This Blog is full.

Posted at 3:37 PM, Sunday 16 March 2008

I cannot fit another thing on this blog so I have made another. It can be viewed at:

www.blognow.com.au/sandysadventures2008

and there is always my trip to Africa in 2007 at:

www.blognow.com.au/sandilostinafrica

Thankyou for continuing to watch my blog.

Egret behaviour

Posted at 2:21 PM, Saturday 15 March 2008

On my recent visit to the Egrets, I managed to capture a couple of events in a series of photos.

The first shows an Egret regurgitate what looks like an eel. What I can't understand is the egret that is wanting to be fed, looks to be the same age as the one giving the food.

The Egret wanting to be fed opens his beak and closes it over the other Egrets beak.The Egret starts to regurgiate the eel.It keeps coming.………The eel has been fully regurgiated.……This is the last shot of the Egret as the meal goes down.Before I show the next sequence, I could not believe how many turtles were sunning themselves on the banks of the creek.…………This next sequence shows a turtle taking one look at me and then trying to escape.……………The moment before he takes the plunge.My last sequence shows what happens when you are sitting on another Egrets perch. Watch the Egret coming up on the left.…………………………

Egrets of every shape and size.

Posted at 5:39 PM, Tuesday 11 March 2008

What I came across the other day, backing on to industrial warehouses and over the road from a sugar cane plantation, out in the middle of nowhere, was a flock of birds, like I have never seen before. Not only were there Egrets of every shape and size but there was Australian White Ibis, Cormorants and Royal Spoonbills. This day I was interested in only one type of bird and that was the Egret. Most of the pictures that follow will speak for themselves.

The first photo, I have chosen as my favorite, but then again it's hard to pick a favorite when there is so many.……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………In the next photo, mummy is trying to reach her chicks.And a beak that has gone very wrong.……………………………………………………………

Enjoying a day out.

Posted at 12:35 PM, Monday 10 March 2008

Todays journey took me back to Terranora but to the southern side of the river. Here I found a beautiful walk beside the mangroves, that continued into the thick bush, beside the river. It was here that the mosquitoes made a feast of me. Very few photos were taken because that would have meant having to stand still. Not a good idea when the air was so thick with mosquitoes, that I am sure they could have carried me away.

At the entrance to the mangrove walk I did come across a bat colony.………………The usual sightings of Brahminy and Whistling Kites were seen.And of course the Water Dragons.……Getting back in the car, nursing my lumps from all the bites I had received, I headed back to the other side and who should I see in below his nest but..............The Osprey………I drove down the road a little further and as I pulled up, a Kookaburra flew from the tree to the ground right beside the car. It was lunch time and I was prepared to wait to see what it could catch.The kookaburra also known as the laughing kookaburra because its call sounds like laughter, is sometimes referred to as the Great Brown Kingfisher.

Kookaburras grow to be about 45cms in length. They have a square head and a dagger like beak. Kookaburras have mainly brown plumage and a gray and white underside. They also have dark bands on their tail feathers. 

The kookaburra is found all along the East Coast of Australia, most of Tasmania and in Southern Western Australia. They live in wooded areas, open forests and urban areas. Kookaburras are generally peaceful but are also territorial. Kookaburras are carnivores. Their diet consists of: mice, rats, frogs, snakes, lizards, worms, snails, insects and small birds. They kill their prey by hitting it against a tree or the ground.

The kookaburra has complex nesting habits. They usually nest about 10 metres off the ground in hollow trees. The young are raised by groups of three or four adults. These groups consist of a breeding pair and helpers. The helpers are generally male, they assist with nesting duties, defending territory and rearing of siblings.

Kookaburras establish which male birds have the right to mate by sparring. In a spar two males lock beaks and try to twist each other off the perch to establish dominance.

……Two on one branch, now that is a treat.………Looking to see what he can find.A bug!First he killed his bug by beating it on the ground, then he tossed it in the air and down it went.…On the way home, as I got closer to Pizzey Park, I could hear a familiar sound. The Corellas are back in town and boy do they make a noise.………………………

North Stradbroke Island

Posted at 7:14 PM, Sunday 9 March 2008

North Stradbroke Island, or "Straddie" as it’s known to locals, is one of the world’s largest sand islands and it’s right on Brisbane’s doorstep. From the eastern side of the island you can see and hear the pounding surf, while the western side enjoys the calm waters of Moreton Bay. Straddie is 30 kilometres southeast of Brisbane city and is accessible by vehicular ferry or catamaran. All townships on the island are linked by bitumen roads. A 4WD is required for driving on beaches and inland tracks.

During June to November one is able to see humpback whales out at sea. At any time of the year, dolphins are common and the sea is home to dugongs, sharks and turtles.

Point Lookout was named by Captain Cook in 1770. It was a warning to mariners. The island’s Aboriginal name is Minjerribah.

