My world Tuesday: Donkeys

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On one of our trips coming back to Auckland, we stopped at a little town to stretch our legs. In a paddock were two donkeys which delighted the kids. As we fed the donkeys, a little friendly boy came and chatted with us.

My world Tuesday: The Gannets of Muriwai

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These birds are our most faithful migrants. They make the incredible 3000 kilometere journey here every year from Australia in August, mate and hatch their chicks. Then they fly across the Tasman sea back to Australia. It is a long flight from Australia, some sadly don't make it. I saw a few which have arrived in New Zealand, but succumbed and died.

Round about Easter they make their return flight. Some of them are left behind, and they too never get to see Australia again.

We visit Muriwai at different times when they are here. First we see them do the mating dance, then see them sitting on the eggs, and the chicks and finally to farewell them.

My world Tuesday, Ponsonby

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In Western park in Ponsonby, Auckland, there are buildings looking like an aftermath of an earthquake. New Zealand sculptor John Radford made three of these realistic remnants of Auckland buildings.

http://www.ponsonbyroad.co.nz/websites/johnradford/index.htm

My world Tuesday: Hamilton Bridges

Hamilton city is the fourth biggest city in New Zealand, and is the first big city as we drive South from Auckland.

Hamilton city is well known for it's bridges, with 6 of them allowing access across the mighty Waikato River between the east and west sides of the city. The bridges provide a vital link between the 2 halves of the city as well as contributuing to defining the city's identity.

The bridges, river and many walkways along the riverbanks offer many opportunities for walking, sport and recreation. These include numerous organised round the bridges running races, walks, and fun runs, rowing races and regattas, and water ski races. Their history also contributes to telling the story of the city of Hamilton.

The 6 bridges, from north to south are:
Pukete Bridge
Fairfield Bridge
Whitiora Bridge
Claudelands Bridge
Victoria Bridge
Cobham Bridge

We stopped near the park at the Waikato Rowing club and I took many photos, including these two bridges.

This is the home of fellow blogger Pete http://hamilton-nz.blogspot.com/

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My world Tuesday: I will have a cuppa

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We were in Cameron Highlands in West Malaysia. These are tea shrubs in a tea plantation. They are the Boh Tea.
Boh Tea is Malaysia's largest producer of premium black teas and the country's No.1 preferred brand! We stopped at a tea house or they call it a tea centre. To a non tea connoisseur like me, one tea is the same as the other. In New Zealand, we have Bell tea. The water engineer is sold on their slogan," Save by the bell."

My World Tuesday: Winter flowering trees (2)

Looks like we are having an early spring, or the weather is playing a trick on the poor plants. All over Auckland, trees are flowering.

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My World Tuesday : Long houses

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The different tribes in Borneo, the Ibans, Kenyahs, Kayans, Kelabits used to live in longhouses. It is like a long terrace house except the residents share a balcony and a living room. They have their own private bedrooms and kitchen. They are built on stilts and pigs and chicken run around underneath.

Amended notes: I did not mention that in the past, the longhouses could be 50 to 100 families living together. They had a headman, and everyone had to listen to him. It is not very PC to talk why Borneo was known to the outside world. Tourists come to longhouses and ask to see these "objects." But if you go to Kuching, and visit the museum, you will see a model of a long house, and up the rafters, you will see soot darkened objects hanging there. Sorry I have to be PC, I think you know what I mean. If you google Sarawak, and longhouses, you will get the general idea.

My World Tuesday: Polynesian Dress

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Church is a very important activity for the Polynesian people. For many, they have a white Sunday. Where men and women wear white to church.

I spied this woman dressed in her Sunday finest, with a grass lava lava skirt at Karangahaphe Road. If you can't say it, just say K Road. Do you believe I spelt it right at the first try? K Road is a famous street in Auckland, New Zealand, known for cafes, boutique shops, nightlife and formerly, for being a red light district.

My bus used to go along it and I could see the men going into Pink Pussy Cat. At that time, you can get a transfer ticket without paying extra, and I would hop off to buy a snapper when it was my turn to cook when I was flatting in Grey Lynn when I was a university student.

My World Tuesday: Millenium Tree.

Designed by Guy Nygan, this metalic futuristic tree is called the Millenium Tree. It is found at the Auckland Domain near to the winter gardens. This tree was donated by the Chinese people of this city.

I am no appreciator of art. This sculpture was full of controversy. Not because it was donated by the Chinese people, but because of it's sty;e. In 2005 the Chinese community gifted a one hundred and fifty thousand dollar sculpture, it was a stylised futuristic chrome tree.

The artistic people felt that it didn't suit the Victorian style of the Parnel Rose Garden where it was erected. The local Parnell-ians kicked up a fuss claiming they weren’t consulted and that the gleaming dong clashed with the Victorian style of the Gardens.

That is why it was moved to the Domain where it remained happily ever after, or was it?

Some people still felt that it was out of place. I heard from the grape vine that some people who donated to fund this sculpture feel like getting a torch and melt the troublesome tree down.

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My World Tuesday: Wall climbing

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On a face of Mt Eden Volcano, people enjoy wall climbing. This is in Central Auckland. In deed, you don't have to travel far in Auckland to enjoy extreme sports.