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标题: A getaway in Tasmania [打印本页]
作者: yping88    时间: 4-11-2014 19:41
标题: A getaway in Tasmania
本帖最后由 yping88 于 9-11-2014 20:37 编辑

So long, Melbourne!!![attach]330959[/attach]
作者: yping88    时间: 4-11-2014 19:46
本帖最后由 yping88 于 4-11-2014 21:27 编辑

Here we are in your arms, Tasmania!!!
作者: yping88    时间: 4-11-2014 19:49
本帖最后由 yping88 于 4-11-2014 19:50 编辑

Haaahaaa!

Devonport is upside down, unfortunately, there is nothing I can do about it!

Further treatment for your neck problem, @retirement @littleharry @Tbaussie
作者: MICHELLE07    时间: 4-11-2014 21:04
My lady, this is spectacular! ...reminds me of <Titanic>...
作者: yping88    时间: 4-11-2014 21:20
MICHELLE07 发表于 4-11-2014 21:04
My lady, this is spectacular! ...reminds me of ...

It does, doesn't it! I had the same thought too the moment I had a glance at it!
作者: littleharry    时间: 5-11-2014 13:42
yping88 发表于 4-11-2014 19:49
Haaahaaa!

Devonport is upside down, unfortunately, there is nothing I can do about it!

太棒了！！我等着treatment！！
作者: yping88    时间: 8-11-2014 17:32
5 days into the west coast trip in Tasmania, I got the internet access for the first time. Just drop a line letting you all know that we're doing great here. But, I have been missing you all an awful lot. To tell you a secret that a life without FreeOz sucks!!!

Good thing is that the terrific scenary helps me with my FreeOz--sick symptoms!
作者: yping88    时间: 9-11-2014 20:40
@serin

I finally got the chance to delete that photo that might be sensitive to someone in the introduction! Thank you for bringing that up to my attention!
作者: yping88    时间: 14-11-2014 23:04
本帖最后由 yping88 于 28-11-2014 16:20 编辑

We have made it to Launceston tonight, but I am still in awe how excited Hobart people have been about XiJinPing's upcoming visit to this island!

I have been asked in Hobart so many times on the street, cafe, information center and shops about what I have expected out of Xi's visit to Tasmania. People kept telling me how significant his Tassie trip will be, and how much both China's and Tasmania's economy will be mutually benefited from the promising trading deal!

I told them that XiJinPing's connection with Tasmania went way, way back when he was the governor in FuJian province! FuZhou city and Tasmania have been in a brotherly bond for years. And I do believe their talks will be going smoothly and the mutually beneficial trades will be put in place!

Heeeheee, I never thought I could be this diplomatic as far as the politics is concerned! I felt I was forced to grow up fast politically in Tasmania!!!
作者: yping88    时间: 14-11-2014 23:10
Another thing I got from those chats was that about 50 special police personnel have been deployed to Tasmania for about half year now to work together with their Tasmania's counterparts for Xi's safety during his visit in Tasmania!  
作者: yping88    时间: 15-11-2014 09:04
Thank you for highlighting this topic, Yearshappy! I will definitely follow this up with so much more. please bear with me!
作者: yearshappy    时间: 16-11-2014 12:58
yping88 发表于 14-11-2014 23:04
We have made it to Launceston tonight, but I am still in the awe how excited Hobart people have been ...

a rare opportunity to pass the positive messages about China and its people to the locals
seize it to make the most of it
well-done, yping, i'm proud of you
作者: yping88    时间: 18-11-2014 12:12
Back to Melbourne from the 13-day trip around the coastal route around Tasmania! Felt exhausted but absolutely excited and impressed! I will take a few days off, and then get my itinerary reorganized. Hopefully, I could tell you all the stories about Tasmania/Tasmanians from my point of view, and do my best talking about this trip to complement what you have experienced, heard or read!

Please stick around!  
作者: yping88    时间: 18-11-2014 19:27
本帖最后由 yping88 于 20-7-2017 09:58 编辑

Personal impression on Tasmanians:

1. Friendly

   Wherever we went, we have always been greeted by people--Locals, tourists and hotel staff...Later on, I will give the examples in the relevant locations!

2. Better driving manners

   When we got lost in the directions, we sort of stopped in the middle of the traffic, not knowing which direction we should be heading to. We never got any driver behind us horned angrily. The drivers definitely showed their patience and tolerance while we were figuring out our should-be route.

3. A boat captain is way, way more than a captain, while they took us for a ride on the lake, or the sea, they well know their city, the city's history, forest, vegetation and some anecdotes of their ancestors. A zoo keeper is way, way more than a feeder or a carer. She could be very knowledgeable about that animal's (Take Tasmania Devil for instance) breed, lifestyle, what that animal's level is in a food chain and what research is being carried out to pull that animal out of the endangered list, etc.

In one word, we have been very much in awe how much they know what they are doing and how dramatically our stereotype about those professions has been turned all the way around.

4. Information center is a very crucial resource for us in terms of the major attractions we could visit based on our time frame. The staff would even create a list of main attractions in order depending on the weather and sunshine!

More to follow, please stay tuned!  
作者: yping88    时间: 18-11-2014 19:51
本帖最后由 yping88 于 27-1-2015 15:10 编辑

Itinerary:

03/11/14---Port Melbourne to Devenport, Tasmania by Spirit of Tasmania

04/11/14--Queenstown, Tasmania

05/11/14-07/11/14 Cradle Mountain

08/11/14--Lake St Clair

09/11/14-10/11/14--Hobart

11/11/14--Port Arthur

12/11/14--13/11/14--Bicheno

14/11/14--Launceston

15/11/14--Launceston to Devenport, board Spirit of Tasmania to Melbourne

PS: I made a big mistake booking the accommodation in Queenstown for the first night, because I thought our accommodation was sitting in between Cradle Mountain and Franklin-Gordon national park. But actually, Cradle mountain is the north border of Cradle Mountain national park, and Lake St Clair claims the south border of it, Franklin-Gordon national park extends southwards from the lake!