Until recently, North and South Stradbroke Islands were joined. But in 1895 a violent storm separated them and created the Jumpinpin passage.

Taken from the vehicular ferry, the sand dunes can be seen in the distance.Approaching the village of Dunwich where the ferries come and go from.Driving along the beach, we came across large groups of birds. I think these are Bar-tailed Godwits but as you can see they were not very co-operative and it was extremely windy making it difficult to hold my lens still.…… These I think could be Red-capped Plover. They were only very little and were running as fast as their little legs would carry them.…The view and beach below Point Lookout. Great place for spotting whales.Crested Terns struggling to keep their balance from the wind.……The beach on the east side of the island, which has bad erosion due to our shocking weather of late. As you can see it was a very mixed day for weather. We had showers, we had cloud and we had sunshine. And we had a lot of wind.…Pied Oystercatchers and aren't they shy little birds. It was like they were saying, run, run, run, you can't catch me.……Ricki in his Jeep and no, we didn't have the roof on, fortunately the showers were brief. While on the beach, we saw Brahminy Kites, Whistling Kites and Osprey but the wind was throwing the sand up and it was not a good place to bring my camera out. While waiting for the vehicular ferry to take us back to the mainland, I caught this tiny little bird, which I think is a Welcome Swallow.…While looking for more birdlife along the coastline, I looked up to see this awesome creature.That's right, an Osprey.……………………………………………While watching the Osprey, I saw it fly in the direction of what I thought was another Osprey. What surprised me was the two birds attacked each other, or so it seemed. I started to photograph the other bird which I thought was an Osprey but when I got home and took a close look, I realized I had photographed my first White-bellied Sea Eagle.…

A beautiful morning at Terranora

Posted at 6:58 PM, Tuesday 4 March 2008

Todays blog comes from an area that I have not been to before. It is about 20 minutes from home and a real find. I discovered the area on a bird watchers web site and although I saw some raptors, I was more mesmerized by the abundance of butterflies.………………I managed to catch this single shot of an Anhinga from behind the bushs. He wasn't making it easy for me to get a photo.…………………………………………………………This next couple of butterflies wore me out chasing them around. It must have been some sort of mating ritual.......hahaha, and they didn't stop once to catch their breath. Each butterfly was nearly the size of my hand and they were beautiful to watch.……This Willie Wagtail sat and watched as I entertained him, trying to capture the butterflies from above.…………When I finally got back to my car, I rang Tony on my mobile to say that I was safe and about to return home. He doesn't like it when I go walk abouts in unknown places. While I was on the phone, a Laughing Kookaburra dropped from the tree in front on my car. I jumped out of the car, with camera in hand.…………

Coffs Harbour in a short trip.

Posted at 7:02 PM, Sunday 17 February 2008

Last weekend we had the pleasure of visiting some good friends at Coffs Harbour. Coffs Harbour is a major coastal resort town which is famous for its bananas and fishing. It's located on Australia's holiday coast, where the mountains meet the sea some 570kms north of Sydney and about 350kms south of Brisbane.

The town of Coffs Harbour has a population of over 20,000 people with average summer temperatures of 26C and an average winter temperatures of 18C. ……One of the many ocean pools that can be found in New South Wales. Recent bad weather and big swells has caused erosion along the coast, not just here but also on the Gold Coast and beyond. This photo shows the beach has been washed away leaving a 6 to 8ft drop.Our good friends, Leanne and Gil, along with their daughter Alex, have recently bought the management rights to a holiday resort on the Coffs Harbour coast. The resort is set amongst tropical gardens, palms and lily covered lagoons, which have tortoises & an abundance of birdlife. …On our very brief visit, we weren't so lucky with the viewing of birdlife but Grace the resident duck was to be found everywhere you looked. She even thinks she has run of the house and walks in when she feels like it.…Where there's water, there is always Water Dragons.And while we watched the eels swimming around the lagoon, this little turtle popped his head up to see what was going on. He was a curious little thing.This little beauty is the family pet. It is an Angora Dwarf Rabbit.……On the trip home we stopped at Yamba. Fish are what Yamba is all about, starting with the fishing industry which goes back to the early days of settlement and still plays a major role in the town. The view of the fleet setting out down the river and across the bar at sunset is best enjoyed from Lighthouse hill, and at night the lights of the fleet can often be seen twinkling on the horizon. What better place to have fish 'n' chips and watch the pelicans.…………………………………

The Butterfly House at Coffs Harbour

Posted at 8:36 PM, Monday 11 February 2008

This last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting the Butterfly House at Coffs Harbour, 4 hours south of the Gold Coast. I didn't know quite what to expect but when I walked into the heated glass house, home to many species of butterflies, I was pleasantly surprised.

