Heavenly Paradise@AdelineAng.com

It had been a busy month packed with travel itineraries, via air, sea, and ground transportation. Visiting four countries with climate varied from +35 degrees to -20 degrees Celsius had proven to be a very challenging step to take, despite the brutal winter experience that I had in the past. Imagine moving from an oven room to a deep freeze room….that was exactly how it felt like!

On the good side, family and friends, delicious food, familiar environment, laughter etc. surely beat the busy traveling plans and extreme climate change.

During the period of silence (e.g. no new posts on the blog), I felt like I needed another vacation for my vacation, a down time after all the excitements, high-tempo daily activities, traveling etc.

One of the many exciting trips that I went on was visiting the rice paddy field in Sekinchan, a small town located in northern part of Selangor state. Sekinchan is famous for its rice farming community; it’s one of the major rice producers in the country.

It was harvesting season in December.

A close look at the paddy. Every grain of rice is preciously produced.

Rice harvester in action at the paddy field. Crop harvesting can only be done on non-rainy days.

These days, we don’t expect farmers to do planting and harvesting in the old fashion way; bending down in the muddy field under the scorching hot sun. Instead, rice harvesters are commonly used nowadays. The rice harvester was important from Holland; modified from a used wheat harvester. Why go through all those troubles? It brings down the cost of the machine by multiple folds! Hundreds of thousands (in Malaysian currency) for the modified wheat machine harvester, instead of millions for a brand new machine.

Typically, June and December are the two harvesting months. There could be up to 3 times a year for harvesting; each season (from planting till harvesting) lasts about 120 days.

Miles was trying out the rice harvester.

It’d had been a beautiful sunset, too bad that it was overcast that day. I’ve always wanted to enjoy a beautiful sunset; the ones in Kota Kinabalu (east Malaysia) were the best thus far. Clouds were in the way that day, blocking the striking rays of sunshine. Another day, another time, I’m still not giving up hope on a spectacular sunset some day.

It was a windy afternoon. The higher elevation we went, the stronger it wind was. Needless to say, the wind was deemed to be blowing crazily at the bare mountain top. I thought I was going to lose balance due to the strong gusts of wind!

Miles was posing while slowly making his way up to the peak.

The paranomic view of the mountain range at the provincial park. Some mountains even have trails connected to each other!

What was he trying to do?!

The lookout station (used to be a fire watch tower back in the old days) at the far right was where we intended to go. We had to first overcome the hurdle!!

A hiker was admiring the view from the summit.

Rocks, rocks, and more rocks…on our way down.

As we move further away from the summit, the path was less rocky.

A victorious (and exhausted) post after the hike. It took us about 4 hours. It was a fabulous one!

Yes, a quiet and relaxing break is always a nice one. However, to me, the joy from adventures brings forth contentment and fulfillment. I know this may sound crazy to most people…who wants to stay in the wilderness and be bored without Internet for a vacation?

It’s always a nice change of pace for me, not having to worry about the worldly things. I just have to make sure to dress appropriately, bring a first aid kit, pack enough food and drinks, a good stamina to complete my journey, and not to forget the map, and also a camera! :)

After a simple and quick lunch, off we went hiking again! This time around, was the Mount Carleton that we were conquering. No doubt, Mount Carleton is the highlight of this provincial park. It attracts many nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts alike to explore the surroundings, especially in the summer and fall seasons.

The starting point of hiking Mount Carleton. We took the left trail to start off.

Maple leaf started to change colour. Very neat!

It was a very enjoyable hike, with a brook running beside the hiking trail. Very scenic, indeed.

A running brook with fallen leaves around it.

The cool air in the fall helped to deter bugs. It was a bonus!

The hike was pretty straightforward and flat. It was totally different from the steep and challenging trail at Mount Sagamook, until we saw this…

Guess what? Of course we went for the more “exciting” part of the trail. Rock ridge it was!

