Adorable

Kiki enjoying the sunrise.

PhotoID: B_20120728_30890

Waharoa Guard

A carving sits atop the 'waharoa' (gate) to Te Parapara in Hamilton Gardens.

Location: Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand. [S37 48.410 E175 18.147]

PhotoID: B_20110319_29455

Gateway to Te Parapara

A wood-carved gateway serves as the entrance to the Te Parapara Garden in Hamilton Gardens.

Location: Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand. [S37 48.410 E175 18.147].

PhotoID: B_20110319_29452

Italian Renaissance Garden

The Italian Renaissance Garden.

Location: Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand. [S37 48.409 E175 18.166]

PhotoID: B_20110319_29445

Shadow In The Doorway

Indian Char Bagh Garden

Charbagh or Chahar Bagh is a Persian-style garden layout. The quadrilateral garden is divided by walkways or flowing water into four smaller parts. In Persian, Char means 'four' and bagh means 'garden'. [Source: Wikipedia]

Location: Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand. [S37 48.420 E175 18.188]

PhotoID: B_20110319_29435

From The Darkness Into The Light

A tunnel leads from one garden to another in Hamilton Gardens.

Location: Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand. [S37 48.411 E175 18.207]

PhotoID: B_20110319_29434

Keeping An Eye On You

A dove perched atop a structure eyes me with suspicion.

Location: English Flower Garden, Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand. [S37 48.393 E175 18.212]

PhotoID: B_20110319_29424

The Proud Dove

A white dove wanders around a paved area in the English Flower Garden section of Hamilton Gardens.

Location: Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand. [S37 48.393 E175 18.212]

PhotoID: B_20110319_29418

Turtle Lake

Turtle Lake, in the picturesque Hamilton Gardens.

Entrance to Hamilton Gardens is free, and visitors are promised a variety of themed gardens, filled with flowers, trees and all that makes nature beautiful.

Location: Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand. [S37 48.152 E175 18.306]

PhotoID: B_20110319_29407

Ruakuri Cave

Ruakuri Cave is one of two well-known tourist attractions in the Waitomo area (the other being the Aranui Cave).

According to the Waitomo website, Ruakuri Cave was discovered by the local Maori about 400-500 years ago. Key features of the cave include the spectacular spiral walkway leading down into the cave, limestone formations and Waitomo's biggest attraction, the glowworms.

The photo here shows a small group of visitors being escorted through one of Ruakuri's many attractive spots.

Location: Ruakuri Cave, Waitomo, New Zealand. [Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre: S38 15.654 E175 06.540]

PhotoID: B_20110318_29377

Breakfast with Birds

Al shares the last bits of bread with friendly ducks and gulls on the shore of Lake Taupo. A little sparrow decided to tag along (far right). Not seen in the picture was a pigeon.

Location: Taupo, New Zealand. [S38 41.282 E176 03.899]

PhotoID: B_20110318_29357

The Painted Sunset

Sunset over Lake Taupo. (HDR processed)

Location: Taupo, New Zealand [S38 41.393 E176 04.146]

PhotoID: B_20110317_29350

Taupo Moon

The moon rises over Taupo.

Location: Taupo, New Zealand. [S38 41.3150 E176 03.9890]

PhotoID: B_20110317_29347

Ernest Kemp

The steamboat Ernest Kemp putters home to the harbour in Taupo, New Zealand.

Richard Moore has a really neat write-up about this classic steamboat at Tiki Touring

Location: Taupo, New Zealand. [S38 41.3150 E176 03.9890]

PhotoID: B_20110317_29345

Done For The Day

Water scooters parked by a jetty. I guess they've had enough fun for the day and have retired to rest as the sun sets over Lake Taupo.

Location: Taupo, New Zealand. [S38 41.241 E176 03.862]

PhotoID: B_20110317_29344

Paddlin'

A duck paddles along peacefully while the sun slowly sets over Lake Taupo.