The male Cairns BirdwingThe female Cairns BirdwingThe male in flight.And mating.………Varied Eggflies……………………………………A butterfly's wings have scales but as they fall off while flying around, their wings become very fragile.…The Cruiser ButterflyMigrant Butterflies…………Orange Lacewing…………………A butterfly that I am unable to identify.……And my last butterfly is the Ulysses.Open those wings up and this is what you have inside.I was told that 99% of people who try to photograph the Ulysses, do so with no success. Once this butterfly lands, his wings close instantly, hiding that beautiful blue that they have been blessed with. Most photos taken of the Ulysses with its wings open, are of a dead butterfly. I was fortunate to get this shot when the Ulysses wing was caught under a leaf, not allowing his wings to close.

After the Rains

Posted at 7:50 PM, Wednesday 6 February 2008

Today I woke to blue skies but how long they were going to stay, was anyones guess. I drove to many places in search of bird life and all I could find was ducks, ducks and more ducks.

An Australian Wood DuckAnd a young one.… On the way home, I remembered another spot that I knew would be like a swamp after all the rain we have had but should be good for water birds. Fortunately, I was suitably dressed for walking through water and slush, my only fear, being leeches. Lucky we are not in a crocodile area like some of the other parts of Australia that have also had a drenching. They now have problems with crocs in peoples backyards.

My first shot for the day was this couple of Australian Magpies.A Little Egret was in the middle of a feeding frenzy but everytime I got close, he would fly away. ……Not far from the Egret but out of range for me to get a decent photo, was a Cormorant but one that I had not seen before. When I got home and looked in my book, I was delighted to find that I had seen my first Great Cormorant, the largest Australian Cormorant.…When I turned around to make my way back through the slush to the car, I noticed a couple of Australian White Ibis with another 2 birds that at first glance I thought was 4 Ibis. The heads on these 2 birds were definitely not Ibis but I needed to get a closer look. This was my first shot when I realized that I had come across a couple of Royal Spoonbills. What a day this had become. My first Spoonbills!!!!They were extremely shy and everytime the Ibis flew, so did the Spoonbills. I felt like I was playing cat and mouse.…………………………………Water Dragons are everywhere and this one has to be the biggest I have ever seen. He would have been 2ft in length and around the middle, well my two hands wouldn't have touched.…My last shot for the day was on a different note but one that I liked the result.

Thailands Islands and Beaches and more.

Posted at 10:18 AM, Tuesday 15 January 2008

From the hundreds of photos I took while in Phuket, I have now reduced them to a very small quantity. These photos show you the nicer side of holidaying in Thailand, especially if you can escape the crowds.

Our first excursion was to to explore some of the islands and caves in the Phang Nga Marine park by sea canoe. This is the wharf we departed from.Ao Phang Nga National Marine Park is noted for it's scenery. Massive limestone blocks have been pushed up out of the sea by fault movements on the mainland. They form over 40 islands with huge vertical cliffs.…The biggest attraction in the park is James Bond Island, known to the Thais as Ko Phing Kan. It was used as a location setting for The Man with the Golden Gun. The island is now full of vendors hawking coral and shells that should have been left in the sea.

