Post PostGrad for NZAS Alumni

Wow, it's been more than a year since I came back from postgrad studies in New Zealand. It feels like it was only yesterday I'd walk down to Warehouse on Queen Street from my flat on Anzac Ave. to buy a duvet or what not. Sigh. I'm not gonna lie to you, I miss Auckland. I miss the safety. I miss the order. I miss the cleanliness. 

NZAS batch 2013 & 2014 with NZ Amb. Strachan.

Anyway, back in the Philippines, we NZAS Alumni still see each other in get-togethers organized by the New Zealand embassy. In fact, yesterday was one of those events. The embassy contacted us about a get-together that the ambassador wanted to have with  us and visiting representatives from Education NZ and NZ universities. 

It was nice to see my batchmates as well as other NZAS alumni from earlier and later batches. We got to talk about the work we do now, as well as reminisce about our postgrad life back in New Zealand. One pleasant surprise was when Ambassador Strachan raffled off two (2) PAL travel gift certificates! 

VIDEO: How to Save Money in Auckland

This video from Hostelworld, shot in 2011, brings back good memories of my postgraduate life in Auckland. Colm Hanratty shares tips on how to save money in Auckland. Here they are:

1. Use the Citylink Bus to get around the city center for free. However, it is only free with a valid AT card.

2. You can bring your own drinks (i.e wine, beer, soda, etc.) in BYO restaurants.

3. Enjoy the parks in the city center, such as Albert Park and Auckland Domain.

4. Shop at the Victoria Park Market. Although Auckland is not really known for its bargain deals.

5. Check out the free museums, particularly the Auckland Art Gallery and the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

The video is so nostalgic. Especially the clip showing Albert Park--the park I crossed almost everyday during my stay.

Finished with my postgraduate degrees at the University of Auckland

I recently received my diploma for my master of public policy, capping off my two year academic stint in New Zealand. I can't believe time flew by so fast. It seemed like only yesterday when I applied for postgraduate studies at the University of Auckland and scholarship with the New Zealand Embassy. Today, I have my Post-Graduate Diploma in Arts with Merit on Development Studies and a Master of Public Policy with Second Class Honours First Division.

I'm thankful to my wife Ria and daughter Bea for allowing me to pursue postgraduate studies abroad. I am extremely lucky to have a partner who supported me 100% of the way and sacrificed so much by taking care of our daughter and running our household, all by herself. I hope I can return their love and affection. I am grateful as well to my mom Aileen and dad Roque for their support, and to the rest of my family for their encouragement. 

Thanks are also due to my policy professor, boss, and dissertation supervisor, Dr. Julie MacArthur, for her guidance and support. I really appreciate how she gave me the freedom to work on my dissertation at my own pace, and at the same time be there for me to check on my progress, review my drafts, and give sound advice on how to improve my paper.

Lastly, I am extremely grateful to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and all who make up the New Zealand-ASEAN Scholarships Programme (NZAS) for giving me this great opportunity to obtain a post-graduate diploma and a master's degree at the University of Auckland. Rest assured that I will use all that I learned in New Zealand to help my home country of the Philippines.

My write-up in the University of Auckland website

If you are reading this post while taking your postgraduate studies in New Zealand, and feel depressed, burdened and/or stressed with all the academic obligations, let me reassure you that this too will pass. You can make it! Good luck and God bless!

#parasabayan #parasaPilipinas

MTB Biking in North Auckland (Woodhill Mountain Bike Park)

I'm not a mountain biker, but when I was invited by my friend to try it out at the Woodhill Mountain Bike Park, I thought to myself, 'What the heck, I'm in New Zealand, let's do it!' I mean, if I was going to try mountain biking (again) I might as well do it in beautiful, scenic, fresh and clean New Zealand, right?! RIGHT?!

Woodhill Mountain Bike Park is located just 40 minutes away (by car) northwest of Auckland CBD, at the ridges of the Woodhill Forest. It is a full service MTB park complete with a pro shop, a drinking station, and a work shop. The park's regular hours are from 7am to 5:30pm.

