Fox Glacier : My own Drama

Day 3 : 12 March 2012

I woke up late and kelam kabut to get things done. The four hours ahead is killing me softly...haha... Half day fox glacier trip begins at 8.30am meaning that I have to wake up at 3am. Lucky we found the place last night. I was trying to pack my stuff as fast as I can and when we arrived, we missed the briefing.

We are divided into two groups and each one of us need to get our jacket, pants, glove and spike shoes prior to the bus ride. As I almost hop on into the bus, I realised my camera pouch was missing. Oooo.. and the drama started.

I run back to the car and open the boot.. open my bag... wasn't there. Cari cari lagi tak ada. I decided to drove back to the motel and sms my friend to wait for me for a while. Sampai motel, ran to the room and keep on searching under the blanket, inside the drawer, on the table, side table and almost every where.. but the camera was not there. So I drove back to the check point with disappointment.

Parked my car and run as fast as I can to the bus... and felt guilty (as big as the mountain) as the whole people in the bus was actually waiting for me. A bit hesitate we continue our journey to fox glacier. I felt ashamed of being late and made all those tourists waiting for me. Lesson number 2 - Expect the unexpected,  manage your own  time.

Starting point

I was like not in the mood to talk or anything. I just keep quiet the whole time. Kesian my friend,  has to give in to my sulky face. Our tour leader named Zahra was explaining about the glacier panjang lebar... bla bla bla.. but all I could think  of is the camera. The camera was not mine. I borrowed from a friend since my own camera is with my lil brother.  Nampaknya kena ganti la balik.

Zahra the worrior

This is where we start to put our spiky shoes on. The spike is to help us to walk and to avoid us from falling due to the slippery surface of the glacier. Took one of the stick and continue hiking.

It was a bit windy and that has added some difficulty for me to hike. My nose was like going to fall off. At certain point it was really cold. Seeing the real glacier makes me feel small and tiny. Due to the change of climate, this huge area of glacier is getting smaller and smaller by years. How sad it is kan.. It was something.. i tell you. Put aside my sulky face and off mood.. the glacier walk was one of the memorable activities i had ever experienced.

Perhaps my camera phone doesn't do enough justice to the glacier. But if you are visiting South NZ, this is a must do activity. Half a day trip (4 hours) cost NZ 109 per person.

Going down was much easier with the help of the stick.

Half of the way going down, the tour leader informed me that someone from the motel called and requested me to drop by as i left some of my stuff there. Oh... that must be my camera.. hehe.. see how good these people are... Alhamdullillah. Lucky i let the girl know where i"m heading to next morning when she gives me the torch light. So all the way down to the check point, i'm smiling...like this rock

We continue our journey to Wanaka, 260 km from the fox glacier. I'm exhausted mental and physical but I can't sleep in the car.

Not sure why the rocks has been assemble like this. Interesting.

Arrived safely after more than 3 hours and found out the hotel was packed with very loud gen Y partying all over the places. Oh kita layan je. How worst it can be compared to lost of your precious belonging. After all its only for one night and the supermarket is just next to the hotel. Easy. 

That night we bought some more food and cooked maggi mee for dinner. Somehow i cant sleep that night. I watched 'when you are sleeping' instead. Switched off tv.. and counting the sheep.