On this excursion at every stop we were taken in sea canoes to explore. One of our adventures was to paddle through caves that are fully submerged at high tide and only accessible during low tide. I had no idea what to expect and had my camera bundled into a plastic bag. Once we got to the cave I realized I needed to get a photo. This photo was taken very quickly with the plastic bag showing at the front of my lens. You can see my feet in the red canoe as we begin entering. The torch that you can see is a canoe coming from the cave, with it's passengers lying dead flat, so as to clear the rocky ceiling of the cave.In each canoe, is the paddler at the back being a Thai and his two passengers. In our canoe, I was up front and Tony was in the middle. Going through the cave was a little tight but I soon learnt that it was not possible to take photos and lay low..........very low. Once through the cave, you find yourself in a lagoon open to the elements.………High tide markings on the limestone walls.After a good 15 minutes in the lagoon, it was time to head back through the cave, before the tide was too high to get through. First canoe in and everything seems to be okay.I grab for my camera as we start to make our entrance. Notice in the next photo how low the paddler is laying in his canoe.The next photo is about the moment when I realize it's time to get my camera into the palstic bag and lay very low. That was the last photo I could take for a while, as we discovered the tide was coming in faster than planned. The ceiling of the cave was fast approaching my face and I was laying flat inbetween my husbands legs. My camera was now in it's plastic bag, laying on the floor of the canoe which was full of water. As my legs start to rub against the ceiling of the cave, I yell "STOP, my legs". There is torches being flashed everywhere but I can only see this enormous rock both on me and surrounding me. Tony would say I panicked but I did not. I just needed the paddler who was also laying flat, to realize that we were stuck and we needed to go another way or get out and swim. At this point the paddler tells me we are going to have to let some air out of the canoe and all I can think of is my camera. With the canoe deflated somewhat, we manouvre back about a metre and then I am able to raise my head and only my head, to see another person in the water, directing us through the cave. He patted my leg and assured me we were going to get through after all. And that we did. Only a minute later, after thinking I was going to run out of oxygen, I was back taking photos. You have to understand, what photos I did take, were taken from a laying down position, in pitch black conditions. I was just hoping that what I did capture would show some of what we went through.I can now see some daylight in the distance.And what a wonderful sight this next photo was.Our next stop was Koh Hong Island…………Another day was had sorkelling in the Phi Phi Island group.……This is Viking Cave. It is here, that locals climb up the bamboo scaffolding that reaches all the way to the roof of the cave. Here they gather the edible nests of the Swift bird to make Birds nest soup.…In times of monsoon winds and storms, fisherman are protected in this beautiful inlet.And next we have the beautiful Maya Bay which was made famous in the movie The Beach, starring Leonardo di Caprio.……………Khai Nok Island for a touch of snorkelling. When we first arrived on this island, I felt like crying. There was just one enormous ring of speed boats surrounding the beach.By the time we left, most of the other tourists had departed, so I was able to get a few shots without hordes of people in the photos.………Another private excursion we went on, was to a Muslim fishing village by the name of Ko Panyi, it is only accessible by boat.  This extraordinary fishing village is built entirely on stilts in a nook of limestone cliffs. This first picture is a post card so you can see what it is like from above.And now for my photos. ……………………………On our last day, we hired a tuk tuk and went to see the most beautiful of the temples on Phuket, Wat Chalang.……………………………Most Thais make an offering when they visit a wat (temple) in order to gain merit, which can act as credit towards being born in a superior situation in the next life. The standard offering consists of an unopened lotus flower, a bundle of incense sticks and a piece of gold leaf. The gold leaf is rubbed onto one of the Buddha statues. Over the centuries, some of Thailand's more auspicious statues have gained several centimeters of solid gold, applied as thousands of sheets of gold leaf.……To end my journey to Phuket there is a couple of Cobra shots taken at a show.…And a couple of close ups of Shane and Pete, the ellies I was able to get so close too.……Don't you love the hair on top of their heads, so different from the African Elephant.

Sights of Phuket

Posted at 6:27 PM, Monday 14 January 2008

The Sights of Phuket photos were taken both while walking and also while being driven around the island. I took them, solely to give all my readers some idea of what Phuket looks like.

This is Patong Beach on Christmas day at 8.30am before it comes to life. Local boat people prepare their long boats ready for the rush of tourists that will want to be taken to the many islands and beaches in the area, or to try their luck with a fishing line. First price might be 1000 Thai Baht an hour but it's likely you will get them down to at least half of that. (33Baht = US$1)…Thousands of chairs and umbrellas line the beach at a cost of 100 Baht  for the day.…Jet skis and speed boats are towed to the beach every morning.And when the tourists wake.…Massages are available everywhere, from beach side to the most exclusive day spas.Work on new hotels goes on 24 hours a day. There appears to be no work place, health and safety laws and workers working at night, do so with street lighting and torches. It is really something to watch.Locals make a living from cooking on the streets in all sorts of vehicles and styles.……At midday, even the boy/girls after a big night out need something to eat.…… ……………………………Shops and restaurants for the local people.……………A monk visiting the local hardware store.And the tourist strip.…………………………Tuk tuks.…………………A family of 4 taking their motor-bike food cart to work. Note they are not wearing helmets.…………And the towns fresh food markets.…………………Local buses comes in all shapes and forms but this one takes passengers, both local and tourist from Patong Beach to Phuket Town.Taken from inside the naturally air-conditioned bus. It was on this bus that we had the pleasure of meeting a couple from South Australia who had sailed in to Patong Beach in their 38ft yacht. Their sailing adventure had started 7 years previously and was just one of their many epic adventures.. What an amazing couple they were to talk too and what a privilege it was to meet them.

Jean shopBrooms for sale.Passengers obviously don't have to wear seat belts.Just one bar from the many thousands that you will see.Tuk tuk and taxi service beside the beach.…Many Thai woman work in the construction industry.Ice suppliers.Spirit houses are seen at the entrances to businesses, homes and hotels. And they are also seen on the sides of roads, where accidents have been. Gifts and offerings are given daily.……On a more serious note, Tsunami evacuataion routes are displayed throughout the entire island.…And a map outside the Tourist Poice Office on Patong Beach shows the areas that were affected by the Tsunami. Thailand is the largest exporter of natural rubber in the world. Rubber plantations are a common sight and the tour guides give these trees the name of 'Condom Trees'.

