Coromandel Fishing trip

Alright, I know I know.. I'm on a blogging frenzy now. I really do apologize for my lengthy posts for the past two weeks. It'll stop soon. I just want to blog everything out now before it gets busier. so here.. I present you the fishing trip of my summer on my last week here in auckland.

February 13-15: Coromandel fishing trip

The long awaited, much anticipated trip finally arrived!! It was organized by mamasan Audrey and Bronson and the trip was simply amazing.

Friday, February 13
Ken, along with Yean and Hensen (and who could forget, Dorito the dog) came and pick Ivan and I up at 6 in the morning. Had a pretty late night the night before as I slept at 3 doing last minute packing. I thought I set my alarm but it didn't ring. Woke up 10 mins before 6 and was rushing like mad. Brushed teeth, changed and it was out the door. Just in time. Phew!!!

First stop: The famous BP along the motorway to Hamilton. Where we met up the other two cars. Team Magnus consisting of him, Liyang, Swannie and Ash Li, Team Bronson: Him, Mamasan, Claire the dog and Kel Vin. Everyone looked pretty sleepy. Well, not surprised as it was 6.30 in the morning! Not many of us had much sleep the night before. The drivers got their coffee, some got their breakie and thenn.. the journey begins.

I was sleeping most of the way and my hands were kept warm by Dorito. Haha! Reached the bach at coromandel at 10. We unloaded, changed and then.. it was off to the beach! It was very sunny but the water was super cold. I slipped, slopped and slapped but obviously, did not wrap. Liyang and bronson were the first to go in and they were both like.. it's not cold, it's not cold. You'll get use to it very quickly. Not cold my ass!!! I got in and it was icy cold!! And it did not get better for a very very.. VERY long time. Crazy man!!

Hung out at the beach, played monkey in the water, played soccer (girls vs guys.. can't remember who won), played touch ... and then.. camwhored at the end. Those photos... are classic!!!!

Around 12-1-ish, we headed back to the bach to prepare for the mussel barge. Ivan and I set up our tent first when we got back. Yes, I was so excited to finally use my tent. Was waiting and waiting for an opportunity to use it and am glad I can use it for this trip! I knew there will be a use to it one day!!!

I bought it during Boxing Day for HALF price at Rebel's sport. It was originally $150. So yeaa.. Very cheap and good deal. It's a 4 person tent ... so very worth it. I've been wanting a tent ever since I went to Tauranga with my sportsci friends and stayed in a tent. The amount you save from accommodation is just too good to resist!

So after the tent set up, Fishing for Dummies began, where Bronson thought us how to put on our bait and hook. As you can see, everyone was so into it.

Well, mostly everyone :p

Once that was done, the trip to the mussel barge was well on its way! It was super windy on the boat and the water kept on splashing us. It got super cold and I was only wearing a shirt and a not-very-thick jacket with shorts.

Once we got to the spot, the fishing begun!! Everyone grabbed their rod and started fishing for snappers. That was what we were all aiming for. The more we catch, the more worth it our 50 bucks is. All in all, I caught 3 snappers. Well, 3 that were able to be taken. the rest were too small... *sigh*.... caught other fishes as well but i don't know what they are. It was good as everyone caught at least a fish and all in all.. we caught.. A LOT!! It was full of excitement everytime someone gets a fish and a wee disappointment when they were too small. And as it gets later and less fishes seemed to be caught, the excitement died down. It was more like... it's freaking cold and I just wanna go home and sleep for me. so tired that day.

just look at bronson's face. still so enthusiastic about it even on the way home.. and audrey's face is like.. Bahhhhh! Hahahaha!!

When we got back ... first thing I saw... the tent was blown down to the ground. *sigh* had to set it up again while the guys were cleaning the fishes and the girls prepared dinner. Once we set up the tent and crossed our fingers it won't get blown down again, Ivan and I were in charge of the BBQ-ing. Kel vin brought heaps of meat for the trip. Marinated lamb, beef, chicken. I had steak but it wasn't marinated long enough. Apart from those red meat... there were obviously.. the fishes!!! Grilled some of the fishes on the BBQ pit while mamasan was busy steaming the snappers.

thumbs up from swannie = good stuff!

Dinner was served and everyone just digged in. Good stuff!! Fish was so fresh it tasted SO GOOD! Nothing beats freshly caught fish. I'm not a huge fan of fishes but when it's fresh, it's gold!! Good dinner man.

After dinner and after washing up, there's a wee bit of chit chat and then it was off to bed. Everyone was pretty much knackered from the lack of sleep, early morning, craziness at the beach, excitement from the mussel barge and a satisfied tummy from the dinner. It calls for a good night's sleep. Everyone headed to their beds to dreamland and Ivan and I headed to our tent.

The wind was strong and it started raining as I headed into the tent. Was so afraid the tent might collapse on us the next morning we wake up but was too tired to even bother doing anything. Dropped dead once I hit my sleeping bag. Haflway throughout the night, the top part of the tent was shaking rather violently as the wind was so strong and it felt like the pegs were gonna get pulled out the ground and the tent will just fall on us. I think I was being so paranoid. I stuck my hands on the "wall" of the tent from then on, hoping that my lil hands can keep the tent up.

