back to the future

The promise of a free scarf for every season ticket holder was anticipated with a bit of trepedation - I suppose we're all used to getting it in the neck of these lot.

Surprisingly the scarfs were of a really high quality and the event seemed to do the trick.

The goal-induced scarf twirling celebrations were like something out of the 1930's, all that was missing were those old claxon rattle things.

the sleeping turtle

a sleepy turtle, a killer shark and the most dangerous beast of teh sea - the stingray!

The killer of poor old steve irwin this one looks pretty angry. Later on the trip, I'd come face to face with one while diving in Fiji. That was before the Irwin slaying and it would never have occured to me that they coule be dangerous.

The one I saw off Fiji was really playfull and seemingly harmless.

I was more concerned with looking out for sharks and when I cut my arm on some coral I would have beaten Ian thorpe's time with the speed I swam back to shore. Pinar says she's never seen anyone swim so fast but i wasn't taking any chances, the blood flowing behind me was like an invitation to jaws.

underwater world

A rainy day in Aukland and a trip to Kelly Tarlton's underwater world. It was a pretty good way to spend the afternoon and the penguin house was particularly cool. They had a good arctic exhibition as well, with all the stuff from Captain Scott's doomed trip.

back to nature

Despite our initial misgivings the midnight nature hike in NZ was a real experience.

Although the first half meant trekking through almost total darkness - and nearly falling into a river - it was all worth it.

If I had fallen into the pool I think the trout would have probably swallowed me whole they were so big.

The water was absolutely teaming with them and we also saw loads of fireflies.

I went in short sleves enjoying the mild antipodian night, much to the amusment of the Australians and Californians with us who were wrapped up like Scott of the Arctic in what they thought were freezing conditions.

The climax of the tip was getting to see the Kiwis. Apparently they're very rare now, especially on the North Island and I have to say they are one of the strangest looking animals I've ever seen. They make some crazy noises as well. Hopefully they won't go the way of the moa as they only have models of that left.

the locals....

Mauris in a Canoe and doing a war dance.....Looking at the pictures now it seems horribly touristry and colonial but it didn't feel like that doing it. In fact we were getting right into it and from their part there's a whole industry that keeps the culture (and coffers) alive.

The place was out in the sticks but they had it done out brilliantly - we were well impressed and they certainly made their money out of us. You have to take it with a bit of humour though - I especially enjoyed their response to an American who asked if they still have to hunt for food.

Day of exploring

IMG_1209, originally uploaded by rosswigham.

While Ross was slaving over a hot stove I ventured out to sterling Castle.

I even got the audio guide and went round the castle having a great time.

This is the throne of Posh and Becks....no I mean Mary Queen of Scots!

The other pictures from scotland are here too, if you click on the picture.

Port of Menteith

IMG_1202, originally uploaded by rosswigham.

This week took us up to Scotland, so that I could make use of my birthday present at the cook school.

We spent the night before at a hotel in Loch Lomand and then I went off into the unknown for my Nick Nairn cooking lesson (should I take that as a hint? - it will be housework lessons next.)

Thankfully he didn't use the Gordon Ramsey school of of teaching and I didn'get sworn at all day. I'll never snigger watching one of his programmes again - cooking in a big pro kitchen is hot, sweaty, complicated and stressfull!

All in all though it was a really good day and my food turned out okay as well.

BBQ pit

A traditional Mauri BBQ or Hangi where all the food is buried underground and cooked by the warm stones.

This bit is right at the end of the process where they dig it all up.

Very nice.

Waterworks

Much of New Zealand is powered by this Hydro-electric projct we saw on the way down South.

A dam forces a natural river down a a series of massive rapids to get power through turbines.

Seems a really clean way to get power, although this year they were getting really worried because of the lack of rain.

The water below this bridge was runnning faster and more violently than any river I've ever seen. Good job Pinar didn't fall in.

Lake Taupo

After a long and really enjoyable drive in the trusty fiesta rental we got to lake Taupo in pretty much the centre of the North Island.

It provided one of the wierdest sights of the trip because the edge of the lake is an outlet for some hot springs, while behind you can see the snow topped mountains. Even though it's a pretty popular tourist destination it was almost deserted when we went so it made for a good full-day. Apart from a crazy woman in a kanoe we hardly saw anyone at all. The water at the edge was really hot, but deeper was much colder.

The lake is ringed by some really amazing houses, where you could literally open your back door and step out into the lake.

Hot and cold

Here's where the hot water from the underground springs meets the cold water in the lake.

The Lost world

New Zealand is used for loads of film locations now, because they can provide almost any kind of scene - countryside, coastline, forests, lakes, mountains........

From the air you can see how the volcanos have shaped the landscape. The hills and forests just seem to go on and on - the little island on the right hand picture is an ancient mauri burial ground.