Wellington coast, etc. I sent you a public comment but am not sure it made it through because of some message from TravelBlog that I got and blah, blah, blah. So, only choose one of this one or that one to include on blog.
I love your photograph of the gorgeous Wellington coastline and I am wondering if the road I see in the photo is the main road on the coast (similar to our Highway 1).
Also, I am fascinated by the eel living such a long life. I read on Wikipedia that the male Longfin eel of New Zealand can live up to 34 years and the female can live up to 47 years. I was also interested in your telling us the eels live up in the mountain areas.
Wikipedia: "The larvae drift on the ocean currents and eventually reach coastal waters, where they metamorphose into elvers (tiny, semi-transparent eels). From there, they migrate upstream, traversing numerous obstacles if necessary, leaving the water and travelling short distances over moist ground. They are well fitted to this task, being able to absorb 50% of the oxygen they need through the skin. Eventually, they take up residence in a lake, swamp, dam or river, typically occupying a home range of about 400 m in length, where they remain until they reach maturity ... remarkably hardy: they can tolerate high water temperatures and low oxygen concentrations, endure long periods without food, and bury themselves in mud or sand and enter an energy-saving torpor when the water temperature drops below 10 °C.
New Zealand longfin eels make excellent eating. For the M?ori people of New Zealand, starved of protein after the extinction of New Zealand megafauna, the New Zealand longfin eel was a significant food resource. Present-day recreational anglers catch and eat them regularly, and New Zealand has a well-established commercial eel fishery."
You and Paul have adapted to this life of opening your minds to learn about the nature of the physical world and that of other cultures. I hope this becomes a habit for your lifetime and you work to help the world be a healthy place to live for everyone.
We love your blogs and check often to follow you.
Love, Mom
Have you figured out the accent yet? Dan,
Okay, okay, the not too distant memories of NZ are flooding back with every blog entry. I think that somehow I may have been a Kiwi in a distant life and that I might end up there again someday. One of the most important things you have to remember is that no matter how nice and friendly the Kiwis are, please don't mistake their accent for that of an Aussie. Can you discern yet between the two? I was glad that we spent a month in Australia before going to NZ, so I had some sense of the subtle and not so subtle differences with certain pronunciations and words. Are there any peculiar words or phrases you have noticed yet in your conversations with the Kiwis? It sounds like you are taking in all NZ has to offer and I am sure you realize there is still much more to come. Take it all in and keep on writing to us! Much love, Uncle B
Well, good (as your grandad would say) By looking at the roots that are left over I can tell the seemingly small area was difficult to clear. How many hours did you put in and how big is the area? Is the fence a property line? Looks like there is a lot more to clear. Seems like it would be nice if you and Paul would stay a little longer to help out. How much is remaining to clear?
Love, Mom
Compatriot Park So, here is what Bud wrote back to my query:
Nope, not what I meant! In 1832 the US set aside Hot
Springs, AKansas, as a permanent preserve. Squattors
moved in and took over the place anyhow, and when the
War Between the States rousted the residents of this
government reserve, a new set of squattors arrived
after the war to take over. By 1870 the two packs of
squattors squabbled over the reserve of the hot
springs, and the case landed in court. Meanwhile,
observing all this hub over the hot springs, a second
hot springs reserve emerged, known as Yellowstone,
The US Cavalry was sent to patrol both camps,
Yellowstone, WY, and Hot Springs, AK. A kindred hot
springs in New Zealand was set aside about 1870.
From these events are the birth place of the national
park concept and the national parks.
By the way, Hot Springs AK was the location of the
first Army/Navy Hospital (Veteran's Hospital) after
the Civil War, and up to 1940 the superintendents of
Hot Springs were always MD's.
New Zealand's park system (hot springs) has its roots
in Hot Springs AK, reserved by federal statute in
1832, having been a copy of the preservation.
However, I forget the name of New Zealand NP with
these intertwining roots
Mom here: I'm trying to find the name via internet research. The following is some research so far but I'll keep looking:
from Wikipedia:
There are hot springs on all continents and in many countries around the world. Countries that are renowned for their hot springs include Iceland, New Zealand, Chile and Japan.