The hiking journey began… We first challenged ourselves with Sagamook, which known to have the most challenging terrain in this park. Sitting at 777m above sea level, it offers a breathtaking view from the peak, overlooking the Nictau lakes.

Miles and I saw a photo of the marvelous bird’s eye view from mountain top exhibited at the Welcome Centre. We then decided that we were going to make it there.

We started our hike around 8:15 a.m. The air was a little cool to start off with, but our bodies warmed up as we hiked along and made our way to higher elevation. 

Return trip is about 6.2 km in distance; 2.5 km for the Western route and 3.7 km for the Eastern route. We were advised to take the Western route first, as it’s a more difficult part of the trail. The route also offers side trails for sightseeing off the rocky clift.

Fallen tree trunks. Perhaps from the storm brought by Hurricane Earl?

Spectacular view from the lookout spot, just before reaching the mountain top. Was it just me, or did you see the heart-shaped island too?  

The Nictau Lake. It looked so calm and peaceful.

Watch out for the muddy and squishy spots!

A birch tree with dry and peeling bark, which can be used as kindling for starting a fire.

It’s sad to see wounded birch trees along the route. Obviously, some irresponsible people “slaughtered” the tree and harvested the bark for fire. Poor trees…they may get killed!

It took us about 3.5 hours for the entire hike. It was certainly a smart decision to make hiking up the steeper part, and ensure an easier descent. It certainly brought back my memory of mountain climbing in Malaysia. The advantage of a day hike? We didn’t have to carry too much on our back ;) We were fortunate to have a smooth hike, despite the heavy downpour over the weekend.

I’m sure many would agree with me that we all need a break from the same routine day in and day out. Some choose to lay on the beach, some might spend time with family and friends, or participate in different activities. For me, there were times where I needed a break and wanted so badly to visit a big city, and there were times where I wanted to spend time in the wilderness.

It was end of summer, days were a lot cooler. It was probably my last chance to engage in long hours outdoor activities. How long is long? Hmm…2 days 1 night. It was a short but fulfilling hiking/camping trip that Miles and I went on. Our goal was to conquer the highest peak in the Maritimes, Mount Carleton!

Boasting with an elevation of 820m (2,690 ft), Mount Carleton is situated in the Mount Carleton Provincial Park, north of Fredericton. The estimated driving time is about 4 hours and 20 minutes from Fredericton. Despite the heavy downpour the day before (affected by Hurricane Earl), I was adamant about going on this trip. Off we went, leaving a small city and indulging ourselves in the wilderness adventures.

It was after 2 p.m. when we finally got there. The air was chilly, especially in shaded area. We got to the camp site and started a campfire, with limited resources that we scouted around the campsite; twigs and birch barks. They were moist and resulted in crackling sounds as the fire engulfed them. It was nice and toasty staying close to the fire source.

Miles kept the fire going with additional resources I found for kindling.

Barbequed marshmallows are the best. Burnt? Remove the outer burnt shell and it will taste just as nice. Some might prefer burnt marshmallows though.

Tent was setup on a wooden platform. No uneven ground surface!

Scenic view facing the Big Nictau River. We went into the water for a quick dip after supper. Brr….it was freezing cold!!

After a cold night sleep, I was woken up by a cozy, blazing fire set by Miles at the campsite. We had breakfast and packed everything away before we began our long and exciting adventures.

Time was ticking… It was our last day to wander around the city. We were leaving for Los Angeles the next morning, through Greyhound bus.

After our lunch at Bouldin, we continued on walking along The Embarcadero and visited the Ghirardelli Square. Domingo Ghirardelli, the son and apprentice of an Italian chocolatier, established his first chocolate factory in San Francisco, in year 1852.

Busy traffic along the street. Hooters Restaurants seem to be popular in major cities, primarily owe to their attractive waitresses.

An extremely eye-catching gigantic Levi’s jeans on display.

The cable cars are part of the culture in San Francisco.

Here we were! At the Ghirardelli Ice-cream and Chocolate Shop!

Ice-cream with hot chocolate sauce and topped with whipping cream and a cherry. Yummy chocolate sauce….it’s a must-try!

