North Island Trip (3~2)

ooo I forgot to mention something on my previous post. Believe it or not, one of the World's Famouse Toilet is here in New Zealand. Here is what I found on net:-

Internationally renown artist and architect Frederick Hundertwasser could never have dreamed of the impact he was going to have on a small, rural community when he made New Zealand his second home 25 years ago. From a sleepy hollow just off the tourist track through the Bay of Islands, the Kawakawa township has burgeoned into a "must see" mecca for Hundertwasser devotees worldwide.

It all happened as a result of a public toilet - probably the most unlikely building to have ever captured international visitor attention anywhere. The project has already attracted both French and Japanese television documentary teams to Kawakawa, together with international visitors already beginning to number in the thousands. Bus tours pull up outside for photo sessions, travelers familiar with Hundertwasser's work in Europe are making special visits to the Bay of Islands rural township, and domestic visitors are making a stopover for both practical and philosophical reasons....

....So impressive has been the final result that Creative New Zealand gave the project the "premier" certificate in the Creative Places Awards 2000 contest. The results were announced at the Local Government New Zealand conference at Christchurch earlier this year. In making the award Creative New Zealand chairperson Peter Biggs said: "This project was initiated by a rural community in a district that has faced many challenges. Yet the Far North has realised a magnificent, integrated project which stands out as a gleaming example to the rest of New Zealand." The Hundertwasser toilet project was also the Urban and Landscape Design category winner in the awards.

The building is now arguably the most photographed "public loo" in New Zealand, and possibly in the world.

Source: nzherald.co.nz 27 July 2002

North Island Trip (4~1)

On the way back to Auckland, we planned to stop at Warkworth where we'll be doing Horse Riding. And my mind now directly focus on Izzah, my dearest little sister. We once talked about riding horse which is one of the Rasulallah sunnah. There are various Riding Horses packages in Malaysia, but with affordable price I only able to ride it for two rounds maybe together with the trainer pulling the horse. NOPE! That is not what I dream to, but still I remembered the joyous inside. Feeling like a king checking his armour. Alhamdulillah after so many years pf dreaming to control the horse on my own, now I have the opportunity to ride it on by myself with only $35. Here are some of the photos:-

Izzah, just so you know, Insya Allah next time I'll bring you along. I want you feel what exactly I feel on this mighty horse (mine name Phoenix), how exited it feels when it begin touting (not sure of the exactly word), I just wish you are next to me on a cute little poney. Insya Allah, I'll pray for that day=D

North Island Trip (3~1)

OK now we move to day 2. The sun on that day might be feeling shy of coming out. And it is a bad sign for us since we are planning on taking a cruise to see a really cute creatures; dolphin. But since we already booked and pay for it, so we decided to go regardless of anything. So as expected, it is a rough journey for both the passenger and the captain since it is very bumpy. But I still head to the in front part of the ship and act like a Titanic scene. A bit crazy act since I could choose to stay inside and enjoy the scenery. But why should I let this moment pass, maybe I wouldn't have this kind of opportunity again, right.

The ship go around the serenity Bay Of Island before we reach the natural environment of the dolphin. I don't know why, but they really looks exited with our visit. They keep on jumping as if it was a way of their great hospitality. But since it was a bad weather, we cant see much of them. A bit of disappointment inside, but at least we are able to see them. There is something rather than nothing.

Then we stopped at the Hole in the rock at

Hole in the rock2

Motukokako Island. Actually the trip offer going trough the hole, but luck is not on our side, so what we can do. A few photographs 'untuk mengubat luka', Alhamdulillah. Looking at it once, it looks kind of normal to have a hole which could cause by the water erosion. But somehow, looking at it for the second time, it almost looks like a person in the position of 'sujud'. Masya Allah.
Then we headed back to Paihia and decided to only enjoy it from the sofas inside. And I fallen asleep for a few moments before we almost reach the jetty. And alhamdulillah the dizziness had disappear.

North Island Trip (1)

It had been more than a week I arrived in NZ. And as soon as I arrive, I joined my friends for a splendid 4 days and 2 nights to the North Island. And this time, I am one of the driver. It takes about 3 hours to Paihia after all the fuss on the 'Cameron Hihgland-Tapah' road. But alhamdulillah everything went smoothly. So we booked an 'A' shaped backpackers with 7 beds and I would definitely grab the opportunity of sleeping at the 'loteng' which I never experienced before.
On our way to Paihia, we stopped by Whangarei Fall to grab our lunch by the waterfall. But surprisingly I found it is a natural habitat of the duckies. And none of them went to at least have a plash of water, I thought because of the cold water, but somehow it is actually full with the algae. But I just love looking at how they struggle to eat the algae. How much energy they have to put it in order to swim up side down. At Whangarei Falls, the Hatea River drops 26 metres (85 ft) over a basalt lava flow. There are walkways around the falls and along the river. The falls were originally known as Otuihau, and have been a picnic spot since at least the 1890s.
Then at night, we just have a good rest and restore some energy for the coming day:)

North Island Trip (2~1)

The next day was the best part of the trip. We joined the Awesome NZ for a day trip to Cape Reinga via 90 Mile Beach. The view is splendid but of course to find a great place you have to go up and down the hill trough the snake like road. But since the driver is an expert, so Alhamdulillah the worry is one even though the dizziness still can be felt.