Because of my misunderstanding of the geography, we did a bit extra traveling. But we make the best out of this unfortunate ignorance!

But if our itinerary could be of any reference at all, I suggest you to make the first stop at Cradle Mountain's north border, then, go southwards!
作者: yearshappy    时间: 18-11-2014 20:58
yping88 发表于 18-11-2014 19:51
Itinerary:

03/11/14---Port Melbourne to Devenport, Tasmania by Spirit of Tasmania

A trip down to the far south is always somewhere in the back of my head.
You took the ferries. What about flying in, and then hire a car, do a half circle the stays? Would refer to your itinerary
作者: yping88    时间: 18-11-2014 21:07
Believe me, Yearshappy! This trip is so worthwhile, I have rated the most joyful, most adventurous and wildest experience I have ever taken myself through!

Yeah, we have met some people who flew in from somewhere, hired a caravan locally and completed their adventure! But, we took our car over there by the ferry!  
作者: yping88    时间: 18-11-2014 21:09
yearshappy 发表于 18-11-2014 20:58
A trip down to the far south is always somewhere in the back of my head.
You took the ferries. W ...

Believe me, Yearshappy! This trip is so worthwhile, I have rated the most joyful, most adventurous and wildest experience I have ever taken myself through!

Yeah, we have met some people who flew in from somewhere, hired a caravan locally and completed their adventure! But, we took our car over there by the ferry!  
作者: yearshappy    时间: 18-11-2014 21:54
本帖最后由 yearshappy 于 18-11-2014 21:55 编辑
yping88 发表于 18-11-2014 21:09
Believe me, Yearshappy! This trip is so worthwhile, I have rated the most joyful, most adventurous ...


seated and I'm all ears - the people you met, the talks between you and the locals, the history and geography of the Apple Isle, all stories behind, do  bring them on if you don't mind

One thing for sure, tassie wouldn't be coloured in brown and red like the outback of Queensland. Would it?
作者: yearshappy    时间: 18-11-2014 22:07
yping88 发表于 18-11-2014 21:09
Believe me, Yearshappy! This trip is so worthwhile, I have rated the most joyful, most adventurous ...


What i've known about Tassie is the island from a long time ago and its indigenous tribes
the display veggie patch from a TV program named Gardening Australia that's all
作者: yping88    时间: 18-11-2014 22:10
yearshappy 发表于 18-11-2014 21:54
seated and I'm all ears - the people you met, the talks between you and the locals, the history  ...

Thank you for lending your ears to my Tassie story, Yearshappy!
作者: yping88    时间: 19-11-2014 07:47
本帖最后由 yping88 于 19-11-2014 08:46 编辑

Courtesy reminders:

1. Be well-prepared in terms of wear--Mountain boots, water-proof coat, even winter coat are indispensable, because in Cradle mountain, MT Wellington and open sea of Port Arthur, the weather could unpredictably wild all year round.

2. Fill up your car-tank whenever able to if you travel in west coast, because somewhere in the high mountains, it is barely populated. There are might be no gas-station at all within hundreds of kilometers' radius.

3. Visit the information center first wherever you are interested in touring around, no matter how well prepared you think you are. Because the way you are traveling depends on the different weather and different seasons!

4. Put your details down in the registration book provided in the entrances to the national parks, just for the safety record.  And make sure to sign yourself off on your way out to show the park rangers that you are safe. I will talk about this a little bit further in the relevant events in the following posts!
作者: yping88    时间: 19-11-2014 07:56
My supposed-to-be perfect tour route: (Counter-clockwise)

Devenport-->Cradle Mountain (2 days)-->Queenstown （1 day）-->Lake St Clair (2 days)-->Hobart (2 days)-->Port Arthur (1 day)-->Bicheno (2 days)-->Launceston (1 day)--Devenport
作者: yping88    时间: 19-11-2014 12:19
All of our accommodations in Tassie were booked through this company, which offers the best possible deals all year round everywhere in the world!

http://www.wotif.com/

Of course, if you hire the caravan, you won't need this information. But, please be aware, if you travel in the caravan, you need to book for a spot in the hot seasons long before your travel. In a relatively less popular season, you have to make it to any caravan parks before 1800 within the business hours, otherwise, your overnight stay would be highly unpredicted!
作者: yping88    时间: 19-11-2014 14:14
03/11/2014--Port Melbourne to Devenport by Spirit of Tasmania

We went to the information center onboard and sought advice on the Tassie tour! First thing we were advised to buy was the general pass to all national parks in Tassie, which costs only $60 but covers the parking fee for the vehicle that travels with you and the admission fee for people who travel in the vehicle (regardless of the number of the people within the vehicle's carrying capacity), and this pass will be valid for up to 2 months.

It turns out to be our first wise purchase even before entering Tassie, because later on during the trip, we came across some tourists who got parking infringement ticket ($50), who had to buy their entrance ticket for $16.5 per person which is valid for 24 hours.

作者: yping88    时间: 19-11-2014 14:58
本帖最后由 yping88 于 30-11-2014 07:22 编辑

Our 1st stop: Emu Valley-Rhododendron Garden

This garden is run totally by the volunteers who love the gardening and are willing to devote their time and wisdom to maintaining this garden. This is constantly blossoming for all seasons, and the plants have proved the agricultural diversity---including Himalayas, China, Japan and north America.

