Auckland to Guangzhou, China

The first leg of the flight was lovely - new plane, plenty of leg room and it was empty!  I was able to stretch out over 3 seats and get some sleep, but I didn't sleep as well as I usually do on the plane, as I had forgotten to pack my sleeping pills.  Usually I have one of those and sleep like a baby on the plane and arrive refreshed.  This time it was not refreshing at all when I woke up - I don't think I really went to sleep at all.

Arrival in Guangzhou - was very confusing. Hordes of people and long queues everywhere.  I thought the lines in Singapore were bad when I was there last-year, but this took the prize of the most people and longest queues!  I finally managed to get into the right queue and got an exit visa for 72 hours and went out the doors. I was quite nervous doing this because I didn't want to miss my plane connection to the Netherlands. But I had 7 hours and this beat sitting around in an airport for that length of time.
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Kitto met me outside and together we caught the train into the centre of Guangzhou. It took about 45 minutes and with one change. I would never have been able to do it on my own. What I saw of Guangzhou was vry beautiful. We walked along the Pearl river then got some Vietnamese French food for dinner.   Then we wandered along the river again up over the bridge. All the lights were continually changing color and it was very beautiful. It was really hot too - about 32 degrees C and humid. Unfotunately, because it was going to be cool when I arrived in the Netherlands I was wearing jeans and consequently was sweltering!

There were some market stalls along the side of the road, and a few people fishing, but generally it was quite quiet. Much quieter than I had imagined it would be.

After a few hours, I started feeling really jetlagged. Probably the heat as well - it just hit me. So it was back to the train station and back to the airport although the trains were busier this time around.

I said goodbye to Kitto - hopefully we wil be able to do this on the way back as well as I have another 7 hour layover to get through!  At the airport there were more long queues to get through to the departure lounge. I was beginning to get really tired. Watched Muslims pray facing mecca in my departure lounge on their prayer mats, not once but several times. I wondered why it was so important to do this so many times!

The flght to the Netherlands was awful - no leg room and very uncomfortable seats.  It was one of those planes built to get as many people in as possible.  The flight was also completely full so there was no chance to stretch out and sleep. I did manage a few hours sleeping sitting up, but the rest of the flight was a very long haul (12 hour flight)!

I was extremely pleased to finally land!

Homeward Bound 2013.

Flying home out of Singapore the next morning bound to Auckland.  I have never sseen so many ships steaming into one place. Where are the traffic lights?

What a wonderful trip I had in 2013. I met new friends, rekindled old ones, had a wonderful time with all. I love travelling with my daughter. She looks after me well and always makes sure that I'm okay. I'm truly lucky to have her in my life.

Auckland Zoo and New lens

I've been in Blenheim for three years now.  It's gone really quickly.  Every time I get back to Auckland, I try to go to the Auckland Zoo, as its the one place I do miss.  There are no zoo's down here, and it's such a great way to practise photography, and it's so pleasant walking around seeing the animal and birdlife.

However, in the 3 years I've been in Auckland with my camera, it's rained.  And the Zoo was out of the question each time because of it.

So last week, it's summer, we're in drought, it's really unlikely to rain - so a trip to the zoo was planned with my friend Bron.  As we left to go, it started.... raining!  By the time we got to the zoo it was raining hard.  Bron had an umbrella fortunately so I was able to use my new Sigma 120-400mm lens with the umbrella shielding it.

So I got a few images of wet straggly animals before it fined up...  Wet bird...

Wet Tortoise...

Wet Spider Monkeys.  This one is saying 'OMG - Look at the state of you to his mate underneath..

Who is having a bad hair day after all the rain.

And this one is the Thinker...

As we walked to the next exhibit, the sun came out, and I saw this leaf on the ground, with the sun shining through, giving a lovely reflection on the concrete.  Bron was quick to point out that I'm nuts - I pay $25 to go to the Zoo and I take photos of dead leaves...

The Golden Lion Tamrin was out enjoying the sun..

And all the lemurs were in this pose - I'm sure they were trying to dry themselves out.

The Orangutans in the Auckland Zoo, love covering themselves up in sheets and blankets.  I thought this particularly looked like the Orangautan had perhaps evolved, embraced religion, and now wears a burkha!  There IS an orangutan underneath that blue sheet!