Woodhill Mountain Bike Park is huge. There are 68 trails in the forest, totalling over 100 kms of bike tracks. The park has recommended loops for short distances (6 kms), medium distance (10 kms) and long distances (15 kms). The park rules on safety are simple and straighforward:

• All bikers must register before entering any of the trails.
• No helmet means no ride.
• Bikers should carry with them their mobile phones and a map of the park.
• Bikers should familiarise themselves with the forest roads marked on the map, so that they can communicate their location in cases of emergency.
• Bikers should only ride trails marked on the park map.
• Bikers should ride within their limits and respect the stunt ratings of each trail. The rating scale is from "X" (easy) to "XXXXX" (extremely difficult).
• Call 111 in case of emergency.

The Day Pass at Woodhill MTB park is pegged at NZ$8. Most bikers bring their own mountain bikes. But for those who visit unprepared, the park fortunately offers a full range of bikes for rent. Bike hire for a hard tail is NZ$30 for the first hour, and NZ$5 every succeeding 20 minutes. Full suspension bikes are more expensive at NZ$85 for four hours, and NZ$20 every succeeding hour. The prices are steep, so it is best to bring your own mountain bike to the park.

You can also rent bike accessories like helmets for NZ$5 and bike lights for NZ$25. Here I am with my friend Justinn Valerio. 

We visited the park in May (that's Autumn in New Zealand). I was hesitant to join that time because of the cold and rainy weather, but my friends said they preferred mountain biking during this particular season. Apparently, serious mountain bikers like it when the soil is wet, as the knobby tires have a better grip of the track. Mas makapit daw. Mas madaling umakyat. 

Anyway, I thought I was going to freeze to death. It was chilly. But I actually, later on, appreciated the cool and crisp weather. I didn't sweat as fast compared to when I went mountain biking in Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal. My God, I remembered that time I tried the trails in Timberland, I almost passed out due to the extreme heat.

Not worrying so much about the heat and dehydration in Woodhill Forest made me get to appreciate the scenery so much more. While we were pedalling up the hill, I got to enjoy the view of the tall trees and other lush greenery offered by Woodhill Forest. I appreciated how the keepers maintained the park.

Unfortunately, I have no picture of the tracks and trails for the simple reason that I wasn't able to take any photos while going down the mountain. I hung on to the handlebars for my dear life. What my friends promised what was supposed to be an easy trail (a walk in the park, they asserted) turned out to be an extremely difficult ride for a newbie like me. At one part, I slammed right into a tree while speeding downhill. It's a good thing I came out of it with only a bruise on the chest.

Anyway, when we got back the entrance, we rested at the drinking station and waited for the other bikers to get back. Later on, we went over to the wash area and cleaned our muddy bikes. We were done by lunch time.

Anyway, minor MTB accident aside, I really enjoyed my adventure at Woodhill Mountain Bike Park. If you're interested to go mountain biking in Auckland, this is a great place to start. Afterwards, you can explore the other mountain bike parks in New Zealand--and there are many more!

Stay safe on the trails, MTBer!

South Island Road Trip

Our group photo in Queenstown, courtesy of Jam Jacob.

If you plan on visiting Christchurch and Queenstown in the South Island of New Zealand, you might as well drive from one city to the other, like what we did last year. Ditch the plane. Driving from Christchurch to Queenstown (or vice versa), you’ll get to see Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki, Lake Wanaka and Mount Cook. I promise you, the road trip is worth it because the views will take your breath away.

This post covers the leg of our road trip from Christchurch to Queenstown.

We rented two cars in Christchurch and began our road trip by heading southwest. If I haven’t mentioned it before, driving in rural New Zealand is so pleasant compared to the Philippines. Once you get the hand of driving on the right side of the road, everything else becomes easy. No tricycles that jump out of nowhere; no foolhardy pedestrian dashing across the street; and no reckless truck or bus drivers on the road. 

View from YHA Lake Tekapo

We left Christchurch at 11am. Stopped in the town of Asherton to have lunch. Proceeded with our journey and arrived in Lake Tekapo at 3pm. We checked in at what I believe is the backpackers/hostel with the best window view in the entire world--YHA Lake Tekapo.

View from Mount John Observatory. Photo courtesy of Giulia Soria.

The town of Lake Tekapo as seen from Mount John Observatory.

At 4pm, we drove up to Mount John Observatory. On a clear night, I was told you can see thousands of stars up in the sky. Mount John also offers a great view of Lake Tekapo.