Go to this website to see a photo of macaques (a type of monkey) enjoying hot springs in Ngano. Enlarge the photo by clicking on lower right corner of it. http://www.answers.com/topic/hot-spring
Kamchatka, New Zealand has scenic geysers (like Yellowstone).
pull those weeds, monkey, pull them good. hope you guys are doing ok, how cold is it there? are you freezing your arse's off? 56k modems are no excuse for an obvious lack of photographic talent. i want to hear more about wwoofing, considering i'll be doing it with people that probably won't speak english (that's what she said).
crazy tree My friend Mike says he spoke with some folks about this tree. They are 80 percent sure it is one tree and got cut off at the trunk and continued to grow multi-branches. He said it's pretty crazy to see a tree that has been cut off like that and survive.
Mom
Tongariro National Park? Perhaps this is the park Bud is referring to.
Wikipedia says: "To prevent exploitation of the mountains by European immigrants, Te Heuheu Tukino IV (Horonuku), the most significant chief of the Mori Ngati Tuwharetoa iwi (or clan), gifted the heart of the current national park, consisting of the peaks of Mount Tongariro, Mount Ngauruhoe, and parts of Mount Ruapehu, to The Crown on September 23, 1887, on condition that a protected area was established there. This 26.4 km² area was generally considered to be too small to establish a national park after the model of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming (USA), and so further areas were bought."
Your words are pictures Dearest Danny,
Your words paint the pictures. I've already seen where you are and what you are doing. Don't take too much time or money worrying about downloading photos.
My concern: lilacs are weeds in NZ? They happen to be one of my favorite flowers. When you said "that doesn't look right" perhaps you meant the spelling didn't look correct, so perhaps the weed is actually not a "lilac." Find out, would ya!
I smiled while reading how hard you both worked. That is so healthy for you.
Your journey sounds fulfilling.
I can't wait to hear from you again.
Love, Mom
Daniel! ; P'''' Hello!!! it looks like you are having lots of fun!!!! I like the pics you post...I bet you have like 100 more lol can't wait to see them when you get back (you're good at doin that kind of stuff) Anywho hope you are well :) oh and....................*POKE* Ha!!!! take that!!!! lol
Have a good day!!!!!
*Kisses*
~lisa
This is the official blog by me, Daniel Neal. All others claiming to be Daniel Neal are frauds and should be prosecuted in a court of law immediately! I will be travelling around Earth for the next 5 months from October 16th, 2007 to March 11th, 2008, with my friends Kamberly and Pauliwog (not exactly their real names). We will be travelling to Middle Earth for 2 months, aka New Zealand, which is actually closer to Antarctica than I was expecting so I will need to pack some warmer clothes. Australia for 2 weeks, where my aunt and uncle brought back one of the funnies... full info
MOM
non-member comment
Wellington coast, etc.
I sent you a public comment but am not sure it made it through because of some message from TravelBlog that I got and blah, blah, blah. So, only choose one of this one or that one to include on blog. I love your photograph of the gorgeous Wellington coastline and I am wondering if the road I see in the photo is the main road on the coast (similar to our Highway 1). Also, I am fascinated by the eel living such a long life. I read on Wikipedia that the male Longfin eel of New Zealand can live up to 34 years and the female can live up to 47 years. I was also interested in your telling us the eels live up in the mountain areas. Wikipedia: "The larvae drift on the ocean currents and eventually reach coastal waters, where they metamorphose into elvers (tiny, semi-transparent eels). From there, they migrate upstream, traversing numerous obstacles if necessary, leaving the water and travelling short distances over moist ground. They are well fitted to this task, being able to absorb 50% of the oxygen they need through the skin. Eventually, they take up residence in a lake, swamp, dam or river, typically occupying a home range of about 400 m in length, where they remain until they reach maturity ... remarkably hardy: they can tolerate high water temperatures and low oxygen concentrations, endure long periods without food, and bury themselves in mud or sand and enter an energy-saving torpor when the water temperature drops below 10 °C. New Zealand longfin eels make excellent eating. For the M?ori people of New Zealand, starved of protein after the extinction of New Zealand megafauna, the New Zealand longfin eel was a significant food resource. Present-day recreational anglers catch and eat them regularly, and New Zealand has a well-established commercial eel fishery." You and Paul have adapted to this life of opening your minds to learn about the nature of the physical world and that of other cultures. I hope this becomes a habit for your lifetime and you work to help the world be a healthy place to live for everyone. We love your blogs and check often to follow you. Love, Mom