The Ghirardelli Square.

Buying chocolates on a hot sunny day can be a disaster. Keep in mind not to expose them directly under the sun. You want them to melt in your mouth, not your hands, or purse ;)

A crowded cable car. Stand still, hang on to the bar, clench your teeth, and say “cheese!”

The Grace Cathedral, a renowned San Francisco landmark. It’s located at Nob Hill, on California St.

The interior of the cathedral.

Next, Ernest and I walked to the Cable Car Museum on Washington St. Very informative museum with the history of cable cars in the city. And best of all, free admission!

A cable car was moving along Washington St.

After the museum visit, Ernest and I went back to the Chinatown on Grant Ave. and explored parts that we didn’t get to go during our first visit when we just arrived. We went grocery shopping, mainly for our favourite snacks that we didn’t get to taste since we left home.

Since our previous “painful” experience of not able to find a restaurant just before 9 p.m., we’ve learned that we had to find a restaurant sooner for supper. Steps of Rome Cafe was on our list, highly recommended by the locals. We went to the cafe on Columbus Ave. A fine dining Steps of Rome Restaurant can be spotted on the same street too.

Bruschetta. Toasted sliced bread topped with diced tomatoes, garlic, basil, and extra virgin oil.

Ravioli with spinach that Ernest had.

I had a dish of grilled chicken breast with potatoes and greens, topped with creamy sauce.

Dessert time…the “Steps of Rome Famous Tiramisu” is to die for!!

Tiramisu lovers, listen up. This is a MUST-try when you visit San Francisco. It’s the BEST tiramisu ever!!! Very smooth texture, not too sweet, and quite filling! *Two thumbs up*

We’ve planned ahead of time to visit the Alcatraz Island on our third day (a Monday) in San Francisco. It was convenient to make ticket purchase online from the official website. Situated in the San Francisco Bay, the island is about 2.4 km offshore from the pier. It used to serve as lighthouse when it was established in 1934, a military prison later on, and now, a national recreation area. Needless to say, a prominent tourist landmark in California too.

We took an Early Bird Tour to Alcatraz. The view of Coit Tower from the ferry.

A short ferry ride to the island. Ernest and I joined a audio/visual tour in the old prison. There are some bizarre stories from the past.

At the Embarcadero.

Boats, boats, and more boats!

A street entertainer; dancing along with the music like a robot.

It was a happening place by the Fisherman’s Wharf.

Bread making at Boudin Bakery. They looked so yummy…..

Fresh bread for sale. They smelled so wonderful!

We had a nice lunch at the Boudin Cafe. It’s a must-visit!

Ernest ordered  the New England Style Clam Chowder, and I had the Beef Chili with shredded cheddar cheese and onions. Of course, in bread bowls!

It was a long bus ride to the Golden Gate Bridge, due to bus transfer. We passed by the Palace of Fine Arts Exploratorium and visited the Marina Green on our way to the bridge.

Lots of sail boats!

Unique landscape and busy traffic in San Francisco, on a Sunday afternoon.

Finally, we arrived at the bridge!

The city view from the bridge.

The Golden Gate Bridge, an internationally recognizable symbol of San Francisco. The longest suspension bridge in the world when it was opened in 1937.

Very thoughtful facilities on the bridge, including this….

It was a sunny and windy day. Ernest and I walked across the Golden Gate Bridge that boasted 2.737 km (1.71 miles) in length, 27 m (90 ft.) in width, and 227 m (746 ft.) in height.

For those who know me well, walking is one of my biggest enjoyments when traveling. To me, that’s a great way to experience the culture and meet the locals. According to Mom & Dad’s traveling experience with me in Canada, they are witnessed to be darker and skinnier after the trip due to extensive walking and busy itinerary. I’d like to add on, healthier too! I’d like to thank Mom & Dad for putting up with me, and Ernest too (especially our 5.5-hour way in Las Vegas in the wee hours). *v^

In the evening, I met up with Daniel, a good friend I knew from Urbana Conference. It was about two and a half years since we last met. Luckily, we has no problem recognizing each other. We went back to Lombard St. to capture pictures that I missed out from the day before, and visited a few other places after that. Thanks to Daniel for being a nice tour guide.