Rubber trees produce a milky liquid known as latex in vessels that grow within the bark of the tree. Once trees reach maturity after 5 or 6 years, collection of the latex begins. The trees are "tapped" by making a thin incision into the bark at an angle parallel with the latex vessels. A small cup usually made from coconut shell, collects the latex as it drips down the tree. New incisions are made into the trees daily.Kata Beach is an option to try and escape the crowds.……… This fishing village is at the end of Patong beach.……Making a living from the sea.…Children enjoying a swim.…And to end this entry, the sight that saddens me most. I captured this as we were driving past.

Macaque Monkeys of Thailand

Posted at 7:10 PM, Sunday 13 January 2008

On my recent trip to Phuket my first encounter with the delightful Macaque monkeys was at Monkey Beach on Phi Phi Don Island. I took so many photos knowing full well they would most probably be the only creatures I would see in the wild. Looking at these photos you will think I was the only person on the beach but believe me when I say I wasn't. What I did find difficult, was finding a macaque that wasn't being touched or fed by a tourist. Strict instructions were given but some people live in their own world of what they should do and what they shouldn't.…………Don't you love the eyelids!…………………………………………………My next encounter with these mischievous monkeys was on the mainland of Thailand in an area in the south called Phang Nga, at a place called Monkey Cave or Wat Tham Suwankhuha. Here the locals have food stalls where you can buy food for the macaques.……………………………………………This little chap just couldn't get enough in his mouth.…………………………Wat Tham Suwankhuhua is a cave temple full of Buddha images. The shrine consists of two caves, the largest one containing a 15 meter reclining Buddha.………………………………And the second and smaller cave displays a statue of the monk Phra Reusi. When I first laid eyes on the statue, I thought it was a real monk.On leaving the caves, the macaques climb down from the cliff top trees to put on another beautiful performance.………………………………

Sights of the north of NZ

Posted at 10:10 AM, Sunday 23 December 2007

New Zealand is commonly known by the locals and named by the maoris as Aotearoa meaning Land of the Long White Cloud. On February 6, 1840 the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. This was the moment that New Zealand became part of the British Empire. The treaty was signed by 43 chiefs and the site is now marked by a flagstaff. The treaty grounds are open to the public and well worth the visit. The three flags represent Britian, New Zealand and the Maoris.… This Maori Waka (canoe) is housed on the treaty grounds and is 35 meters long. A minimum of 76 paddlers are required to handle it safely in the water. This particular waka named Ngatokimatawhaorua was launched in 1940 for the centenary celebrations.……………………Te Whare Runanga meeting house was also opened in 1940 for the centenary. Standing beside the Treaty house, it symbolises the Maori involvement in the signing of the Treaty and in the life of the nation. It is a typical meeting house in appearance but is unique in that it was planned to be shared by all Maori tribes. ………………The carvings depict ancestors from many tribes.This carving is the the explorer Kupe.Not far from Waitangi in the Bay of Islands is Russell. From the town of Pahia, ferries cross regularly taking locals and tourists to this quaint town with so much history. Two hundred years ago it was known as the "hell hole of the Pacific", a rough shore leave destination for sailors, whalers and traders of the time. This beautiful old building on the shore front is home to the local police.The Duke of Marlborough HotelShore front.Back across the bay, you can drive, kayak or walk to Haruru Falls. Haruru means big noise in Maori and is a good indication that these horse-shoe shaped falls are worth a visit. Maori legend says that a water monster lives beneath the falls.Pahia is the main town of the Bay of Islands and is a great place to base oneself which is exactly what we did.The building below is actually a restaurant named 36 Degrees. In the centre of the restaurant is an aquarium that keeps you very entertained while you are dining.From Pahia many tours and boat trips can be taken. A day out in the Bay of Islands watching dolphins and visiting Cape Brett and the Hole in the Rock is a must.……Many of the islands are privately owned by the very rich.……The Hole in the Rock at the tip of Cape Brett is a big tourist attraction and if weather and sea conditions are right, the cruise boats will take you through the hole where they will stop halfway for you to few the thousands of fish swimming on either side of the boat.Cape Brett……………On the other side of the hole, a females face can be seen in the formation of the rocks.……………………The weather in NZ takes some getting used to. One minute there is blue skies and the next, it can be torrential rains and howling winds. We experienced all. On the particular day that we booked to go on a bus tour to the tip of NZ, the heavens decided to open and made for a very damp but still fun day. The bus picked us up at 7.00am for the long journey north, visiting many towns on the way to our destination. One of our stops where we had lunch, had 2 weeks before, been the location where 6 Orcas had been spotted chasing sting-rays.Cape Reinga is the point where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet and on a good day, I can imagine how beautiful it would be. We weren't so lucky!! The waves here, are known to reach 10 meters high. It is a place of spiritual significance to the Maoris. It is believed that this is the point where the spirits of the dead, enter the underworld.…………The NZ Flax grows everywhere, even in these harsh conditions.…Part of the day tour to the Cape includes a drive down 90 Mile Beach. To access the beach, the buses which are not 4wd, have to negotiate the stream of sinking sands.…A stop at the sand dunes for a touch of dune boarding is a must, even for our driver. The climb!!Viewing the slope!!And our driver who was the winner for the day.After a drive along 90 mile beach and it's howling winds we made our way to view the ancient Kauri trees of the north of New Zealand. The Kauri is amongst the largest and oldest growing trees in the world. Living Kauri trees are protected.New Zealand native Kauri trees (Agathis australis) that fell thousands  of years ago are known simply as Ancient Kauri. The trees have been buried and preserved underground in swamps for more than 45,000 years.

