Saturday, August 29, 2009

78) Stewart Island (New Zealand redux)


No, we have not returned to NZ, I just had a stack of pictures I never posted!

When last seen, our intrepid explorers were on the southern tip of the South Island ready to embark to Stewart Island.

Here is the regular ferry which runs across to the island.




Conservation sign.....no long showers here.

We took ANOTHER boat across to Ulva Island. It has been "de-vermined" (no possums, foxes, rats) and is now a world renowned bird sanctuary where they are reintroducing species at risk elsewhere.

A Toutouwai (New Zealand robin)












Saddleback

















This is a Tui - they have the most AMAZING song. In olden days, they were caught and kept in cages. Just to listen to them sing.

But I would guess they have better songs out in the wild....









It was summer at the time but quite chilly out on the water.


















The Weka - I have scores of pictures mostly because they were inquisitive and quite used to people.














We went out on a night tour to see the endangered Kiwi.This is with a telephoto and is illuminated with a single flashlite!

Very cool -- and most odd birds......











A lost and forlorn penguin huddling for the night. Where are all my buddies?












A local Kaka...



























The chessboard at the Stewart Island marina














A *classic* phone at a bustop on the road. You actually had to crank the thing!
















Garage door art.....













Hi-tech swing. (stick on a piece of mooring rope)














There was a great fish-n-chips place in Halfmoon Bay. Note the mussel shell spoon in Nancy's hand. Fabulous chowder.














Yeah, well....


















I think this was called "Dead Man's Cove" or something. Our trail dropped down to the beach here - when we turned around, there was a single house looking out over this.

I want to live there. Now.








Another glorious sunset. We did not have time to do the famous Rakiru Track though we saw quite a few trekkers at the hostel we stayed at. Another lifetime perhaps.

Stayed tuned - One more batch of NZ photos to post. They are really good. Then back to more recent adventures....

Friday, August 14, 2009

77) A visit


Another conference trip passing through the migration on the plains of Africa. Lots of wildlife on the one day I had to get out.......





Just kidding....... though the flight was long enough! This time was a quick visit to San Fransisco (Museum of Science diorama above!)














Matt at the Louis Vuitton store display











Wonderful artwork at the Asian Art Museum - the AMCIS 'social event' was quite awesome and we had free reign of the entire place including the Lords of the Samuri exhibit (no photos allowed)

















Wonderful carving.....


























The new Academy of Science museum in Golden Gate. Wonderful place: lots of emphasis on environmental issues, very "green building", living roof and a fabulous series of aquatic displays.



























The famous albino alligator..










A San Fran icon - memories from the olden days when I lived in Palo Alto and wandered the city on weekends.....












Maybe it was this sign that inspired me to want to come down under! This is in Golden Gate park - still one of the nicest urban parks I have ever wandered.









When you don't have a beach....


















































OZ has lots of graffiti (as you take the train N there is graffiti all over) but little of it is this sublime......




















Through the jellyfish tank. These guys are not lethal at least.....
















Me and the ancestors - note the resemblance!!!













This was something I had forgotten - panhandlers, beggars, the homeless. This person just asleep? passed out? on the sidewalk in the *nice* part of town. We don't see this on the Gold Coast - at all. Despite the tourists, the glitz, the balmy temps, no one lives on the street. No one is panhandling. Buskars yes. But no one this destitute.... How quickly one forgets..














hmmmm. I do wish we would see gas prices like this again. Unfortunately there is no cash for clunkers program over here and we still have a rather low mileage car.....