Lmst

No exit before Tasmania

When the Europeans started exploring Aotearoa, they obviously had seen a lot in a short time. And they were running out of names of some grandeur.

So James Cook had a bad weather day, and we got Cape Foulwind in 1770. We can presume the weather on the westernmost point in South Island was challenging back in the days too. But the European man who saw this area first, the dutch captain Abel Tasman, called the cape Rocky Point in 1642. Not that exciting, really.

But Tasman won the more important namegiving. The nation we now call New Zealand in English, get its name from a small province under sea level in Europe. The Dutch province of Zeeland, litterary Sea Land, is not an obvious suitable namesake to a mountainous chain of islands with the second best fiord landscape in the world.

Exciting area, crickets

The old mining town of Westport is a useful base for exploring this area. Being of architectural interest itself, the sea, land and mountains nesrby carries views and sights worth a closer look. Like a fur seal colony, hiking tracks along the West coast, beaches, sea and wind!

And a very loud cricket concerts by sunset at the Cape Foulwind Lighthouse!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Foulwind

#tasmania #westport #westcoast #southisland #aotearoa #abeltasman #zeeland #newzealand #New #Zealand #kiwi #foulwind #sea #roadtrip #2016CE #tasmaniansea #mobile #LGG4 #LG #G4 #smartphone #sun #trekking #hiking #farmland #furseal #seal #wave #CapeFoulwind #Lighthouse

Photo shows a pebble beach in a half moon bay with deep blue waves in rows coming in from the deep blue sea to the right. And in the background behind a rocky outcrop forming a barrier north of the bay, the blue sea is stretching far into a cloudy horizon in the distance. A steep ridge is raising up from the beach, forming a hard to climb rocky barrier towards the inland. On top of this barrier there is a rich growth of coastal flora of bushes, turf, grass, flowers and some low, windswept trees. At the far end of the cliff a lighthouse is visible at the west cape outcrop. It is white, with roofs and details in the building painted red. Some small houses and buildings nearby are the home of the guardian/operator of the lighthouse. Even if the background cloud over the sea is overcast, the bay and land area are bathed in sharp sunlight just before it changes to warmer sunset colours.

How to get away from Cape Foulwind
With a name like Cape Foulwind, you may understand why you want to get away. And how far you must go.
Here the Europeans, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, anchored in Aotearoa (and later naming it New Zealand), for the first time in 1642. The weather was probably good, and he called the outcrop Cliff Rock.
Then the English Captain James Cook found this place in 1770 under probably worse conditions. He named it Cape Foulwind. Since the English won the competition of ruling Aotearoa, the name stuck.

Signs, and what to do
This signpost is close to the fur seal colony in Tauranga Bay, on a windy, salty and fresh spot to get a good outlook of the area. On this track going south from Cape Foulwind Lighthouse there are stiff cliffs down to pebble beaches and the Tasman Sea, and low rolling hills towards the mountains in east.
This area is a nice spot to stop, relax and enjoy the outlook and beach, especially if you are a surfer. Or hike along the trails and exhibit some coastal flora and fauna of the West Coast Region in South Island. And some fresh, varying weather conditions.
Included an old, secluded track-and-bowl-system near the lighthouse.
The seal colony is well protected, but easy observable from a safe distance from the walking track. The closest town is Westport, and they have all necessary amenities from lodging to food, drinks and hiking equipment.

https://westcoast.co.nz/visit/operators/cape-foulwind-walkway/

#2016CE #20mm #Aotearoa #AotearoaNewZealand #beach #bluesky #CapeFoulwind #D800 #green #Kiwi #kiwiexperience #newnewzealand #Nikkor #Nikon #NikonD800 #nz #westcoast #roadtrip #sea #SealColony #signpost #southisland #sun #tasman #tasmansea #TeWaipounamu #visitnewzealand #westport #cliff #countryside #dangerous #europeanfirst #heavyweather #Trekking #westport

Photo shows a signpost placed in a coastal landscape with bushes, gras and other greenery plants typical for New Zealand in the lower background. The signs point to places a long distance from this spot, like London 16 266 km, Sydney 1719 km and Zurich 16 093 km and local cities like Christchurch 190 km and Dunedin 397 km. The pole is solid fasten in a concrete flat area, with a walkway leading off to the right. The upper background is a lightly clouded blue sky.