Hopefully, the photos below would give you the real sense of agricultural diversity!
作者: yping88    时间: 19-11-2014 15:27
This kind of loneliness and tranquility have always hit me up with the untold beautiful stories, I could stay in it forever doing nothing but purposeless thinking!
作者: yping88    时间: 19-11-2014 15:30
Could it be me living in somewhere unknown surrounded by nothing but the red dirt and natural beauty!
作者: yping88    时间: 19-11-2014 16:19
Dip falls--On the way over to Stanley from Devenport, right after Wynyard, turn off to the left from the highway. The water presents with the rusty color, meaning the rich contents of minerals!

During this tour, I heard a very touching story of a family!

When we asked a couple about directions, we were given a very detailed information about almost the whole region: Where the main tourist attractions are, which route to take to get there, etc. After our tour around these falls, they were still there, seemingly not very impressed by the scenic views with the lady focusing on her knitting task! I asked them:

"You two seem to know your way around very well here, do you live here locally or you just take a break from your tour?"

"No, we live about 50 kilometers away. We are just here waiting for our son to knock off from his duty!"

"Where does he work if you don't mind me asking?" Apparently my wonder goes beyond what I asked!

"Remember you driving past a honey factory on your way over here? It's a factory providing a job for the handicapped people, our son is intellectually challenged and he works there. In order to support his independence of living, we drive him here to work 4 days a week because he is unable to drive himself. After dropping him off every time, we just come here and stay in the forest for hours until he gets off from work!" Said the gentleman.

"Wow, that's a long day on a daily basis for you two. Don't you have to work?" I went on throwing them with more questions.

"We have both retired and just have to support our son's independence all the way through. It is very important for him to earn his living on his own, and he wins confidence in his ability as well!"

Here, I would like to acknowledge again the courage that boy has shown to stand up on his own, to salute the couple again for the sacrifice they have made for their son to become and stay an independent man with grace!

They are definitely unsung heroes who would set the perfect examples for those who unfortunately fell handicapped for whatever reasons, for those parents who unfortunately have have an under-privileged child!
作者: yping88    时间: 19-11-2014 16:42
Random snapshots on the way to Wynyard--a little north coastal town of Tasmania!
作者: yping88    时间: 19-11-2014 17:02
A few snapshots on the way over to Queenstown show you how windy the mountainous road is and what a bio-diversity the mountains can offer you in terms of the vegetation!
作者: yping88    时间: 19-11-2014 17:18
The mountains are nothing short of rivers and lakes! No wonder Tasmania is so green!

At that point, I totally understand why Tasmanian environmental authorities insist that Tassie has got a unique Eco-system apart from the mainland Australia, nothing posing a risk to this system should be introduced into it by tourist business!

The custom officers take no risk at all and go all out reinforcing how dangerous that could be if anything biologically damaging is imposed upon Tassie's eco-system when entry-screening the tourists both boarding and disembarking the ferry.
作者: yping88    时间: 19-11-2014 17:29
These photos were taken around Queenstown, and they are Copper mines and tell a story how prosperous the mining business could be in the past! The mines are not currently in operation, but the authorities are discussing about reopening the business in the near future!

I believe no matter how the Tasmanians go about the mining industry, they would definitely weigh out the pros and cons of taking advantage of mining and over exploiting it given how much they care about Tassie's natural blessings and the value of the world heritages!
作者: yping88    时间: 19-11-2014 17:54
本帖最后由 yping88 于 20-11-2014 23:07 编辑

Our accommodation in Queenstown--Penghana Bed & Breakfast. This property was built in 1898 on the top of a high hill when the copper mining was flourished. It was owned by a few mine managers including the first one Mr Robert Sticht. It now has been claimed as National Trust Property and can only be used as a tourist attraction and accommodation. No major construction work is allowed without authority's permission.

To tell you a secret, I am not a fan of royal family at all. However, when I stayed there in the property, showed myself all around it, overlooked the rest of Queenstown, I got a creepy feeling of being a member of royal descendants. While I was standing in front of the window , I felt the very urge to give orders to the maid：

“Tea please, Trudy! (Rose's mother's line in Titanic!)”

What an imaginary royal bitch!
作者: yping88    时间: 20-11-2014 09:45
本帖最后由 yping88 于 29-11-2014 09:03 编辑

A deserted copper mine located southeast to Queenstown --Iron Blow!

作者: yping88    时间: 20-11-2014 12:22
本帖最后由 yping88 于 21-11-2014 01:49 编辑

05/11/14--Queenstown to Cradle Mountain

Strahan---Another big town in west coast, it stands out as an import port in that region nowadays because of Gordon River. There is the tourist cruise running through the winding Gordon River path along the mountains, taking the tourists through the stunning, breathtaking scenic views along the 193 kilometers long water-way. This tour offers the beauty of the west coast that could otherwise not easily be accessible to tourists who travel in the alternative means!

Unfortunately, when we got there, the cruise had been already sailed out to the waters on a daily schedule and we didn't book any accommodation in Strahan either! I guess this could be a perfect excuse for us to go back to Tasmania for another expedition later on!  