Location: Taupo, New Zealand [S38 41.269 E176 03.859]

PhotoID: B_20110317_29343

Taupo Harbour

Taupo Harbour at the mouth of the Waikato River.

Location: Taupo, New Zealand [S38 41.209 E176 03.893]

PhotoID: B_20110317_29330

Whitney

A small dedication to Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 - February 11, 2012). The photo is of Whitney's debut album in 1985.

To my family, she will always be the Girl with the Golden Voice.

PhotoID: B_20120212_30082

Duckies

Ducks commonly seen along Lake Taupo.

Location: Taupo, New Zealand [S38 41.330 E176 04.032]

PhotoID: B_20110317_29324

Taupo Black-Bill

Black-billed gulls along Lake Taupo, near Ruapehu Street.

Location: Taupo, New Zealand [S38 41.464 E176 04.275]

PhotoID: B_20110317_29314

Landscape Shooting

A view inland from the shore of Five Mile Bayhand.

Location: Five Mile Bay, Taupo, New Zealand [S38 44.735 E176 04.131]

PhotoID: B_20110317_29301

A Handful of Pebbles

A handful of pebbles from Five Mile Bay (two handfuls if your palms are small).

Note: None of the pebbles were harmed or removed from the beach.

Location: Five Mile Bay, Taupo, New Zealand [S38 44.735 E176 04.131]

PhotoID: B_20110317_29289

Girl on Pebbly Beach

On the Five Mile Bay beach, south of Taupo, New Zealand.

Location: Taupo, New Zealand [S38 44.735 E176 04.131]

PhotoID: B_20110317_29283

Lone Tree on the Five Mile

View of Five Mile Bay from Ernest Kemp Rise.

Location: Taupo, New Zealand [S38 44.311 E176 04.233]

PhotoID: B_20110317_29281

Five Mile Bay

View of Five Mile Bay from Ernest Kemp Rise.

Location: Taupo, New Zealand [S38 44.311 E176 04.233]

PhotoID: B_20110317_29279

Taupo Countryside

Peaceful landscape around Taupo (and in fact, all over New Zealand).

Location: Taupo, New Zealand.

PhotoID: B_20110317_29277

Aratiatia HDR

Water flowing out from Aratiatia Dam into the Aratiatia Rapids.

Location: Taupo, New Zealand [S38 37.046 E176 08.242]

PhotoID: B_20110317_29272

Huka Falls (2) - HDR

Huka Falls is an 11 metre waterfall north of Taupo. The actual height of the waterfall varies slightly depending on the data source. Wikipedia states: "The drop is technically six metres (cliff beneath the water) but the water flow raises the level to 11 metres."

Upstream, the Waikato river narrows from roughly 100 metres to a narrow 15 metre wide granite canyon. The surging water apparently reaches a volume of 220,000 litres per second. The wildly churning waters gets its beautiful colour from the reflection of the sky, lightened somewhat by the bubbles, resulting in an unusual light-blue shade.

This image has been processed in HDR (High Dynamic Range).

Location: Huka Falls, Taupo, New Zealand [S38 38.977 E176 05.363]

PhotoID: B_20110317_29225

Huka Falls

Huka Falls is an 11 metre waterfall north of Taupo. Upstream, the Waikato river narrows from roughly 100 metres to a narrow 15 metre wide granite canyon. The surging water apparently reaches a volume of 220,000 litres per second. The wildly churning waters gets its beautiful colour from the reflection of the sky, lightened somewhat by the bubbles, resulting in an unusual light-blue shade.

Huka Falls is a favourite spot for joggers and trampers (hikers).

Location: Huka Falls, Taupo, New Zealand [S38 38.977 E176 05.363]

PhotoID: B_20110317_29230

The Champagne Pool

Champagne Pool is a prominent geothermal feature within the Wai-O-Tapu geothermal area in the Bay of Plenty Region of the North Island of New Zealand. The terrestrial hot spring is located about 30 km southeast of Rotorua and about 50 km northeast of Taupo. The name Champagne Pool is derived from the abundant efflux of carbon dioxide (CO2), similar to a glass of bubbling champagne. The hot spring was formed 900 years ago by a hydrothermal eruption, which makes it in geological terms a relatively young system.