Buried just below the surface of the ground and preserved in the water of peat swamps, the Ancient Kauri wood has neither petrified nor turned to coal. This underground resting place, sealed from the air, became a perfectly balanced cocoon that preserved the giant trees.

 Ancient Kauri wood is carbon dated at more than 45,000 years old. It predates the migration of Neanderthal man and was already buried in swamps more than 25,000 years before the onset of the last Ice Age.

Ancient Kauri is the oldest workable wood in the world.

This spiral stairway was created in an ancient Kauri tree and is the centre piece of a Kauri wood showroom. One can reach the second level by walking up the staircase. The building was built around this magnificent piece of work. ………I must tell you at this point, that I eyed up a beautiful, natural looking bench chair with a price tag of $55,000. It was something out of this world and I spent the next hour annoying my husband with the plans of how we would get it back to Australia.

Our day on the bus ended at 6.30pm and what a great day it had been. We were now very sure that we wanted to visit more of these Kauri trees in the forests along our journeys. The next day we headed west to the Kauri Coast and we found just what we wanted to see.

Tane Mahuta is the largest known living Kauri. It's maori name means God of the Forest. It's trunks girth measures 13.77 meters and it's height measures 51.5 meters. It is estimated to be 2000 years old. And what a sight it is. When I got my first glimpse, I just stopped in my steps and said WOW!!!!!…………I have attempted to merge 2 photos together to try and show you the size of this tree.And from the hill on the other side of the road, I was able to capture this beauty above all the other trees.I think the thing that tourists love the most about New Zealand is the scenery. It really is a picturesque country and with so much variation across the entire country. The south island is of course known for it's alps and the fiords while in the north there is lush forests, rolling hills and of course plenty more. I also was bewildered by the amount of wild flowers. They are everywhere you look.………………The scenery along the Coromandel Peninsula is breath taking.………………This is Cathedal Cove which can only be accessed by boat or a 45 minute walk down hill and a very long steep walk back up. It is worth it though.………NZ has it's own native christmas tree which is of course in bloom at Christmas. It is the Pohutukawa.………………The Tasman Sea. I was sure I could see Australia out there somewhere!Hokianga Harbour on the west coast.TairuaA trip to NZ is not complete until you have 'Fish and Chips' on a wharf with the seagulls. It is like a tradition in my family. As children, we use to go to the Harbour once a week and eat our fish and chips wrapped in newspaper on the wharf. In my day, they didn't have tables and chairs.The other thing that is must do when visiting NZ, is a day in Rotorua. Rotorua is known for its Thermal activity and one does not have to go far, they are able to see thermal activity all around the town as you drive through.…………There are also Thermal Villages where the maoris live and you can walk around, see and learn some maori culture and even try a hangi.

Set amidst a landscape of erupting geothermal activity, hot thermal springs and hot bubbling mud pools is the Living Maori village of Whakarewarewa ……The Pohutu Geyser.…………………………………………Hangi simply means “food cooked in the ground or an earth oven”. Using the gift of the geothermal activity when the ground gives way, a box is made above the newly created vent, a lid is placed on top. Food is then placed inside the box to steam and cook the food, this type of hangi is traditional within the village but not to Maori in general.The traditional hangi involves the digging of a pit where heated rocks are placed within, the food is placed in baskets and placed inside the pit, and wet material is placed on top of the food along with the soil to hold the steam. The food is left to cook from 3-7 hours depending on the amount of food being cooked within.

Auckland is not the capital of NZ, Wellington is, but Auckland is the biggest city with a population of about 1.3 million. The total population of New Zealand has finally reached just over 4 million. I'm not sure how they reached that figure, as most of them live in Australia.

Auckland is a beautiful city and is known as the 'City of Sails'. It reminds me a lot of Sydney.………The Harbour bridge.And at night.Auckland city has many volcanic cones and this photo is taken from one called Mt Eden.The tall tower you see in the photos is Sky City Tower, which includes a hotel and casino. For those willing to take the challenge, adventure can be had in the heights of the tower. One can walk the circumference of the Sky Tower on a ledge that is only 1.2 metres wide and 192m high. While towers elsewhere in the world offer an external walking experience, SkyWalk is the first in the Southern Hemisphere to do so without rails or balcony, just the safety harness. One can also sky jump from the tower falling 192m (630ft). Jumpers can "base-jump by wire" falling for approximately 16 seconds at around 75kph. Unlike bungy, Skyjump participants do not hang upside down or bounce around. And by night from a moving bus.………I have had to make this blog as short as I possibly could. There is so much to see and do and so much culture to discover in New Zealand and I have only given you a glimpse in some rather bad weather conditions. It is a country well worth visiting and exploring. My last few photos are what I consider the best pics from my trip.…and finally.