Lombard St., the “crookedest street.” There are always lots of traffic here. Enthusiasts who are eager to experience the extraordinary landscape of the street. I had an odd feeling that the community must be tired of tourists swarming into their neighbourhood.

Very steep hill on Lombard St. Parking at 90 degrees angle here could be a big challenge!

The Coit Tower at Telegraph Hill, built in 1933 at the bequest of Lillie Hitchcock Coit who was a volunteer firefighter.

Overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge at the top of Telegraph Hill at dusk.

The Bay Bridge from Telegraph Hill.

Before the end of the day, we visited Japantown and had a nice Japanese meal there.

The Japantown.

Interesting road signs in Japanese.

Japanese stores and restaurants everywhere.

This was the first “full-day” that we got to enjoy ourselves in the big city. Based on previous experience, my traveling mindset is very straightforward. Those “must visits” are the priority on my trip itinerary. Another important thing to keep in mind is the day of the week. For example, it won’t be a great idea to try to get into the Universal Studio on a weekend, when it’s loaded with people. So, try to avoid that if you’ve a choice.

It was a crisp Sunday morning. The Golden Gate Park and Golden Gate Bridge were on our list. Another nice thing about staying in the hostel (not all, but most do) is that breakfast is provided! Simple yet filling. Loads of bread, bagel, bun to choose from; fruit jams, peanut butter, and margarine on the side. Toaster was available too. How convenient!

Tourists were everywhere!

Ernest and I took the street car on Market St., before catching the bus that brought us right to the park entrance.

Street car station.

Busy cable lines for street cars and buses.

Attractions in the garden include: Strybing Arboretum, Japanese Tea Garden, California Academy of Sciences, Conservatory of Flowers, DeYoung Museum etc. The was a huge park!

The entrance of Japanese Tea Garden.

The California Academy of Sciences. A busy crowd!

We visited the DeYoung Museum. Palm trees that I missed so much!

Lovely trails in the park.

The Conservatory of Flowers.

Yummy tropical fruits!

It was lunch time by the time we left the park. We had a Mexican lunch at this neat take-out place, Taqueria, on Lombard St.

Enchilada that Ernest ordered; rice, salad, and black beans on the side.

Crispy Quesadilla that I had, with guacamole, salad, and sour cream.

Traveling is one of the many things I enjoy in life. Certainly, it’s among those that I enjoy the most. This is a continuation of the rest of my traveling story to West Coast of U.S.A. in spring 2009, after my posts about Grand Canyon and Las Vegas.

The very first stop, San Francisco! It was a sunny afternoon when I arrived. Due to the flight delay, my brother Ernest waited for my arrival at the airport. There are two important things to have “wandering” in a foreign city: maps & transit pass. We collected maps and brochures (which I considered them as life savers) from the tourist information booth and purchased 3-day transit passes ($20 each), as known as Muni Passports (short for SF Municipal Railway) at the airport.

The 3-day transit pass was great for commuting by bus, cable car, street car etc. within the city. The subway line from the airport to downtown, however, is operated by BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). Therefore, the transit pass was invalid and we had to get ourselves one-way subway tickets to downtown.

As we stepped out of the subway station, we spotted the famous San Francisco Cable Car. It costs $5/ride, regardless of the distance. Our transit passes came in handy ;)

This was a backpacking trip for us. After we checked into the Adelaide Hostel, we begun our exciting adventures exploring the city! We took a stroll in Chinatown.

Cable Car traveling across the Chinatown.

Looking for souvenir ideas? How about this unique penny? Insert 2 quarters and 1 penny into these crank machines (available at tourist attractions). Choose the desired image, work through the cranking motion, and there….a reshaped penny for you! Pretty cool!!

