We’re staying on the outskirts of Boston in Brookline, Mass. In truth it’s probably only six miles away from Logan Airport, but through the complex train system takes nearly an hour to reach our destination. For those that don't know, I decided to come even though I'm sick, so I can’t really complain about the length it takes, because the train ride actually means I rest. And I'll need all the rest I can get.
Boston itself is actually a small city with lots of character. The brick houses and cobblestone paths have an amazing history to tell. If I could concentrate on the many words that I read, I would be able to tell you more. There are numerous cemeteries scattered throughout the city and along the Freedom Trail. I’m glad that even though I haven’t been feeling my best my appetite has remained, because Faneuil Hall had some amazing food. There’s a statue of Samuel Adams in the front, but I’m afraid in my delirious state all I could think of was Sam Adams Beer.
We crossed the Washington Bridge and did the tour of the USS Constitution at 2:30 pm. The Constitution is the oldest active warship, and maintained by the Navy. Our guide was giving his first evaluated tour, and his evaluator looks and sounds strangely familiar to me, but I still cannot place my finger on it. Minutes into our tour a bell sounded with a commanding officer informing us that we would hold a moment of silence in honor of those who lost their lives at Ft Hood in Texas. 2:34 pm EST, exactly 24 hours after the incident, and US military operations all over the country did the same. The Constitution has a wonderful family museum that highlights what it must have been like to be on the ship hundreds of years ago for all ranks of service.
I must have spent several hours with the Constitution, because as we were leaving the sky was beginning to darken. The day concluded with a climb up Bunker Hill Monument. That was a terrible idea. Note to any one that wants to try: 295 steps spiraling straight up (meaning there’s no level platforms in between) is not a good idea if you’re not perfectly healthy. I admit, my sinuses got the better of me, but I didn’t realize what a horrible idea it was until about step 250. At that point, I figured I might as well finish the climb and rest at the top. Unfortunately, when you’re not well to start, no amount of rest at the end is ever going to be enough. A little light headed, I descended down the stairs as carefully as I could. At the end of the trek, I still wasn’t feeling all that great and now a bit nauseous as well. I kept following my dad, which seemed to be a never-ending journey. While the train stop was no where close to Bunker Hill, I’m sure much of the “great” distance had more to do with the illness than anything else. After half a mile, I needed another break and was in search of a convenience store. I bought a bottle of Gatorade, and I must say that the electrolytes did wonders for my system. While certainly not in peak condition, the nausea and light headedness was gone in a matter of minutes.
November 15, 2009
September 22, 2009
Seal the Deal 2009
I realize that many scientists out there will still debunk global warming, and I understand that it is practically in the job description (proving things are wrong has always been a heck of a lot easier than proving them right). Working with environmentalists, I falsely believed that everyone would be onboard with the belief that “climate change” is real. After speaking with a particular person I learned how very wrong I was. In fact, I am shocked that he is actually one among many whom I know personally that feel the situation is overplayed and erroneous. However, I believe most people out there are now willing to accept that without drastic action we face a disaster greater than we ever could have imagined; one that will threaten the stability and sanctity of life on this planet.
December 7th through December 18th of this year, The United Nations will be holding the fifteenth Conference of Parties (COP15) in Copenhagen. World leaders will gather in one place to debate this issue, and hopefully act on it. Now, I while I will be the first to admit that petitions are hardly the solution to our problems (and I’ve rarely been fond of them); I believe that they do send a strong message to our leaders that people do care and want something done. It is up to us…the people, to demand it and make it so. Every voice counts. I know this a particular passion of mine; you are in no way obligated to follow my footsteps. However, if you do believe in the message, I implore you to sign the petition at www.sealthedeal2009.org, and let your voice be heard.
December 7th through December 18th of this year, The United Nations will be holding the fifteenth Conference of Parties (COP15) in Copenhagen. World leaders will gather in one place to debate this issue, and hopefully act on it. Now, I while I will be the first to admit that petitions are hardly the solution to our problems (and I’ve rarely been fond of them); I believe that they do send a strong message to our leaders that people do care and want something done. It is up to us…the people, to demand it and make it so. Every voice counts. I know this a particular passion of mine; you are in no way obligated to follow my footsteps. However, if you do believe in the message, I implore you to sign the petition at www.sealthedeal2009.org, and let your voice be heard.
June 27, 2009
Nashville
Went out to the Smoky Mountains. Tennessee’s (and North Carolina) natural woodlands is absolutely stunning. Sad to say though that much of the “smoke” that is seen today in the mountains aren’t pure clean clouds, but instead trapped gasses that we’ve released into our atmosphere. However, this day the air quality was pretty good. And my favorite part? The mountains are much cooler than the rest of the state. Even though it was a brisk 68 degrees, I still chose to run around in my tank top. I enjoyed the cool air caressing the bare skin of my back (do I make that sound sexy or what?). Due to the contrast of the rest of the trip, I decided to enjoy every ounce of coolness I could get.
We drove through Pigeon Forge. It reminds me of Orlando or a family friendly Vegas with all the activities you can do. We didn’t have time to stop however, because it was still a two hour drive to Nashville.
About 4 miles from our hotel in Nashville traffic came to a near standstill. The blinking red of the roadway emergency light was flashing, so we tuned in to the radio to see what had happen. All we could figure was that all lanes going our direction were closed due to an “incident.” We took our trusty GPS and tried to find al alternate route. We managed to find a pretty good one through a backcountry road. We hear a car lightly tap their horn at as us we turn a corner and we stop in our tracks. Ahead is a police car perpendicular to our own flashing its lights and a large chunk of tree blocking the roadway behind it. The best we can figure is that the lightening storm that we had seen up ahead earlier had passed through and taken the tree down with it. We let the GPS guide us turn after turn through a residential neighborhood. I noticed another down tree, but this one didn’t interfere with the road system. Now, I’m good with a map, but I don’t know if I could have created this route to our hotel. Next thing I know, we’re pulling up into the hotel parking lot thanks to our handy GPS system. (And no, I didn’t forget to praise it!).
Of course, no trip out to Nashville would be complete without visiting the Grand Ole Opry. The venue is beautiful. Nashville’s culture and character as a whole is charming. There’s so much history here and so many opportunities to enjoy it.
We drove through Pigeon Forge. It reminds me of Orlando or a family friendly Vegas with all the activities you can do. We didn’t have time to stop however, because it was still a two hour drive to Nashville.
