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Published: June 12th 2006
Ben and Melinda
Friends from turtle camp three years ago.This is mostly for fellow turtler Karen to see Ben hair...he looks quite Shakespearian now!Claire's Big Day out
Fed up of having no work I decided to make the most of my free time and finally get over to Dunedin, just about the last place i had on my list for visiting in NZ. So in to Frank i jumped and four hours later there i was! Once again i felt like the small town bumpkin as Dunedin is HUGE compared to QT. So many shops and people and over run by students! Wandered around the town centre for a while, for once really appreciating the architechture with more than just a bored glance, was great to see something with a bit of time behind it after living in such a new town. Then met my friends Melinda and Ben who i met on turtle camp three years ago. Was fantastic to see them again and we spent a lovely evening reminsing about turtle times and catching up on everything over a few glasses of wine.
Next day was an early start and we breakfasted over the bootiful sunrise before they left for work and exams i went for some more exploring of botanical gardens and mostly shut town (yes it was that
Start of Penguin Watch
Where are all the penguins at? early that the shops were still closed. it's just not natural to be get out of bed before 7!). Felt obliged to visit the steepest street in the world (said in ridiculous booming voice). Came away feeling rather unexcited, yes it was steep, wow wee, but seeing a large cumbersome van reversing up it with no problems kind of ruined the impressiveness!
Now my favourite part, after going month without being on a beach i finally got to the Otago pennisular and ran around in the sand feeling most at home and at peace with everything. I dont ever want to live away from the sea. Drove along some funky gravel roads firstly to sandfly bay, and secondly to Boulder beach. Hearing rumours that penguins frequented the area I wrapped up warm and prepared myself with an apple and a book to wait it out. After a few false alarms (seagulls and seaweed actually look a lot like penguins from a distance you know) and resorting to drawing a penuin to fill the time and so i could say i'd 'seen one' finally wooohoooo, up one surfed with a wave on to the beach! Waves are tricky things for
There's one!!
Ok i'll fess up it's a fake, know it fooled you though!was starting lose hope of seeing any of the little critters (after about 10 minutes of waiting it has to be said...) small guys though and he got washed back a couple of times before getting up, shaking off the water and wandering up the beach! Over the next hour 12 more of the knee high waddlers came in from a hard days fishing to go to bed in the sand dunes. Photos are quite far off but they came out quite well considering.i did try to get a closer viewing point and spotted a nice big pile of sea weed i was going to lie behind David Attenborough stylee, it turned out to be a very dead seal so i stayed put and watched the action from a far!
Feeling cold but very happy i started the drive home, after being mesmorised by the penguins for far too long it had got a little late so i slept out in Frank for the night by a nice big lake, the boy did me proud and we carried on the journey this morning to arrive home sweet hippo where Marc presented me with a present of fizzy champers (well close anyway) and two crackers to celebrate our 7 month anniversary of being on the road. Thanks guy! We've had many ups
REAL penguins!
I'm sure these little guys were playing hide and seeks.ahhhhh.
Left Penguin:99,98,97,96
Right Penguin: i'll just go over this sand dune he'll never find me!! and very occasional downs but you've been a fantastic travelling partner and sharing the trip with you has been an absolute pleasure dude. So many memories i'll keep forever. Hurrah for the marc and claire team!
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kazmondo
the most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious....................
That is some hair!!
Mate I see what you mean!! Wow that is some bouffant happening there - mullet de grande!! Ecuador rocks I don´t want to leave this place - I love it here. Any news on the plans de travelling. Hasta luego Kazmondo xXx