Unique architecture. I hope the stairs are only used for emergency exit?

The main entrance of San Francisco Chinatown, the oldest Chinatown in North America. To my surprise, it draws more visitors to the neighbourhood than the well-known Golden Gate Bridge!!

After a quick lunch break in the late afternoon, we explored the downtown area for the rest of the afternoon.

Not a big surprise to find streets that are extremely steep around the city! A great workout for pesdestrian walking up the street and bikers biking up the hill, and certainly a big challenge for drivers parking their cars on a steep hill!

The Transamerica Pyramid. It’s known as the tallest and most recognizable architecture in San Francisco skyline.

We  made our way to the waterfront in the evening. It was a lovely weather for staying outdoor. At dusk, we were at Lombard Street, which known as the “crookedest” street. The dark lighting wasn’t the best for pictures. Then, I thought “I’m gonna have to come back here some time, perhaps tomorrow.”

A piece of advice to San Francisco visitors: don’t expect to capture night pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge. We took the bus to the neighbourhood that overlooked the bridge. And guess what? It was pitch black and not even worth trying to take pictures. Finally, we were hungry enough to have supper around 10 p.m. We had a hard time finding a restaurant at that hour. Something to keep in mind: Don’t expect retails and restaurants open till late hours. We were in North America after all, not Asia ;) We visited the India Curry House on Columbus Ave., near Lombard Street. The pub section at the Indian resturant kept them busy till wee hour. A bonus for us, at least we found a place to dine-in.

It was close to midnight by the time we got back to the hostel. It was a busy yet fulfilling day in San Francisco!

What do you think about whitewater rafting? Exhilarating? Exciting? Adrenaline-pumping? Or all of the above?

My first whitewater rafting trip was five years ago. It was a family adventure trip to the Padas River (a.k.a. Sungai Padas) in Beaufort, Sabah. Two months ago, I had the opportunity to go for my second whitewater rafting adventure with Miles at the Penobscot River in Maine, U.S.A.

The Penobscot River is known as the most technical whitewater rafting river in the Eastern United States. Residing under the Mt. Katahdin and flowing along the banks of Baxter State Park, it offers rafters a breathtaking view of the scenic surroundings. It’s overall a Class 4 river (on a scale of 1-6) with rapids range from Class 3-5 (on a 1-6 scale).

It was a two day/one night trip with a group of 20. The package was offered by the North Country River. It was about a three-hour drive from Fredericton to the camping ground at Big Moose Inn, on a Friday evening.

We started our adventure the next morning. Brr…it was only 6 degree Celsius! To my surprise, the air was colder than the water. We were lucky to have wet suit provided for us. Even with the wet suit, we had to try our best to stay under the sun as soon as we got out of the water. It was a chilly day! I won’t mind a warmer day for whitewater rafting. Nonetheless, with nine of us in the raft (including our guide), we had a blast!

Armoured with a PDF (personal floating device), helmet, and paddle, we were all set to face the challenge!

The Falls. Water was flowing ferociously.

Here we were, on the raft.

We survived the first challenge. Hooray! We rafted along the river (Class 3 & 4) for about two hours before break time.

Oops… a raft that came behind us wasn’t so lucky… All the rafters were plunged into the river!

The Ripogenus Gorge. We were here after our lunch break, for another two hours of rafting.

A nice and steady rafting at the gorge.

This must have been a Class 5! We made it without losing anyone :)

It was simply thrilling! The worst case scenario during whitewater rafting, as you might have already expected, is raft capsize. Staying calm is the key. Knowing that you’re equipped with helmet and PFD, try to stay close to the raft to the best of your ability. The guide will then re-position the raft, hop back into the raft, and extend help to his crew.

Will I do it again? Yes, I will. For those who haven’t yet experienced it, it’s certainly worth a try!

The average tides at Hopewell Rocks is the highest in the world. How high does the tide get at Hopewell Rocks? It’s an amazing 14 metres (about 46 ft.)!! Whether to watch the high tide or low tide, it’s really up to personal preference. However, it’s best to stay for the complete tidal cycle to get a full appreciation of the tides.

