It has been ages since I last went outdoors with my family. So it was quite fun to spend the past 2 days of the Hari Raya hols exploring the easy nature trails close by to Klang Valley.

Main highlight was walking up Broga Hill on Monday morning. Have heard much about it, so was eager to check it out. Probably the same thought was running thru the minds of the many walkers that morning when we arrived at trailhead nearby rabbit farm. Luckily we came much later, so the journey up was less congested as most of the walkers were on their way down.

What struck me about Broga Hill was its vast grasslands covering most of the hill. Sight more commonly found in the hilly terrains of England, the landscape seemed to be the perfect setting for a Bollywood love scene. Which is probably why more of the people there were mostly busy taking photos rather than the usual walkers.

Reaching to about 400m, the walk up only took about 40min at a leisurely pace. Being open with steps cut into the steeper places, the walk is definitely very kid-friendly for families wanting to expose their kids to the outdoors. 

Probably may return for a next visit to either see its glory during sunrise or sunset. Not really the place to work out a sweat.

(Looking to the trail highest point from 1st top)

(Looking back at the walking trail from the highest point)

(Along the walking trail looking at the hilly terrains around us, forming the natural border between Selangor and Negeri Sembilan states)

The attraction of exploring a pristine jungle terrain heading towards Julan waterfalls, which has only been visited by few people even amongst the locals, was too tempting.

And so began my week-long journey to Miri, Sarawak with the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) group. Despite being part of Malaysia, I always feel like a foreign visitor to Sabah & Sarawak because of their vast differences in people, culture, natural surroundings etc.

The trail head for Julan waterfalls was located in a remote village of Usun Apau. It is about 300km south of Miri, but took nearly 7 hours by 4WD because of the bumpy and uneven logging road used for most of the journey. The nearest civilised town is called Long San, which is about 2hr away by 4WD.

(View of Usun Apau, our last village before heading inside jungles)

What struck me dearly about Sarawak is the hospitality of the local people. Lipau, our Kenyah host at Usun Apau greeted our group’s arrival with several pit-roasted heads of wild boar. Everyone enjoyed the simple delicious snack, with some licking their fingers at the end to sample every bits of the smoky flavours. I particularly enjoyed the slices of the tongue, which tasted somewhat like pate with its creaminess.

(Pit-roasted wild boar head – yummy jungle snack)

The next two days was spent in the jungles as we walked towards the upper portion of Julan waterfalls. The trek in took about 7 hours and not particularly taxing for me. There were portions where it was quite steep, and we had to grab hold of tree roots, trunks and also rattan being used as guide ropes to help us get up. Surprisingly there were not too many leeches along the way, probably because so few people and mammals roam the surroundings.

(The group of us at the beginning of the hike – note the fresh happy faces!)

The view when we reached the top of Julan waterfalls was spectacular. Only the upper portions of the falls could be seen, the middle section which plunged over 200 metres below was not visible because of our precarious viewing site from the top. That will be left for another adventure in the future!

Because of the limited flat grounds at the top, our group of 27pax & guides had to split camp into two. The few of us who arrived early set up camp on the other side of the river and closer to the upper waterfall.

Camping so close to a beautiful waterfall was exciting, but little did we know of the dangers which came later in the night. Most of us didn’t get much sleep because of the cold wind and water sprays blowing into our camp throughout the night – we even woke up about 3am to readjust the tent and tie up whatever we can get hold of to act as windbreakers.

(View of the mid-section Julan waterfalls falling down to river at bottom)

(Our campsite with upper Julan falls in the background)

Without much hesitation, five of us decided to break camp early and follow a guide out who was ill. The thought of spending another cold and wet night, plus the fact that there were not much food rations remaining tempted the few of us to trek out the next day itself.

The trek out was much more enjoyable, since it was downhill and we were more accustomed to the terrain. The only painful part was the last leg spent on the exposed logging trail, where we trudged under the intense heat of the afternoon sun. Soon enough, our 6hr hike out was rewarded by a picnic beside  Julan river. Here we managed to soak and clean ourselves in the cool river waters whilst enjoying more wild boar meat and cold beer.