It was a rainy day during our short stop in Strahan, so it didn't present us with its real spectacular beauty! But, we could still feel it, and my curiosity about this river remains!
作者: yping88    时间: 20-11-2014 12:31
Note written on the entrance to the information center in Strahan serves as a proof how the rest of the dull, artificial world has been discriminated against by Tasmanian's Ecology community!   
作者: yping88    时间: 20-11-2014 12:35
We can absolutely appreciate the density and bio-diversity of the vegetation in the mountains of west coast, Tasmania!
作者: yping88    时间: 20-11-2014 12:56
A private collection of wood sculptures from the high mountains by a family over 45 years! The owner was joking about his collection when asked how he could make those sculptures:

"We didn't have to do anything but hike in the mountains, keep the artist eyes out for something artistic, bring them back home, use a bit imagination and display them there. That's how the whole collection came around!"
作者: yping88    时间: 20-11-2014 13:04
本帖最后由 yping88 于 20-11-2014 13:27 编辑

The King Billy Pine that gentleman took from Cradle Mountain and planted in his front yard 20+ years ago!

This kind of pine tree has been claimed to only thrive in high-altitude Cradle Mountain region, it has a remarkably slow growing process and long life span. In the high mountains, its full length could reach as high as 30+ meters. I will talk about it in detail in the following posts when I take you through our Cradle Mountain adventure!
作者: yearshappy    时间: 21-11-2014 10:57
a visual feast, yping!
it seems i don't have to do any research on this island before my departure Can't get any better than this
作者: yping88    时间: 21-11-2014 12:17
yearshappy 发表于 21-11-2014 10:57
a visual feast, yping!
it seems i don't have to do any research on this island before my ...

I wonder when your holiday in Tassie will be, yearshappy?

I'm afraid our route in west coast couldn't be a perfect reference, because I made a botched visiting sequence due to lacking of research beforehand. But our plan in east coast turned out to be a perfect one!
作者: yearshappy    时间: 22-11-2014 14:51
yping88 发表于 21-11-2014 12:17
I wonder when your holiday in Tassie will be, yearshappy?

I'm afraid our route in west coast c ...

It's supposed to be one week after. Now I put it on hold, heading to NSW instead.
作者: yping88    时间: 22-11-2014 21:37
本帖最后由 yping88 于 22-11-2014 21:40 编辑

05/11--07/11/14: Cradle Mountain

Introduction:

There are six national parks in Tasmania listed as the wilderness world heritage area by UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Culture Organization), and Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park takes up an important rank among them, with the rest named Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Hartz Mountains National Park, Mole Creek Karst National Park, Southwest National Park, Walls of Jerusalem National Park, Mt Field National Park.

Cradle mountain serves as the northern border of this Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair national park, while Lake St Clair finishes up this park about 80+ Kilometers southwards into Franklin-Gordon national park.

Cradle mountain sits on a latitude of 1545 meters above the sea level, and it is named so due to its resemblance to a gold mining cradle! The world-wide famous Over Land Track starts at Cradle Mountain, and I will talk about this track in the following post.
作者: yping88    时间: 22-11-2014 22:03
We missed the turn-off sign to our accommodation and were blessed with these stunning views!

So, who said mistakes only give rise to negative outcomes, oh?
作者: yping88    时间: 23-11-2014 17:13
For the first time ever I was in a close vicinity of Cradle Mountain, which kept coming to me in my dreams, it was a rainy day. So, the Cradle Mountain just kept teasing me by hiding in the fog or coming out partially. Most of the time, I felt like I was walking around it in a sweet dream, from which I would prefer not to wake up!
作者: yping88    时间: 23-11-2014 17:27
The three-hour walking circuit around Lake Dove which looking up on Cradle Mountain from afar is a must-walk track during your Cradle Mountain visit, I bet you would seriously question yourself in your decision-making skills if you miss out on that track!   

That boat shed became an often-photograghed icon in Dove Lake circuit. It was built in 1940s and stood quietly by the lake!
作者: yping88    时间: 23-11-2014 17:37
A little rain-forest hiding in the Lake Dove walking track!
作者: yping88    时间: 23-11-2014 17:51
本帖最后由 yping88 于 23-11-2014 17:54 编辑

A scary Halloween party on a board-walking track in Cradle Mountain National Park!!!
作者: yping88    时间: 23-11-2014 20:14
本帖最后由 yping88 于 23-11-2014 20:49 编辑

Devils @ Cradle

Tasmanian Devils are the world largest carnivorous Marsupials (食肉袋类动物) that currently found to inhabit only in Tasmania's wilderness, they prefer to live in the coastal bushlands and forest!

They have a very short life span of 5-6 years, and have a very low surviving rate as the new offspring compared to the numbers of little tiny babies produced in one gestation. A shocking poor odds as in 4 out of possible 50 newborns of one female could survive on their mother's only 4 nipples. These strongest four would hang on to these nipples after winning the competition for them, leaving the rest of the siblings starving to death.

The ones who make it to their life will highly likely suffer from the facial tumor probably due to their devouring diet habit (They will not screen out what they can eat out of a game, they will swallow the skin, meat, fur and bones altogether) and won't be able to live into their adulthood.

As a result, their numbers in the wilderness have diminished alarmingly during the last decade. In 2007, the total adult population were estimated at 25,000 after 60% decrease from the population of 2001's and they were listed as the endangered species by International Union for Conservation of Nature.

On the food chain, they stay at nearly bottom of it. They hunt for food as the scavengers (食腐动物) rather than proactively hunt for it, and they usually scare away the primary hunters from the preys by growling like a devil (Maybe that's how they got that name!) and then they would claim the carcasses their own! As an animal of small size, they have a surprisingly tough jaw that gives them the advantage when feeding on the carcasses!

Nowadays, in the devil sanctuary, they have commenced a program aimed increasing the devil infants' surviving chance by hand rearing them, or alternatively put four babies on devil mother's nipples in turn. The staff have achieved some positive outcomes, but, there are still a lot things to be done to sustain or increase the devil's population.

