Heavenly Paradise@AdelineAng.com

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.

Cool breeze, red and yellow fallen leaves… These are certainly signs of an early arrival of fall! Believe it or not, this was speculated in late July. I was thinking: if the season is shifting at this rate, we’d see snow in the fall!

The weather has gone whacky this year. Just as I was hoping for a longer summer days, the heat wave hitted Fredericton on the first week of September! On the night of September 1st, the heat was unbearable in my room (for someone like me who grew up in the hot climate to say “hot,” it means really hot). After a few minutes of toss and turn, I fianlly got up from bed and decided to find out my room temperature with a fridge thermometer.

I was right… I was reading it right… 36.5 degrees Celsius in my room! Trying to fall asleep in the body temperature-like “sauna” room was driving me nuts! How I wished I had an air-conditioning unit at that very instant! I convinced myself that it was a “warm-up” for my next visit to Malaysia. Thank God I didn’t get up till the alarm went off in the morning as soon as I fell asleep.

I was truly blessed by the dry summer; biking almost every day all summer long! Having said that, the water level was at an alarming stage where people can literally walk across the river.

The heavy rainfall from last weekend, partially affected by Hurricane Earl has helped with the drastic transition from summer to fall, once again…

Not a dozen, nor a hundred
But a single one
One that shows its vibrant red
Sparkles as the light shines on

On the pond, printed image of two
Once were strangers
Not knowing each other
Are now sharing love together

Most people would probably agree with me that puddles aren’t pleasant to stumble into. Muddy and yucky. Eww! Pedestrians, especially, have to be extra cautious while walking along the sidewalk. Try to stay as far away from the road as possible. The “man-made fountain” is not as pretty as you thought it might be; yucky splashing water when a car is driven by the puddle is best to be avoided.

Apparently, carrying an umbrella on a rainy day can be very useful. Besides keeping ourselves dry, it can potentially be used as a “shield” to protect us from the splashing water.

Having said that, puddles can be a great setup for capturing water reflection images. Pretty cool!

I wanted to prepare some tom yam fried rice for supper one night and decided to come out with a dish with seasonal theme. The colours of the season: green (broccoli), orange (carrots), yellow (eggs), and red (tomatoes).

Bon appetit!

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.

Tide in and tide out,
Tidal cycle repeats itself.
You said to fear not,
‘Cause I’m not by myself.

Holding my hand, I said in prayer;
Hoping this moment will last forever.
Holding your hand, you said to separate never;
Hoping we’ll be happily together.

Halloween is celebrated on October 31st each year. It’s a secular celebration that involves trick-or-treating for young kids, costume parties, pumpkin carving, ghost tours, watching horror movies etc.

My halloween experience from last year can be found here. This is my first year giving out treats to the young children at the door. Most kids came between 6 and 8 p.m., with their halloween outfit.

Halloween treats.

Trick-or-treating:

This cute “monkey” was my favourite!

Pumpkins were hard to find this year, especially the good ones, due to the wet weather. Nonetheless, we managed to find some small pumpkins for carving.

The black cat.

The haunted house.

The owl.

This big pumpkin was carved a week before Halloween, but it lasted only for a few days before the pumpkin was rotten so badly that we had to throw it out.

What is your favourite apple? McIntosh, Lady Pink, Cortland, Honey Crisp, or Gala? To  me, those freshly picked apples are the best! Nothing can beat that.

My first apple picking experience three years ago was great. I missed it so much that I wanted to go again! The apples were fresh & crisp, and tasted better than those store-bought ones. Besides eating on its own, apple is great for baking too.

$6 for 10lb bag of apples (McIntosh, Lobo, Gravenstein etc.)! It’s a price that you can never find at the grocery stores. Furthermore, the fun of picking apples off the trees is priceless!

The vibrant colour, cool breeze and clear sky. These are some of the many things I like about the fall season. Nonetheless, frosty morning and freezy evening can be rather brutal.

I enjoy taking pictures of fall scenery, which can be so different from year to year. I didn’t think I’ll ever get tired of it. I was especially amazed by the wonderful nature during my very first autumn experience in Canada. The amusement from observing the colour change in the environment was beyond comprehension. I’d pause and enjoy the surroundings, on my way to classes each day.

The colour changes slowly, and leaves fall gradually; the transition of the season displays its unique pattern everyday.