(Our lead group on the way out. Bernard (in green) was our trusty 4wd driver and Lipau (beige t-shirt) was the knowledgable Kenyah jungle guide. Check out the size of the tree buttress in the background)

The next two nights were spent in the humble home of Bernard, one of the Kenyah 4wd drivers. We enjoyed a lazy day exploring the rivers of Akah and Baram on a long narrow wooden boat with a small motor at the stern. Along the way, we visited a poor Penan village which was quiet during that day because most of the villagers were busy with their rice planting. The boatmen team of father & son brought along fishing nets and we returned in the afternoon with plenty of river fishes for our dinner.

(Penan elder with her granddaughter)

(Boatmen guiding us through the river exploration around Long San)

It is inevitable that tuak, local rice wine, will be generously offered by the locals. We enjoyed the home-brew tuak by Salmiah, Bernard’s wife after a hearty dinner. There were plenty more tuak on the 2nd night when the rest of the MNS group returned to Long Asan. By itself, it is a very soothing drink because of its sweetness. And because of this, one can easily get overboard especially when the locals ensure that your cup is never empty!

Day 5 saw our departure from the depths of the jungles back to the urban town of Miri. It has been raining the whole night and morning, thus making the logging road even more treacherous because of the slippery, muddy conditions. Kudos to all our drivers who had to maintain their focus and composure as they manoeuvre the winding roads out.

(Muddy & slippery logging road during our 4wd journey back to Miri)

Our last day in Miri was spent exploring Niah Caves, about 110km southwest of Miri. The caves system was located inside the Niah National Park which was nicely maintained by Sarawak Forestry. We were on boardwalks for most of the journey, probably built for easier public access and to minimise damage to the cave floors.

Enjoyed the 1hr walk into the caves along the rainforest surroundings. It was cool being under the shades of the many great trees. Reckoned that some informative signboards along the way would have made the experience even richer, which could explained further about the various fauna we were looking at.

The cave which stood out amongst the many was Great Cave. Firstly because of its magnificent grand cave entrance. Secondly we were amazed at the various bamboo structures erected by the birds’ nest collectors, who bravely climb up to the top to harvest their bounty with a sharp knife at the end of a long bamboo pole. There was a group of men that day, who gladly showed off their dexterity earned from years of experience.

(Cave entrance of Great Cave at Niah)

Sarawak is definitely one of my favourite travel destinations in Malaysia. Being such a vast state, I have only seen so little with this trip and a prior visit to Kuching & Mulu. There will always be the burning desire to return in the near future with more time to explore the hidden beauties before commercialisation and logging destroy everything.

More pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/wyeyim/JulanWaterfallsNiahCaves#

(Finally found a day with blue skies to venture KL – Bangunan Abdul Samad completed in 1897)

It has been about a month since I returned back to Malaysia from UK. There were plenty of things to get re-adjusted to:

-          hazy skyline vs bright blue skies

-          heat & humidity, resulting in some sleepless nights at the beginning

-          traffic jam & rivers of cars flowing through the city.

-          green surroundings being replaced with houses, apartments and other concrete structures

-          people eating more meat than vegetables. Am missing the joy of eating variety of fresh raw vegetables

Despite it all, it has been wonderful being home again. Reuniting with family and friends after being away for nearly 2 years. Especially meeting up with a close friend before she left for her own year-long adventure to OZ end of June09.

Managed to embark on some local sight-seeing missions whilst I still have the free time. Retraced the steps I took for a Heritage Walk around Kuala Lumpur (KL). Was relieved that many of the old buildings have not been torn down or refurbished with some garish modernized look. Quite amazing to know that KL is actually quite a young city, as it began to take roots about the 1850s. Some of the notable buildings still standing today date from 1890s, but majority of the shophouses are built around the 1930s era. Don’t think many Malaysians actually give a second look to the many buildings around them, or even realize its significance.