The Church of the Good Shepherd next to Lake Tekapo.

Afterwards, we visited The Church of the Good Shepherd next to the lake. I imagine the church as a venue of many destination weddings here. The view of the church with the lake as a background is just spectacular.

Lake Tekapo in the morning.

Giulia and I obstructing the beautiful view of Lake Pukaki.

The next day, we continued with our South Island road trip. Our first stop for the morning was Lake Pukaki. It’s another beautiful lake, mirroring the snowcapped mountains of the southern alps. Ang ganda talaga. Parang postcard. I didn't want to leave. I just wanted to sit on a rock, drink a cup of hot coffee, and enjoy the view.

South Island Road Trip. Photo courtesy of Jam Jacob.

From the lake, the group drove up Mount Cook National Park. We stopped at the Hermitage resort and went on one of the suggested quick hikes of the area. There are other treks available, including a hike up to the peak, but those take longer.

Nice and easy walk around Mount Cook National Park

Clowning around at Kea Point

View from Kea Point

We walked 30 minutes to Kea Point. When we got there, we had our lunch and posed for a group photo with the mountain range on the background. And then we walked back to our cars. From there, we proceeded south, passed by the town of Twizel and crossed Lindis Pass.

Enjoying coffee with Kristine at Lake Wanaka.

Our next stop was Lake Wanaka. This is a great place to skydive as the jump offers a fantastic view of the lake and the snow-capped mountains. I was supposed to skydive here in 2013, but it was cancelled due to the strong winds. Que sera sera.

View from Crown Range Road. Photo courtesy of Jam Jacob.

Anyway, from Lake Wanaka, we drove up the Crown Range Road—reputedly the highest and scariest highway in New Zealand. It's high up the mountains with winding curves along cliffs--really scary for a driver.

With Mau at Arrowtown.

We passed by Arrowtown--the site of the first gold rush in New Zealand, way back in the early 1800s. The town looks like a movie set for one of those old western films.

At our backpackers in Queenstown, Pinewood Lodge.

And then we proceeded to our final destination for this road trip--the picturesque tourist destination of Queenstown. What a road trip. One of the best.

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing

The Tongariro Crossers from Norman Zafra on Vimeo.

Before I left New Zealand to go back home to the Philippines I went on one last road trip with my friends. We went to Tongariro National Park to hike the world famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing--reputedly one of the best day hikes in the world. The 7 to 9 hour trek that traverses approximately 19.5 kilometers takes you to a mountain summit 1,800 above sea level, between Mounts Tongariro and Ngauruhoe, showcasing volcanic landscapes of craters, mountain springs and emerald lakes. It should be in every hiker's bucket list.

Location Map of the Track.

Anyway, my friends and I travelled more than 300 kilometers south of Auckland to Tongariro National Park on a Friday afternoon. It took us 5 hours to get to our accommodation in Raurimu--which was just around 20 minutes away from the park. There were other accommodations (hotels, hostels, backpackers, chalets, etc.) closer, but the place we found in Raurimu was the only one that could accommodate our large group of 10 exclusively.

Our accommodation at Wood Pigeon Lodge. We had the whole barn to ourselves. (Photo: Neeko Catalan)

We spent the night at The Barn of Wood Pigeon Lodge. The next day, Saturday, we were scheduled to do the hike. Now here's the thing: the weather at the park is unpredictable. Some days are bright and sunny, while others are wet and rainy. So you have to allot at least two days to do this activity--that is, prepare for one reserve day, just in case you can't do the hike on your desired date, which was what happened to us. Saturday was rainy, foggy and cloudy, and we were strongly discouraged by our host Tim from pushing through.

Having breakfast at the Barn. (Photo: Neeko Catalan)

We followed Tim's advice and postponed our hike for the following day.

Tongariro Crossing Transport

Thankfully, our group was blessed with beautiful weather on Sunday. The sun was out, the sky was blue, and the temperature was a crisp 18 degrees. We woke up early at 5am, got ready, and we were out of The Barn by 6:30. I drove our van to Ketetahi--at the end of the hike, and parked there. We got our things, left the van, and transferred to our Tongariro Crossing Transport, which was going to take us to the start of the hike. Now, this is important. You have to arrange for your Tongariro Crossing Transport. You have three main options:

Option A: You can book transport for direct pick up and drop off at your accommodation. It is the most expensive, setting you back at least NZ$45 or more per person, depending on distance

Option B: You can drive to the transport's headquarters/office, leave your car there and  ride their shuttle to the start and from the finish of the hike. Departure times are 6:45am, 7:45am, and 8:15am, while pick up times are 3pm, 4pm and 5:30pm. Option B will cost you NZ$35 per person.