The promising side of protecting this endangered species is they are quite adaptable to the sanctuary's environment and feeding regimes, which micmic their natural habitant and diet pattern (Devouringly swallow all parts of one big carcass at one meal and then go for days without eating anything until next prey becomes available).  

Good news is: In mainland Australia, Victoria has been chosen as the first state for a small group of devils to be introduced in. Hopefully, in the near future, we will be able to get upclose to them in Melbourne!  
作者: yping88    时间: 23-11-2014 21:43
本帖最后由 yping88 于 28-11-2014 16:35 编辑

I picked out these two photos and uploaded them separately here, because I would like to acknowledge this staff specially for the Tasmanian Devils information she passed on to the tourists and the commitment she has made to this program of bringing this particular species out of the endangered list!

Her vast knowledge base of Devils--their habitant, growth, life style, breeding and offspring's upbringing, feeding habit, adaption ability and their introduction to new environment, etc, etc...---absolutely stunned me and startled me out of my habitual believe system: She is way, way, way more than just a zoo keeper, she is a much devoted, knowledgeable staff member who loves what she has been doing, and she addressed each devil by their names.

She told the audience that the food resource for the devils in the sanctuary can only come from the shooting games. Road kills can never be any meals for the devils in the sanctuary because of the unknown diseases residing in those killed animals even though they are much more easily accessible to the meal supply unit in the program.

A male devil will identify himself or be respected by his fellow devils as a king who dominate a particular ground based on his size. Normally, this king devil would get the meal first whenever it's available and then mark an individualized territory around this meal by urinating in a circle. His fellow devil friends would make many desperate attempts in approaching that meal and get intimidated away by his horrible growling! They would usually get hold onto the leftovers while the king devil loses his interest in that meal or he is distracted by something else more attempting!

From my point of view, the reason they are called devils is that they fight to death for their survival at the price of losing their own siblings and keep Law of Jungle (丛林法则) brutally alive in their own family!!!





作者: yping88    时间: 24-11-2014 16:16
本帖最后由 yping88 于 28-11-2014 16:41 编辑

07/11/14 was a sunny day, we decided to make the most out of by walking a 6-8-hour highland track, and then went on doing Cradle Mountain Summit climbing!

The following photos are perfect representatives of why I have ranked Cradle Mountain as my much-loved mountain! I don't think I could ever put in words how I was amazed by its beauty, serenity, elegance, and yet intriguing and muscularity! I have never seen anything that can combine together all the above descriptions until I set my foot on the track leading me to the Cradle Mountain!

A courtesy reminder: Please put your excitement in check while browsing through the photos, but the whistles will be tolerated!   
作者: yping88    时间: 24-11-2014 16:39
After we trekked along near Cradle Mountain's rough base, it was trying to remind us out of its courtesy of the possible challenges ahead.

The closer we trekked towards it, the louder its voice of warning had become: Are you sure of what you are demanded of to finish off this summit climbing adventure? Have you gone enough research? Enough preparation? Reasonable mountain-climbing strategies? Enough strength? Enough resilience & persistence?  

Are you ready both physically and psychologically? Take your time, think it over and answer these questions before you go any further!!!
作者: yping88    时间: 24-11-2014 23:15
No matter how high the mountains go, the water will follow their path!!!
作者: yping88    时间: 24-11-2014 23:19
The snow patches left by the heavy snow fall one week before our visit!
作者: yping88    时间: 24-11-2014 23:30
While seeing us not back down and make the determined advance to the summit, the Cradle Mountain starts losing its exterior grace and showing its true color---Heeeheee, it's definitely not as soothing as it seems!
作者: yping88    时间: 25-11-2014 23:08
本帖最后由 yping88 于 26-11-2014 08:50 编辑

For this adventure, the common mountain climbing assistant stick doesn't make much of a sense any more, people had to give them up for the this summit climbing! You would be able to figure out why from the posts to follow!
作者: yping88    时间: 25-11-2014 23:14
本帖最后由 yping88 于 28-11-2014 16:43 编辑

Before we were hit up with the tough rock climbing task, let me put aside a little moment for myself and enjoy the wonderful landscape in the distance!
作者: yping88    时间: 25-11-2014 23:24
Holy mother of gun!!!

I mean, we were prepared, but we absolutely didn't see this coming!!!

However, after we trekked this far, it would be a shame to back down without even trying. Let's put ourselves out there and sort out what we were capable of doing!
作者: yping88    时间: 25-11-2014 23:51
本帖最后由 yping88 于 26-11-2014 08:48 编辑

Had to drop ourselves to the boulders on the tummy most of the time just in case we lose the balance in between the sharp boulders. We could end up in serious injury if something went wrong, so, most of the time, we just stopped to have a little discussion about how we could make it a bit safer for the next step.

To be honest, more than once, I stared at those cliff-like boulders in awe and scared myself with my wondering: What if that boulder came loose? Where could I seek the shelter if that happened? How come those boulders present themselves with such a nasty, evil look?--fierce, angry, ferocious, malicious, you name it!  

Tortured by those scary thoughts, I was trying my best to put on a brave face and kept telling myself and our adventurous partners that we could definitely do this!

No matter how scary and tough you could be, bring it on, Cradle Mountain!
作者: yping88    时间: 26-11-2014 00:01
Woohoo, we did it---Our partner raised his arm into the air and declared his pride!

But, as you could imagine, to make the way back down was nothing easier than the summit climbing itself! But, you knew well enough that you had absolutely no other choices but dragged yourself back down!

作者: yping88    时间: 26-11-2014 00:12
本帖最后由 yping88 于 27-11-2014 08:31 编辑

Now, standing on the solid base of Cradle Mountain, I looked back up into the summit, it seemed to present itself with the different beauty and land-form in the blue backdrop.