Feb 14, Saturday
Next morning, I got up and the tent was still up. Phew! It was still raining and still windy. Texted swan and asked if everyone was awake before going in.

Had breakfast and then prepare for our next adventure. We were meant to go for a boat trip for rock fishing but because of the terrible weather, we decided against it and opted for the Driving Creek Potteries and Railway.It was "Nz's only narrow-gauge mountain railway along with a working pottery and wild life sanctuary". Just quoting the website.. this was what it was:

"The 1 hour return trip on our innovatively designed trains takes you through replanted native kauri forest and includes 2 spirals, 3 short tunnels, 5 reversing points and several large viaducts as it climbs up to the mountain-top terminus.

do we look alike?

Called the Eyefull Tower, this handsome new building offers great panoramic views out over the island-studded Hauraki Gulf with the forested valley and mountains behind."

Guys

Girls

Once that was done, we dropped by at Coromandel town to get some groceries for dinner at night. Audrey, Bronson, Magnus, Ken, Kel Vin and Ash Li went to the fishing shop to get more gear and raincoat as they were still going rock fishing no matter what. I would have gone if I had more spare clothes (didn't pack enough) and not tired.

hardcore!!

We got back to the bach, the team of 6 got ready and went off for fishing adventure number 2 while the rest of us lazed around and I eventually headed to the tent and fell asleep. We were told to shower and cook before they got back from their fishing. At 4, we heard noise and Bronson was calling us. I was still in dreamland ... walked out... he was talking and all so excited but i had no idea what he said.. all i heard was "kayak" and audrey saying "why u wake them up?" ... and then.. i walked back to the tent and.. slept again. Haha!

Dinner time and yingswan apparently texted my phone to ask if we should start cooking but i did not hear anything. I think an hour later, I got up and she already did the chicken and all i had to do was the instant mi goreng. Dinner once again was good. There was fish but I was kinda sick of fish already. Apart from our chicken and mi goreng, there was steam fish, fried fish, wan tan mee, somemore chicken, and and.... awesome nachos with some sauce and cheese (by magnus) which was.. the best thing ever!! So yumm mann.. if only there was more.... Good stuff!

and it starts......

After dinner.... the night begun!! Yean made wicked jello shots! Yummy but... woah.. the vodka was strong. The drinks were all laid out on the table, with audrey wanting to get swan and i drunk. We played quite a few games and i can't even remember their names. One of the game, it was some counting game and we have to stand up and sit down and I was so blur in that game and had no idea what was going on. Till now, I still don't know how that game worked. All i knew was that the other team was pretty out of it and made a lot of mistakes. Haha! There's the 007 bang game which progressed to vikings and boats and then somehow, music bands of drums, and guitar....it was just hilarious!!!

And at the end of the night, i think the only two sober people was ... not surprisingly... swan and I. Audrey and Kel Vin were sleeping comfortably on the couch. Liyang was dancing the macarena in front of the tv and then showing Ken magic tricks, magnus was somehow trying to create peace with Dorito and Claire, Ash Li was already in drunken dreamland ... and I had no idea wehre Yean went. I remembered she was being squashed by Bronson and that was it. Ivan was playing 21 with me and Bronson joined in which resulted into drinking again and we dragged Swan in too hoping to get her more tipsy... but yea.. it ended up with Bronson, Ivan and Hensen hugging each other, laughing/wrestling/god-knows what .... and yeaa.... swan and i were just staring at them and laughing at how funny bronson was. Hahaha!!! And Ivan was in happy land too with him smiling but can barely open his eyes. We both took videos of everyone and just enjoyed ourselves laughing. Doubt you can ever get both of us drunk! we just too smart la for those games.. HAHAHAHA!!!!

the most decent pics out of the rest.. i just had to put one up la.. haha! the others are worst....

Sorry but videos are only for the eyes of those that went for the fishing trip. I actually don't mind sharing it but.... others would! hahahaha!!

Feb 15, Sunday
Next morning, we basically had breakfast, packed up and then headed home. And yea... remember how I said we caught a LOT of fishes? Well, after two nights of eating fishes, we still had more fish to take home!! haha!

And ohhh.. my tent did not fail me at all. It only collapsed one time during the first time of setting it up and that was probably due to poor setting up. But yea... after that, it was standing strong for two whole nights. Who wants to go camping with me next summer? Wahahaha! loving the tent!

All in all, it was a very memorable three days of fun and huge thanks to Audrey and Bronson who organized the whole thing and to everyone else in the trip who just made it so unforgettable and awesome!! I want another fishing trip!!!

Once again, Coromandel did not fail to impress me. I fell in love with Coromandel the very first time my parents brought me there way back in 2003 where we visited cathedral cove. Last year feb 2008, went there for pinnacles walk and got blown away by its beauty, along with cathedral cove and hot water beach. In november 2008, went for the kauri run which was a great accomplishment, stayed on a farm and visited cathedral cove for the 3rd time and hot water beach for the 2nd time. This year, feb 2009, coromandel showed me another part of it which was fishing! You see, it has never failed on me! And no, I'm not sick of it yet. I am yearning for another Pinnacles walk. Next year perhaps? Any takers? Hehehehe.....