About 4 miles from our hotel in Nashville traffic came to a near standstill. The blinking red of the roadway emergency light was flashing, so we tuned in to the radio to see what had happen. All we could figure was that all lanes going our direction were closed due to an “incident.” We took our trusty GPS and tried to find al alternate route. We managed to find a pretty good one through a backcountry road. We hear a car lightly tap their horn at as us we turn a corner and we stop in our tracks. Ahead is a police car perpendicular to our own flashing its lights and a large chunk of tree blocking the roadway behind it. The best we can figure is that the lightening storm that we had seen up ahead earlier had passed through and taken the tree down with it. We let the GPS guide us turn after turn through a residential neighborhood. I noticed another down tree, but this one didn’t interfere with the road system. Now, I’m good with a map, but I don’t know if I could have created this route to our hotel. Next thing I know, we’re pulling up into the hotel parking lot thanks to our handy GPS system. (And no, I didn’t forget to praise it!).
Of course, no trip out to Nashville would be complete without visiting the Grand Ole Opry. The venue is beautiful. Nashville’s culture and character as a whole is charming. There’s so much history here and so many opportunities to enjoy it.
June 23, 2009
Missouri
After a three hour layover in Denver, I finally arrived in Kansas City. I left California at an early 5:30 am start and landed in Denver shortly after 10 am. My flight wasn’t scheduled to leave until 1 pm, so I decided to meander down to Terminal B and get myself a Jamba Juice. I decided that would be my “brunch,” and save some room for the good eatin’ in Kansas City. I arrived in Kansas City around 4 pm local time (1 pm in CA), so I was plenty ready for lunch. My favorite was the Burnt Ends Sandwich from Gates. If you ever find yourself in Kansas City, it’s definitely on my list of top places to eat in America. However, there was no time for dilly dallying. Our reservation was set for St. Louis which is a 4-5 hour drive from Kansas City. Having eaten late, I wasn’t too hungry in St. Louis, so I went straight for dessert. My favorite there? Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.
To burn off those heavy calories, we walked by the Mississippi River and wandered around the famous arch. We spotted a couple of fireflies as we walked (nothing like the ones you see on the Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland). They’re fun to watch though, and shine a lot brighter than I thought they would.
To burn off those heavy calories, we walked by the Mississippi River and wandered around the famous arch. We spotted a couple of fireflies as we walked (nothing like the ones you see on the Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland). They’re fun to watch though, and shine a lot brighter than I thought they would.
June 22, 2009
New Zealand - Final Entry
The Antarctic Center really is a nice way to kill a few hours if you’re waiting for your flight out of Christchurch. It wasn’t nearly as hokey as I expected it to be. They have a lot of interactive displays and remnants from past Antarctic journeys. The only flaw being the colony of Blue Penguins it houses. All of the penguins are not able to be released back into the wild, so it’s refreshing to see that they are being taken care of. However, being the Antarctic Center, I found it ironic that of all the species of penguin it has, it has one of the few non-Antarctic penguins. However, they are a New Zealand native bird, and I’m sure that sharing such close quarters to humans, there are many birds that need additional care.
As it turns out, my flight out of Christchurch was delayed. I originally had an hour and a half lay-over in Auckland, but that was made all the tighter with the delay. Not to mention the flight out of Auckland was the last flight of the day, and if I missed that flight I wouldn’t be back in the states until Monday, and oh wait, I work Monday! As we disembarked the plane we had to run out of the building and to the International Terminal. This should be a 20 minute walk, but considering I had 30 minutes to catch my flight, there was a lot of running involved. As we ran into the terminal we anxiously stood in the customs line looking nervously at our watches as precious minutes ticked away.
Fortunately, we did make it onto the plane as everyone started filtering onboard. My muscles were sore and I was out of breath, but we made it. Plus, due to a generous tail-wind, we managed to shave an hour off our flying time.
As it turns out, my flight out of Christchurch was delayed. I originally had an hour and a half lay-over in Auckland, but that was made all the tighter with the delay. Not to mention the flight out of Auckland was the last flight of the day, and if I missed that flight I wouldn’t be back in the states until Monday, and oh wait, I work Monday! As we disembarked the plane we had to run out of the building and to the International Terminal. This should be a 20 minute walk, but considering I had 30 minutes to catch my flight, there was a lot of running involved. As we ran into the terminal we anxiously stood in the customs line looking nervously at our watches as precious minutes ticked away.
Fortunately, we did make it onto the plane as everyone started filtering onboard. My muscles were sore and I was out of breath, but we made it. Plus, due to a generous tail-wind, we managed to shave an hour off our flying time.
June 19, 2009
New Zealand - Kaikoura
Kaikoura is probably one of my favorite places in New Zealand. It’s located amongst the mountains on the east coast of New Zealand, but it’s probably best known for its coastal eco-tourism activities. It’s an ideal location for many marine mammal sightings because the continental shelf plunges about 1000 meters down after about 100 meters out. It’s the only place in the world where Sperm Whales (a deeper diving whale) can be seen so close to the shoreline. The warm and cold currents also converge in this location which causes nutrients to rise up from the seafloor. This creates an ideal feeding ground for many marine species, and nearly 200 species of marine life can be found off the coast of Kaikoura.
One of the most commonly seen marine mammals in Kaikoura is the New Zealand Fur Seal. And just to confuse you further, like Panda “Bears” or Koala “Bears,” the New Zealand Fur Seal isn’t actually a seal, it’s a sea lion. How do you tell them apart? The easiest way would be to note their protruding ear flaps and the use of their flippers to move (you think sea lions aren’t graceful on land, just watch true seals). While hunted extensively in the 19th century, this species has since been protected and recovered quite well. We visited a number of seal colonies along Kaikoura’s coastline.
Just off the freeway is a small little trail for the Ohau Waterfall. While it’s not the most spectacular waterfall I’ve ever seen, it was certainly one of the most memorable walks I’ve ever done. It’s amazing how dense the forest becomes just a few meters from the coast, and what’s more amazing are some of the things that the forest holds. The trek to the waterfall is fairly flat and short, which makes it easy for even young children to experience. However, it’s kind of tucked in off the freeway, so it would be easy to pass. For those that do find it, it’s an absolute treat. You follow the river passing vegetation at every corner and can hear the roar of the falls in the near distance. Because there are so many twists and turns to the waterfall, it’s hard to get your bearings to exactly how close you are. Suddenly, the forest will open up and in front of you will be the falls. Even more impressive, the seal pups seem to have made this area their own private playground. It’s like walking straight into a fantasy, or some sort of “secret garden,” which only you have been granted the privilege to see (and maybe whoever else has trekked the trail with you).