Admittedly it is a challenge to survive walking around KL in the midday heat & humidity. Plus the fact that my stomach has shrunk drastically makes consuming all the lovely Malaysian food rather a painful experience. Neverthess, there will always be room for the velvety “tau foo fah” and cooling “air mata kucing” drink at Petaling Street to satisfy the tired soul. It is amazing that we actually plan our travel itinerary around crucial food stops, in addition to the highlights we want to check out.

Definitely looking forward to many more wonderful travel experiences from back home from now onwards. Cuti-cuti Malaysia!

(Masjid Jamek – one of the oldest mosques in KL. Officially opened in 1909)

Funnily I didn’t actually do anything special during the last two days before I left London for home. At the back of my mind, there was still a glimmer of hope that I may return to UK in July. So there was no particular need to celebrate my departure with a Big Bang.

Instead I spent a wonderful day walking along the River Thames. Started off at Borough Market, which will always be one of my favorite places in this city. Can’t go hungry here with the vast array of food being sold – sausages, chorizo burger, breads, brownies, ice-cream etc. And Monmouth Coffee Company is THE place for my caffeine fix.

From Borough Market, it was a pleasant stroll along the south bank. Passing Tate Modern, I am reminded of the days I used to spend exploring the wonderful exhibits. Spending a whole day inside it was not uncommon – I appreciated the art pieces more when I followed the guided tours conducted by the knowledgable volunteers.

My walk ended at Trafalgar Square – central place where many events took place. Probably best remembered for being the most dangerous section during my cycles to work at Covent Garden. It was the place where I encountered the most traffic, and had to pedal quick enough to turn off into The Strand before buses, taxis and cars come along.

Will I ever get to return to UK again?

More pics – http://picasaweb.google.com/wyeyim/LondonLastDay#

New leaves sprouting out

Young birds discovering their little voices

Explosion of colours everywhere as flowers bloom

Fragile lambs bleating to their mothers

Spring is here to bid the cold winter adieu. New life burst forth from every nook & cranny as the days lengthen and weather warms up.

Autumn used to be my favourite season because of the extraordinary fall colours. But now spring is my personal best because of the freshness it brings to everything. Time for new life emerging and awakening from its winter slumber, time for new beginnings. Even people walk with a renewed vigour in their strides.

I was fortunate to spend 2 months (April & May) at Goldhill Organic Farm in Child Okeford, North Dorset. The farm is operated by a quirky couple, full of energy & enthusiasm for life. It is amazing how we can spend whole day working on the plot and yet still have the time for badminton sessions at night, sometimes twice in a week.

(Farm courtyard with Hambledon Hill in the background)

(View of open beds filled with various vegetables situated besides the polytunnels)

I have learnt heaps about growing from this farm, what with the variety of vegetables being grown on their land. Some new ones for me include asparagus, mangetout (sugar snap peas), lamb’s cress and fresh garlic. Will missed eating all the root vegetables, leeks and salad leaves grown abundantly during winter.

(Mangetout / Sugar snap peas growing happily inside polytunnel)

Another wonderful experience for me was dealing with their cows bred for their meat. The farm kept over 25 cows that we occasionally move between different grazing fields and back to farm house for vaccinations, ear tagging etc. It was amazing how their cows are relatively obedient and respond well to our human calls during all the moves. Mostly the new calves that causes more headaches, as they are still unaccustomed to the moving regimes.

During these 2 months, I have been lucky to witness the arrival of 3 calves. Magical seeing how the mothers caringly lick their calves dry and gingerly nudged them to stand up. We always breathe a sigh of relief when the calf begins to suckle its first milk, as we know it will survive on without difficulty.

(Young calf looking on with curiosity as other cows grazed on)

The other joy of spring was taking care of 2 newly born orphaned lambs. The farm owners bought the pair in as wonderful addition to the 6 chickens we are keeping as pets. The lambs have grown quite tame and fond of humans as we nursed them since young. I enjoyed watching them run and hop around with so much energy, and seeing their happy wagging tails during feeding time.

