my condition, thats the safest place and public transport friendly. 

I know i took a lot of risks by going there alone with unwell conditions but its just a matter of self couragement. When people knocked you down, not necessarily you let yourselves always on the ground. Wake up, rise up, walk and run! We need to always believe ourselves no matter what and always remember The Almighty will always be besides you as long as you remember Him.

The journey in Sydney is not so easy since I cannot move so fast and I cannot eat everything (even its halal). I brought my own pot to cook there (yeah) and I always need to take care of my timing to catch the transport since i cannot move so fast. 

What i am trying to say, we cannot expect things going through in our life as expected.  We can dream but dont give too much hope. Everything can happened, everything can changed. The best is to always expect the unexpected.

At the first place, I dreamed that me and friend will have our joy in New Zealand since it was my long due dream vacations. Ended up, the other way around happened and plans changed. Don't ever give up, however. As long as you can breath, there is always a chance, and opportunity. The question is whether you want to take it or leave it? You want to fight it or surrender it?

Know your abilities. Do something at your pace. No need to compare with anybody. I know that i am sick so i didnt push myself to follow exactly my itinerary. Just free up myself and go! Sometimes, we pressuring ourselves just because we want to be at the same pace with other people. Maybe someone that we admire?? Please, dont.

The six days trip to Sydney ended up with beautiful trips, I'd met with kind and nice people which made me forgot that i am actually sick.

Don't limit your rights, the rights to be happy and the rights to life your live to the fullest. Don't ever restrict yourselves with thousand of reasons. I make my choice and the choice makes me today.

Life the truth.

* i will share full story of Sydney trip a bit later.

Zaira

New Zealand Final (Day 7,8,9)

Day 7

Pagi di Te Anau. Gloomy weather. Kami check out pada pukul 8 pagi dan terus bergerak ke Milford Sound untuk menaiki cruise pada pukul 10.30 pg. Perjalanan ke Milford Sound mengambil masa lebih kurang 2 jam dari Te Anau.

Singgah sebentar di Te Anau look out.

Dari semalam gloomy je kaler tasik ni 🙄

Milford Sound

Tiba di Millford Sound, parking kereta dan terus ke jeti untuk redeem tiket Klook. Tiket dibeli dengan harga NZD65 untuk Nature Package. Pelayaran mengambil masa selama 2 jam. Banyak je operator cruise lain di sini, harga dan timing lebih kurang je. Jadi, tepuk dada tanyalah selera mahu yang mana satu 😁. 

Apa yang menarik tentang Milford Sound? 

Milford Sound tersenarai sebagai UNESCO Heritage Site. Ianya merupakan satu fiord yang terletak di kawasan Fiordland National Park, South Island. Fiord ni dengan bahasa mudah, alur sempit yang panjang dikelilingi oleh tebing atau curam yang terbentuk dari Glacier. Cuaca? Sejuks yang amat. 

Inilah cruise yang dinaiki 😁. Boleh dikatakan 3/4 masa perjalanan aku lepak kat open air space atas kapal tu. Semua air hidung, air mata keluar nak cakap betapa sejuknya 🤣🤣

View sepanjang cruise

Spotted 2 ekor penguin kat atas batu batan dalam perjalanan cruise

Sea Lion berjemur.. Comel je 😍

Stirling falls, tinggi betul air terjun ni sampai merecik-recik airnya

Lady Bowen Falls, close to the port. 

Milford ni sesuai untuk relax, tenangkan fikiran menikmati alam dan kebesaran Illahi sambil berangan. Ada few trekking trail kat sini juga. Dan kalau rajin boleh berkayak. 

Lepas setel cruise, kami pergi isi minyak. Kat Milford ada satu stesen minyak yanh only accept card credit. Sepanjang dari Milford ke Te Anau memang tiada stesen minyak ye..

Homer Tunnel ~ Ini one way tunnel yang akan dilalui dalam perjalanan dari/ke Milford. Waiting time punyela lama sampai boleh turun bergambar melompat-lompat disitu

Dalam perjalanan dari Te Anau ke Milford Sound vice versa banyak sebenarnya tempat yang boleh singgah, either masa cukup ke tak, larat ke tak dan rajin nak berhenti ke tak je persoalannya. Antara tempat yang boleh disinggah:

Mirror lakes, Lake Gun, The divide, Monkey Flat & The Chasm. Aku tak singgah tempat-tempat ni. Nanti korang google la kalau nak pergi. Kami singgah sini je 👇. Tengok warna air sungai dia pun dah tenang hati. 

Mackay Creek, Milford Road

Perjalanan balik ~ kami ke Queenstown semula untuk bermalam di situ. Perjalanan dari Te Anau ke Queenstown mengambil masa lebih kurang 3j 40min jugak lah.

Tasik Wakatipu

Sampai je di Queenstown, kami ke Tasik Wakatipu. Tak habis lagi misi mencari Lupin. Lupin ni banyak colour sebenarnya. Yang dijumpai semasa trip hari tu adalah warna kuning, purple, pink dan blue purple. Lupin ni sejenis bunga liar, normally tumbuh pada musim bunga dan merupakan sumber makanan dan juga dijadikan tanaman hiasan. Bab makanan tu aku belum sempat mengkaji apa yang boleh dimakan dan khasiatnya 😁.

Lupin tumbuh meliar di Tasik Wakatipu

View Tasik Wakatipu. Tak jemu mata memandang! 

Queenstown 

Selepas bergambar dan spend masa dengan keindahan alam, kami beredar ke bandar Queenstown sebelum check in ke hostel di bandar tersebut. 