One of the most commonly seen marine mammals in Kaikoura is the New Zealand Fur Seal. And just to confuse you further, like Panda “Bears” or Koala “Bears,” the New Zealand Fur Seal isn’t actually a seal, it’s a sea lion. How do you tell them apart? The easiest way would be to note their protruding ear flaps and the use of their flippers to move (you think sea lions aren’t graceful on land, just watch true seals). While hunted extensively in the 19th century, this species has since been protected and recovered quite well. We visited a number of seal colonies along Kaikoura’s coastline.
Just off the freeway is a small little trail for the Ohau Waterfall. While it’s not the most spectacular waterfall I’ve ever seen, it was certainly one of the most memorable walks I’ve ever done. It’s amazing how dense the forest becomes just a few meters from the coast, and what’s more amazing are some of the things that the forest holds. The trek to the waterfall is fairly flat and short, which makes it easy for even young children to experience. However, it’s kind of tucked in off the freeway, so it would be easy to pass. For those that do find it, it’s an absolute treat. You follow the river passing vegetation at every corner and can hear the roar of the falls in the near distance. Because there are so many twists and turns to the waterfall, it’s hard to get your bearings to exactly how close you are. Suddenly, the forest will open up and in front of you will be the falls. Even more impressive, the seal pups seem to have made this area their own private playground. It’s like walking straight into a fantasy, or some sort of “secret garden,” which only you have been granted the privilege to see (and maybe whoever else has trekked the trail with you).
May 27, 2009
New Zealand - Dunedin
Arrived in Dunedin early this morning. The past few days we’ve been traveling through rural countryside, and Dunedin is more of a university town. There’s a lot of action, and the town center is called The Octagon, and where we had a sophisticated Italian dinner tonight.
We went to the Otago Peninsula to see the yellow-eyed penguins come to shore at dusk. They’re a solitary penguin, so they don’t come to shore in massive hordes like other species. They’re the third largest penguin species at about 2 feet and 10-15 pounds. Considered the world’s rarest penguin (didn’t I hear/read that about another penguin species recently) there’s only about 4000 of these guys left. About 3000 live on the outlying islands and the other 1000 live on the southern points of New Zealand’s south island. The cause for their threatened status is numerous. Part due to predators (as with many native species of birds the introduction of stoats have been devastating to the population) and habitat loss as well. In recent years the numbers of been declining even more. It is believed that this is in part due to the recent La Nina effects. The temperature fluctuation has created warmer waters, and the yellow-eyed penguin is a specialist in diet. With the fish populations low due to higher water temperatures the penguins haven’t fared well either.
We watched the penguins through trenches as not to startle them, and I have to admit that half of the fun was wandering through the endless maze of trenches to pop up in little huts to observe the penguins in their territories. It is a little disappointing that the habitat almost seemed like an open zoo, but it’s an ingenious way to take conservation efforts. The penguins are still wild and live freely, but on land they have added protections from non-native predators.
While I did get to witness one penguin come ashore, two making their way to their territories, and one resting comfortably at home, I was disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to witness more. I saw more penguins in the penguin hospital than I did out in the wild (I think that‘s the saddest part really). Tomorrow I’m off to Oamaru to hopefully see some more penguins.
We went to the Otago Peninsula to see the yellow-eyed penguins come to shore at dusk. They’re a solitary penguin, so they don’t come to shore in massive hordes like other species. They’re the third largest penguin species at about 2 feet and 10-15 pounds. Considered the world’s rarest penguin (didn’t I hear/read that about another penguin species recently) there’s only about 4000 of these guys left. About 3000 live on the outlying islands and the other 1000 live on the southern points of New Zealand’s south island. The cause for their threatened status is numerous. Part due to predators (as with many native species of birds the introduction of stoats have been devastating to the population) and habitat loss as well. In recent years the numbers of been declining even more. It is believed that this is in part due to the recent La Nina effects. The temperature fluctuation has created warmer waters, and the yellow-eyed penguin is a specialist in diet. With the fish populations low due to higher water temperatures the penguins haven’t fared well either.
We watched the penguins through trenches as not to startle them, and I have to admit that half of the fun was wandering through the endless maze of trenches to pop up in little huts to observe the penguins in their territories. It is a little disappointing that the habitat almost seemed like an open zoo, but it’s an ingenious way to take conservation efforts. The penguins are still wild and live freely, but on land they have added protections from non-native predators.
While I did get to witness one penguin come ashore, two making their way to their territories, and one resting comfortably at home, I was disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to witness more. I saw more penguins in the penguin hospital than I did out in the wild (I think that‘s the saddest part really). Tomorrow I’m off to Oamaru to hopefully see some more penguins.
May 26, 2009
New Zealand - Te Anau
The hills of Arrowtown are covered with the autumn shades of red, yellows, and greens. The neatest part was that all of the reds in the hills were actually bare trees with red berries, and not red leaves. The path followed the Arrow River, and in one section ropes hung from trees. I imagine in the summer kids swing from the ropes and jump into the river below.
Speaking of jumping into cold water, I decided to be daring and jump into Lake Te Anau, despite the fact that it was a brisk 7 degrees outside. I ran off the dock and jumped in, and sure enough, it was freezing!
We took a tour bus out to the Milford Sound (which is actually a fjord, not a sound) in Fiordland National Park. The scenery was beautiful. The mountain/lake scenery reminds me of Yellowstone with the mountain reflections in the water., but as a whole it reminded me of my trip to Alaska. Alaska had many of the same mirror images, and the cruise section of Milford Sound was reminiscent of Glacier Bay (and just as cold). The whole trip through the mountains and in the “sound” out to the Tasman Sea had “waterfalls” or vertical steams running from the mountain top. The snow melt carves all kinds of crevasses through the rock. You can see marks on the rocks where water once ran its course, and hundreds of new tiny steams form new ones.