Hundertwasser's Kawakawa Toilets

Posted at 10:15 AM, Tuesday 18 December 2007

One of the most amazing sights we saw on our travels in New-Zealand was at a place called Kawakawa. Some of you who read this, will know of this Austrian born artist. His name is Friedrich Hundertwasser.  Hundertwasser first went to NZ in the 1970's and settled near Kawakawa in 1975. He bought a farm which he planted with thousands of exotic trees and lived a very reclusive lifestyle.

Hundertwasser was approached to design many buildings, flags and stamps in NZ but the request to design the public toilets in the town's main street of Kawakawa was what brought this man out of seclusion. He wanted to give something back to the folk of Kawakawa whom had taken him into their hearts.

He was approached to design the toilet building in 1997 and the building was completed on December 10, 1999. During construction he visited the site daily, which further endeared him to the local townsfolk.

These photos show you his masterpiece. To see it, is like seeing something from a fairy tale. They are just magical. …………Inside the ladies.………And the Gents……At the entrance to the toilets there is a large tree that he has designed the building around.And over the road there is a gorgeous little shop named The Grass Hut which sells the most beautiful gifts and has a special section for Hundertwasser's artwork. ……And even when the skies open and rains are falling, it is still beautiful to look at.The Kawakawa public toilets designed by Hundertwasser, have put this little town on the international tourist route. Travellers from all around the world pay homage to the man and his unique architectural talent.

Friedrich Hundertwasser died in 2000 at the age of 71 and the Hundertwasser Building is seen as an important memorial to this friend of Kawakawa, in particular, the Maori community with whom the artist had developed strong ties. He was buried on his own property.

The Kiwi and more

Posted at 3:15 PM, Monday 17 December 2007

On my recent trip to New Zealand I was very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time and was able to see and touch a Kiwi, the most famous of the native birds of NZ.

The Kiwi is a nocturnal, flightless bird that can easily run as fast as a human.

Thanks to NZ's ancient isolation and the lack of mammals, the kiwi evolved in a habitat that in other parts of the world, would be occupied by mammals. For this reason the Kiwi is very un-bird-like. It's skin is tough like leather, it's feathers are like hair, it's bones are heavy, it's wings end in a cat-like claw and it's body temperature is 38 degrees celcius, lower than most other birds. While most birds depend on sight, the kiwi has a highly developed sense of smell. At the end of it's long beak, it has nostrils.

The Kiwi's egg makes up 20% of her body mass and her pregnant belly bulges so much it touches the ground. She has to walk with her legs apart to accommodate it. Sometimes the Kiwi will soak her belly in cold water when heavy with egg, to soothe the inflamed stretched skin. Once the egg is laid, the male takes over the job of incubating it.As I previously said, the Kiwi is nocturnal which may have you wondering how I got these photos. After taking a few very uneventful photos in the nocturnal house, I decided to take a walk to the bird recovery area and the first thing I saw was this darling little kiwi in the arms of a carer. This little treasure will never be released into the wild, he has only one leg and would never survive from the dangers of man through land developement, road kill and fires, wild cats, dogs, stoats, ferrets, possums, rats, wild pigs and goats. All these animals were introduced to NZ and the one causing the most problem not just to the Kiwi but to the country is the Possum which is over-running the country with numbers estimated at over 70 million. While they are protected in Australia, they are a pest in New Zealand as they have no natural enemies.…………These photos show you just how large a kiwi is, in a mans hand.……While driving around the top of the North Island, I had to remind myself constantly that I was there with my husband, not to take photos of birds but when the opportunity was there, I grabbed it. Only once, did I slam the brakes on and jump out of the car to watch a Hawk soaring through the skies. No photos of that, I wasn't quick enough but while walking through the grounds of Waitangi which I will tell you about at a later time, I saw a dark shape sitting on a branch beneath the ferns and scrubs. I grabbed for my camera to use as binoculars and am so pleased I stopped to look. This owl is called a Morepork and is the first owl I have ever seen in the wild.…As most of New Zealand is coastal there is an abundance of sea birds. I found this Black Backed Gull simply awesome. It is much larger than a normal gull and I spent many a moment watching them diving for fish and eating their catch on the rocks.……Driving along coastal stretches, there was always thousands of Cormorants perched on rocks. In NZ, they are commonly known as Shags.……These Californian Quail I found on the grounds where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed back in 1840.…Along with these beautiful and very dainty birds which I have no idea what are they are. I am guessing some sort of dove.……One of the things New Zealand is known internationally for, is it's lamb. And yes, there are sheep everywhere.…The funny part of taking photos of sheep, is every time you stop the car, they run in the other direction, bleating as they go. I would love to have known what they were saying to each other because they made a lot of noise.…There are sheep on hills.On the beach.And even with Alpacas on an Waiheke Island, an hours boat trip from Auckland.And while out on a boat trip in the Bay of Islands, there was plenty of dolphins swimming by the boat.This area is very popular with the dolphins and there is plenty of opportunity to get in the water and swim with them, as long as there are no babies present.……Unfortunately, they were not particularly playful this day and kept themselves well in the water and I'm told, while the dolphins are present, there will definitely be no Orcas, which is what I was hoping for. Maybe a trip to the South Island oneday, will fulfil that dream.

