Bird watch

From November 2013 when the spring was still turning into summer and water was not that warm to swim, I did my first walks around Rotorua. Today couple month later I went out to have a swim on exactly the same lake... and what a good occasion to finally put these pictures up. This is Lake Okreka, it was a big waoooo moment when suddenly all this bird life was there, even small lookout huts for true bird fans.

Pukeko

As a very experienced bird watcher my conclusion is that most of Rotorua area birds are lacking vivid colours, preferring to dress in discrete black with small elements of other colour. And they are rather good at leaving swim beach evenly covered with bird dung - discovery from today.

Drying line

When nappies leak through, somebody always suffers. This time rabbit-bear finished up on drying line, though he had nothing to do with all of this, he just happened to be nearby when the disaster stroke.

So much about my photos of nature and travel.

Being a father

First meeting with my daughter, teaching the RIGHT stuff

Auckland Wharf

A lot of that Wharf area got constructed for the America's Cup sailing event some 10 years ago. For me in last 4 months I have finished up in this leisure area  almost each time coming to Auckland, either it is so good or as I have saved this location's coordinates in my GPS, then it is easy to finish up here every time :). 

Well there are few things to do - watch the boats - my all times favourite activity. Finish up in the fishmarket, though one of the least interesting fishmarkets I have seen, reason might be that I am spoiled after all the fun in different Asian countries fishmarkets. Go for one of the bosh bars targeting the suite and tie guys from the CBD area just around the corner. Or go for free open air cinema projected on the old storage silos, as I discovered just yesterday.

Whoaaa, only in NZ, multi story storage for boats

100+ meter UFO yacht. 

Photos from October, people still dressed up and waiting for summer to come. Now it is here!

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Loopers

In places New Zealand feels like a time travel to good old UK, colonial touch in Victorian style. In small portions and well restored, it is lovely. Here it often feels little too much. Even though the houses look like they are from Victorian times, actually most of them must have been built around 70ies. 

  

Below is the drive through impression of small town called Thames, small town that looked like a movie set, hmmmm why it reminds me of Thames Town in Shanghai?! Old Victorian houses and then the wide streets and old hotel signs looked like proper set for American cowboy movie. It all comes with the oldest mine schools, nowadays turned into museum. A pub called Workingmens Club! 

A true time stopper!

Workingmens Club