It was certainly my day for wildlife. Just before we entered the Milford Sound Tunnel we spotted a kea. The world’s only Alpine parrot, and a native New Zealand bird. On our trip back from the sea we saw several New Zealand Fur Seals near the coast and on a few rocks. New Zealand Fur Seals being one of two endemic marine mammal species in New Zealand. As I looked out toward the bow, I also noticed the dorsal fins of a pod of dolphins. I pointed this out to the captain who then confirmed my sighting of bottlenose dolphins and took us in for a closer look. As we approached the dolphins greeted us and enjoyed playing in the wake of the boat. I saw numerous dolphins not only leap completely out of the water, but do tricks as if to entertain us. Some did flips and threw their bodies to the side as they leapt out of the water. As I was leaning over the railing in excitement, one dolphin leaped up toward my face close enough for me to touch. The only other “notable” animal that really lives in the sound are the crested penguins, which I did not see, but that was to be expected (they’re seen mostly in the spring months -- that is their spring months).
My trip through the sound was incredible. This experience alone I would say could make the whole trip to New Zealand worth it (not that the other events are any less worthy). I have five more days left, and I can’t wait to see what will happen next!
Speaking of jumping into cold water, I decided to be daring and jump into Lake Te Anau, despite the fact that it was a brisk 7 degrees outside. I ran off the dock and jumped in, and sure enough, it was freezing!
We took a tour bus out to the Milford Sound (which is actually a fjord, not a sound) in Fiordland National Park. The scenery was beautiful. The mountain/lake scenery reminds me of Yellowstone with the mountain reflections in the water., but as a whole it reminded me of my trip to Alaska. Alaska had many of the same mirror images, and the cruise section of Milford Sound was reminiscent of Glacier Bay (and just as cold). The whole trip through the mountains and in the “sound” out to the Tasman Sea had “waterfalls” or vertical steams running from the mountain top. The snow melt carves all kinds of crevasses through the rock. You can see marks on the rocks where water once ran its course, and hundreds of new tiny steams form new ones.
It was certainly my day for wildlife. Just before we entered the Milford Sound Tunnel we spotted a kea. The world’s only Alpine parrot, and a native New Zealand bird. On our trip back from the sea we saw several New Zealand Fur Seals near the coast and on a few rocks. New Zealand Fur Seals being one of two endemic marine mammal species in New Zealand. As I looked out toward the bow, I also noticed the dorsal fins of a pod of dolphins. I pointed this out to the captain who then confirmed my sighting of bottlenose dolphins and took us in for a closer look. As we approached the dolphins greeted us and enjoyed playing in the wake of the boat. I saw numerous dolphins not only leap completely out of the water, but do tricks as if to entertain us. Some did flips and threw their bodies to the side as they leapt out of the water. As I was leaning over the railing in excitement, one dolphin leaped up toward my face close enough for me to touch. The only other “notable” animal that really lives in the sound are the crested penguins, which I did not see, but that was to be expected (they’re seen mostly in the spring months -- that is their spring months).
My trip through the sound was incredible. This experience alone I would say could make the whole trip to New Zealand worth it (not that the other events are any less worthy). I have five more days left, and I can’t wait to see what will happen next!
May 24, 2009
New Zealand - Queenstown
I guess sleeping in means waking up at 7 am, and being out on the trails by 8:30 am. We checked to see if the café was open for breakfast, but nothing was open yet (at least some people get to sleep in). The trails today were nice. All were just off the road and a short walk to scenic photo opportunities. We saw a couple of waterfalls, unfortunately the blue pools were closed off. We passed by it the first time, and then noticed that an area was closed off with caution tape and a large danger sign. Now, if it were just me, I might be tempted to venture out into the unknown, but alas my sense of adventure was hindered.
We are staying in the small town of Arrowtown near Queenstown. It’s a quaint little residential town, and has that wonderful small town atmosphere. The people here are really friendly, and very trusting. When we were scoping out places to stay for the night we came across a lodgings called Shades of Arrowtown. The reception office was closed with a note on the door saying that the keys were in the doors and we were free to check out the rooms. If we decided to stay we should just take the keys and check in later in the afternoon. We checked out all the rooms and chose the only one that could accommodate three people. I get my own bedroom which is neat, while the master is situated in the main room.
Arrowtown is home of an old Chinese settlement. We checked it out and it has the old relic buildings. The story is similar to that of the immigrants that came to Columbia, CA in the California Gold Rush. In fact, they came to New Zealand for the same exact reasons. The entire town has a very “old town” feel which helps emphasize the history.
The heart of town is a few minutes walk, so we decided to give the car a break. Tonight we ate a restaurant called Willow Tavern. The food here was excellent and locally and organically grown and raised. I had the Maryland Chicken which came with a tomato based butter sauce, a baked potato, broccoli and cauliflower, and a small side salad. Then for dessert I had a delicious date pudding.
On our walk back I looked up at the sky and noticed that the stars are especially bright (wait, we have stars?) . It’s like staring at a brand new sky. Not only because there’s too many lights in California to ever see the stars, but because the southern hemisphere has a whole different set of stars ahead. It took a while, but I eventually found Orion (a autumn/winter constellation). It was lower in the horizon and at a completely different angle than what I‘m used to. The rest of the stars remain completely foreign to me, but a complete joy to contemplate.
We are staying in the small town of Arrowtown near Queenstown. It’s a quaint little residential town, and has that wonderful small town atmosphere. The people here are really friendly, and very trusting. When we were scoping out places to stay for the night we came across a lodgings called Shades of Arrowtown. The reception office was closed with a note on the door saying that the keys were in the doors and we were free to check out the rooms. If we decided to stay we should just take the keys and check in later in the afternoon. We checked out all the rooms and chose the only one that could accommodate three people. I get my own bedroom which is neat, while the master is situated in the main room.
Arrowtown is home of an old Chinese settlement. We checked it out and it has the old relic buildings. The story is similar to that of the immigrants that came to Columbia, CA in the California Gold Rush. In fact, they came to New Zealand for the same exact reasons. The entire town has a very “old town” feel which helps emphasize the history.
The heart of town is a few minutes walk, so we decided to give the car a break. Tonight we ate a restaurant called Willow Tavern. The food here was excellent and locally and organically grown and raised. I had the Maryland Chicken which came with a tomato based butter sauce, a baked potato, broccoli and cauliflower, and a small side salad. Then for dessert I had a delicious date pudding.
