The dolphins greeted me a happy birthday :-)

We decided to take the ferry and go to Somes Island, where all we saw were birds. On our way back to the Wellington harbor (Queens Wharf), we saw a school of dolphins from afar. The captain stirred the boat a little bit towards the dolphins and the dolphins also came towards us, swimming around the boat for a while, and swimming up and down. It was really exciting and fun!!! :-)

Guy Fawkes day

Guy Fawkes day - The only holiday where fireworks is allowed here in New Zealand. Not even New Year. Just during the weekend that Guy Fawkes day fall on.

Rotorua Swoop

Over the weekend, me, Dar and my sister Jaz went to Rotorua (about 6 hour drive from Wellington). One of the activities we did is the Swoop. We were put in like a sleeping bag harness and raised to a height of 40 meters slowly. Then when we were up there, the guy below counted to up 3 and I pulled the ripcord which then released us from the hold and down we went shouting like crazy!! It was scary but lots of fun!! I really wanted to bungy jump ever since and I prefer doing the ones where you jumped on the bridge (lol), but after doing the Swoop, I'm not sure anymore... coz I find this pretty scary already!! It's heart pumping adrenaline rush experience and really fun especially if you do it with people close to you!! Too bad Dar had to be in the middle (so the weight would be distributed evenly) and he's too tall and he blocked me in almost all the shots. :c

Island Bay

Dar and I moved to our new flat in Island Bay last month. The area is really nice - close to the sea, quiet and peaceful. We've had enough city life (where we last live in - right in the middle of town) and the previous apartment was becoming too small for both of us (studio type).

Here, Dar and I would sometimes go out and take a stroll along the shore/bay or just sit down along the beach, chill, and watch the sun set.

Red Rocks Reserve + Seal Coast adventure

Dar and I (for a change) got up early in the morning (early for us is at around 11) and went out to go the famous red rocks and seal coast. The tour would normally cost $79 per head but I thought if we could just get hold of a map of where the place is actually at, we could just go there ourselves. I googled and found this map which is good enough because we live really close to Owhiro bay.

When we got there, at the end of Owhiro bay, there were already a few cars parked and at the very end, a sign saying only four-wheel drive can enter. We only have a Honda CRV, which Dar said was only a mini-RV and he didn't want to risk it since we don't really know what the terrain will be. So we just left our car at the bay and decided to walk. We thought that the walk would just be okay and at every turns we made around the mountain we thought we're going to see some seals already. After walking and walking, we decided to stop and eat. Then got up and walked and walked and walked, and finally got to the Red Rocks Reserve.

Still, no seals to see so we walked further more. Walk and walk and walk. Since we were already there, there was no point in turning back. After walking for an hour, we finally got to this point of the course:

And after walking past that mark, we were finally at the seal coast and we weren't disappointed! We didn't see not just 1 seal or 2, but lots of them, camouflaged among the rocks, just lying around.


After taking some pictures and resting for a while, we walked back again for another hour. Next time we'll take the CRV after seeing the terrain and after seeing a couple of cars that are not really 4WD (what damage they did to their car) and maybe just take it even for only half of the course so we won't walk as far. Hehe..

The walk from the start (at the end of Owhiro bay) up to the seal coast is around 3 km (1 hour of average walking). Then going back, so a total of 6 km and 2 hours of walking. If you're really a fit person, then that's nothing I guess. A good exercise for the average person. A really, really long walk for those who don't get any kind of exercise at all. If you're a biker, then you can bring your motocross bike or mountain bike and go back and forth the terrain (like what other people do).

More pics here.

Darwin's Work Permit came out

Yey!!! We're soooo happy!!!!

Hopefully he'll find a job soon... hahahahahha!!!!!

Wellington

Driving around Wellington...

We were looking for Lyall bay but ended up here in Island bay...

The beach at your front:

...the mountain behind you:

and the ground we stood on:

Driving on...

The Motorway - 105 km/hr

Mt. Victoria lookout!!

Yeah this is what Wellington looks like, somewhat like Baguio!!

Oriental Bay, Wellington

Around 15 minute walk from my place, if you just want to stroll and think. Quite peaceful and away from the city noise.

Around town at night

One night, I decided to bring Darwin's camera and practice my DSLR knowledge (if any, lol). I also played around with the photos in iPhoto. Really no-brainer software and can make some nice/decent effects and a little manipulation with the colors. :)

At Manners mall

At Courtenay Place

Cuba street

A little peek at what Wellington Central, New Zealand looks like.

Trip to Wellington Zoo

Last July 21, after picking up my Harry Potter book from the bookstore, Darwin and I decided to visit the Wellington Zoo and see some of his family there. Entrance fee is $15 per person. Kinda pricey but I guess worth it if we also pay the same amount to watch a movie. Some of the animals we saw:




Kinda disappointed though because they are renovating some parts of the zoo and I'm not sure what we missed. More info on Wellington Zoo here.

More Wellington Zoo pics on my Multiply and Flickr.

Gingerbread Haka

Hahaha!!! I saw this on the news this week or last. Anyhoo, I just find it so cute!!! It's an ad for the NZ Bakery of the Year Award.

As this is the only Haka (All Blacks) I see most of the time during rugby season: