Spring Break, Part II

We eventually got to this place called Old MacDonald's Farm somewhere on the west coast. Pretty unexciting, especially since it appeared to be in the middle of nowhere when we arrived after sunset.


However.

Old MacDonald's Farm is located immediately next to Abel Tasman, one of New Zealand's biggest national parks.

This is what I skydived over. This is where Elana and I spent an entire day wandering around. This is, quite possibly, my new favorite place in New Zealand.

























Yep. These are all real. You're not imagining it.

The next day, we hopped back on the bus and continued south. We stopped at a shortish walk called Cape Foulwind, which sounded quite unpleasant. Again, however, New Zealand delivered.




Neverland!






This is a weka!






I am a long way from home. *sigh*



After the walk, we hopped back on the bus and caught a sunset over the west coast...





...and journeyed on.

Kia ora!

- Becky

Spring Break, Part I

I've been on an adventure for two weeks! I took several thousand photos, and pulled out about 200 to put on flickr. A few, of course, are going up here. I'll try to make this as painless as possible: minimal text, loads of photos.

(Be jealous.)

Elana and I took the Interislander Ferry from Wellington to Picton on Monday, the first day of our journey.

















When we got to Picton, we grabbed lunch with some other kids from our program and then hung around with Johnny in the park until his ride came.













(Johnny is also running a blog over at A Semester Abroad - check it out!)

Elana and I caught a Stray bus from Picton the next day and started our trek down the west coast.












I'll leave you here for the moment...next post: Abel Tasman!

Kia ora!

- Becky

I Fail At Warning You Of Things, Part II

Hi there, everyone!

I'm currently sitting in a cafe in Christchurch, at the tail end of a two-week bus tour around the south island. Probably should have posted two weeks ago that I was going to not post for two weeks. Um, oops.

BUT.

I will make up for this with pictures of some of the most gorgeous, amazing natural landscapes I have seen in my entire life (as soon as I get back to Wellington and unlimited wifi).

Also I went skydiving.

Kia ora!

- Becky

More Arty Things

No stories. Just pictures. Hah.





















The shells are all from Petone Beach, gathered on my field trip because I am a bad scientist and I take nature home in my pocket instead of just on my camera's memory card. Oops.

Kia ora!

- Becky

ESCI 202 Trip: Petone Wharf

On Sunday, the ESCI 202 class (Sedimentology & Palaeontology) took a field trip to Petone Wharf, a ways up the coast of the harbor north of Wellington, to look at waves and related ripple structures.

Unfortunately, the wind was heading offshore so the waves were negligible. It was still pretty though. I took pictures. Because, y'know, that's what I do: take lots and lots of pictures.





















If you're interested in the we-are-doing-geology aspect of the trip, rather than the look-New-Zealand-has-pretty-beaches aspect, send me a message or ask in the comments. Casual readers need not be bored with science. :P

Kia ora!

- Becky