Kauri Tree

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The first pit stop is Puketi Kauri Forest which is one of the world's mightiest trees, growing to more than 50 metres tall, with trunk girths of up to 16 metres. They covered much of the top half of the North Island when the first people arrived around 1000 years ago. The trees maybe would take about 4 adults 'pemeluk'. Just imagine how big it is.

Maori used their timber for boat building, carving and housing and their gum for starting fires and chewing (after it had been soaked in water and mixed with the milk of the puha plant). The gum, too, became essential in the manufacture of varnishes. Gum was obtained through digging, fossicking in treetops, or, more drastically, by bleeding live trees. The exploitation of forests increased with the demand for more and more cleared farmland. Kauri forests once covered 1.2 million hectares; now they have been reduced to 80,000 hectar.

Can I make it?Yeay!!

Then we continued our journey to the 90 mile beach which actually to be only 55 Mile beachSeveral theories have been put forward for the Ninety Mile Beach misnomer, the most common stemming from the days when missionaries travelled on horse back. On average a horse could travel 30 miles (48 km) in a day before needing to be rested. The beach took three days to travel therefore earning it the title Ninety Mile Beach, but the missionaries did not take into account the slower pace of the horses walking in the sand, thus thinking they had travelled 90 miles (140 km) when in fact they had only travelled 55. Funny isn't it, but kind of logic if we were in their shoes.

90 Mile Beach

The beach, and specifically the northern dunes are a famous tourist

destination. Few buses full with visitors could be seen when we were there. The dunes, looking very much like a desert landscape, are an unexpected sight for travellers. Which I would feel like I am in a the eastern country only we feel the cool breeze which make it a little different. The best part of the trip is surely the SAND SURFING.

90 Mile beach

But walking on the sand just make it even harder, since you have to use maybe 10 times more energy than you usually use while walking on the flat land. It takes maybe only 10 minutes for the Kiwis and the other visitors, but within the same period of time, I only make it only halfway. Need to work out even more!! But at least I make it to the top eventhough it take much time, yeay!! The view is splendid, Masya Allah, the wide blue Pacific ocean in front is indescribable. With the white layers of sand, than you could see few ranges of blue and green color and looking up above the sky and the clouds just make a great combination. It is like the BEST PRESENT ever. Alhamdulillah.

North Island Trip (2~2)

The trip doesn't end there. The happiness continue to the Taputaputa Beach which is part of the Pacific Ocean. The water is clear than ever and on top of that it is super cold inside. But of course none of us leave this moment, some Kiwis grab the surfing board just now to complete the joy. But I would just prefer to play by the seaside as the driver only gave us one hour. Changing cloths take half of the time, so it is not a very good idea to have a real bath. But it is fun of course.

The climax of the trip is the visit to Cape Reinga which is the northwesternmost tip of the New Zealand. Cape Reinga is generally considered the separation marker between the Tasman Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. Eventhiugh the color of the ocean are different, where Pacific ocean from what I reckon is dark blue while Tasmanian Ocean has turquoise like color. But at the meeting point, the color doesnt mix at all where you could tell the different by looking at it. Maybe they have different concentration or something. Then, it reminds me a verse from the Quran,

"He has let loosed the two seas (the salt water and the sweet) meeting together. Between them is a barrier which none of them can transgress."[Ar-Rahman:19-20]
Subhanallah, Al-Quran has it all. Everything is there. Before scientist had discover that they didnt mix because of the concentration Al-Quran had mention about it long time ago. So it suppose to be no surprise only there is scientific ways of explaining it.
In Maori belief, the the spirits of the dead travel to Cape Reinga on their journey to the afterlife in the spiritual homeland of Hawaiki, using the Te Ara Wairua, the 'Spirits' pathway'.So Cape Reinga is considered as the most sacrat place in their belief.
Then after taking few photos we are back on the bus and take our way back to Paihia. We also drop by for a bite of fish n chips and to the souvenir shop at Ancient Kauri Kingdom. But couldnt afford to buy all those expensive one but postcard is enough for Izzah to be pasted on the wall in our room. After a whole day journey it surely make us tired but can't deny the deep happiness inside for the opportunity for having all this experience and being able to see all this, I wish I can come here again with my loved ones again and witness HIS greatness insya Allah. Do come Umi Abah Nana Eti Fadhil Izzah=)