Hello, Alaska!

I remember the time I got my job in a cruise line I was so damn excited! I almost shouted when they told me I'm heading to Alaska. Wonders in that place flash through my mind and I am just standing there feeling blessed. I have never thought that I'll be able to see snow cap mountains, glaciers, beautiful pine trees, dolphin, Orcas or to the most common name Killer Whale and just feel the fresh air of untouched land and far away from the populated city. Alaska is located to the upper left part of America. My trip only goes to six (6) places in Alaska; Ketchikan, Seward, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Juneau and Hubbard Glacier including the inside passage.

Let us get to know Alaska and according to Wiki: Alaska, northwest of Canada, is the largest and most sparsely populated U.S. state. It's known for its diverse terrain of open spaces, mountains and forests, with abundant wildlife and many small towns. It’s a destination for outdoor activities like skiing, mountain biking and kayaking. Massive Denali National Park is home to Denali (formerly called Mount McKinley), North America’s highest peak.

And according to Lonely Planet: 

Why I Love Alaska

By Brendan Sainsbury, Writer

Like many travelers, I am drawn to roads less traveled, isolated frontier regions where spontaneity and excitement rule over certainty and home comforts. Alaska, for me, fits all of these requirements. Challenging, unpolished and, on occasions, a hard nut to crack, it is, in many ways, the antithesis of the country where I grew up (the UK). Like a stranger in a strange land, I never fail to be astonished by the state’s extremes and gaping lack of people. And though travel here isn’t always easy, it’s a constant education.

Just do it

Alaska is, without a doubt, America’s grittiest outdoor playground where skilled bush pilots land with pinpoint accuracy on crevasse-riddled glaciers, and backcountry guiding companies take bravehearts on bracing paddles down almost virgin rivers. With scant phone coverage and a dearth of hipster-friendly coffee bars to plug in your iPad, this is a region for 'doing' rather than observing. Whether you go it alone with bear-spray and a backpack, or place yourself in the hands of an experienced ’sourdough’ (Alaskan old-timer), the rewards are immeasurable.

Here are my adventures in Alaska!

 I'm a bit of a boyish type when it comes to style. I'm a late bloomer women to be exact.

 This is in Juneau, Alaska as far as I remember and my target is that statue over there.

It's very chilly for someone like me who grew up on a tropical country I'm freezing to death. 

 It's a lovely day here in Ketchikan, Alaska. Still my style is totally way off.

 

Next stop is the famous Icy Strait Point.

 Who doesn't love this beautiful forest I feel like I'm in twilight. 

That line is actually use for zip line. See how high it was?! It was an intense experience actually.

That's where I used to work. One of the best way to go around Alaska is to go on a cruise and take that 7 days get away. 

 This is my favorite photo. Bears are very popular to Alaska. So always be careful when walking in the woods.

 At the end of the trail or day before heading back make sure to taste their famous King Crab.

 This is just the first part of Skagway, Alaska. I love this place! You have to walk at least 20 minutes to reach the town if you're up for it or train for a different experience.














Very rural area, looks like ghost town to me but they do have Starbucks.

 God's creation! This is not Hubbard glacier though. And a little photo opportunity with the glacier.

 

 This is the only shots I got from Seward, Alaska. I only have few hours to be out so I'm kinda bit of in a hurry.

 That's pretty much about my trip to Alaska. Sorry I'm in the photos. 😁

 I am very happy that I manage to check ✓ Alaska for my Travel Bucket List. I would love to come back again and have much longer time to see and do more activities there. When you're working on a ship you don't have much time to do everything, but still I'm glad and really blesses that I saw Alaska in my years of life. For those of you who wants to travel Alaska go for it. Run from the city, technology and have your self a Me-Time with the nature.

So this Ivy the explorer telling you that "If you can't pronounce it, don't eat it!" Till my next blog.

My Trip to Hobbiton Town

I've never thought I'll be seeing the place called Hobbiton Town from the movie Lord of The Rings Film Trilogy and The Hobbit. I was amaze and overjoyed by the site of it. Well my otakuness and fangirling side flew all the way from the sky.
A little information about Hobbiton Town according to Wiki and with the help of google. It was originally called Hobbiton Movie set. It is situated on a family run farm about 8 kilometers (5.0) west of Hinuera and 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) southwest Matamata, in Waikato, New Zealand, and is now a Tolken tourism destination, offering guided tours of the set which you can click the link in case you want to add in your travel list 👉 Hobbitontours. The Alexander family moved to the 500-hectare (1,200-acre) property of rolling grassland where the set is located in 1978. Since then it has been livestock ranch with 13,000 sheep and 300 Angus beef cattle. The main sources of income from farming are mutton, wool and beef.

Now, getting back to my experience on visiting the Hobbiton Town for the first time was crazy, but crazy good. It took us an hour to get to the destination. 15 minutes before we arrive they handed us brochure maps and gives us a little history about the place. That makes me more excited than ever. There's a lot of ways to get there and just below is the map Getting There:

It didn't take us long to get inside the Town. The weather was perfect and we are blessed by a lovely day.

Welcome to the Shire. Hobbiton Town is part of Middle Earth map. This is just by the entrance to the set. I need a little photo op before the tour start.        

This is basically what you will see once you enter the set. A guide to the east and west farthing. I'll be just a hobbit for a day. It was amazing and beautiful place. I hope they make a hotel out of it someday and live a life like hobbits.



Most of the house are just display and only a hollow from the inside. But still I gasp from the little houses.

I tried to sneak in. 😛

All of it are just props, props props. Like these little pumpkin rack.

This is across the lake shot. It's just a display from a far and we're not allowed to go there.
That part of the set has an important scene in the Hobbit!

That's me ruining the scene of course.

      
I love the place and I can definitely retire here.

I am really trying to get inside. Because I want to see what's inside!

More hobbit house and me ruining the photo.

Finally a nice, dramatic photo to remember my stay. I can say I'm proud to be part of the house.

It's really fun to reenact that I'm a hobbit.

We're on the way to the top so I stop for a shot! 

Everybody knows this house, right? This is just on the top of the mountain at the end of the trail you'll see Frodo's house. We can't go inside for some reasons it say's under maintenance.

                                      

As you can remember in the movie they have some sort of party and this is where they celebrate it.

The Famous Green Dragon Inn.

One of the best part of the tour is at the end of it they offer snack and ale!

So let me just start my own snack and ale.










That's the end of my tour in Hobbiton Town. I cannot describe or sum it enough the experience.Words aren't enough until you see it. I mean most of us saw the movie and I am glad that they made this a tourist attraction. Even if you're just walking and taking a photo it was worth it of your time. If you're a fan like me and watched all the movies you will definitely appreciate it more than everybody. I had a blast and memorable time, being a Hobbit for a day is something (There's a souvenir shop too!). 

Hobbiton Town travel bucket list CHECK ✓

Until the next travel blog. This is Ivy the explorer saying Hakuna Matata!