Along the Coastal Pacific

From Christchurch to Kaikoura,
December 27th 2015

The viewing carriage.

Inside KiwiRail Scenic Journey's train.

Yay!

My summer-only Coastal Pacific KiwiRail is waiting for me!

I'm impressed by the idea of a hand-grip like this. It makes it convenient for one to move along the aisle, especially when the train is on the move. By holding on this hand-grip, you won't accidentally touch someone's head or mistakenly get someone's hair between your fingers. I hate it when my hair gets pulled like that. Similar idea was also applied in the tram in Christchurch, if you noticed that in my previous post.

From the cafeteria on board.

It's funny. Of which part of Indonesia? So unfamiliar.

I had been informed that sprinkles like this are computerized in order to ensure each area get the same amount of water.

Wherever you travel by road in New Zealand, either by car or by train, or by bike, you just got to believe that in New Zealand there are more sheep than people.

Hay for winter preparation?

Do you see those tiny white dots? Sheep again.

Waiau River

The nearer we got to Kaikoura, the greyer the sky.

Kids, and adults, flocked to the viewing carriage, to spot out fur seals.

Having had tens of encounters with fur seals last winter, I cared more for the rocks than the seals :D

Behind our train, the sky kept some blue hue still. But, phew. To be able to shoot, was lucky.

Forget about composition.

A photo posted by Shuni Vashti (@automidori) on Dec 26, 2015 at 2:00pm PST

 Stretching out my smartphone in the air, at last, I could make a decent shot :D

The last moments before the viewing carriage was locked,

before pulling over in Kaikoura.

Getty Beauty

I know, you know, all photos in this blog are copyrighted.
I know, you know, what copyrighted means.

However!
If you wish to license any, please search for
automidori's photos on Getty Images here.

Samples:

View image | gettyimages.com

View image | gettyimages.com

View image | gettyimages.com

View image | gettyimages.com

View image | gettyimages.com

View image | gettyimages.com

... some more others on Getty Images now

and  later,

after summer in NZ :)

Penguins are Blue

Christchurch, July 25th 2015

Due to bad building structure engineering added to guests banging their doors through the night till dawn, I didn't have a good night sleep at my hostel. However, the best thing was I just needed to cross the street and get on this free shuttle towards International Antarctic Centre which is just across Christchurch International Airport.

Highlight of International Antarctic Centre is the penguins. Hence, it's the penguins who get on top of their shuttle bus.

And, highlight of the penguins is the Blue Penguins, the world's smallest penguin weighing around 1 kg and standing just over 25 cm.

 Each penguin here are named, tagged, and known in person.

The current residents of International Arctic Centre.

Each of them have their biography.

The keepers know them by name and remembers well what each of them are going through.

Such as this little Korora, Maori's name for Blue Penguin. She has a problem with her throat. Therefore, the keeper has to open her mouth and put her food (fish) inside.

Those who can eat on their own are just impatient to get their share.

They are all blue. But each of them have their own personality.

That's not something written in my fantasy, I mind you. It's written in that biography list above and on some other pages hung on the wall.

There are those who love to swim more than anything.

There are those who are natural wanderers. Like me? :D

But there are also those prefer to be an observer.

Copying the information board:

The Little Blue Penguin is a dark steely blue colour across its head and back. It is white on the breast and stomach.

The counter-shaded plumage makes it difficult for both marine and aerial predators to see the penguin when they are in the sea. when viewed from under the water the penguin's white underbelly lends into the lighter background. When viewed from above their blue back is a perfect camouflage against the dark sea below.

When they shake, they are not cold, but warm.

"See you later! I'm off to swimming lessons."

TranzAlpine: Moana - Arthur's Pass

TranzAlpine, July 24th 2015

Saying goodbye to Lake Brunner.

Crooked River

Why didn't Thomas Brunner name this river after his as well? Uhm.

Lake Brunner Road, maybe.

I'm not sure if this was exactly that Lake Brunner Road, but TranzAlpine does run along Lake Brunner Rd., departs for awhile and meets again. After several lakes passed by, the road is still Lake Brunner Rd. Out of curiosity, I checked out the map, that road is approximately 32.9 km long. Uhm.

A house matching the mountain top :D

Do you know that trees do gossipp... too? Here's how they look when they do so.

Lake Poerua

Pardon me, I'm just fascinated by that long white glitter on Lake Poerua's surface.

 

Eye Lake... hahaha. No one said so. Looking at this photo from a distance, it looks like something (somebody?) seen from the side, wearing a cap. Ah. never mind.

I bet, that brown one is the bull. 

Taramakau River

Look! The pebbles are reddish too here. Trentepohlia algae.

A review of what I had learned in Arthur's Pass.

Running through Otira Tunnel under the Southern Alps, passengers were not allowed on the viewing carriage. Time for a little something.

My first ice cream in New Zealand.

 Frankly speaking, it's too sweet.

Lamb shanks.

This one was okay.

At Arthur's Pass a big group of tourists got on.

They were fashionable, outmatching the Kiwis.
They were loud.
Undoubtedly excited.

At Christchurch, a huge tourist bus was already waiting.
From my shuttle bus I heard,
"See you one day in J Town!"
(not in English).

A lady siting behind me sighed to her husband,
"Oh! Those kids! They were so noisy inside the carriage."

Sometimes, being abroad,
it's good to keep in mind:
I am a guest.