(Me feeding the adorable lamb that has grown since birth 5 1/2 weeks ago)

Personally enjoyed volunteering at this third farm the best. It was a combination of the people around me who are passionate about what they do, learning and doing a variety of jobs on the farm and opportunity to live a basic yet fulfilling lifestyle.

And not forgetting the clear blue skies, warm sunshine and long warmer days, which do wonders for the soul. Took opportunity of any free time to cycle and walk around – which was so easy and safe because of the quiet and flat surroundings. Spent hours exploring Hambledon Hill which was just 30min from the farm, and a constant backdrop behind our farm plots.

(Hambledon Hill where I spent many afternoons walking on it)

More pics on http://picasaweb.google.com/wyeyim/SpringFarmingNorthDorset#

Genova felt like a hidden gem amongst the other famous Italian cities. The port city is set against a hilly backdrop, resulting in interesting buildings and roadways constructed following terraces along the hillside. Amazingly the city of Genova is 38km wide running from west to eat, but about 2-3km in its widest portion from sea to hill.

Great place for panoramic views of the city was from Belvedere Montaldo. One can look out to the seaport & iconic “Laterna” and many splendid buildings along the hilly terrain. Genova city is famed for its collection of historic buildings in Medieval, Rennaisance & Baroque styles located amongst its narrow & hilly streets. Interesting sites included 16th century palaces built by nobility along Strada Nuova (New Street), Piazza de Ferrari, little house where Christopher Columbus lived and seafront promenade.

(Looking out to the port & Laterna from Belvedere Montaldo)

(Genova city & its hilly surroundings)

I was fortunate to spend 2.5 days with two Genovese, Senja & Massimo who took time off to show me the sights in and around Genova. Even had the pleasure of spending dinner with Massimo’s family & 2 other friends. Food was excellent – started with Lasagne with Pesto, followed by roast pork marinated with rosemary, fried lamb cutlets and fried potato balls, and finished with walnut cake. The dinner reminded me so much of a typical family back home – everyone was busy talking amongst each other while digging into the delicious fare. Enjoyed how Italians display so much emotions in their conversations with hand gestures.

Spent early part of Tuesday walking around the city centre. One of the highlight was lunch at a simple eatery called “da Maria Cucina Casalinga” located at Vico Testadoro. Very popular amongst the locals, even attracting the office & banking staff. Tasted several marvelous dishes e.g. Seafood soup, Artichoke Quiche, Aubergine stewed with beef mince & tomatoes and their homemade dessert akin to tiramisu. Delish!!

Drove eastwards after lunch towards Portofino, an exclusive village set in a small harbour. Apparently a playground for the rich & famous – the village exudes an air of sophistication and poshness. There are even plans to recreate the entire village, down to the exact shops in Dubai.

(Portofino gleaming with posh beauty)

Next village was Camogli, about 2miles west of Portofino. Preferred this coastal village compared to Portofino, as it was more laid-back and lively. Saw the big pan in the middle of the town centre, which was set up for the Sagra del Pesce (Fish Festival) on Sun 10th May in honour of the patron saint of the fishermen. The 4m wide pan will served up heaps of seafood, attracting swarms of local people because it’s free. Reminded me of the typical crowd back home during ‘buka rumah’ session.

(Camogli with the giant pan ready to cook up its annual fish feast)

Spent the whole of next day exploring the other villages lying to the west of Genova city. Drove for over 2 hours towards Menton, French town just after the Italian border. The drive there was interesting – we passed by some spectacular engineering creations as the motorway made its way through various elevated bridges and long tunnels. Menton itself was a typical French Riviera town – long promenade besides the clean, pebbly beach and town centre filled with restaurants & gift shops.