On our walk back I looked up at the sky and noticed that the stars are especially bright (wait, we have stars?) . It’s like staring at a brand new sky. Not only because there’s too many lights in California to ever see the stars, but because the southern hemisphere has a whole different set of stars ahead. It took a while, but I eventually found Orion (a autumn/winter constellation). It was lower in the horizon and at a completely different angle than what I‘m used to. The rest of the stars remain completely foreign to me, but a complete joy to contemplate.
May 23, 2009
New Zealand - Haast
The weather has been on our side thus far. While has rain or sprinkled pretty much every day; we haven’t encountered any nasty weather yet. The ferry ride from Wellington was said to have gone through rough seas, but in all honesty the waves didn’t seem too horrendous. There was some significant rocking through Cook Straight, but that was only a short portion of the ride. They had to suspend ferry service both the day before and the day after we left, so we must have lucked out. According to the weather news, we are just missing out on all the bad stuff. The only place that’s said to be having good weather at the moment is on the southwest side of the south island (where we are at this very moment).
After the three hour ferry ride, we headed for Greymouth (a short four hour drive away). The only stop we had planned was a place affectionately known as pancake rocks. We reached there just as the sun was setting and it made for some great sunset shots. I loved listening to the waves crash against the rocks and seeing the different kinds of formations the waves had created. The rocks are stratified which is where they got their name from. It makes me hungry for pancakes (it’s a good thing I’m not impressionable, huh?).
First thing up for the morning was the Okarito Trig Walk. That was certainly a way to wake up this morning. On a scale of 1-4 (four being the most difficult), it was given a 3 in difficulty (4 is an all day hike). It is supposed to be a 90 minute hike, and of course we had to do it in 20. It was a 150 metre climb more than a walk. It was an overlook, so the climb is to the summit. We started on the beach and went the 150 metres straight up to the top. Granted, I had some trouble, especially on the way down. It’s a stair climb with each step reaching about waist high on me. Do I have to tell you that I slipped and fell? (And now I have a fat bruise on my right knee). The view was nice, and overlooked the lagoon and Tasman Sea to the west and to the east are the Southern Alps where you can see a glacier.
I got a good indication of why the southwest side of the south island is known as the rainy side. There was a constant sprinkle/rain all day. In fact, there was a perpetual rainbow in our field of vision. Most rainbows I see are gone in a matter of minutes, or at most hours. The ones I saw today were there every time I looked out the window. It makes me believe that if I returned tomorrow there would be a rainbow in the very spot I saw it previously. It made for some good pictures though. A perfect arch against a picturesque scene. I even got the rainbow against the Franz Josef Glacier.
The viewpoint climb to Franz Glacier was much easier than the Okarito Trig, and I think it was far more spectacular. Even easier than that was the actual trip out to the glacier. It was a steady flat walk the whole way there. Instead of only being 20 minute hikes it lasted slightly over an hour, but at least the entire hike was flat rather than straight up. Interestingly enough, the hike to the Fox Glacier viewpoint was straight down (of course, you do have to go up it again). Again, the climb wasn’t nearly as difficult as the one done earlier (and done on a bad knee).
Which leaves us to the lovely Haast. The town here is even smaller than the one we saw in Franz Josef (and that was only a couple of blocks of stores). You can walk down the main road in a matter of 5 minutes here, but it is a lovely little community. Unfortunately, there’s only one restaurant open, but it made for some easy choices.
And for the best news…I don’t have to get up early tomorrow! (or so they say). It should only be a short drive away to Queenstown, plus we don’t have that much planned to do on the road in between. Plus, I heard something about going out to the diner for breakfast (hmmm, those pancakes are just calling my name).
After the three hour ferry ride, we headed for Greymouth (a short four hour drive away). The only stop we had planned was a place affectionately known as pancake rocks. We reached there just as the sun was setting and it made for some great sunset shots. I loved listening to the waves crash against the rocks and seeing the different kinds of formations the waves had created. The rocks are stratified which is where they got their name from. It makes me hungry for pancakes (it’s a good thing I’m not impressionable, huh?).
First thing up for the morning was the Okarito Trig Walk. That was certainly a way to wake up this morning. On a scale of 1-4 (four being the most difficult), it was given a 3 in difficulty (4 is an all day hike). It is supposed to be a 90 minute hike, and of course we had to do it in 20. It was a 150 metre climb more than a walk. It was an overlook, so the climb is to the summit. We started on the beach and went the 150 metres straight up to the top. Granted, I had some trouble, especially on the way down. It’s a stair climb with each step reaching about waist high on me. Do I have to tell you that I slipped and fell? (And now I have a fat bruise on my right knee). The view was nice, and overlooked the lagoon and Tasman Sea to the west and to the east are the Southern Alps where you can see a glacier.
I got a good indication of why the southwest side of the south island is known as the rainy side. There was a constant sprinkle/rain all day. In fact, there was a perpetual rainbow in our field of vision. Most rainbows I see are gone in a matter of minutes, or at most hours. The ones I saw today were there every time I looked out the window. It makes me believe that if I returned tomorrow there would be a rainbow in the very spot I saw it previously. It made for some good pictures though. A perfect arch against a picturesque scene. I even got the rainbow against the Franz Josef Glacier.
The viewpoint climb to Franz Glacier was much easier than the Okarito Trig, and I think it was far more spectacular. Even easier than that was the actual trip out to the glacier. It was a steady flat walk the whole way there. Instead of only being 20 minute hikes it lasted slightly over an hour, but at least the entire hike was flat rather than straight up. Interestingly enough, the hike to the Fox Glacier viewpoint was straight down (of course, you do have to go up it again). Again, the climb wasn’t nearly as difficult as the one done earlier (and done on a bad knee).
Which leaves us to the lovely Haast. The town here is even smaller than the one we saw in Franz Josef (and that was only a couple of blocks of stores). You can walk down the main road in a matter of 5 minutes here, but it is a lovely little community. Unfortunately, there’s only one restaurant open, but it made for some easy choices.
And for the best news…I don’t have to get up early tomorrow! (or so they say). It should only be a short drive away to Queenstown, plus we don’t have that much planned to do on the road in between. Plus, I heard something about going out to the diner for breakfast (hmmm, those pancakes are just calling my name).
