Look Directly Into It

I wanted to post a photograph today that would show you how amazing the weather was this weekend on Mt. Ruapehu. There was not a cloud in the sky on Saturday (until the end of the day when all of the sudden they seemed to pop out behind us while we were on the chairlift) and only a soft blanket of clouds hovering by the lower mountains on Sunday. Though the composition in this image could be better, I like it because it shows how powerfully birght the sun was and how beautiful the snow was. I know photos don't do justice to the actual expierence - standing on ice with a pair of two by four's strapped to your feet while the wind hurls itself at you - but, I hope you can still see how amazing it is.

Blessed

Sorry for not updating this weekend, but on Friday I left for Mt. Ruapehu for the weekend. I can't believe I just went skiing in August. I will give you more details tomorrow, but for now my bones and muscles need some much needed recuperation... time for sleep.

Mirror

Tired of landscapes yet? This is another "stop the car!" image taken on the way from Rotorua to the Waitomo caves.

Who Wants To Move?

I took this photo while walking along a road on Waiheke Island. I went there last weekend on a day trip with some friends. It was beautiful weather for most of the morning and with the help of the local isite, we figured out a plan for the day. We got a bus and got off by a community market that was selling everything from snow cones, to fresh produce, to old clothes. Then we hopped back on the bus and headed on a bushwalk to a beach to see some Dotterels (not our original plan, but we got off on the wrong stop and someone told us it was a cool place to go). It started raining while we were on the beach, so we found a path started walking back to the road. We caught another bus and went to an olive oil tasting at Rangihoua Estates. They were really nice and it was interesting to learn about making olive oil and absolutely wonderful to taste the different kinds. After that we headed back to Auckland on the ferry - of course everyone was passed out for the whole 30 minute ride back to Auckland. It was a great day full of beautiful sights like this one. It seriously made me want to reconsider moving anywhere but here after college.

What an inspiring woman: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8182658.stm

Jump In

Yet another photo from Rotorua. This one is from the geothermal park Wai-O-Tapu. Nothing too special about this image, but I like the way the blue waters contrast with the orange all around it and the way the steam is engulfing the viewpoint above it (in the trees). Well, I am off to class, but hopefully I'll get a chance to write more later... if not, I know you can wait until tomorrow.

Sail On

I'll continue to post photos from Rotorua, but today I decided to post a photo of Auckland. This weekend I took a ferry to Waiheke Island with some friends. It was a wonderful day full of randomness, bush walking, sunshine, rain, laughs, and some really nice and helpful kiwis. I took this photo from the ferry. If you remember my first post from New Zealand, then you'll remember that Auckland's nickname is the "City of Sails." There were so many sail boats out on this beautiful morning it was clear where the name came from.

They sure don't make criminals like they used to: Vintage Mug Shots

Never Know

This was one of those photos for which I made the car stop. I saw a path on the side of the road and made the car stop so we could go see what it led to (I knew we were close to the river, so I already had somewhat of an idea). It was short and didn't really lead to much, but it did gives us beautiful views of the river with steam coming off of it. The photographs I took don't really do the views justice, but I hope you can still kind of see the mist on top of the water.