Kaukapakapa visit
Today took us out to Kaukapakapa visiting a venue with family. Arriving early gave us time for a stroll around the little township, and to the above paddock where cows look to live in the slanty building. A nice day considering the time of year.
Sail Away
Archive shots from Easter several years ago.
Phoenix Drink
Busy day. Refreshment time.
Alongside the Waikato
Work necessitated my travel south from Auckland to Hamilton City today. With a bit of a sore back, I took a few mini stops in the ~150km journey. What has since turned into a wet and forecast windy evening, was a beautiful golden morning.
I was shooting with a borrowed, semi broken Samsung NX10. The main LCD has cracked and does not function, but the ovf still works. Linked with my old Ricoh 50mm lens, it looks like a really nice kit – I only wish the ovf was a little larger, or offered some form of manual lens assistance like my Nex does. Still, some ok images from an otherwise potentially binned mirrorless camera.
Town via Sea
Old archive shot for today
Farewell Thailand
So our time had come to an end. The Holiday was over. As mentioned yesterday, we got up before the crack of dawn and began our journey home. After the initial travels, we found ourselves on a plane to Thailand. I followed with interest as the plane made a 360 turn in the middle of the ocean, and then later was notified as we went further North to wait for our landing opening (they never mentioned the full circle!?)
With time to kill (3-4 hours) I endlessly wandered Bangkok airport. As far as airports go, its a pretty nice one. Stretching for seemingly miles, outside is decorated with various giant model/display areas. The architecture reminds me of the framing I made in old balsa planes (all skeleton like).
And then we were in the air. Our last Thailand Sunset. We’d been up for around 14-15 hours at this point. Being I dont sleep on planes, and we had ~12 hours to go in the air (and a stop at Australia yet), I prepared for a long day.
Landing back in Auckland, New Zealand was both a nice feeling, and a bump back to reality. I’d been awake about a day and a half, most of the time spent sitting in a plane, followed by sitting in a van, followed by sitting in airports. It took a few days to actually ‘land’. Here we are landing in NZ…The photo actually makes me look better than I felt!
And thats Thailand!
Ive got a few novelty pictures yet to post, but the travel novel’s over.
Catch you tomorrow.
The 99th ANZAC Year
Today marks the 99th ANZAC day anniversary. Its a day where New Zealanders and Australians respect and remember those who have fallen in battle/war, giving up their lives, so we could live ours. The date itself marks the anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers – the Anzacs – on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915.
Ive attended the dawn service for ANZAC day in my home town for years now. I think as I age each year, the day feels like it means more to me. Unlike many other public holidays that celebrate something, this one is more emotional. No one celebrates those who fall in war. We remember them. Giving ones life is the ultimate sacrifice.
When the First World War hit, New Zealand had a population of just over one million. About 120,000 of our men enlisted and went to battle. Of that 120,000 almost half were casualties of war – be it wounded or killed. Many never returned, and remain in the various unmarked graves around the battle fields of the world. For such a small population, we took a big hit.
Attending the service this morning, I walked away reflective and with a sense of emotion remembering the fallen.
I also walked away a little angry and offended. Why? – technology. A number (a very small percentage – but noticeable enough) of people either took phone calls, or failed to silence ringing phones once the service begun. A number (same percentage comment again) of children/young adults were permitted by their parents to play their digital device (pick your favourite), and play it with sound even. Im not quite at the stage of being a grumpy old man (grumpy young man?), but seriously, I found it really disrespectful. The closest example I could give is someone using their phone or playing games when one attends a funeral service – thats never ok.
Said people aside, it was a great and well attended ceremony. Being essentially a 5am start, New Zealand (and other places) holds a number of ceremonies at different times, and in all main cities, towns and suburbs. Next year marks 100 years. Its going to be big. I just hope people bring along their respect.
Back to more Thailand tomorrow!
Lest We Forget
Edge of the Groves
iPod gen 5 + PhotoToaster
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