Heeeheee, who is laughing now! I would say all the risk-taking activities were so worthwhile!
作者: yping88    时间: 26-11-2014 00:18
本帖最后由 yping88 于 26-11-2014 08:39 编辑

Looking down from a higher altitude, I guess we were just the few people among dozens of others, in that particular day, who made it to the summit and were able to appreciate how the name of Dove Lake came about!
作者: yearshappy    时间: 26-11-2014 22:17
本帖最后由 yearshappy 于 26-11-2014 22:19 编辑
yping88 发表于 20-11-2014 12:31
Note written on the entrance to the information center in Strahan serves as a proof how the rest of  ...

You got me into Truchanas' life story

Found out his photo on the ABC Australian website
[attach]335404[/attach]

Life Summary
Birth, 22 sep. 1923
Lithuania

Death, 6 Jan 1972
Gordon River, Tasmania

Cultural HeritageOccupation
作者: yearshappy    时间: 26-11-2014 22:38
yping88 发表于 23-11-2014 17:27
The three-hour walking circuit around Lake Dove which looking up on Cradle Mountain from afar is a m ...

fabulous, these photos are much like the Chinese brush paintings.
作者: yping88    时间: 27-11-2014 08:15
yearshappy 发表于 26-11-2014 22:17
You got me into Truchanas' life story

Found out his photo on the ABC Australian website

Thanks you, Yearshappy!

I never thought I would be able to look him up. That's exactly how we look out for each other and pick up whatever the others have left, and learn together, grow up together!

Love the way you help out the others!
作者: yping88    时间: 27-11-2014 08:17
yearshappy 发表于 26-11-2014 22:38
fabulous, these photos are much like the Chinese brush paintings.

There will be a whole lot more to come bombarding your sight, please get yourself ready!   
作者: yping88    时间: 27-11-2014 08:24
Don't you scare us away just like that after we attended the previous halloween party in one of the walking tracks around the Cradle Mountain!
作者: yping88    时间: 27-11-2014 08:29
The water is running relentlessly along the winding path in the high altitude before emptying into Lake Dove!
作者: melfes    时间: 28-11-2014 14:24
yping88 发表于 14-11-2014 23:04
We have made it to Launceston tonight, but I am still in the awe how excited Hobart people have been ...

Good write-up and if you would not mind it could be more correct "in awe" leaving out "the"
作者: melfes    时间: 28-11-2014 14:30
yping88 发表于 19-11-2014 14:58
Our 1st stop: Emu Valley-Rhododendron Garden

This garden is run totally by the volunteers who lov ...

Spectacular. Didnt know when we were down under...in the land down under.

Did you get to check out the eastcoast like Bicheno?
作者: melfes    时间: 28-11-2014 14:56
yping88 发表于 23-11-2014 21:43
I picked out these two photos and uploaded them separately here, because I would like to acknowledge ...

Just would love to help perfect writings specially when seeing good ones. Please let me know if its presumptuous of me to do so

1, she is a much devoted, knowledgeable staff who loves what she has been doing, and she addressed each devil by their names.

staff meant to be the whole group of employees. Staff member will be bang-on.

2, they are called devils is that they fight to death for their survival at the price of losing their own siblings and keep Law of Jungle (丛林法则) brutally alive in their own family

at the price of losing and "keeping" or "to keep" "the" law of "the"Jungle, depending on what you wanted to convey.

Cheers
作者: melfes    时间: 28-11-2014 15:08
yping88 发表于 25-11-2014 23:14
Before we were hit up with the tough rock climbing task, let me put aside a little bit moment for my ...

might be, a little bit" of" moment (id prefer to use time as moment is already a small fraction) or a little moment, you reckon?
作者: yping88    时间: 28-11-2014 16:23
melfes 发表于 28-11-2014 14:24
Good write-up and if you would not mind it could be more correct "in awe" leaving out "the"

Thank you for the correction!

Please come visit as often as you could and stay as a family in English section!
作者: yping88    时间: 28-11-2014 16:25
melfes 发表于 28-11-2014 14:30
Spectacular. Didnt know when we were down under...in the land down under.

Did you get to check  ...

Absolutely, we wouldn't miss out on the east coast for the world!

I will get into that, please stick around for more to follow!
作者: yping88    时间: 28-11-2014 16:32
melfes 发表于 28-11-2014 14:56
Just would love to help perfect writings specially when seeing good ones. Please let me know if it ...

Try to level FIGHT with KEEP, and see how it goes!

Perfect point on STAFF MEMBER, correction made!!!

"Law of jungle" "The law of the jungle" I guess either is fine!
作者: yping88    时间: 28-11-2014 16:59
After this adventure, the Cradle Mountain looks wonderfully different to me in many ways: It addressed my curiosity about what's really out there; it answered my question of how much I was capable of doing as far as mountain-climbing is concerned; it proved to me once again that I should never give up on anything without having my limit tested out.

I had my moment alone on our way down to the base!!!
作者: melfes    时间: 28-11-2014 18:31
yping88 发表于 28-11-2014 16:32
Try to level FIGHT with KEEP, and see how it goes!

Perfect point on STAFF MEMBER, correction m ...

Try to level FIGHT with KEEP, and see how it goes

Right! point taken cheers
作者: melfes    时间: 28-11-2014 18:42
yping88 发表于 28-11-2014 16:32
Try to level FIGHT with KEEP, and see how it goes!

Perfect point on STAFF MEMBER, correction m ...

"the Law of the Jungle" I think is a specific term and researching online a bit seems to back it up. But only my 2 cents; leave to you to decide.