May 21, 2009
New Zealand - Wellington
Wellington is very similar to Auckland. The one big difference is while a public transportation system exists, it isn’t as prevalent. Instead of a day of adventure, we were a bit more cultured and spent the day exploring the city and went to a couple of museums. The Wellington Museum was small and quaint, but gave a rich history of the city. We also went to the Te Papa museum. It was a mixture of art, history, and science.
Many of the displays that I’ve seen in the past couple of days project hologram like images intermingling real life artifacts and projected imagery. It’s a great use of technology, and I hope to see it used in the states soon. On a grander scale, I think it could bring so much of history to life (for those of us that lack an imagination). The interactive displays have been insightful as well. Hopefully, this will continue to connect the next generation with its past.
At the Wellington Museum there was a whole section on maritime history. The thing that struck me were some of the superstitions that sailors have. Nothing surprised me much, but one was new to me. I knew having women aboard was considered bad luck, but apparently naked women were considered to bring down swells and create safe passage. Now the first thing that came to my mind was an excuse for sailors to get a girl’s clothes off. Also according to the information, this is the reason for the scantily clad women decorated at the bow of the ship. Still seems like an excuse to me, but I digress.
The Te Papa Museum was quite large. We didn’t even get a chance to explore the whole thing before closing. The thing that struck me most was the Oceania section. They showed a large subsection of coral, and as you read the description it always ended, “not much is known about this species of coral.” Just a small reminder that we know more about space than we do about the world’s oceans. Much of our oceans remain unexplored and there’s much that we do not understand about it. They are the Earth’s life source, and yet we take it for granted every day. The section itself was small, and could have been elaborated upon.
So that does it for my north island adventure of New Zealand. Tomorrow we take the ferry to the south island and start a whole new adventure. I’m excited for the new explorations that lie ahead.
Many of the displays that I’ve seen in the past couple of days project hologram like images intermingling real life artifacts and projected imagery. It’s a great use of technology, and I hope to see it used in the states soon. On a grander scale, I think it could bring so much of history to life (for those of us that lack an imagination). The interactive displays have been insightful as well. Hopefully, this will continue to connect the next generation with its past.
At the Wellington Museum there was a whole section on maritime history. The thing that struck me were some of the superstitions that sailors have. Nothing surprised me much, but one was new to me. I knew having women aboard was considered bad luck, but apparently naked women were considered to bring down swells and create safe passage. Now the first thing that came to my mind was an excuse for sailors to get a girl’s clothes off. Also according to the information, this is the reason for the scantily clad women decorated at the bow of the ship. Still seems like an excuse to me, but I digress.
The Te Papa Museum was quite large. We didn’t even get a chance to explore the whole thing before closing. The thing that struck me most was the Oceania section. They showed a large subsection of coral, and as you read the description it always ended, “not much is known about this species of coral.” Just a small reminder that we know more about space than we do about the world’s oceans. Much of our oceans remain unexplored and there’s much that we do not understand about it. They are the Earth’s life source, and yet we take it for granted every day. The section itself was small, and could have been elaborated upon.
So that does it for my north island adventure of New Zealand. Tomorrow we take the ferry to the south island and start a whole new adventure. I’m excited for the new explorations that lie ahead.
May 20, 2009
New Zealand - Wairakei
First up on the agenda was a trip out to the buried village. Previously a tourist hotspot, the village was destroyed by a volcanic eruption nearly 120 years ago. The main attraction at the time were pink and white terraces along Lake Rotorua. New Zealand’s greatest natural disaster; the eruption destroyed the terraces and buried the village. Only in the last twenty years has much of the village been uncovered.
Trekking through the village, you can see where ground level once was compared to where it is currently situated. Looking at the village is a reminder of the power of nature. An eruption that can create so much damage also regenerates an abundance of life. The soil becomes nutrient rich and a feeding ground for many different flora. A natural cycle that has been in effect for millions of years. It’s impressive to me that a single species can disrupt a balance so easily, and a reminder of the immense power that we harness. Hopefully, now that we realize we have that power, we can use it to maintain what the earth has done so well for millions of years.
After the village, we headed towards Lake Taupo. Huka Falls was not the tallest waterfall I’ve ever seen, but it was certainly one of the more powerful. Approximately 60,000 gallons of water tumble over the cliff every second. The water is a beautiful azure similar to the waters I saw in Alaska.
In the same park is a section called Craters of the Moon. Unlike other geothermic areas that I see, there weren’t many pools. The land has a multitude of craters from which smoky white pillars of steam form. If it weren’t for New Zealand’s lush landscape, you might actually be able to picture it as a face of the moon. Instead, from a distance it looks like a series of mini forest fires from which plumes of smoke sprout. The steam vents are cool and make distinctive roaring sounds (maybe like that of a dragon).
We finished up at the park around three and started for a long trek towards Palmerston North. I heard on the radio today that they had to suspend ferry service through Cooks Straight due to 7 metre swells. We aren’t due to cross the straight till Friday, so here’s to hoping we have some good weather on our side.
Trekking through the village, you can see where ground level once was compared to where it is currently situated. Looking at the village is a reminder of the power of nature. An eruption that can create so much damage also regenerates an abundance of life. The soil becomes nutrient rich and a feeding ground for many different flora. A natural cycle that has been in effect for millions of years. It’s impressive to me that a single species can disrupt a balance so easily, and a reminder of the immense power that we harness. Hopefully, now that we realize we have that power, we can use it to maintain what the earth has done so well for millions of years.
After the village, we headed towards Lake Taupo. Huka Falls was not the tallest waterfall I’ve ever seen, but it was certainly one of the more powerful. Approximately 60,000 gallons of water tumble over the cliff every second. The water is a beautiful azure similar to the waters I saw in Alaska.
In the same park is a section called Craters of the Moon. Unlike other geothermic areas that I see, there weren’t many pools. The land has a multitude of craters from which smoky white pillars of steam form. If it weren’t for New Zealand’s lush landscape, you might actually be able to picture it as a face of the moon. Instead, from a distance it looks like a series of mini forest fires from which plumes of smoke sprout. The steam vents are cool and make distinctive roaring sounds (maybe like that of a dragon).
We finished up at the park around three and started for a long trek towards Palmerston North. I heard on the radio today that they had to suspend ferry service through Cooks Straight due to 7 metre swells. We aren’t due to cross the straight till Friday, so here’s to hoping we have some good weather on our side.