After a simple lunch of ham & cheese crepe, we headed back to the Italian soil. Nearby was the Hanbury Botanic Gardens – created back in 1867 by Sir Thomas Hanbury (www.amicihanbury.com). Huge garden with plenty to see – it was interesting to see the array of exotic plants thriving there in the mediterranean climate. Always enjoy walking around gardens, only wished i harbour deeper interests with the plants & flowers instead of just enjoying their lovely sight & smell.

(One of the lovely walkways inside Hanbury Botanic Gardens)

Next stop was more fascinating – exploring the abandoned village of Bussana Vecchia. The hilltop village was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1887. It was only in the 1960s when a group of artists began to inhabit the place and slowly created a creative community there. Today there are about 60 people making Bussana Vecchia as their home & workplace – amazing walking along the narrow alleyways and discovering artistic creations in various nooks & crannies. Perfect place to chill out and spend the time taking lotsa photos.

(Alleyway inside the labyrinth of Bussana Vecchia)

Last village stop for the day was Cervo – simple medieval village famous for its music festivals and terraced olive groves. The gem of the village was the Baroque Church of San Giovanni Battista, spectacular baroque style building in this part of the Ligurian region.

(Baroque church in Cervo)

Finished our driving adventure at Savona, industrial port which has been a strong rival to Genoa since the olden days. Didn’t get to see much of the town as we arrived late in the evening. Nevertheless, the main aim was to sample the local specialty – farinata (pancake made from wheat or chickpea flour). Settled at a local eatery famed for its farinata, and sampled other delicious Italian dishes for our main course e.g. uncooked sardines marinated with olive oil & lemon juice and fleshy fish cooked with tomatoes, olives and capers. Food was so good that all the last bits were soaked up with bread.

(Enjoying the farinata in two versions – chickpea and wheat flour)

Genova will be remembered for its wonderful coastal villages and warm hospitality extended by my italian friends. Really enjoyed the fact that over-commercialisation has not hit this city compared to other touristic Italian places. Ciao!

Picture album – http://picasaweb.google.com/wyeyim/CinqueTerreGenoa#

It has been an awesome weekend getaway to Cinque Terre, Italy. Meaning “Five Lands”, the area consisted of 5 villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza & Monterosso al Mare. Blessed with warm & sunny weather, our group of 5pax fell in love with the rustic villages, clear blue seawaters and steep terraces filled with farming for grapes, olives, lemons etc.

We arrived late afternoon to Manarola, our base for the next 2 nights after a 2hr train ride from Genova city. Our hostel was Ostello “Cinque Terre” – do recommend it for its cleanliness and eco efforts (www.hostel5terre.com). We even had special tokens for the showers ,which limited it to 5 min for water conservation. Amazing experience since it does make one realise how little time we actually need for a proper shower.

(Manarola basking in the sunset)

The whole area is filled with plenty of trails connecting the coastal villages or leading up to the various hilltops. As we only had one proper day for exploration, we opted to stay on the well-trodden footpath #2 from Manarola to Monterosso al Mare (8km walk), which can be done easily in 5-6 hours.

(Footpath linking the villages between Manarola & Monterosso al Mare)

The footpath is varied in terms of steepness, but definitely well laid out to appeal to walkers from all ages. There was the interesting 382 steps in zig-zag style during the last section leading up to Corniglia. The final footpaths from Corniglia to Vernazza & Monterosso al Mare were more challenging in its steepness, but one is rewarded with the beauty of the olive trees & grapevines on both sides of the trail.

(Zig zag steps leading up to Corniglia)

(View of Vernazza from the harbour)

Arrived at Monterosso al Mare about 3pm, and jumped with joy that our hard walking moments are over for the day. The village was definitely busy for the Sunday – plenty of local & foreign tourists soaking up the sun & warmth. It was also a long weekend for the Italians, who were enjoying a public holiday on Friday for May 1st Labour Day. There were people everywhere looking for souveniers amongst the many shops in the town centre, or relaxing along Fegina beach.