Suasana town Queenstown. Cool je, tak sesak sangat, banyak laluan pedestrian. Walau nampak kedai-kedai macam ni je, tapi jangan underexpect, branded kedai semua almost kat sini ye 😝

Sempat la membeli aiskrim ni. Dalam RM12 untuk 2 scoop. Sedap la jugak rasanya. Sejuk-sejuk makan aiskrim. Mmmm

DF Souveniers ~ Ini kedai cenderahati paling murah di Queenstown. Senang cakap, nak beli souvenier NZ, belilah di sini. Murah banyak. Tapi macam biasa, aku bagi priority kat family dulu 😝

Lebih kurang 7mlm kami balik ke YHA Backpackers hostel. Best hostel ni, banyak facilities. Dinner? Nasi putih dan tuna je. Hehehe

Day 8

Hari kedua terakhir di South Island, kami bergerak menghala ke Christchurch untuk penerbangan ke Auckland pada keesokan harinya. 

Dalam perjalanan ke Christchurch, kami melalui Lindis Pass. Orang kata Lindis Pass cantik. Meh kita tengok sejauh mana.. 

Kawarau Suspension Bridge

Kawarau Suspension Bridge ni memang terkenal dengan aktiviti Bungy Jumping. Ianya juga merupakan world first commercial bungy jumping site. So bungy jumping start dari sini dan masih aktif sehingga hari ini. Datang sini pukul 8pg memanglah takde orang yang jump.

Suspension bridge ~ aku pun tak faham kenapa aku tak amik gambar lagi clear 😒

Kawarau Gorge

Lindis Pass

Lindis Pass adalah sepanjang 63km dan terletak di antara Lembah Lindis dan Ahariri River. 

Memang betul kata orang Lindis Pass cantik. Look at the pics below. Moral to learn: when you heard some say from other people, don't simply accept at, experience it yourselves first. Ok? 

Tasik Dunstan ~ akan melalui tasik ni sebelum sampai di Lindis Pass

Jalan lurus dan langit luas terbentang

Ni dah termasuk Lindis Pass ~ view Lupin, gunung, padang menghijau. Boleh tak aku nak migrate sini je? 😉

Snowy mountain at Lindis Pass

Dalam semak samun pun nak bergambar janji ada Lupin

Mount Cook

Aoraki / Mount Cook adalah gunung yang tertinggi di New Zealand dengan 3,724 m. Ia terletak di Alps Selatan, dan mempunyai tiga puncak.

Hooker Valley adalah femes trail untuk trekkers, 3 hourd return. Trek kacang je. Jalan landai tanah rata tak perlu hike beriya sangat. Ada tiga jambatan gantung dan pengakhiran trek adalah Hooker Lake. 

Aku trek sampai jambatan kedua je 😭..member2 aku dah penat dan nak teruskan perjalanan ke Christchurch dah. So, again aku ikut majoriti. Type aku simple, alang2 menyeluk pekasam biar sampai ke pangkal lengan 😁. Kalau separuh2 ni memang bukan type aku. So, aku dont mind to repeat lagi Hooker Valley in future OK? 

Jalan menuju Mount Cook. Sebelum sampai ke Mount Cook, kita akan lalui Tasik Pukaki dulu, antara tasik terbesar di New Zealand. 

Inilah permulaan trek Hooker Valley. Cantik tak boleh blah.. 

Gaya seorang trekker yang looser hahahaha

Second bridge, Hooker Valley

Glacier yang mencair 

Tasik Taupo

Next, kami meruskan perjalanan ke Tasik Taupo. Dah tak jauh dengan Christchurch dah. Tasik ni ada ladang Lupin.. Takde la ladang sangat, just Lupin banyak tumbuh di sini.. Berwarna warni gitew 😍😍. 

Lawa combinasi natural ni, biru, hijau, pink, purple

Aku dengan Lupin mana lawa? 

The Church of the Good Shepherd. Terletak di tepi Tasik Taupo. Dalam internet macam gah je gambar. Mungkin jugak aku yang tak reti amik gambar 🤣🤣. Anyway, Church ni dibina pada tahun 1935 sebagai lambang kesucian dan penghormatan kepada perintis daerah. 

Dalam perjalanan kami singgah di Ashburton. Plan sebenar nak cari kedai makan sudahnya jumpe masjid yang tak nampak rupa masjid langsung. Kami park kereta tepi jalan dan masuk kawasan masjid. Sunyi. Ketuk pintu. Bagi salam. Dah ready nak speaking ni, sekali yang jawab salam dan buka pintu tu Malaysian. Terus aku cakap melayu dengan fasihnya. Cantik masjid ni. Bersih. Ia diuruskan oleh Persatuan Muslim Ashburton. 

Alamat: 139 Archibald St, Tinwald, Ashburton 7700

Selepas solat, kami teruskan perjalanan ke Airbnb. Lawo kan? Sampai pun dah malam so, nak pergi Christchurch town pun dah malas. Nak packing bag lagipun 🙄.

Ruang tamu & makan

Dapur

Bilik tidur

Tandas

Bahan kudapan yang host sediakan. 

Day 9

Nak balik rumah dah. Yeay! So, today we fly back to Auckland dan terus stay kat Airport untuk 14 jam flight dari Auckland ke New Zealand.

Di Airport Auckland ada mini surau. Open air lah tapinya. Level 1, end of building, nearby the foodcourt (Mc D, KFC and Pita Pit). Lepas toilet ada pintu menghala ke surau.

Flight dari Christchurch ke Auckland 

Mini surau di Auckland Airport 

Sekian lah cerita New Zealand. Banyak bende aku belajar dari trip ni anyway. Nak repeat tu entah bila. Macam biasa, berangan tak kene bayar kan? 

Story country lain aku akan cuba pos dalam masa terdekat. Sekarang hari2 pitam selagi Audit tak setel kat ofis. Do i need holiday? Yes, dekat2 je la kot 😝