Revisiting the past

 

There's something about this photo that is just so joyful.

Milford sound

We travelled 850km in two days, through a mountain and then on a boat out into the Tasman sea and then all the way back to dunedin. Big trip. 

Lake Te Anau

Took mum on a little holiday to Te Anau on our way to Milford Sound 

Dunedin street art

I love strolling along the streets in Dunedin. So many beautiful hidden gems 

Savemart

Just one of the gorgeous old buildings in dunedin. 

Auckland

Filming in Auckland today about cultural diversity. What a glorious day. 

Hanmer springs

Just spent the most wonderful three days in hanmer at the most fabulous work retreat. I can't believe how lucky I am to work for core education. 

Goodbye my friend

My beloved Jessica had a very long and full life. She lived 8 happy years where she had the run of the house and the garden, chewed through very expensive things, and loved me dearly. She listened to my complaints, she celebrated my successes, and she sat patiently by my feet during the long and sometimes boring work days. What a very empty house it now seems like without her constant presence and friendship. She became so very important to me and now she is gone. How lucky am I that she chose to love me for so long. Goodbye my friend.

Fremantle

A leisurely day spent in the sun in Fremantle. I can't believe I ever thought Perth winters were cold.

Calm before the storm

The sea was glistening grey as the day couldn't make up its mind to be sunny or stormy.

Thieves Alley

Dunedin is a rather weird and wonderful place. Today was the annual Thieves Alley where people of all types crowded into the main street. There were people wandering around in olden day dress, steam punk, and everything else in between. The last time I was crammed in this close with so many people was on a metro train in Paris!

Looking for light

As the sun was making its final journey for the evening i went out looking for the last rays of light. This photo was begging for something inspirational, and I have always been captured by this quote attributed to Mr Twain.

Henry

This is Henry. He is perfect.

Bush fire

Deb and I had a lovely leisurely walk around the Swan River this Sunday morning. There was a bush fire somewhere near Gidgeganup and the smoke was covering the city in a foggy haze. As we walked along the river we were joined by two dolphins which we took for an metaphor/omen/talisman of some sort but couldn't be bothered fleshing it out any further than that.

Girls' night

Girls' night out at the Royal in East Perth

This is my friend Deb. We have been friends for more than 20 years. It seems like not that long at all.

Family

A fun filled third day of the year was had today. AJ and I went into Fremantle to wander around aimlessly and then went to terrorise her gran on the way home. Sonny was the recipient of a much needed but not appreciated bath...

Good friends

Today I went to visit two of my bridesmaids. I only ever see these girls for a cup of tea maybe once every two years, but the friendship never lessens and my love and respect for them only ever grows.

A new year's day walk

Thus starts another year. I wonder if I will do better with my photos this year than last. I am finding it hard to take photos because I have hit the wall of my current ability and I won't get better without effort. Now is the rub - do I have the perseverance to improve?

2014 started off with a walk/run from where I am staying in Jane Brook to Guildford where the car was left last night during new year's revelry - 9 km and 28 degrees. To make things fun I decided to run a song and then walk a song. During the walking phase I had to find something to take a photo of with my phone. In this way I was starting off two NY resolutions in one hit - exercise more and take more photos.

Australian white cockatoos

I'm in Perth again for the holidays. I went for a lovely morning walk around the Canning River and found these Cockatoos playing in a puddle.

Diwali in Auckland

I was lucky today, I stumbled across the Diwali festival in Auckland. The aromas of food, the sound of thumping music, the cheering dancing crowds, all made for an atmosphere of pure delight. As you can see from the fellow below, the crowds really got involved.

Spring

Paris in green

Paris in blue

Paris in colour - Yellow

While I was away I decided to capture colours.

Artistry

I am always amazed by talent. I am drawn to it. Today's post is a medley of images I was drawn to on my travels of people capturing the moment, interpreting the moment, reliving the moment.

We don't need to be anchored in the mundane, there is always interpretation.

