Northern [Windows] Explorer

From National Park to Wellington,
July 16th 2015

"The Station Cafe" and "National Park Station" 2 in 1.

 Among the many trains stations I have been to, in several countries, this one is my coolest 

-- both, in concept and in design.

The other side of the cafe / the station.

Back to grey, back to rain.

Northern Explorer by KiwiRail.

My long-dreamed train journey has come true. If ever I go to New Zealand, I should ride on KiwiRail's Scenic Journey, I promised myself. How did I come to know about KiwiRail? Thanks to Asanti Astari, author of Scandinavian Explorer, who shared her photos on Facebook. And, thanks to Antin Sambodo for introducing me to "Scandinavian Explorer" which brought me to find more about the other. So, how did I get on KiwiRail? That's another story alone. A bird is never of its own feathers.

A bridge in a very distance among the dense green (winter) of New Zealand.

 
I was constantly fighting -- in vain -- against the reflection on my window seat while from my headphone I followed a remarkable commentary. I checked out the viewing deck which is not glass covered, but the commentary couldn't be heard from there. Hence, the title of this post "Northern [Windows] Explorer".

Next stop after National Park: Ohakune.

Yippee... blue is coming back.

 

All those white little dots are sheep, NZ's number one resident I suppose.

 

 

 

 

Maybe, it would have been a better shot if I had taken this from the viewing deck.

 

What a disturbing reflection. Sorry about that.