ENTRALLED BY HOOKER VALLEY AND BLUE LAKE WALK

Mt Cook National Park in South NZ is a popular trekking heaven. There were 2 places that I explored, Hooker Valley and Blue Lake.

When I arrived, it was unlucky to encounter heave rain. Hence, I only manged to epxlore Hooker Valley half way. But the next day, I managed to walk till the end even though it was a gloomy and cloudy morning. The walk along the valley was surrounded by the granite walls of mountains and beautiful foliage despite no sunshine. At the end of the trek, it was a lake with tinted grey view, as it was cloudy.

Beautiful wild flowers welcoming us at the start of the trek

Misty scenary

Iconic Hooker Valley walkway

End of the trek 

Cloudy scenary

The next morning, we explored blue lake trek, where we walked upwards until we reached a viewpoint of the Glacier Lake. It was a magnificent view with deep turquoise water and white cloudy sky. The scene at the bottom of the trek reminded me of "Lord of the Ring" alike feel, as the foliage was beautiful and some of the leaves were grown long and wide. There was a plant which was unique.

"Lord of the Ring" feel

Majestic scenary

A mini lake along the way

Looking back along the ascend

Mystical Blue Lake

There was also a lavender field not far away. It was my first experience tasting a lavender ice cream. There was an entrance fee though. 

A crystal blue lake on the way to lavender field

I wish to spend more time exploring around Mt Cook National Park. The journey from Lake Takepo to Mt Cook was already mesmerising with surrounding mountains and the lake on the right, a truly NZ experience..

The road from Lake Takepo to Mt Cook National Park

Temples in the Sky and Dragons in the Lake

There are 2 cities in North Thailand that are unique in its own way. It's definitely not the popular Chiang Mai, but 2 lesser known, yet popular cities among locals - Lampang and Phayao.

Lampang is around 1 hour 30 mins from Chiang Mai. The key attraction is the Temple in the Sky, also know as Chaleom Phra Kiat. It is in fact about 1 hour from Lampang town in the outskirts. Before reaching the car park, one would have to ascend a small mountain road. To reach the peak, one would have to take a 15 mins jeep as part of the entrance fee package to the mid level of the mountain, where the trek begins. For the first 300m, it is a relaxing tarred road walk. After that, the climbing via the stairs begin. It takes around 45 mins to reach the peak, where the temples are located. The view from the top is amazing, bird's eye view of the mountains across and valley at the bottom. It is indeed a worth to climb visit, as the saying goes, the reward is at the top after a huffing and puffing hike.

View from 1st platform

Halfway

Up and up

Rewarding view on top

Nostalgic

Key highlight - temples on top

Pagodas in the sky

View from highest temple

How did they build the pagodas?

Like most of other Thailand towns, there is sure a weekend night market. The night market here is long along the ancient street and crowded. There are many heritage buildings along the old town. 

Night market in Lampang

Colorful delicacy

Heritage building

Nearly 100 years old

One of the many temples around in town

A Chinese temple in Lampang

Sunset in Lampang

Phayao is further from Chiang Mai, around 4 hours away. Its iconic landmark is the dragon statue in the Phayao Lake. The statue brightens in the evening with varying colors of red, purple, blue and white illumination. What makes it more captivating is the sunset right behind the statue. Hence, seeing the red egg yolk like sun, setting down slowly as backdrop makes it a photographer's heaven.

Can you see the sunset reflection?

                                                                            

Cloud Reflection

Perfect Reflection

Morning sunshine in Phayao Lake

There is a weekend night market where food lovers would enjoy the endless choices of delectable food. To me, what attracts me to the market is the open air massage service on the ground with passers by to glance. The message is much cheaper than the open air massage in Chiang Mai.

Exploring the small towns around Thailand is indeed an eye opening experience to how the locals live peacefully.

Roof of Japan

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is known as the “Roof of Japan”. The route passes through the dynamic scenery of Mt. Tateyama in the Japan Alps. It is traversed using a variety of vehicles with an elevation change of 2400 meters from Toyama Prefecture to Nagano Prefecture.

We started our journey in the opposite direction, from Shimano Omachi Station to Toyama. We took a very early bus from Matsumoto to Shimano Omachi Station. From there, we experienced different modes of transportation along the route while appreciating the beauty of nature along the way.

Our first stop is Kurobe Dam after 15 minutes ride on tunnel bus. It was a pitch dark journey. But when we emerged at the Dam, we were amazed by the gorgeous dam with roaring discharged water. It is the highest dam in Japan.

Water released from the dam

Kurobe Dam

Our journey continued with a Kurobe cable car and Tateyama ropeway to Daikanbo at 2316m, where we could soak in the surrounding beauty of green mountains at the observation deck. It was a feeling at the top of the world, though it is not the highest point.

Tateyama Ropeway

Daikanbo viewing deck

Next, it was the highest peak and the most beautiful view in the route, Murodo at 2450m. It offers fantastic views of the Tateyama Mountain Range, where many nature trails are found. Soaking in the alpine views makes us feel like living in a cloud.

Mikurigaike Pond

Surrounding partially melted glaciers

Marvelous Murodo

Our journey ended at the other end of Tateyama by a highland bus followed by a Tateyama cable car. From there, we took a train to Toyama for next destination.

It had been a full day trip, one way journey along the Roof of Japan, with a variety of transportation modes. However, the views were worth a visit.