How does the tides happen? This phenomenon is owe to the combination of gravitational pull of the moon and the unique shape of the Bay of Fundy, that leads to formation of tides ranging from 32 to 46 ft. The rate of the water rising is simply astonishing. It can rise between 6 and 8 vertical feet an hour!! Be sure to stay away from the coast during high tides.

During low tide, visitors have the opportunity to explore the natural rock flowerpots. Besides, caverns and tunnels can be observed. These unique sights are sculpted from geological formations millions of years older than the Canadian Rockies. There are about 100 billion tonnes of water flow in and out of the bay twice a day.

At 1:23 p.m.: The shoreline became apparent.

At 1:23 p.m.: It was safe to walk on the shore.

At 2:04 p.m.: Water has subsided significantly.

Water has subsided further, in the next few minutes.

At 2:11 p.m.: The Flower Pot Rocks still partially covered with water.

At 2:13 p.m.: We went a few steps closer to the rocks.

At 2:17 p.m.

At 2:27 p.m.

At 2:58 p.m.

At 3:29 p.m.

The low tide that day was at 3:57 p.m. Miles and I arrived at the Hopewell Rocks before noon to watch the high tide, and waited for a few hours to observe the low tide. I was deeply thrilled by the wonders of nature. The Mother Nature has special ways to present the stunning phenomenon of tidal cycle. It has certainly touched many hearts, including mine.

Hopewell Rocks, one of the most popular attractions in the province of New Brunswick. It boasts to be the home of the highest tides on the globe, a major selling point that attracts more than 100,000 visitors every year. This site opens seasonally from mid-May to mid-October. With a small charge for entrance fee, visitors are granted a tw0-day pass for an opportunity to witness both the high and low tides. Having said that, the high and low tide observation can possibly be done in one day.

Visitors have a “six-hour window” to take a stroll along the ocean floor during low tide. The time span between a high and low tide is 6 hours and 13 minutes. When is it safe to walk on the ocean floor? 3 hours before the low tide, and 3 hours after would be an ideal time to do so. For example, if the low tide is at 4 p.m., visitors can explore the ocean floor between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Since my visit to the Hopewell Rocks during low tide a few years ago, I’ve always wanted to watch the difference between the high and low tide. A few weekends ago, Miles and I’ve decided to organize a day trip there.

It was a 2.5-hour drive from Fredericton. The site was officially closed for the season. We entered through the side entrance. Surprisingly, we weren’t alone. There were a few other people arrived before us. Good thing two of us weren’t the only crazy people stood by the ocean on a chilly, breezy day.

The lovely sunshine was very much appreciated, to keep my body from freezing.

The site is closed during off-season.

At 11:48 a.m.: High tide.

At 12:46 p.m.: The water level has gone down substantially within an hour.

One of the many observation spots at the Hopewell Rocks.

Keep an eye on the time!

While waiting for the low tide, I walked around and took pictures of the surroundings.

Treemoss/Beard Lichen. It’s also better known as Old Man’s Beard.

A closer look at the Old Man’s Beard.

At 12:54 p.m.: Water level at the Flower Pot Rocks was decreasing.

The “secret pathway” that led us to the ocean floor.

Facilities such as cafe and washroom are easily accessible.

Wanting to experience sea kayaking? During the season, you may do so by renting a kayak during high tide. It’s a good way to kill some time between the tides.

More pictures…. Can you tell what they are?

These sand sculptures were amazing! They looked so real… Imagine the time and effort that the sculptors have put into their masterpieces. The creativity went wild! Some of the artwork was beyond imagination. Simply stunning!

More pictures from previous years can be found here.

The annual sand sculptures competition at New River Beach was held on August 15th this year. The registration started at 9 a.m. and judging begun at 3 p.m. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon. The busy crowd was unbelievable! Cars were parked by the highway, due to the congested route to the provincial park.