(Il Gigante with Fegina beach in the background)

Took the last ferry trip at 5.50pm from Monterosso al Mare to Riomaggiore and enjoyed the views of the villages and cliffs from the sea. Didn’t really explore much of Riomaggiore as I was indeed tired from the long day of walking. Enjoyed the easy paved footpath from Riomaggiore back to Manarola, which was called Via dell’ Amore (Lover’s Road). The 20min walk was flat all the way – we even had time to fool around with various poses for the camera while savouring the sunset.

(Plenty of love declarations in the form of locks found along the Via dell’ Amore)

Ended the night with a wonderful dinner at Tratorria “Billy” – our table was set on an open balcony where we had a marvelous view of the sun setting in the open sea. Food was excellent, shared the Black Squid Ink Linguini with clams. Didn’t really stayed long at the restaurant, as our group was finding it difficult keeping our voices & laughter down amongst the other diners, mostly couples enjoying the romantic setting.

Definitely enjoyed the village of Manarola the best – mainly because it was quieter and less commercialised compared to the other towns, particularly Vernazza & Monterosso al Mare. It was simply magical exploring the narrow & winding pathways amongst the rustic buildings and out along the farming terraces. Given the opportunity, I will love to return and walk the other trails leading to the many hilltops and drink in the marvelous natural beauty of this national park.

(View of the terraced farming at village of Manarola)

More pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/wyeyim/CinqueTerreGenoa#

Seeing the Scottish mountain ranges was a welcome relief after months of gentle rolling hills in England. Nevertheless, I didn’t manage to get out as much as I hope to, largely due to the cold & gloomy winter days. Went on a day walk with the local Ramblers club and spent most of the time hiking in the rain.

There were still some great day outs during my 2 months stay at Ardersier. Went on a Winter Skills clinic around the foothills of Cairngorm mountain with 4 other participants. Condensed version of a similar course I did last year at Plas y Brenin. This time round I had more snow to play around with. First part was familiarizing ourselves with the proper use of crampons and ice axe as we moved safely around the snow slopes. Best part was learning the different techniques of ice axe arrest – we had to throw ourselves down the snow slope from various positions and learn how to stop with the ice axe. Was wearing my old waterproofs – so didn’t mind going overboard with the speed.

(Posing for the camera with my full kit)

Managed to finally experience my first outdoor climb in UK after being here for over 1.5 years. My climbing guru for the day was Michael, friend of the farm. We were climbing the sandstone sea cliffs and outcrops in Cummingston, 30 miles east of Ardersier. Great place for bouldering, as the place was littered with different rock formations. Haven’t climbed for over 9months – so was not in the best form. Thankfully Michael was a patient man and we spent the day tackling several boulder problems and 2 higher climbs with Michael leading the way with nuts & cams.

(One of the huge boulder for climbing with the sea in the background)

(Me tackling a boulder problem)

Didn’t leave Scotland too disappointed as I managed to bag another Munro (collection of mountains in Scotland over 3,000 ft) just a day before I departed. Woke up to a glorious morning and knew it was a perfect day to get out into the mountains. It was a challenge getting to Aviemore, one of the gateways to Cairngorm National Park, since the public transport was limited on a Sunday. Finally reached the start of my walk up to Cairngorm at around 1.45pm, had to cheat by coming up the mountain halfway with the bus due to time constraint.

Was sad to learnt that the gusty winds of 30-40mph and snowy conditions towards the peak will make the journey quite challenging. Coming all this way, and not being able to reach the top was heartbreaking. Despite the negative news, I started the walk up and decided to push as far as I could go. The strong winds did slowed down my progress. Along with the fact that I have not been doing much rigorous exercise for the last 6months left me gasping for air towards the last stretch.

It was indeed my lucky day when I bumped into Michael, my climbing buddy, inside the restaurant+ski centre towards the top. He was there with some friends, and was about to leave to walk the last bit up to the final summit. Thank goodness he was there to lead the way, as the final section was covered with thick snow and slippery icy patches.