Option C: You can drive all the way to the end of the hike, at Ketetahi Car Park, board the shuttle there, which will take you the start. You do the hike. When you reach the finish line, your car will be waiting for you. This option is the cheapest of the three at NZ$30 per person.

Of course, another option is to have a driver friend drop you off at the start, wait 8 hours, and then pick you up at the finish. Good luck with that.

Inside our Tongariro Crossing Transport shuttle to the Mangatepopo entrance. (Photo: Neeko Catalan)

Anyway, we chose Adventure Tours, and went with Option C. Aside from being the cheapest option, it was also the less stressful, unlike Option B, which had strict pick up times (I heard tour operators were ruthless with this, often times leaving tourists who were late at the pick up point). With Option C, our group could hike at our own pace and not worry about not getting to the finish line at a designated time. 

Things to Bring

So, we were dropped off by our transport at Mangatepopo Car Park. We rented hiking sticks from our driver Paul for NZ$5 each. This turned out to be a good investment as the sticks came in handy going up the mountain. Incidentally, here is a list of other things one should bring on this hike.

1. Water
Although this is just a day hike, and nothing compared to a U.P. Mountaineers hike, it's still a mountain. There are no sari-sari stores or convenience stores up at the summit or anywhere for that matter. There are springs, fountains and lakes, but the water is not fit to drink. So you have to bring water for the hike. Hiking guides recommend bringing at least 1.5L of water per person.

2. Food
Again, no sari-sari stores from Mangatepopo to Ketetahi. Bring energy food like bananas, nuts, sandwiches and nutri-bars to snack on.

3. Jacket and pants
Even if you hike on a clear, bright day, the temperature and weather changes as you climb up the mountain. So it's best to wear layers so you can add and remove them as need be. Start with thermals underneath, and then a shirt. Prepare a light sweater, and a rain jacket. For the bottom, you can wear those convertible hiking pants/shorts.

4. Walking or Hiking shoes with traction
There won't be any wall or rock climbing involved, but it'd be best if you leave your sneakers at home. You'll be hiking over rocks and loose soil, so best to wear hiking shoes with some kind of traction.

5. Hat and gloves
You need to protect yourself from the New Zealand sun with a good, sturdy hat, preferably one that covers your ears. If all you have is a baseball cap, it's best to wear a buff/bandana with it. Bring a pair of gloves as well as you never know how cold it can get at the summit.

6. Sunscreen
Need I remind you that there's a big Ozone hole over New Zealand? Better put on some sunscreen. After all, it is an 8 hour day hike.

7. Mobile phone
There are guide posts along the track, and it's possible to arrange for a guided tour. But you can still get lost, especially if you pick a day with very few hikers. So, for your safety, it's best to bring your fully-charged mobile phone to call authorities in case you lose your way or have an emergency.

8. Walking or Hiking stick
If you're a hard-core mountain climber or hiker, then you'd probably say hiking sticks are for sissies. And you're probably right. But I found the hiking stick to be very useful going up and down track. So if you're like me, a recreational hiker, and it's available, why not just rent a hiking stick. I rented mine for NZ$5/day.

Arla and Norman ready to hike. (Photo: Neeko Catalan)

The Tongariro Alpine Track

Let's get to the hike itself. We left the Mangatepopo entrance at around 8:45am. That's pretty late already. When we got there we joined the tail end of the day's hikers. The temperature was pretty warm, so we took off our jackets and stored them in our backpacks.The first part of the hike was pretty flat. It provided good views of Mount Ngauruhoe--Mount Doom for Lord of the Rings fans. After an hour and a half we reached the Soda Springs area. There's a cute waterfall. But more importantly, Soda Springs has the last toilets for the next 4 hours. So if you think you need to pee, then the Soda Springs toilets are your last chance to relieve yourself before climbing up the mountain.