The main reason I wanted to visit the Auckland Zoo was their new Rainforest Aviary.  It had been upgraded about 3 years prior, but hadn't quite opened before I moved down here.  I was well rewarded by this Kea...  The Kea is New Zealand's' Mountain Parrot and are in decline.  They are stunningly beautiful, but very cheeky birds. Cars have had all the rubber stripped away from their windshields while the owners were skiing by these birds!

The Kereru - or NZ Wood Pigeon.  I was taking the photo of the nursery web spider when this bird came flying up at us.  I thought it was going to land on my lens or head.  It landed right next to my arm and proceeded to take much interest in the chocolate bar I was eating!

This spider was as big as my hand - massive, had never seen one so big in NZ before!

Here's another shot of the Wood Pigeon.  I had to take a few photos on my cellphone as he was too close to me to use the big lens.

He was also intrigued with Bron.  But I think he could see himself reflected in her glasses!

Onto the little blue Penguin.  You can see these little penguins swimming around our coastline quite often.  This one has got an injury and only one fin.  

So it can only swim around in circles!

Love watching the sealions swim past...

Then the Baboon family.  These animals are really shy and don't look up at the humans watching them. In fact they often turn their back on us.  I don't blame them really.  I'd hate to be gawked at all day..

One last shot of the giraffe before heading back home.  All these images were handheld and taken with the 120-400mm Sigma APO lens.  I'm really pleased with the quality this ne lens is giving.

Next Zoo I'll be visiting with be the Singapore one at the end of May. And yes - I'll be taking my big lens (big boy) with me :)

Oh - Hello Auckand! I have missed you....

In Auckland at the moment, before I fly out to meet up with my Daughter in Amsterdam.  I've only been away 18 months and already I've noticed lots of changes.  Especially down in the Wynyard Quarter and the Viaduct.

Also - simply the buzz and sheer number of tourists out here for the Rugby World Cup!

My friend Jill picked me up early this morning to go for a jaunt around this area, and naturally I took my camera  It was slightly cold, so after parking the car and walking just down the road, we found this lovely cafe...

After a nice hot cuppa, we wandered down to the end just as this lovely big boat was leaving the harbour. My 50th is coming up, if anyone wants to know what to get me for my birthday - this boat would do nicely! Don't all rush out at once though!

Old and new - the old Kestrel ferry that used to run between Devonport and Auckland city, and a nice brand new superboat. This could be another option for my 50th!!

The walkway (triple tier and we were on the top) to take as back to the promenade. Gives you a nice view.

Oh look - The Sky Tower. How could I miss it? Tonight it's lit up in Blue and Green.

A group of tourists all here for the world cup congregate on the green next to the steel sculpture...

Here's the sculpture again. It has the magical ability to push the clouds to one side of the sky.. Seeing is believing...

Here's Jill posing for the camera. She's lying on a hill which is covered in false plastic grass which is extremely slippery. It took about 3-4 goes to get this image as she kept sliding out of view, rather quickly. I actually think she quite enjoyed the photoshoot, as she always came back up laughing!

Look at us - model material! Skinny legs and all. How I love reflection in metal that make us look like Twiggy!

There were many restaurants/wine bars all along here. One had a groovy looking piano that was there for anyone wanting a tinkle. I was no exception, so Jill took over the camera....

Brightly coloured seats were available to sit on/stand on/take photographs of (pick one)...

And beautiful metal sculptures of a ship theme all the way down the promenade...

ATM kiwi style - in a shipping container....

Even a information booth/internet cafe in containers...

Sun lounger - Auckland City Sytle.... (I wouldn't mind a few of these for home!)

The tidal steps - with Auckland city in the background - at the Viaduct.

The new events centre in the city. What was really nice about this is the deck that wraps completely around the building, of which is open to the public to walk around at any time, giving beautiful views of Auckland Harbour..

The new bridge/walkway connecting Viaduct Harbour with Wynyard Quarter...

All the Rugby World Cup tourists enjoying the sunny day down at the Viaduct/Wynyard quarter. Why does everyone wear black?

The Pride of Auckland. So beautiful with it reflected in the harbour...

The giant rugby ball. Party Central....

And the queues lining up wanting to get into/onto this wharf - into the rugby and in further to the Cloud on the wharf. I just took a quick photo but didn't stay around to try and get in...

And finally one of the many houses in Auckland all done up for the Rugby World Cup! Quite fun to come across them - some of the streets seem to be competing with each other!!! This was the best I saw today!

It was great seeing Auckland again, and fun to experience it as a tourist!