Unfinished business resulting in a Clock Tower
Mining demise gave Westport its municipal Clock Tower
Out west at Westport, South Island, New Zealand, this fantastic building symbolizes ambitions for a mining boomtown and the sudden demise when history turns.
It is like a story of the Wild West, 50 years later and 11500 kilometres southwest of the more well-known stories from the western US.
Optimism and recession
Planned in the 1930 and built during the Pacific War of WWII, the Clock Tower Chamber was meant both for public and private business affairs. It was meant to be a front for a business building complex ready to serve a growing and thriving local community.
But the mining business went dry, and the market changed dramatically after the last big war. Westport become more of a lazy port town for the surrounding farming and fishing community.
In later years a natural tourist place, being a hub to explore the nearby sights and outdoor nature marvels of the West Coast region.
But still an architectural wonder, and important part of West Coast cultural heritage.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clock_Tower_Chambers

#Aotearoa #AotearoaNewZealand #architecture #bird #bluesky #building #classic #clock #cultural #golden #green #Kiwi #living #nz #pacificroadtrip #sea #TeWaipounamu #SouthIsland #tower #Westport #newzealand #roadtrip #western #architecture #clock #tower #municipal #building #bluesky #golden #classic #2016CE #westcoast #historic #cultural #heritage #Kawatiri #Westport #Municipal #Chambers

Photo shows a large yellow two wing building with a tall clock tower in the centre. It is a warm day with a lightly cloudy deep blue sky. In front of the building there are a concrete area with some small. The change to the sidewalk are marked with colourful small poles. To the left there are a green turf with some garden furniture, and a palm tree frames to the left side of the photo.

An evening by Taungthaman Lake

TB to more peaceful and prosperous times
This lake is near Amarapura, the old capital of Burma. Today it is a suburban village of Mandalay.

This photo was taken back in the days when progress in Myanmar was equal to the global normal: young ladies having an evening stroll with their smartphones. And each other.

This stroll was in peace and quiet near another Cultural Marvel Heritage: the worlds longest teak wooden bridge, the U Bein Bridge.

https://www.myanmartours.us/destinations/amarapura-travel/amarapura-attractions/taungthaman-lake/

These days thoughts of hope and well wishes for this beautiful country goes to the survivors after the earthquakes, a successful reconstruction and a peaceful end to the wars and a return to peace and human rights in Burma-Myanmar. Getting the federation back on a democratic track, securing human rights and rule of law for all their citizens in the future.

#UBeinbridge #U #Bein #bridge #burma #Mandalay #villagelife #village #streetlife #worldheritage #worldoftoday #streetphotography #asian #girls #portrait #boat #oarsman #Nikkor #NikonD800 #58mm #niftyfiftyeight #f1_4 #asiangirls #pretty #burmese #ladies #landscape #ladies #smartphones #UBeinBridge #2016CE #burmese #Nikkor #citylife #citywalk #sunsetshot #Amarapura

Photo shows two young ladies at the edge of a larger lake in afternoon soft sunlight just before the sunset. They are modestly dressed in matching dresses, one in red and one green basic colour. They have cute pink handbags, and are focused on their smart phone. on the lake there i a boat with a single person punting. Small islands of grass and bushes are spread out. In the background the other edge of the lakes shows areas of green and trees, and some houses and a couple of pagodas showing their roof and towers. The edge of the lake is covered in red earth and green bushes and some yellow flowers. It is the end of a warm day, and the cloud are light blue with some mist.

Citywalks in Mandalay

Like in the large old temple cities like Bagan, the temples and pagodas are everywhere.

The feeling that these structures sometimes just are there, in the middle of rice fields or grass paddocks. Equal to rice and other farm products, religion is as important for people here. These buildings can mark holy sites, graves, or a memorial structure build to celebrate or in honor of an event or person.

These buildings on a line was just outside one of the small villages outside Mandalay CBD, along this rice field.

These days all thoughts of this beautiful country goes in hope for the survivors of the earthquake, a successful reconstruction and a peaceful end to the wars and a return to peace and human rights in Burma-Myanmar.

#2016CE #58mm #asian #burma #burmese #f1_4 #Mandalay #Niftyfiftyeight #Nikkor #NikonD800 #streetlife #streetphotography #worldheritage #citylife #citywalk #rice #paddocks #field #temple #pagoda

Photo shows several religious constructions on a line, in different styles of stupa and decorated towers. Some are cement grey, some white and yellow and a couple are more gold. In front is a field of green growing harvest. In the background there are some smaller, lower buildings of the type typical for houses and homes in village.

Night walk, Mandalay

Thinking about the sad news of the Earthquakes hitting Burma-Myanmar and the classic old city of Mandalay and its surroundings.

Visiting Mandalay back before the civil war was a true pleasure, and this city was a nice mix of old and new architecture. Ad the temples and pagodas and there was always something to see and explore.

Including the old capital in the south with the world famous U Bein wooden bridge.

And then you had the locals, nice and friendly, making nightly strolls with a camera a safe and interesting venue.