At the start of the track. (Photo: Neeko Catalan)

Soda Springs (Photo: Neeko Catalan)

From Soda Springs, the hike started to get steep as we climbed from 1,200 meters up to 1,500 meters to the South Crater. The climb is known as the Devil's Staircase. This is where the hiking stick became handy as it eased some pressure from the legs. The park is a volcanic area and it started to show. Less grass and shrubs, and the soil and rocks turned dark and blackish. Anyway, we felt a bit tired midway up and we rested on some of the boulders. From our viewpoint you could appreciate the natural beauty of the Mangatepopo Valley.

Devil's Staircase (Photo: Neeko Catalan)

After 2 1/2 hours, we reached the plateau known as the South Crater. There we took another rest with other tourists and waited for the other members of our party. We had our lunch--sandwiches and banana. Drank water. Took pictures. At 1,500 meters above sea level, the winds were stronger at the South Crater. It got colder so we wore our jackets. 

Enjoying the view of the Mangatepopo Valley

We crossed the South Crater. Mouth Tongariro was on the left and Mount Ngauruhoe on the right. We still saw some snow (even if it was technically summer in the southern hemisphere). Anyway, akala ko tapos na yung pag akyat. Hindi pa pala. At the end of the South Crater we had to hike up again. Unlike in the Devil's Staircase, there were no steps to help us. Instead, the incline was composed of loose soil and rocks. The hiking sticks come up handy again. This time, for balance.

Arla overlooking the south crater, with Mt. Ngauruhoe on the left and Mt. Tongariro on the right.

I think we climbed up to 1,800 meters to reach the Red Crater. It's called red because, well, the soil is color red. We rested. Waited for the others. Rehydrated. Enjoyed the view. The wind was definitely stronger and chillier.

That's me planting the Philippine flag!

Thankfully, that was the highest altitude for our planned hike. It was mostly downhill after that. However, if you wish to climb up the summit of Mount Tongariro, you could, but it will set you back another 1 hour.

The Red Crater

From the Red Crater, we hiked down to Emerald Lakes. Medyo mahirap yung pababa kasi malambot yung lupa. It also doesn't help that the view coming down was beautiful with the three emerald colored lakes popping out of the grey and brown landscape. For me, it was the highlight of the hike. I loved the view.

The hike going down from the Red Crater.

The Emerald Lakes (Photo: Neeko Catalan)

Group photo at one of the lakes. (Photo: Neeko Catalan)

We rested between the lakes, named Ngarotopoum Namu by the native Maori. I read that the bright green color of the water is caused by minerals from the volcano. Anyway, we waited for our friends. We ate pistachios. Posed for group photos. We took our sweet time that we didn't realize we were the last hikers already.

From the Emerald Lakes to the Blue Lake (Photo: Neeko Catalan)

There was still snow in some parts of the hike. (Photo: Neeko Catalan)

From the lakes, we continued walking until we reached a larger lake called Blue Lake. We rested again and took more photos. (Tourists, right?) There was still some snow along the way and the hiking boots were helpful to traverse them. After about an hour and a half, our party reached Ketetahi Hut. We had bathroom break there.

With the boys at Ketetahi Hut. (Photo: Neeko Catalan)

Hiking down to the Ketetahi exit. (Photo: Neeko Catalan)

From vegetation to volcanic rocks then back to vegetation (Photo: Giulia Soria)

We walked further down the winding path that seemed would not end. It started to get warm again. Vegetation started to reappear. It was a 2 hour walk down, we passed through a light forest, and then we reached Ketetahi car park at around 6pm. What was supposed to be an 8 hour day hike turned into 10 because of all of our breaks, rests and photo ops. But the hike was well worth it. I really enjoyed it because although it was warm at some parts, it wasn't excruciatingly hot and humid. Tama lang yung temperature. I imagine if I did a similar hike in the Philippines, I'd probably collapse due to heat stroke or dehydration within hours. 

Tired! (Photo: Neeko Catalan)

If you like hiking and the great outdoors, and have a weekend to spare while in New Zealand, I highly recommend doing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. It's doable. It's enjoyable. It's worth it. For more information, visit the park's website at www.nationalpark.co.nz.

Happy hiking!



Thank you to Norman Zafra for the video, and to Neeko Catalan and Giulia Soria for the photos!