Back on the Coastal Pacific

From Kaikoura to Blenheim,
December 28th 2015

Luckily, it wasn't the lens of my glasses that cracked.
Luckily, only one handle broke, and it still could stand on my face firm enough.
Luckily, I still had a UV filter for my 72mm lens, although it cannot polarize.

Oh no. Why didn't I think of changing with my wide lens, which even had a Zeiss CPL filter to go with??
Oh no. When KiwiRail brings you dazzling views such as these, you barely can think.

Can you see the tunnel?

Clarence River

 

The green lush of New Zealand.

And the farm field, and the snow-capped mountain -- despite summer.

Hello, Aotearoa!

When we departed Kaikoura, the sky was grey. 

However, the audio announcement said,

"Prepare your camera, the sky will clear up. It's going to be a beautiful day."

It was.

Big Lagoon

Vineyards. Blenheim is near.

I couldn't wait for the experience walking through New Zealand vineyards.

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.

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.