Celine and Scott

Second week in Osaka, and the heat has only mildly abated...After Nara we visited Yoshino with Michael, Jessica and the girls and played in the river before launching fireworks... Sumiyoshi Taisha temple was also a welcome fresh break even if we didn't get out of the bustle of the city. Obviously plenty of aikido is being done and the bodies are slowly growing accustomed to it...Still no pictures to show though, although there is a shodohai on Sunday, which Celine is taking part in so photos to follow... ... read more

Hi guys, this is the end of our little adventure, so we can no longer gloat and soak in hot spa baths! BUGGER! We ended the NZ odyssey in Auckland, pretty well a full circle. We went to Rangitoto Island, a marine volcanoe that sprung up 600 years ago just off the coast of Auckland. It's a weird place full of volcanic lava rock but also loads of flora which shouldn't be able to grow there!! Apparently lichen settled on the rock and then created a humus that other flora could grow on, gradually allowing for trees to grow there too. The NZ Pohutakawa "Xmas tree" was about to flower with bright red blooms just as we were leaving for the UK. From NZ we flew to Japan via Korea. Korea was snow laden which gave ... read more

We left Christchurch and its comfort behind us and headed onto Hanmer with Tim and Les who dropped us there on their way to Nelson. We saw, we walked, we cycled, we bathed, the end! Wish you'd been here! ;-))) Celine and Scott... read more

We left Nelson yesterday after having been to the geographic centre of NZ. This involved scampering up a hill and watching lots of kids having their picture taken by a Glaswegian!!!!! Then we left Nelson for Kaikoura arriving in the afternoon and pitching the tent. This morning we got up at silly O-clock (5am, yes, all you students it does exist)to go see some dolphins. We were not disappointed! The Dusky dolphins were not shy and played with about a dozen humans squeezed into black skins and flapping about ineptly, making strange babbling noises. Honestly we are the most intelligent animal! Celine and I watched from the deck. Explanation - Celine had already swum with the dolphins, and I figured if I snorkelled I'd have a coughing fit and scare all the dolphins away or drown, ... read more

From Bark Bay to Awaroa - a mere 5 hours hike!... read more