Thoughts of hope for the survivors, a successful reconstruction and a peaceful end to the wars and a return to peace and human rights in Burma-Myanmar.

#2016CE #58mm #asian #burma #burmese #f1_4 #Mandalay #Niftyfiftyeight #Nikkor #NikonD800 #streetlife #streetphotography #worldheritage #citylife #citywalk #Alley #nightshot

Photo shows an alleyway by night, with a gate with classical figures of the type typical for Burmese history and buddhist traditions. Some lights shows part of the smal way, and some of the old facades. It is a peaceful evening in an old city.

"Hello from the other side
I must've called a thousand times
To tell you I'm sorry, for everything that I've done
But when I call you never seem to be home..."

A sea lion and her pup. Taken with a proper, physical distance.
It is an early morning just after sunrise north of Dunedin, in Otago, South Island, Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Thanks to Adele for lyrics describing the scene.

#NZ #Otago #Dunedin #New #Zealand #sealion #seal #hookers #sea #lion #Phocarctos #hookeri #sunrise #cub #mother #wildlife #morningstroll #dangerous #whakahao #rāpoko #rare #threatened #threatenedspecies #NikonD800 #Nikkor #300mm #f4 #Nikon #D800 #2016CE #DunedinHarbour #beach #beachlife #sunrise #portrait #animalportrait

Photo shows two fur seals, a grown up mother and a small pup. The mother is looking searchingly and warningly towards the photographer. The pup is looking curious in the same general direction. The seals are in shades of brown fur from light to dark, with some black and white details for the mother, and mostly darker brown for the pup. They both have very visible whiskers. They are on a light grey sandy beach, with a small rock the size of the mummy seal in the background.

Traces of a morning walk in the Otago Peninsula, north of Dunedin, New Zealand

Take nothing but pictures,
Leave nothing but footprints,
Kill nothing but time,
Keep nothing but memories,

I accept and am a firm follower of these travellers ethos and credos.

#NZ #kiwi #New #Zealand #Otago #beach #Dunedin #sunrise #blue #bluesky # #NikonD800 #Nikkor #Nikon #D800 #20mm #f1_8 #animals #landscape #ig_countryside #stone #formation #2016CE #Take #nothing #pictures #Leave #nothing #footprints #Kill #time #Keep #memories #Globetrotter #travellers #ethos #Port #Chalmers #OtagoRegion #SouthIsland #NewZealand #Aotearoa

Photo shows a morning at the beach. The sky is blue with scattered clouds. The rising sun washes out the left side of the photo as a visual source of light. The lower half of the photo shows light grey sand patterned by the freshly recessed water tide. Only a set of foot steps to the right side breaks the natural appearance. In the background there are a stony and hillside landscape dramatically in shadows and foggy mist. Sharp stone formations including a small heart shaped keyhole is visible just off the centre opening between the rocks which makes the entrance to the beach.

When you have temple and teeth

Some of the temples and pagodas are marvels of intrinsic details, but sometimes the cohabitants are, too.

The monkeys at most of these sites are peaceful, knowing they are safe and have access to food and water. But they are also nosy and cheeky, and any seasoned traveller know to keep their belongings, food and water well contained or hidden around these taily rascals.

Even if they are small, they are strong and have sharp teeth. So there is no use picking a fight.

Another thing is the small numbers of some of these monkey groups, causing some problems with inbreeding due to small gene pools. We are talking severe Habsburger jaw and bulbous lips, to use a European reference to tragedy and disaster when science is absent. I have observed this inbreeding problem decrease over the last few years, as the caretaking of these animals at these cultural heritage sites improves.

But the monkeys also ad personality and scale to these photos. So I would miss having them around, if they where to disappear.

#roadtrip #kampuchea #macaque #monkey #guardian #cambodia #2016CE #temple #pagoda #teeth #buddhism #trek #hill #mountains #PhnomSompov #Battambang #Phnom #Sampeau

Photo shows a macaque monkey lit up by a sun ray. It sits behind a staircase in front of a richly decorated two storey tower. The tower is richly decorated with figures and flower patterns. The tower is flanked by green trees. The sky is lightly clouded.

Just a nap in a restful and truly colorful place

The mountain complex of Phnom Sampeau contains a lot of Cambodian history, culture and nature.

From the good parts to the more demanding. Here at the top there is a collection of the better lot; pagodas and temples.

And as the day gets hot, the smart gets some rest. Surrounded by the cultural heritage Cambodians are so proud of.

#khmer #wat #phnomsampeau #temples #pagoda #wallpainting #global #culturalheritage #2016CE #PhnomSampou #sleep #monk #rest #hammock #buddhism

#2016CE

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