So what's happening? (part 1 of 2)

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Pukekohe
November 20th 2013

Published: December 2nd 2013

Alright, a quick update so that my parents have their fears I might be destitute, or have driven off some road, allayed. And hey, maybe an update so my friends don't forget I still exist, somewhere on the other side of the planet :P So after working near Tauranga, and after some spending of money in awesome locations with awesome people (like in Coromandel, maybe I'll post about it later)... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 28, Displayed: 21

Lava caves 2

Speaking of roots growing down: lava tubes are basically lava flows which cool down and solidify on the outside, but through which lava keeps flowing, perhaps even flowing out of the 'tube'. The crust isn't always super thick, and parts of this tube have collapsed, allowing these roots to grow inside. Majestic effect.

Lava caves 3

This is the view upwards from the 'cave/tube-in'.

Lava caves 4

And here's me taking a relaxed pose

Scoria 4

The path to the summit is rife with scoria patches. In the Netherlands it's an expensive ornamental material for the garden; in Auckland they build walls with it because it's so common. Local uni has a nice one btw.

Pohutukawa 2

Pohutukawa is also called the 'New Zealand Christmas Tree', because it's in full (red) bloom in december (though not too bad in the months leading up to it!), which is the local peak of summer of course.

Pohutukawa 3

This is what a nice P. tree looks like. I was kind of dissapointed only a small part of the trees were actually flowering, but hey, it was pretty nice trip I had to do before leaving Auckland anyway!

Bumped head

In the lava caves I went into, the ceiling went lower and lower. At one point, I didn't see a rock coming with my crappy phone light. For a while I feared a concussion, as I was bleeding for a while, and had headache+nausea+slight trouble with thinkingspelling. It went away though, luckily. Oh yeah, also showing off my blonde eye brows. Très bizarre.

2nd December 2013

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Auckland is a beautiful city
We'd love to visit again.

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So what's happening? (part 1 of 2)

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