May 19, 2009
New Zealand - Rotorua
We left our hotel in Hamilton, and headed for a side trip to Waikato and the Waitomo Caves. We had our own private guide, who also happens to be the great granddaughter of Chief Taane Tinorau. The Maori didn’t spend much time adventuring through the cave system, but you can see why it would be hard for me to resist. What’s not to love about dark unknown spaces? A man by the name of Fred Mace apparently couldn’t resist the call of adventure either. Mace and Taane are considered to be the first to explore the caves, and Tanne continued to lead tours into the caves afterwards. The history books tell us the government became concerned about the number of visitors and the need to protect the caves from vandalism and graffiti, and thus tried to purchase the land. According to our guide, the government saw the enormous potential the caves offered and tried to trick the chief into surrendering the land, which led to the Scenery Preservation Act of 1903.
The caves were truly majestic. Our guide pointed out the geology of the caves and the atmospheric conditions. Of course, the big draw of this particular cave is the glowworms (Arachnocampa luminosa). The threads of the worms are invisible in the dark, but when you shine light upon them they glisten and you can see each intricate bead. We hopped into the boat and drifted out to the darkest part of the caves. Overhead there were thousands of sparkling lights (kind of sounds like the Main Street Electrical Parade, doesn’t it?). The lights are bluish in hue and clump together like a mini galaxy. While all of the footage that I saw on BBC’s Planet Earth was incredible, it can’t do true life justice. While the series takes many into situations that most will never get a chance to encounter; it cannot take place of the actual experience.
From Waikato we then headed to Rotorua. Now, Rotorua is known for its sulfuric smell because this is a geothermal hotspot. I can only imagine what this area must have been like only a century or two ago. All over the forest floor are large craters fallen from the acidic conditions. Geothermal pools bubble as the steam rises. As you stare out into the temperate forest, you can see the steam rise from the thick of the trees. It almost makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the age of the dinosaurs.
I’m staying at a Best Western here in Rotorua. All of the accommodations have been much nicer than I expected. They’re nothing like the fancy hotels in the states. They’re nice in a completely different way. In New Zealand lodgings seem to try to make each stay a home away from home. This particular one even appears to have a small “backyard” where the springs run through. Also in the back is your own private Jacuzzi (you know I’m taking advantage of that, even if it’s 41 degrees Fahrenheit outside). There’s a small playground and a nine hole mini golf on the grounds. All of the staff have been incredibly gracious, treating you like guests in their homes.
Across the street from the hotel is the Rainbow Springs Nature Park. It’s a small park really, but one of the nicer ones that I’ve been to (and I don’t just mean on this trip). One of the nicest features is that they offer a 24 hour pass and stay open until 9 pm. That means, that if you buy your ticket at 8 pm, you can return the following morning. Plus, it’s not often that you find a zoological park open past dusk (especially during the off season). The grounds are beautifully lit with multitudes of dim lights in various colors. As you enter the park, the ground opens up to a large pool where the rainbow trout swim. While there are fences to keep you away from the animal, they mix in well with the scenery (wood fences with a wooden boardwalk), so that you feel that you are in an open natural park. In fact, if you were to disobey all the rules, are animals are truly close enough for you to touch, with very little actually separating you from them. A truly incredible encounter.
The caves were truly majestic. Our guide pointed out the geology of the caves and the atmospheric conditions. Of course, the big draw of this particular cave is the glowworms (Arachnocampa luminosa). The threads of the worms are invisible in the dark, but when you shine light upon them they glisten and you can see each intricate bead. We hopped into the boat and drifted out to the darkest part of the caves. Overhead there were thousands of sparkling lights (kind of sounds like the Main Street Electrical Parade, doesn’t it?). The lights are bluish in hue and clump together like a mini galaxy. While all of the footage that I saw on BBC’s Planet Earth was incredible, it can’t do true life justice. While the series takes many into situations that most will never get a chance to encounter; it cannot take place of the actual experience.
From Waikato we then headed to Rotorua. Now, Rotorua is known for its sulfuric smell because this is a geothermal hotspot. I can only imagine what this area must have been like only a century or two ago. All over the forest floor are large craters fallen from the acidic conditions. Geothermal pools bubble as the steam rises. As you stare out into the temperate forest, you can see the steam rise from the thick of the trees. It almost makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the age of the dinosaurs.
I’m staying at a Best Western here in Rotorua. All of the accommodations have been much nicer than I expected. They’re nothing like the fancy hotels in the states. They’re nice in a completely different way. In New Zealand lodgings seem to try to make each stay a home away from home. This particular one even appears to have a small “backyard” where the springs run through. Also in the back is your own private Jacuzzi (you know I’m taking advantage of that, even if it’s 41 degrees Fahrenheit outside). There’s a small playground and a nine hole mini golf on the grounds. All of the staff have been incredibly gracious, treating you like guests in their homes.
Across the street from the hotel is the Rainbow Springs Nature Park. It’s a small park really, but one of the nicer ones that I’ve been to (and I don’t just mean on this trip). One of the nicest features is that they offer a 24 hour pass and stay open until 9 pm. That means, that if you buy your ticket at 8 pm, you can return the following morning. Plus, it’s not often that you find a zoological park open past dusk (especially during the off season). The grounds are beautifully lit with multitudes of dim lights in various colors. As you enter the park, the ground opens up to a large pool where the rainbow trout swim. While there are fences to keep you away from the animal, they mix in well with the scenery (wood fences with a wooden boardwalk), so that you feel that you are in an open natural park. In fact, if you were to disobey all the rules, are animals are truly close enough for you to touch, with very little actually separating you from them. A truly incredible encounter.
May 17, 2009
New Zealand - Auckland
Auckland reminds me a lot of San Francisco and the Bay Area. It has the same kind of temperature, transportation system, sights, and sounds. There are plenty of hills, but none as steep as the ones in San Francisco. In fact, those cranes that seem to have inspired George Lucas for Star Wars were also sitting in the waters of Auckland. The people here have been especially pleasant and generous, making the experience all the more enjoyable.
Our lodgings is situated in the domain section of town. There’s a large park nearby, as well as the museum, Auckland University, and a hospital. After breakfast, we headed over to the museum. The museum is composed of three major themes: the wars, natural history, and Maori history. The Maori artifacts and history is amazing. Their houses and boats are incredibly ornate. We watched a short cultural presentation of Maori song and dance.