Standing at the summit of Cairngorm was magnificent. The stunning scenery with clear views of the mountain ranges stretching to the horizon and great outdoors everywhere made the painful journey up worthwhile. It is really tempting me to return in July to the farm for strawberry harvesting and opportunities to experience more of the Scottish wilderness.

(Enroute to the top of Cairngorm mountain – view of the mountain range around us)

(Michael & his friend posing on top of the peak marker at Cairngorm)

]]> http://nomadtravel.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/scottish-outdoors/feed/ 0 nomadadventure winter-skills rock-climbing cummingston climb1 climb cairngorm-peak cairngorm peak http://nomadtravel.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/scotland-farm/ http://nomadtravel.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/scotland-farm/#comments Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:31:27 +0000 Wye Yim http://nomadtravel.wordpress.com/?p=414 ]]>

It was simply fabulous spending the last 2 months of winter up in Scotland from Feb-Mar. Fell in love with Scotland the moment I saw the snow-covered mountains as my overnight train passed by Cairngorm National Park in the early morning hours.

I came up to volunteer at my 2nd organic farm in Ardersier, small town 17miles from Inverness. Donnie, a 60yr man who still possessed the energy & alertness of a teenager, manages the farm.

(Taken with Donnie in his traditional scottish kilt)

The first 2 weeks at Ardersier was filled with snow-filled days. Apparently it is quite unusual in this part of Scotland, since it stays relatively warmer due to the Gulf Stream influence. Managed to find some time off to enjoy sledding & playing with the snow amongst the other farm volunteers.

(Overview of farm from nearby hill)

(Storehouse and 2-storey farm house at the back – housing for Donnie & volunteers on the 1st floor)

(Main polytunnel & fields for berry bushes covered with Feb snowfall)

Change from my previous farm host in Nottingham was the mixed livestock on the farm. We have over 500 egg-laying chickens, 6 pigs, couple of sheeps and cows. Volunteers mainly deal with the chickens – taking turns to feed them in the morning and collect the eggs in the afternoon. It is always a joy watching all the happy & healthy chickens roam freely. Don’t think I will be able to stomach the thought of eating any chickens or eggs from intensive farming methods.

(Feeding all the hungry chickens in the morning)

(Happy hens enjoying the great outdoors)

(Cows enjoying their daily carrots feed to supplement their grass grazing)

Another change was living with a bunch of young volunteers in a proper house with the farm owner. It felt like living in a university dorm again, as most of the volunteers are in their early twenties. One of the main challenges is meal times – not uncommon to cook for up to 9 people. Have taken aboard cooking or leading the prep as most of the other volunteers are less experienced in that arena. Don’t mind it since I enjoy cooking and the challenge of jazzing up the meals with the limited ingredients on hand.

(Group pic with rest of volunteers piled on the quad, mini workhorse we used to get around the farm area)

(Bunch of us having a night out at the local pub in Ardersier)

Speaking of food, I had the pleasure of enjoying haggis and the Robert Burns’ poem that is read before it is ceremoniously stabbed and revealed to the diners. Not forgetting several rainbow trouts; sweet fleshy river fishes caught by one of the farm worker and the occasional wild rabbits shot on the farm. Plus savoring different types of whisky – liquid gold of Scotland.

A first for me was making marmalade from Seville oranges. By the end of my stay, I made about 60 jars which was quite popular amongst the customers. Reminded me of my childhood days when I helped my grandma prepared kaya (coconut jam) and the hours spent stirring the pot. I always look forward to the end when I was rewarded with the opportunity to clean out the freshly made jam from the pot with pieces of bread – delish!

(Jars of marmalade with my very own name on it – yeah!)

Learnt how to play bridge from Donnie, the farm owner. Quite an interesting card game, involving fair bit of brainwork and plenty of guesswork as us farm volunteers, being the novice players, grappled with the art of bidding at the start of each game. Spent plenty evenings with bridge till late into the night.

