Pics from New Zealand

Okay, I finally got some uploaded to photobucket and picked out some for posting here. As I took over 800 with my little Canon Powershot, some didn't come out too well (I still don't know many of the settings and should have taken more time learning them leading up to the trip) and the rest still need some manipulation, like minor horizon rotation and cropping.

So, here are a few and I'll add more later as I pick out the better ones of the crop :)


First off, here's me and my gf, Maryanne (she goes by "Maeryanne" here) deep in the greenery of the Palm Beach Bungalows.





View from the bungalow driveway







An aloe "bush" bloom





I think it's called "flame brush" but I'm not entirely sure about that





Sometimes, the Powershot amazed me with how detailed it could get, like with these hibiscus blooms





Fir tree and distant island in Palm Beach





Just liked the contrast of trunks and green





East end of Palm Beach





Sunset at Palm Beach





Green gate. But where's the fence?! ;)





Leaving Waiheke Island





Some cool houses











That's all for now. I have plenty more to share! :D


(Google Maps link to Waiheke Island: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=-36.802962,175.077782&spn=0.19078,0.383148&z=12)

I also love the trunks and green one below it. What a wealth of beauty you got to see and chronicle.
Thanks very much for letting us see it.

I liked that effect too and was thankful the auto-function decided to create that effect ;)

My gf said she felt that the island of Waiheke was like the Maui of New Zealand for overall beauty and attitude of the natives. There are many art-collectives there as well as vineyards. However, we got a taste of just how crazy they are as drivers! lol Still, I could see us living there or around Auckland and visiting often. I know many people here said I wouldn't want to come back, and they were right!

I was kind of rushed in taking pictures at all on this trip. I had the traveling nightmare from hell for getting there and then later, leaving. I'll have to detail that out sometime, but basically, I didn't have my luggage until the day before we left the island. So we lost days of getting out and seeing it all, due to having to wait on the courier services saying they'd be there mid-afternoon, and then never showing until we raised enough hell to have it hand-delivered on Thursday morning. I also made the mistake of only having the one in-camera battery, so I had one evening when it died after we were too far away from the bungalow to walk back and recharge it.

Like taking extra rolls of film and meter-batteries in the old days, now it's take extra memory cards (had more than enough of those) and extra battery packs and chargers.

That's lovely, that shot.

I remember asking a Kiwi years ago if it was difficult to emigrate to New Zealand. She just laughed and laughed. It seems I emigrated to the only Commonwealth country that would have taken me. Three cheers for Soviet Canuckistan's low standards!

Can't wait to see some more.

I've only seen NZ through the lens of the "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and "Xena: Warrior Princess" series and wanted to visit in person :-)

I :loveya: all the pics.

The flower pics are breathtaking :wow:

The beach shots are serene B-)

The houses are unique :o

And you and your GF are beautiful together :D

Thanks for pointing me here. :applause:

Let me know if you add more, would love seeing them!

:D

I'll probably post more this week. I was just a bit discouraged by the limited response initially. Perhaps as I post a little more variety the interest will pick up, too ;)
I just have to refresh myself on where I left off...