Funny Tombstone Decorations

Weekend in the Milford Sounds

Due to a long weekend holiday to commemorate the anniversary of the province of Otago, a shining sun and 2 days off after a few days of training have created the ideal time to discover the surrounding fjords. It took 4 hours drive to reach one of the wonders of the country. The long road passes through valleys and desert sometimes broad, sometimes dense vegetation or hemmed by mountains whose peaks rise steeply. You do not get tired of the road leading us to fjords deemed to be even more beautiful in the rain. By bad luck - or accidentally from the point of view - the sun never stops shine and dazzling peaks and cliffs plunging into the oily waters of the Tasman Sea. The landscape is quite exceptional.

Our late arrival confronts us with the light fading of the day playing behind the dark masses of rocks. We feel humbled by the extent of water and breathtaking mountains. We will explore the ancient glacial valley kayak away from boats sailing without stopping in fjords and at a much more "earthy" than dozens of planes or helicopters circling around the place. Hand or in fresh water or on the paddle, I forget to row to better admire the view, enjoy the tranquility and magnificence of the place and recharge my busy days in recent weeks. The boat glides gently on the water (thanks to my galley I must say!), Approaching sea lions, dolphins move to the left, grazes the steep cliffs, walks under a waterfall slows to stargazing sea or to capture a photo of this fantastic place. A few hours sailing give us a good overview of the place and we can take time to enjoy the exploration. It is likely that I go back, probably more present in the clouds or driving rain. It is said that thanks to the weather, water dripping from the cliffs created impressive waterfalls and the mist and clouds mystify the table. I will have the opportunity to compare the landscape and decide if the visitor is lucky in the rain or sun!

Kew Garden Court House Number

Installation

For more than 10 days now that I put my bag in Queenstown, the town where New Zealanders advised not to stay as too touristy, too commercial, too busy, too expensive. While the business opportunities are plentiful, and competition among providers is fierce, bungee jumping, jet boating in rivers, parachuting, paragliding and other para-, cruises, kayaking, rafting, etc. etc.. Queenstown, adventure sports capital, a city of extremes. The streets are filled with pictures of tourists posing in front of a statue of Kiwi giant ice or sipping their vast Patagonia, the price of bread or milk is beyond comprehension and bars and night clubs never close. Here one sees neither elderly nor nursing home! Maybe this is not the real New Zealand that we experience here because the real estate and tourism development in Europe and encountered more than local Australian. But the young atmosphere of the city and the magnificent mountains that surround it are in place to spend a winter to remember. 3 ski resorts nearby, beautiful lakes around, hiking to heights overlooking the whole massif, charming villages a few kilometers or Fjord at 4am to discover the road. The place can certainly displeasing but despite the commercial side, the place is magical and unique.

A good job in hand, I'm ready to face the arrival of autumn and winter and enjoy the last rays of sun on the pebble beach bordering the lake. Soon the trees along the lake dye to form a picturesque scene. The first flakes of snow have already fallen and milled few peaks. The icy wind gave an overview of what will be here in winter: cold and wet. But I hope to be able to comfort me over a cup of hot chocolate while admiring the lake surrounded by the snowy mountains and thinking of you sunbathing on the beaches of the Landes (nod to my dear reader).

How To Build Small Film Sets

Queenstown Ice ...

The road west and then over a pass requires braving the clouds and rain to see the magnificent vistas of the West Coast. So with the k-ways and the umbrella as we prepare to go to the other side ... Approaching the famous saddle between the South Island in 2 opposite sides - Western underwater and Eastern under the sun, the sky is in charge, the rain threat, then at the top where the view would be wonderful, a few drops fall. Then back down by our greatest opportunity, the sun makes us pretty surprised to accompany us for some wonderful days exploring the coast of the wettest countries! In

southbound successive huge beaches whose only inhabitants are dried tree trunks stranded mountains whose summits are covered with snow, dense forests of tree ferns and other species worthy of populating the thickest jungles. Soon we arrive in the region the most accessible glaciers in the world. The Franz Joseph and Fox Glacier descend to an altitude of 300m, all that effort is not insurmountable for us to approach. Security measures prevent us from advancing to the point of touch, but never mind, it is impressive too far! Later, away little by little, the view expands to the entire Alps, and even Mount Cook unfolds and offers us the gift to be admired in a sky of perfect blue !
The next morning, along a short stroll around a lake, reflections on the water of the surrounding peaks make it a picture postcard.
The road then leads us still further south, this time to reach the lakes. Queenstown is the ideal place to rest a few bites of Sandfly (sand fly that has something to cripple the ankle a few days less sensitive) and recharge the batteries a little to start over again to other beautiful landscapes!