After the museum we were set out to explore the city and its many shops. Tomorrow we leave for Hamilton, and the many more adventures which lie ahead.
Our lodgings is situated in the domain section of town. There’s a large park nearby, as well as the museum, Auckland University, and a hospital. After breakfast, we headed over to the museum. The museum is composed of three major themes: the wars, natural history, and Maori history. The Maori artifacts and history is amazing. Their houses and boats are incredibly ornate. We watched a short cultural presentation of Maori song and dance.
After the museum we were set out to explore the city and its many shops. Tomorrow we leave for Hamilton, and the many more adventures which lie ahead.
March 19, 2009
Going...Going...Gone
So I was one of the thousands of people that waited in line at the OC Fairgrounds to attend the Town Hall meeting with President Obama. I don’t know if I ever expected to get tickets, but I was definitely prepared not to. For me it’s about the adventure. The chance to say, “I may not have succeeded but at least I tried.” And of course, ticket opportunities aren’t complete with the campout in front of the ticket booths.
The night started off well enough. From what I could tell everyone was in high spirits. People were excited with the chance of opportunity. However, with only “X” number of tickets available and “>X” number of people (see, you do use math in real life) there were bound to be upset patrons. When tickets were finally “released” you could feel the tension rise. I’ll spare you the gory details, but you could definitely feel the energy in the air change in an instant. A lot of people were upset that they couldn’t attain tickets. I didn’t manage to get tickets myself, but I still consider the night an enjoyable experience spent surrounded by good company.
The night started off well enough. From what I could tell everyone was in high spirits. People were excited with the chance of opportunity. However, with only “X” number of tickets available and “>X” number of people (see, you do use math in real life) there were bound to be upset patrons. When tickets were finally “released” you could feel the tension rise. I’ll spare you the gory details, but you could definitely feel the energy in the air change in an instant. A lot of people were upset that they couldn’t attain tickets. I didn’t manage to get tickets myself, but I still consider the night an enjoyable experience spent surrounded by good company.
March 13, 2009
Weird but True
Since I never just write about my day...
I decided to make an appearance at my cousin Allyson's 21st birthday party last night. The event started off interestingly enough. I approached the door and rang the doorbell when a bird starts fluttering over my head. Now, I have to say, birds have always sort of been my nemesis. They've never really seemed to like me. I expect it to fly away quickly, and when that doesn't happen, I wonder if I'm invading its territory or near its nesting area. I back off a bit and needless to say, it didn't just fly away. Instead it landed on my head. Now, at this point I would normally try to deal with the bird before interrupting the party, but of course, I had already rang the doorbell. Being on my head, I can't even tell what kind of bird it is. I reach for the top of my head and tried to coax the bird off. Finally, I get the bird to perch on my finger, and I thought it might just fly away at this point, but he seemed to be content. It looked to be a parrotlet, so obviously it must have been somebody's pet. I hoped it actually came from the home I was attending, but apparently it hadn't. The owner of the home decided to take responsibility for the bird, and I was free to enjoy the rest of Allyson's party.
I decided to make an appearance at my cousin Allyson's 21st birthday party last night. The event started off interestingly enough. I approached the door and rang the doorbell when a bird starts fluttering over my head. Now, I have to say, birds have always sort of been my nemesis. They've never really seemed to like me. I expect it to fly away quickly, and when that doesn't happen, I wonder if I'm invading its territory or near its nesting area. I back off a bit and needless to say, it didn't just fly away. Instead it landed on my head. Now, at this point I would normally try to deal with the bird before interrupting the party, but of course, I had already rang the doorbell. Being on my head, I can't even tell what kind of bird it is. I reach for the top of my head and tried to coax the bird off. Finally, I get the bird to perch on my finger, and I thought it might just fly away at this point, but he seemed to be content. It looked to be a parrotlet, so obviously it must have been somebody's pet. I hoped it actually came from the home I was attending, but apparently it hadn't. The owner of the home decided to take responsibility for the bird, and I was free to enjoy the rest of Allyson's party.
February 24, 2009
What inspires you?
There is nothing more inspiring than witnessing a child’s “ah ha” moment. The moment in their eyes that they realize they can make a positive difference in the world. Moments like these remind me why I wanted to become a teacher in the first place. I may not be the teacher I originally envisioned, but I am certainly satisfied with the path I travel. To witness other people being inspired inspires me. Working with kindergartners, sometimes I wonder just how much they retain of what I say. In a single moment however, all that can change; you see the glint in their eyes…that “ah ha” moment.
I’ve experienced many of those moments now, but they never get tiresome. Each is as precious as the first. Today it happened with my new “I Care About.” Most of them remembered my first was about whales (good start, they actually remembered the first one). This time around I was going to teach them about sea otters. When I was done with the lesson, I found it fitting to ask them what they care about. This whole month their staff has been sharing the things that they care most about, but we’ve never actually asked the children what is important to them. That simple question became their “ah ha” moment. We protect the things we love, and everything we do makes a difference. We talked about the measures that we take to protect those things, and suddenly they realize, even as children, they are empowered. There are things in the world they can do that actually makes a positive impact. So often children feel that what they do or say doesn’t matter. Directly because of the program that we do, their lives have changed, and that is something I’ll never forget. That’s what inspires me; whenever I get to see someone realize they have such tremendous power to make the world a better place.
The question though is, not just what inspires me, but I want to know what inspires you?
I’ve experienced many of those moments now, but they never get tiresome. Each is as precious as the first. Today it happened with my new “I Care About.” Most of them remembered my first was about whales (good start, they actually remembered the first one). This time around I was going to teach them about sea otters. When I was done with the lesson, I found it fitting to ask them what they care about. This whole month their staff has been sharing the things that they care most about, but we’ve never actually asked the children what is important to them. That simple question became their “ah ha” moment. We protect the things we love, and everything we do makes a difference. We talked about the measures that we take to protect those things, and suddenly they realize, even as children, they are empowered. There are things in the world they can do that actually makes a positive impact. So often children feel that what they do or say doesn’t matter. Directly because of the program that we do, their lives have changed, and that is something I’ll never forget. That’s what inspires me; whenever I get to see someone realize they have such tremendous power to make the world a better place.
The question though is, not just what inspires me, but I want to know what inspires you?
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