Bangkok - What ever day

 I have been in Bangkok attending the ICET conference where we partnered with ICET to produce some EDtalks videos of international education research, and I also had the opportunity to present my Masters research paper. The conference was held at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University and we asked if they had a space we could use to film the EDtalks. Well they gave us a huge studio complete with a studio crew! Once they set up the lights for us, they realised we were fine to keep working on our own for the rest of the time.

Our "small" studio

I was staying outside of Bangkok at the Novotel Hotel in the Impact arena complex at Muang Thong Thani which was about a 45 minute cab ride into the city of Bangkok (which only cost about $20). It was a very strange place. There was a car show on and young girls dressed up like manga cartoon characters draping themselves over the cars. On another day there was a dog show on and all of these dogs were running around dressed up in much the same costumes as the manga cartoon girls. On the day I left there was a racing car show, soccer game, and Bosch tool convention starting, so the range of people and sights were astounding.

All around the complex there were high rise apartment buildings which were numbered. The area we were in wasn't heavily populated so I wondered where all the people were who were in these apartments.

There is a real mix between the high tech and traditional.

On the last day I went into Bangkok to Pratunam market. The market is across the road from some huge high end shopping malls which are at the intersection of what seems like three levels of major roads, the skytrain and pedestrian crossings. It is chaos. On the very corner is a busy place of worship where people were lighting incense, chanting, praying, laying flowers. It was hot, steamy, noisy, smokey ... I stood there in wonder of it all.

Day 1 - Bangkok

Today we had a day of sight seeing in Bangkok before the week of work at the conference starts. It was a rather mixed bag of the day. To start with we went to see the number 1 item suggested in the guide book - The Grand Palace. It seemed like all the other tourists were working from the same book. It was quite grand and palatial. The colours were amazing, jewelled buildings, golden statues and animal gods and gold leafed wall murals. The most precious part of the monastery is the Emerald Buddha which sits proudly at the top of an alter in a prayer room where pilgrims were taking the time to spend a moment in contemplation.

One of the more sedate buildings in the grand palace compound

A small element from one of the massive wall murals that lined the building walls

An unusual statue that stood out because of its lack of adornment

Gold leafed idols

The next phase in our day was to go to the MBK which is a large shopping centre. It was a bustling crowded affair and we walked into a shop that resembled a department store until we realised that once again bartering was expected. This was a bit much for me, I longed for the days of well thought out solid prices that you could complain about because you knew you were being ripped off.

We came out of the shopping centre (which was number 10 in the guide book) straight into the middle of an anti corruption protest. We could hear all this singing and chanting and wondered what on earth was going on. The square below us filled up with people wearing white masks, and they slowly filled the space around us as well. The police were on one side of the road keeping a close eye.

Luckily the police watched and the protest was 'peaceful'

That was an exciting first day - temple worship - shopping - political protest!

Hong Kong - Day 3

Today I went to see the Tian Tan Buddha statue which is 34 m tall and faces North to China. you reach the statue by Gondola

It was amazing to see the statue as we came over the hills, it truly is huge. 

You walk through an historic fishing village (which has been turned into a tourist hotspot complete with a Starbucks) and then reach the Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery. There are 268 steps to the top where you get 360 degree views.

statues sit at the base of the Buddha, this is where I show my lack of knowledge of the religion. They are obviously offering him things of worth. 

After exploring the Buddha I went for a walk along the 'Wisdom Trail'. It was such a refreshing change to walk through the quiet forest listening to the bird song. There were huge butterflies all the way along, some with vibrant blue backs. At the end of the Wisdom Trail there is a maze of posts to walk through, which obviously have some significance.

It was such an enjoyable day to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city and to see a lot more of the Hong Kong countryside. It was so warm, I even succumbed and bought an umbrella to keep myself shaded.

Well that is the end of my Hong Kong adventure. Next stop ... Bangkok.

  whwhich is 34 mic