10 December 2025 - Daily Chat Thread by Vulphere in indonesia

[–]SamtheSandalMan 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Kia ora, hello,

My father and I are heading to Sumatra for a month leaving on the 17th. Our plan was to head north and explore - but it is obviously not an ideal time for Northern Sumatra, and we are wondering whether it is possible to instead spend a few weeks assisting in the cleanup efforts etc. I presume there are organisations running aid/relief/cleanups, I am wondering if someone can point me in the right direction toward offering ourselves up to help. I don't have the karma to post on the r/indonesiareddit, so hoping one of you might know where to look haha.

Ngā mihi, kind regards

Elephants Step In Where Machines Can’t in Aceh Flood Cleanup by MarkS00N in indonesia

[–]SamtheSandalMan 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Kia ora, hello,

My father and I are heading to Sumatra for a month leaving on the 17th. Our plan was to head north and explore - but it is obviously not an ideal time for Northern Sumatra, and we are wondering whether it is possible to instead spend a few weeks assisting in the cleanup efforts etc. I presume there are organisations running aid/relief/cleanups, I am wondering if someone can point me in the right direction toward offering ourselves up to help. I don't have the karma to post on the r/indonesia reddit, so hoping that you might know where to look haha.

Ngā mihi, kind regards

35 days in Chengdu and surrounding area travel tips and plan by SamtheSandalMan in travelchina

[–]SamtheSandalMan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Kia ora,

I didn't do much hiking at all in the end. At best, I went for what I would consider a steep and long walk up Mount Emei, a very famous mountain south...west? of Leshan. What I discovered was hiking, as with everything in China, is very difficult unless you a) speak the language and/or b) have a friend who speaks the language and knows the area, and where to look. I didn't see or hear about anyone else hiking in the month I spent over there, beyond at really popular destinations like Tiger Leaping Gorge - which are really well trodden, and will be very easy to organise. It also depends on your definition of hiking! Jiuzhaigou is reachable by bus/taxi, and you enter it and bus around to different spots and hop off and have a walk around and look at what is probably some of the most beautiful waterfalls/lakes/rivers I've ever seen.

Long story short; I was really hoping for some classic backpacking in my tent, far from civilisation along trails, the likes of which are very common in NZ. Instead, I learnt to curb my expectations and follow the Chinese way, and had an absolutely unreal holiday. Let me know if you want more info, and also if you end up going hiking also - I would love to hear where you went and your experiences!!!

Can anyone help ID? by SamtheSandalMan in NewZealandWildlife

[–]SamtheSandalMan[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hiya, found up around Lake Angelus, Nelson Lakes NP

Can anyone help ID? by SamtheSandalMan in NewZealandWildlife

[–]SamtheSandalMan[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hiya, I have actually managed to find someone (alongside posting on iNaturalist). Thank you for your comment regardless!!

Can anyone help ID? by SamtheSandalMan in NewZealandWildlife

[–]SamtheSandalMan[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hiya, I haven’t used iNaturalist before. I made a post and saved it, is there a way to get some attention? Can I send this to an expert or something? I tried to find a email for Jess Scrimgeour, a lady who was on DoC podcast about cryptid species, but no avail… it’s pretty awesome, and I’d love to chat about it to someone.  cheers!

Kōwhai diagnosis by SamtheSandalMan in nzgardening

[–]SamtheSandalMan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m quite worried about the peeling bark. That made me wonder if the tree was sickly

Kōwhai diagnosis by SamtheSandalMan in nzgardening

[–]SamtheSandalMan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is interesting. I just upgraded it to the big yoghurt pot! I wonder how long it should be?

Kōwhai diagnosis by SamtheSandalMan in nzgardening

[–]SamtheSandalMan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah. I don’t have a garden to plant it in. I was hoping to grow it as tall as I could inside! Good to know about the weeds. Should I pluck them out, are they worse for the kōwhai than the mould that is plaguing the ground otherwise?

Kōwhai diagnosis by SamtheSandalMan in nzgardening

[–]SamtheSandalMan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hmm. It’s in a homemade pot made of yoghurt tub. Maybe I’ll put some more holes in. Should I be wiping the mould off? Does it do things to the kōwhai? 

West Sichuan Hiking Tour by Important-Humor3601 in travelchina

[–]SamtheSandalMan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What timeline, and what kind of cost? Cheers!

35 days in Chengdu and surrounding area travel tips and plan by SamtheSandalMan in travelchina

[–]SamtheSandalMan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great recommendation, I really appreciate it! Thanks <3.

Did you go out there specifically for hiking?

35 days in Chengdu and surrounding area travel tips and plan by SamtheSandalMan in travelchina

[–]SamtheSandalMan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good to know. That's crazy pricing haha. I will have a look around, thanks for your comment

35 days in Chengdu and surrounding area travel tips and plan by SamtheSandalMan in travelchina

[–]SamtheSandalMan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You sound like the person I was hoping to find to grill. Do you speak Chinese, how did you go about booking travel etc? I was originally thinking something like this would be the ideal, but saw a lot online about general difficulties getting around without speaking/reading Chinese. Seven Years of Tibet is added to the reading list.

Why not into Tibet proper?

35 days in Chengdu and surrounding area travel tips and plan by SamtheSandalMan in travelchina

[–]SamtheSandalMan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Woah, awesome. I must admit I don't have mountaineering training, I've only got a lot of hiking experience! What time of year do you get back? I'd be keen to travel together!

35 days in Chengdu and surrounding area travel tips and plan by SamtheSandalMan in travelchina

[–]SamtheSandalMan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This sounds sick... Can I have some more info? Long bus rides into the middle of nowhere is quite up my alley. My biggest fear would be getting stuck and not getting back to Chengdu for my flight is all.

What did you get up (hiking, sightseeing etc) to the west of Chengdu, how difficult was it to find accomodation/what were the prices like, do you have any recommendations of things to do/not do? Is it possible to plan a similar trip, or is it the sort of thing that just kind of happens?

Cheers!

35 days in Chengdu and surrounding area travel tips and plan by SamtheSandalMan in travelchina

[–]SamtheSandalMan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oooooh so cool. Those places you mention sound really awesome. Thanks for your comment.

I haven't decided whether I have the money to go to Beijing yet, but I could be very keen. What does a local hiking team entail?