Your photos are tantalisingly attractively, partly due to the fact I went to same places but did not explore as far as you did. Treads like yours keep this sub-forum lively. Much appreciated.
作者: yping88    时间: 28-11-2014 20:27
本帖最后由 yping88 于 30-11-2014 08:04 编辑

Now, I would like to make an acknowledgement to this couple for the inspiration they have made on us! And I don't think we would have made through the whole trek if it weren't for their expertise instruction in mountain-climbing and their encouragement!

We met them in the information center while we were tossing up between "conquering the summit and leaving no regret" and "walking on the tracks around it and wondering what the fuss is all about being up there". The gentleman came up to us and asked directly: Are you two planning on climbing the summit today?

Me: "We have been talking about it ever since we got here! We will seriously consider getting there to the top if we can recruit more people as a team."

Him: "What a coincidence! My wife said exactly the same thing! How about we teaming up and giving this summit-climbing a crack?"

Me:  "Wow, I don't see any reason why not! Let's do it,  please!"

By the end of that day, I got to know their story a bit better! They are American Chinese who migrated to the States in their early 20s. As soon as their child grew up, they started exploring the world that they had been dreaming about. Till the day we met, they had explored 105 countries, which covered Asian countries, North, South & Central America, Europe, Africa, etc.

When he told us they have set their foot in Tassie twice, been to Uluru, Kakadu national park, Arnhem land, Upper north Queensland, most parts of Victoria & NSW, South & West Australia, I could hardly take a breath normally. Having been living in Australia for about 8 years, I could barely remember at that moment where exactly we have been to!

What shakes me to the core is that they have just started hitting the international roads when they turned 50, while the day we made it to the Cradle Summit was the gentleman's 6oth birthday, which he claimed as the best birthday present ever!
作者: yping88    时间: 28-11-2014 20:32
本帖最后由 yping88 于 28-11-2014 21:18 编辑
melfes 发表于 28-11-2014 18:42
"the Law of the Jungle" I think is a specific term and researching online a bit seems to back it u ...


Care to join us in this English-land?

We will be thrilled if you pay this site a visit on a regular basis! Please, please!
作者: yping88    时间: 28-11-2014 22:43
A King-Billy (King-William) pine: I uploaded a photo in previous post!

It has been listed as a threatened species with the bushfire posing the major risk for its declining numbers. It is an evergreen coniferous tree up to 40 meters high with a trunk up to 1.5 meter in diameter, endemic to Tasmania's cradle mountain region in a high, cold, wet and snowy altitude of 400-1200 meters. It has been famous for its longevity of 700-1000+ years.



作者: yping88    时间: 29-11-2014 00:28
Now, it feels extremely weird that I have been on and on about cradle mountain without even once mentioning the OverLand Track yet until this thread! But, to show you how significant this track is to those adventurous hikers, I would like to touch base with you on this track in details and I will come back to it again when I take you all through Lake St Clair!

This track is an internationally known walking trail that extends about 80+ kilometers in total. It winds through a mountainous terrain that starts from the cradle valley trekking southwards and ends at Lake St Clair at a altitude above 1000 meters high, with the highest at 1600+ meters on Mt Ossa's summit.  

It takes the average hikers about 6-7 days to complete this track, the hot season runs between 1st Oct and 31st May during which the weather becomes less harsh on the hikers. There are quite a few rehabilitation huts along the track for the hikers to shield themselves from the unbearable cold overnight and to rejuvenate themselves. The hikers must be very well equipped to fend off the extremely wild weather, which is ever-changing during one day from a perfect sunny morning, to unbelievably windy, to a stormy rainfall and even worse, to a blizzard! Over the recent years, two deaths have unfortunately taken place: One man died of a cardiac arrest and one woman died of hypothermia as a result of the unexpected blizzard and her less-preparation!

Having said that, there are still many adventurers (about 8000 a year) fighting against the tough odds and pulling themselves through this challenging journey!

Why is it so attempting and attractive?

Guess all of those who take up this challenge would consider this the toughest task they could possibly come across in their lifetime, and they put their potential on test and believe they would be omnipotent if they could shrug off this challenge! (Make sense?!)

More importantly, there are the most spectacular landscapes, unique vegetation that can only be appreciated along this track.

"The landscape was all carved by glaciers during the last ice age, and the prominent mountains are composed of dolerite columns." Along the way, the adventurers get to appreciate "the Lakes (Lake St Clair, Lake Will, Lake Windermere, Dove Lake); Mountains (Cradle Mountain, Barn Bluff, Mt Ossa, Mt Pelion East, Mt Pelion West, The Acropolis, Mt Rufus); Waterfalls (Hartnett Falls, Ferguson Falls, D'alton Falls)".

Vegetation wise, I would like to bring to your attention the deciduous beech, which grows nowhere else in the world except in Tasmania's high, cold mountains along the overland track. It will present its vast range of colors in its leaves in autumn, from rusty, bright red to pure golden color, and it will lose those colorful leaves in winter!

What do you reckon you can do now? Feel the urge to take yourself to the track?
作者: yping88    时间: 29-11-2014 00:38
Myrtle beech, which I mistakenly took for Deciduous beech until I double checked with a cruise captain who has been a well-experienced hiker on the overland track!
作者: yping88    时间: 29-11-2014 08:44
The courtesy reminder notice board at the entrance to different walks, which helps the hikers make a sound decision depending on their own assessment on themselves!
作者: yping88    时间: 29-11-2014 08:51
本帖最后由 yping88 于 29-11-2014 09:00 编辑

08/11/14---From Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair

A deserted copper mine located southeast to Queenstown on the way to Lake St Clair --Iron Blow!

