Faces of the Festival

The Tauranga Jazz festival 2011 was a great opportunity to photograph people enjoying the day.

I went specifically to take people pictures but as luck would have it Robyn and I ran into a stream of people we knew so my time was cut short. Try again next year.

Easter Egg Hunt

The kids on Easter Sunday. Mum set up the challenge and also took the photo's

Cafe 88. Mt Maunganui

This is where we get our best coffee.

The Cafe has a good feel to it and its always busy. Food choice and quality is excellent.

News Of The Day

These shop fronts are iconic New Zealand from the 60's onward.

Soon to be a thing of the past I suspect.

High Speed Mountain Climbing

This is amazing. Watch on 720 at full screen if you can stream it at that setting. Great photography, extreme fitness and a high level of squirm factor for those of us who "respect" heights.

Ken

Keno my little bro!

Party Aliens

Easter Party at P&K's

Exciting New Photography Technology (Introduced by Darth Vader's voice over guy!)

Loyal mate

This little guy was watching his master kite surfing and in the process taking the 20 knot wind head on!

He never once looked away. Now where are those eye drops?

Sputnik 1. The worlds first satelite.

I was 7 years old when my dad and I went outside of the house and looked up into the sky to try and see Sputnik 1 Russia's and the worlds first earth orbiting space craft. We lived at the beach at Otumoetai.

On that night I can clearly remember seeing Sputnik 1 transverse out southern sky and I can also clearly remember mum's concern that the "commies" will take over the world if they keep going like this. We should remember that this was during the peak of the so called cold war era.

The Space Race had begun.

Healthy Ice Cream

Nine points to a happy healthy life

Check out this link to discover how people live to a ripe old age and stay happy an healthy in the process.
LINK

Kite Boarding Fergusson Park

Mauao from Tauganga Rail Bridge

G&T

Waikato Rainbow

Double Rainbow!

Spectator Sport

Paragliding from the top of Mauao (Mt Maunganui) Tauranga New Zealand

Thomas Having Accidents

Check This Sucker Out!

I would just love to have a crack at this machine.

Sullivan/O'Sullivan

OSULLIVAN CLAN LINK

If your surname is one of the above check web site via the attached link.
Here is an example. Not sure how factual this is but frankly its a bit of a laugh.
One extract from the site follows.

The first heavy weight boxing champion of the world was a Sullivan.

John Lawrence Sullivan (1858 - 1918) was born in the Roxbury section of Boston, the son of a County Kerry immigrant. His nickname was "The Boston Strongboy" because of his mighty punch and legendary stamina. The last bare-knuckled heavy weight boxing championship bout was held in 1889 between Sullivan and Jake Kilrain. The fight started at 10:30 in the morning and lasted for 75 rounds, when Sullivan finally knocked out his worthy opponent. Sullivan died at the age of 59 and is buried in Boston.

Auckland's Coat Hanger Bridge by Westhaven Marina

Wilbur Smith. Hot off the press in NZ

Slow Motion Lightning and Upward Lightning

The Chat

Grace update

Singapore. Have they got it right?

Only there for 3 days on business and gained these impressions.

A safe, clean and beautiful part of the world. Despite substantial industrialisation it feels and looks well kept with plenty of green havens. But more than this they have managed to hold back the scourge of mongrel behaviour that's is closing in on us from all sides in our part of the world.

I did not see graffiti, gang culture, hoodies, gang colours or bad behaviour and people of many races and ages seem to be getting on with hard work and raising families. Its expensive but the food choice and quality is great. Shopping is as good as it gets, not that I did any. The local people I met with were friendly and keen to do business.

I am going back with Robyn. I know its hot but at least its consistent year around.

I think they have got it right and we know how they have done it. Simple. Set standards and ruthlessly ensure (by pain of the rattan cane or even death) that they are met. I would trade a little or our so called freedom to gain our freedom if you know what I mean.

Life's Like That