Now I know most of you who read this blog are animal lovers, so I couldn't go past this old girl without taking a couple of shots.…And to end this entry, there is some beautiful sunset shots taken at Thames on the Coromandel Peninsula.………

King and Gentoo Penguins in New Zealand

Posted at 9:00 PM, Monday 10 December 2007

Some of you will know, that I recently had a 10 day trip to the north of New Zealand. While I don't have a great deal of time at present to put together a complete blog of my holiday, I can't let an hour with the King and Gentoo Penguins go by without sharing the photos. I would love to be able to say that I took these in the wilds of the Antarctic but that is not the case.

It was not an easy job to take the shots that I did, as you do not get to stop and view the penguins. To see the enclosure, you are ushered into enclosed snow mobiles and the vehicles are automated to drive on the tracks through the enclosure. Because of the sub zero conditions where the penguins live, we are only able to view them from behind the glass of the snow mobile. I had to take 4 trips through the enclosure to get the shots that I did.……………………………………………………………………………………………After our brief hour at the Kelly Tarltons Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World in Auckland, I am pleased to say that my husband was captivated with the Penguins. Maybe a trip to Antarctica is not out of the question!

I've returned from Africa

Posted at 9:55 AM, Thursday 4 October 2007

WOW!!!!!! What a trip. 9000 photos and three weeks later, I have returned home to the mammoth job of sorting through the shots taken. It's going to take time and lots of entries, so I have created a new blog. You will have to make a note of my new address for my Africa trip.

www.blognow.com.au/sandilostinafrica

Give me some time and I will have something up hopefully by the end of the day.

Leaving for Kenya and Tanzania

Posted at 7:32 PM, Friday 7 September 2007 in Animals and Wildlife

Well it has taken a long time to get here but finally we are a couple of days out, from leaving for Africa. I will be returning on the 2nd October and with a bit of luck, will have a blog update, not long after, for all of you who have been waiting patiently. These few shots I took while in Kruger National Park, South Africa, 3 years ago.……Ian and Annette from Adelaide, it was quite a surprise to see that you have been looking at my blog. It was lovely to meet you for those brief moments at the Polar Bears and to know that there are other people out there, who love all these amazing creatures as much as I do. I hope you continue to enjoy my blog and feel free to share it with others.I'm signing off now, so until I am able to share my travels and encounters with you all, stay safe and well. Talk to you all in October.

A morning in the sun

Posted at 7:49 PM, Monday 3 September 2007 in Animals and Wildlife

Today I had to do some last minute shopping for my up-coming safari and it was a beautiful day, inspite of the weather man forcasting rain. So after I got my errands out of the way, I headed back to Pizzey Park. There was a couple of beautiful Egrets that were very shy but I managed to get a few shots.………………A Pied Cormorant took flight right before my eyes.…The Darter perched high in a tree.…The Gallah…A gorgeous little bird that I can't identify but was so keen to have his photo taken. He very graciously sat on a branch and waited for me to get this shot before he went about his business.My day was cut short when I came across an older lady searching in the grass for something. Her and her husband had been walking their dogs and when it was time for them to go home, they realized they had dropped their car keys somewhere in the park. I did one circuit of the lake for them and couldn't find the keys, so I did what any good person would have done and offered to drive one of them home to get their extra set of keys. On the way to my car, I grabbed my last shot for the day and what a cute little Kookaburra he was.

Up Very Close and Personal

Posted at 7:31 PM, Wednesday 29 August 2007 in Animals and Wildlife

I never imagined getting as close to a whale in the wild, as I did today. It was difficult to get good photos as they were so close to the boat. We encountered 5 pods of whales but stayed with a pod of three, that entertained us with their frolicking, right beside and underneath our boat. There was moments that if I could have reached out, I would have been able to touch them. It was a magical day even if I wasn't able to catch there every movement on camera.…………………………………………………………………………This last shot shows you how close the whales were coming to the boat.