This copper mine was found initially as a gold one in the late 1880's and was taken over in 1892 by The Mount Lyell Mining Company, whose shareholders expanded its development more than just the limited gold resource--They found copper mining in the surrounding area, which is still currently in operation. However, the Iron Blow was phased out in early 1920s and is currently served as a tourist attraction. This deep hole full of jade-colored water is quietly sleeping in the heart of the town Gormanston, crying out to the tourists about its long-gone glory!

The little town silhouetted in the distance is town Gormanston, which was once accommodating a population 10,000 in its mining prime. But, with the copper mining phased out over time, the dwellers moved to its neighboring town--Queenstown, leaving only about 50 people in Gormanston's current population.

Nowadays, Queenstown has become the business center and Strahan the main port in this part of west coast!

Having said that, you can still feel from the photos the living green and life-loving attitude these current dwellers have shown!

So, no matter where we are, there is no reason for us not to live it to the most, don't you think so, my dear friends?
作者: yearshappy    时间: 29-11-2014 19:14
yping88 发表于 28-11-2014 20:27
Now, I would like to make an acknowledgement to this couple for the inspiration they have made on us ...

I wondered if it was yping when the picture was popping up on my screen.
a lovely couple, their story is truly inspirational!
My trip was cancelled because of the rain In the same time I'm glad to see my garden is as happy as ever. It at long last got a deep watering.
作者: yping88    时间: 30-11-2014 15:09
The landscape and vegetation on the way to Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park from Queenstwon eastwards!!!
作者: melfes    时间: 30-11-2014 15:09
yping88 发表于 28-11-2014 20:32
Care to join us in this English-land?

We will be thrilled if you pay this site a visit on a  ...

Cheers to both of you yr n yp for the invite. I would hang around when free

How to join the Anglo-land?
作者: yping88    时间: 30-11-2014 16:49
Please make a short stop on the Nelson Falls Track and appreciate the falls that hide in the end of the track! No matter how many great falls you have visited, I promise this small-scale one will definitely treat your eyes in a different sense due to the ancient rainforest along its way!!!

I have been well convinced that my special bond with the mountains and waters will dominate the theme of my future travel life!
作者: yping88    时间: 30-11-2014 19:12
I uploaded the notice board that explains what the Great Divide serves geographically, so I can cut myself some slack and doze off for a bit!!! Lol, Lol, Lol

While I am dozing off, I would like to throw at you guys a serious question:

If the hitch-hikers put their thumbs up at you hoping that you would stop for them to give them a lift, would you deliver to them what they hoped? Is there still the faith in the strangers existing as was previously?

Here, I have a confess to make to all of you that, somewhere near the Great Divide, we didn't make the stop for three young men who indicated their cry for help by putting the thumbs up and kept driving off past them. However, looking at the three of them from the rear mirror, all with the huge backpacks, we started questioning ourselves whether we made any sense by driving past someone who was hoping for help! And this question is still haunting me by this moment!
作者: yping88    时间: 30-11-2014 19:35
Lake St Clair---The deepest freshwater lake in Australia.

It was raining and overcast the first day (08/11/14) we got there, and the photos turned out a bit dark, but the lake came out in its serenity and calmness presentation!
作者: yping88    时间: 30-11-2014 19:40
You could actually label the shrubs with the animal's name--Crane, duck, chasing one another? Give it a go and see what you could come up with, please!!!
作者: yping88    时间: 30-11-2014 19:55
本帖最后由 yping88 于 1-12-2014 08:26 编辑

The vegetation and floral trees along the walking tracks around Lake St Clair!!!

Please take notice of the Myrtle beech among them, I could use it as a make-up present for me not being strong and brave enough to get on with the Overland track walking and appreciate the Deciduous beech in the highland! And I had come to terms with it already!!!
作者: yping88    时间: 30-11-2014 19:59
本帖最后由 yping88 于 30-11-2014 22:19 编辑

Hey, good-looking, who are you kidding? Lol
作者: yping88    时间: 30-11-2014 22:58
Water down-poured from the high mountains (where the overland track winds through) runs beside Lake St Clair and then empties into Derwent River, which races along the windy terrain amid the mountains, east-bound to Hobart where it continues as River Derwent, the latter then forms a beautiful harbor for Hobart before meeting Tasman Sea!  
作者: yping88    时间: 30-11-2014 23:09
A heart-warming sign stands in the exit in the accommodation we stayed in!

The owner of the lodge moved from South Australia to Lake St Clair a few years ago and has lived a solitary and happy life! His opening remarks to my greetings was: "Well, I am living in Lake St Clair national park, then, I think I am terrific!"
作者: yping88    时间: 7-1-2015 17:12
Had such a long, long break by now, how have you all been? Guess I should now probably pick up from where I left off, no matter how much of a couch potato I have been!



作者: yping88    时间: 7-1-2015 17:28
First of all, I would like to refresh your memory on the scenic views of Lake St Clare---If you remember what it looked like in the previous posts during an overcast day, you would be amazed how much a different presentation it greets you with!
作者: yping88    时间: 7-1-2015 17:48
The dense vegetation around Lake St Clare sighted from the cruise---I just couldn't help but be fascinated constantly by the diversity, density and sustainability of the vegetation in Cradle Mountain-St Clair National Park.

If you happen to notice those dry, whitish, seems petrified trunks sticking out from the forest, please be aware that they were left there by the previous bush fire dated back to long, long time ago.

A feature that makes Tasmanian woods stand out in construction industry is: They are termite resistant. The captain of the cruise was telling us in very much confidence that the logs from Tasmania's forests never have to be anti-termite processed!



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