We do ventured out on the occasional weekends to enjoy the local pub scene. Really enjoyed the live bands playing great Scottish music – incredible music with only the fiddle, accordion, guitar and occasional drums. Can’t help but get on your feet to dance when the band plays a lively jig, especially when it involved the bagpipes. Experienced some great musicians – North Sea Gas at Hootananny pub, both Martin Stephenson and MacGregor, Brechin & O hEadhra (www.myspace.com/brucesandybrian) during the Northern Roots music festival.

(MacGregor, Brechin & O hEadhra performing at Northern Roots Festival 2009)

]]> http://nomadtravel.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/scotland-farm/feed/ 1 nomadadventure donnie-me farm-top-view farm-house farm-snow chicken-feeding chickens cows group-quad group marmalade macgregor http://nomadtravel.wordpress.com/2008/12/30/back-to-nature/ http://nomadtravel.wordpress.com/2008/12/30/back-to-nature/#comments Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:40:06 +0000 Wye Yim http://nomadtravel.wordpress.com/?p=394 ]]>

(View of farm from my bedroom inside the common caravan)

It has been an interesting experience spending the last 2.5 months volunteering at an organic vege farm in Nottingham. Growing up in an urban environment, I’ve always craved for the simpler pleasures of life. And being in a country big on farming, especially using organic methodology, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to dive right in and get my hands dirty.

Signing up for WWOOF (www.wwoof.org.uk) was the starting point to connect people like me to hosting farms. It works like an exchange; volunteers get food & accommodation in exchange for their time and labour. And so, immediately after my travels round Europe, I packed off again and headed towards a family-run farm near Nottingham.

Being in a working farm is definitely not to everyone’s cup of tea. Accommodation is very basic, volunteers stay in caravans and share a common toilet & shower in addition to the kitchen and living space. Heating comes from the basic wood burner in the common caravan or mini portable electric heaters in the individual sleeping caravans. We are lucky to have a TV, but avoided the idiot box for more sociable activities.

Work is not too hard on the farm as we drew closer to Dec. With shorter and colder days, there is less planting to be done and just more harvesting and maintenance jobs e.g. lotsa weeding. My fingers are now scaly and have a chocolate tinge from the constant exposure to the soil and cold. Another downside to working outdoors, especially during these winter months is the cold and windy elements. We still continue to work when it drizzles, but sanely find refuge when it pours. Probably that’s why i have started drinking more tea these days, instead of my usual caffeine kicks. Won’t OD from having at least 5 cups of tea everyday.

Despite working for free, the rewards for me are plentiful. Firstly, the joys of living more in tune with nature. Waking up to birds chirping outside my window, savouring the beautiful sunrise and sunsets, watching the moon cycle and night sky filled with brilliant stars, working with rich soil and watching plants grow etc. Secondly, eating good nutritious food and being introduced to more ingredients, especially since the onsite farm shop buys in variety of fruits, vege and organic foodstuff. Nothing tops picking juicy leaves from the variety of salad plants and tasting the burst of flavours in my mouth. Even the smell of plants being picked fresh is wonderful.

Besides the serene countryside and awesome food, I have been blessed with the company of 3 other volunteers (Czech, Italian & English) at the farm who share similar passions for food and cooking. We never run short of people wanting to cook – definitely have put on weight because of more dairy intake and lack of intense exercise. In addition to learning more cooking styles, I have also learned more about their lives in their country.

What lies ahead for me in 2009?

I aim to learn as much possible from working on these organic farms and living a more responsible & sustainable life on this planet. It is this newfound passion that i hope to develop for my future life ahead. Not only to sustain myself, but also to share it with others so that more people can make a difference to the world. The challenge now will be to create the space for me back home to live it out, amidst the mainstream societal rules and expectations. Bring it on!

(View of farm from the bottom field)

(Having lunch and enjoying the warm sunshine outside)

(Caravans – common caravan can be seen behind the little sleeping caravan in foreground)

(View inside the common caravan – living quarters, kitchen and my bedroom in the back. Picture with Italian gal and Czech volunteer)