Child of the Planet

Off the train and straight to the tourist info booth (have I mentioned how really organised the tourist biz is in N.Z?) and made the sort of request that I really hate… ‘Can you find me somewhere to stay that is interesting?’ We spent five minutes working out what she thought I meant by ‘interesting.’ A booking was made and I walked along the esplanade past a bay full of crystal clear water, right to the edge of town. The address I was looking for was an old pub perched almost on the right hand tip of the bay. This was the view from the beer garden… Simple old world accommodation upstairs, and really decent food in the restaurant down stairs. It had been bought and renovated by a guy who used to work for a huge motel chain but he had decided that he wanted to do something more personal and something he could call his own. I hate the carbon copy hotel rooms that have spread across the planet following along behind the MacDonald’s plague and this place felt really co...

Continuing the write up on my trip to New Zealand. I kept forgetting I was in an other country, this seaside town Kaidoura Especially Reminds me of Oz. Exit the train station and walk to the right, and the road becomes a wide highway lined with chain hotels and eateries (the worst of Oz.) But hang a left, walk through the town, and down the tree lined esplanade beach road, past tiny holiday batches (N.Z. for cottage,) and lapping surf (the best of Oz.) Originally established as a whaling town, but now the locals make more cash from whale watching and other touristy type activities such as fishing expeditions and scuba diving. Got sunburnt a second time. I keep forgetting that N.Z. has less ozone layer then Australia. There is also a Huge blister on my foot from all the ‘tramping’ (N.Z. for walking around) that I’ve been doing.

Last of the seal videos and I’m struck by how much seals reminded me of dogs.

This guy (or could be a girl) was basking in the sun. Humans are required to give the seals about ten meters of personal space and all of these videos were shot with a 10x zoom.

While I was staying in Kaikoura, I spent a bit of time down at the seal colonies. Two seals have a bit of a disagreement.

While I was staying in Kaikoura, I spent a bit of time down at the seal colonies. This video is of the little guys frolicking in the water.

You’ve seen the stills. Now experience the colour, movement, and sounds of the Oz Day Antique Car Show (wish I could bring you the smells too.) Lot’s of people, and music, and there was a fly past by one of Australia’s three jet fighters (I think that only one can fly at any one time.) Music clip to follow in a couple of days.