Milford Sound - Doesn't Sounds Right For My Tummy

That morning we woke up quite early. We were (well I was) afraid that we will miss the bus. We abandoned our car trip because the road leading to there was quite dangerous. We were warned by Han Ching’s uncle and aunt on the danger of driving to Milford Sound. Well, going to New Zealand in the wake of the earthquake disaster in Christchurch has been dealt with unwelcome dissuasion from our peers. In order not to let anyone down, I don’t dare to take any risk of endangering ourselves. Taking the blame for not heeding their advice should anything happened to anyone of us you see is not a good idea.

So, for the first time we deserted our trusted Nissan for a bus. The weather was very cold when we got on to the bus. A sign of not good weather ahead. The bus trip was just like those public buses we usually took. It stopped at certain pre-determined location to pick up some passengers from hotels who booked the tour from their respective hotel in Queenstown. After a short toilet cum shopping cum coffee break at Te Anau, we continued the second part of the road.

It is 119 kilometers from Te Anau to Milford Sound. The Milford Road is a unique journey into the heart of Fiordland National Park, part of New Zealand World Heritage area. Some of the most striking and significant features of the World Heritage area are located along its route. Our bus stopped at three locations. The first was the “Mirror Lake”. It is a small lake that provides outstanding reflective views of the surrounding. It is so crystal clean and clear that it will put Coway water filter into shame. You basically can do “snorkeling” and observe the “coral” inside the water without even wearing goggle and bikini.

The second was the “Chasm”. It required a short walk across the mossy forest before we reached the chasm. There are two foot bridges over the Cleddau River that offers breathtaking views of swirling water that have sculpted round shapes and basins in the rock for thousands of years. The last was this river where the bus driver told us to grab a bottle and try scoop up some refreshing natural mineral water. By then, Han Ching and I were too freezing in that chilly climate that we won’t want to move our butt. Furthermore, it was drizzling.

In next to no time, we reached the renowned Homer Tunnel. Named after William Homer Simpson who suggested to hack through the saddle. As Gamuda Berhad is still not established during the 30s, the only way I see this tunnel being built is by hand. This tunnel deserved the sayings of ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ as it was very dark inside. Once a vehicle enters this tunnel alone, the only ray of light comes at the other side of the tunnel. Nope. No lighting. The tunnel walls remain unlined granite. Water could be seen seeping through the wall of the tunnel and landed on our front windows. Nope. Don’t get the idea of any SMART tunnel here.

After looking at the road leading to Milford Sound, I have to admit that it was rather a bit dodgy. But because you have a bumper to bumper crawl situation, it is quite out of harm's way to drive at a tortoise speed. After a few kilometers more from the tunnel, we reached the disembarkation point; got our tickets and were told to wait at our respective gate for our boat cruise. For those who opted to drive to Milford Sound, they can still buy the cruise tickets at this terminal.

The Maori name for Milford Sound is Piopiotahi, after the native bird called piopio, now probably extinct. I know what you are thinking. Piopio-tahi does not mean there is a lot of Piopio’s droppings here. On the other hand, Milford Sound was named by a Welsh sealing captain after his birth place, Milford Haven. Milford Sound/Piopiotahi stretches to the open sea. The very high rainfall creates a permanent freshwater layer on the sea surface. Looking at this place it makes you think of the movie King Kong and Jurassic Park. Last Friday, I went to Desa Park City. There this big billboard located beside LDP on your way up Desa Park City. It’s the New Zealand Natural ice cream billboard. Before I proceed, go buy an ice cream stick and put it near your computer screen with the picture below as the backdrop. Does this look familiar?

Milford Sound was supposed to be the climax of our whole New Zealand trip. However, it turned out to be the other way round. Honestly speaking, I found the cruise to be average. Perhaps, blames to be put on the raining weather we encountered throughout the cruise that does not allow us to venture outside the boat. In the end, we were just observing from inside the boat. To make thing worse, I was seasick. I made a mistake by overeat the sandwich given to us as part of the package. The choppy water due to strong wind was not helping either. Fortunately, I didn’t throw out and managed to survive the ordeal.

After reaching back the quay, the seasick somehow subsided. We got back to our bus and headed back to Queenstown. It was already evening by the time we reached Queenstown. I was fully recovered of the nausea by then. And it’s time to go for dinner. You couldn’t believe what we had for dinner while at abroad. Indian food! For God’s sake, including this one, this was the third time we had Indian cuisine in New Zealand. After surviving just bread and spaghetti for one week, the taste of rice mixed with spicy gravy in some way give life back to our insensible taste buds.

When the Nepalese cook asked us what type of “hot” do we take, either “Kiwi Hot” or “Indian Hot”, both of us replied,

“Indian Hot!

Initially, the guy was looking at us with disbelief thinking that this Hong Kong-Chinese-looking couple must be out of their minds. I leaned towards to him and with one hand patting on my chest,

“Don’t worry la braderrrr. Come from Malaysia”