Holiday: New Zealand
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| Waiting for my train |
So my journey begins: First, train ride to New Delhi - 14 hours, then to Singapore 6 hours, layover 5 hours, then to Sydney another 6 hours with layover 6 hours and finally after 3 hours touchdown Auckland. Total length of journey 47 hours, but is was worth it. Funny thing about airports. Thousands and millions of people departs and arrives from different parts of the country and most airport provides facilities for it. My biggest concern was my luggage. Since I endured two stopovers I was concern about luggage.
I even hate the thought of even losing my luggage. I was so happy to see my luggage turn up on the conveyor belt. So stoked. Once I got my stuff together, sailed through customs, picked up by my dad I was home sweet home bound.
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| So good bye to this |
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| Welcome to this: Picton, New Zealand |
I was glad to get some cheap return tickets or round tickets as the Americans would say. I went to Taranaki. It was raining all the time. However, on my last day I saw Mount Taranaki. She looked beautiful. I have experienced and I heard from locals that when the mountain is surround by clouds, this means it will rain but if you can clearly see the mountain then this means it will be a sunny day. That day was a beautiful sunny day.
Egmont National Park can be found on the western coast of New Zealand's North Island. Here the volcano Taranaki (or Mt Egmont as it is also known) rules supreme. In Māori tara means mountain peak and naki is thought to come from ngaki meaning shining - referring to the mountain’s winter snow cover. "Generally the summit route can be undertaken in good weather, but a lot of ill-advised trips are taken by people on a tight timeframe. So the summit is not to be taken lightly and, of course, we have classic New Zealand weather, very changeable."
Many visitors to Egmont National Park were caught out by how quickly they found themselves high on the slopes of Mt Taranaki, he said.
"You can drive to 900m and then walk very quickly to 1500m, which really means you're in the alpine zone and that's a big element of risk."
The best advice he could give to people wanting to enjoy trekking on the mountain was to give themselves plenty of time.
"Take the time to wait for a good weather window and get good advice before heading to the mountain rather than arriving with a preconceived plan."
So I managed to catch up with my friends in Taranaki. During this time, I had meals usually I am deprived in India.
I had my bucket list ready for my holidays and most of them was to do with food. It left so different in New Zealand. I begun to appreciate little things and big things.
Winter in New Zealand never felt so better. Leaving a 46 degree Celsius atmosphere behind was not a regret.
Can't wait to do thing I love to do.
Cheers All
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| Mount Taranaki / Mount Egmont |
Egmont National Park can be found on the western coast of New Zealand's North Island. Here the volcano Taranaki (or Mt Egmont as it is also known) rules supreme. In Māori tara means mountain peak and naki is thought to come from ngaki meaning shining - referring to the mountain’s winter snow cover. "Generally the summit route can be undertaken in good weather, but a lot of ill-advised trips are taken by people on a tight timeframe. So the summit is not to be taken lightly and, of course, we have classic New Zealand weather, very changeable."
Many visitors to Egmont National Park were caught out by how quickly they found themselves high on the slopes of Mt Taranaki, he said.
"You can drive to 900m and then walk very quickly to 1500m, which really means you're in the alpine zone and that's a big element of risk."
The best advice he could give to people wanting to enjoy trekking on the mountain was to give themselves plenty of time.
"Take the time to wait for a good weather window and get good advice before heading to the mountain rather than arriving with a preconceived plan."
So I managed to catch up with my friends in Taranaki. During this time, I had meals usually I am deprived in India.
I had my bucket list ready for my holidays and most of them was to do with food. It left so different in New Zealand. I begun to appreciate little things and big things.
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| Picton: Top of the South Island |
Winter in New Zealand never felt so better. Leaving a 46 degree Celsius atmosphere behind was not a regret.
Can't wait to do thing I love to do.
Cheers All