The orange colour originates from deposits of arsenic and antimony sulfides.

Location: Wai-O-Tapu, Rotorua, New Zealand [S38 21.545 E176 22.138]

PhotoID: B_20110316_29186

Artist's Palette

A view of the Artist's Palette and the steaming Champagne Pool in the background.

Traces of mineral deposits overflow from the Champagne Pool creating coloured streaks caused by wind, thus giving the name "Artist's Palette". There aren't any noticeable colour streaks in this photo unfortunately, however the yellowish hue is indicative of a higher concentration of sulphur/arsenic.

Location: Wai-O-Tapu, Rotorua, New Zealand [S38 21.545 E176 22.138].

PhotoID: B_20110316_29180

Rotokakahi

Rotokakahi is the Maori name for the Green Lake. It is located next to the Blue Lake in Rotorua. This lake was named by the Maori for its abundance of shellfish (kakahi). It is larger and oblong in outline than the Blue Lake. It appears emerald green in colour from the air due to a shallower, sandy bottom.

Rotokakahi is 1,302 feet above sea level and 69 feet below the level of the Blue Lake.

The lake is sacred (tapu) to Maori so retains its peaceful, undisturbed beauty.

Location: Rotorua, New Zealand [S38 12.506 E176 20.199]

PhotoID: B_20110316_29139

Tikitapu

Lake Tikitapu (The Blue Lake) is named as the place where a Maori chief's daughter lost her tiki (greenstone treasure). It is roughly circular in shape, and has no apparent tributaries or outlet.

It is a volcanic caldera (collapsed crater) formed during eruptions around 20,000 years ago, hence, it is deep. This lake is the watersports centre for the Rotorua district and it is also the home of the legendary Taniwha (lake monster).

The turquoise blue seen from above is due to reflection from white rhyolite and pumice at the bottom of the lake.

Location: Rotorua, New Zealand. [S38 11.548 E176 19.854]

PhotoID: B_20110316_29127

Redwood

Redwoods of Whakarewarewa Forest, rendered in mono and cropped 1:1.

Location: S38 09.619 E176 16.145

PhotoID: B_20110316_29103

Bluesky Morning

A lovely bright blue sky after weeks of gloomy weather.

PhotoID: SGS2_20120105_093741

Lego Buggy

This dune buggy was built (or rebuilt) out of leftover pieces from two 25-year-old Lego sets (hence the unusual combination of colours). The ultimate goal was to every single brick available in the construction... and here's the result.

The rear wheels are supported by springs and the steering is fully functional. That's not much compared to modern Technic and Mindstorms sets, but 25 years ago, this buggy was cool!

I had oodles of fun with my Lego sets. True to its slogan, I had a new toy every day.

Ten and Twenty

A 10 sen and 20 sen coin (Malaysian currency, if you must know), shot using a Samsung Galaxy S II, and post-processed with Camera ZOOM FX.

My laptop has been sent in for a warranty claim, so this post was done entirely on my SGS2.

The Black-Billed Gull

Black-billed Gulls at the southern end of Lake Rotorua, New Zealand (at the Lakefront Reserve, accessible by car via Queens Drive)

Location: Lake Rotorua, New Zealand [S38 07.780 E176 15.828]

PhotoID: B_20110315_29076

The Blue Pool

More commonly referred to as the bluey because of its blue colours and in former times was used as a bathing pool. This large Pool collects outflows from the geysers. It is very alkaline and usually 30-40°C with a subterranean drainage into the Puarenga stream. Small mounds along the Northern and Western sides are the sinter - encrusted stumps of manuka trees (Leptospermum sp.) which once grew here.

Location: Te Puia, Rotorua, New Zealand [S38 09.822 E176 15.034]

PhotoID: B_20110315_29049