Category: Fauna & flora

Elephant encounter

Leave a comment

IMG_3969

Who knew a creature as large as an elephant could be cute? The elephant I’m walking with in this photo is five-year-old Namthip and she was cute! While we were in Chiang Mai, we spent a wonderful day with rescued domesticated elephants and their keepers. There was no riding and they didn’t perform any tricks. We walked through the jungle with them, watched them eat and take a mud bath (see photo below). We filled the bags we were given with chopped up sugar cane, which all the elephants loved. They would take it from your hand with their trunks and then crunch it loudly while reaching out for more. Not surprisingly given their size, elephants have voracious appetites and eat all day long. They very eagerly hoovered up all the left-over fruit from our picnic lunch, including the banana leaves it had been served on.

IMG_4017

Forest retreat

Leave a comment

059

During a weekend spent in KL we explored the tracks through the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia or FRIM as it’s known by locals. It was established in 1925 and by the 1950s had developed into a large plantation with research facilities in the areas of chemistry, silviculture, botany and zoology. It also provides the people of KL with a large green space for recreation. We really enjoyed walking the tracks in the shade of tall trees, listening to the abundant birdsong and even catching glimpses of monkeys through the foliage. We also walked up the path beside some small waterfalls where children were paddling and a bride was having her photo taken. It puzzled us that most people were walking along the roads and not taking advantage of the quieter, shadier tracks. But that meant we had them more-or-less to ourselves, which was a real treat in a city with a population of 7 million.

Mountain ground squirrel

Leave a comment

170

When you stop at the pondoks (shelters) to rest on the way up to Mount Kinabalu you see heaps of these squirrels scavenging nearby. They know that there’s food to be had and are quite tame. We had one pondok to ourselves on our way down and the little guy in the photo took the nut right out of my hand and then sat down next to us to enjoy it. We were soon joined by an enthusiastic climber on his way up – he asked us to take a photo while he held up a bright pink banner with his girlfriend’s name on it. She hadn’t been able to join him on the trip and this was his way of keeping her up to date with his progress. Then we were joined by a couple from the Netherlands, who sat down to eat their packed lunch. We met people from all over the world in our two days at Mount Kinabalu – many Malaysians from KL and other parts of west Malaysia, Singaporeans, Swiss, Japanese, Koreans, Australians. It all added to the wonderful experience.

Tui

Leave a comment

IMG_2767

Since I came to live in New Zealand 20 years ago, I’ve noticed a proliferation of tui in urban areas. In the mid-1990s it was rare to see a tui in a built-up suburb. Now wherever you walk in Auckland or Hamilton (or anywhere else I’m surmising) you hear the distinctive trills, croaks and squawks they make. One day a couple of weeks back I stood in a small copse of trees in the middle of a park and looking up I saw six tui. I managed to snap this photo before a dog came running down the path and they scattered. I’m sure I’m not the only one who finds their tuneful presence a delight.

Country in town

2 Comments

IMG_2856

In two of the parks through which I have been walking during my stay in Auckland, there are herds of cows. In Churchill Park (in the photo above) there is a small herd of dry stock, which migrates from one paddock to another. One or two lift their heads as I walk by, look at me unconcernedly and then go back to their grazing. Cornwall Park is a working farm and has a larger herd of cows and a flock of sheep. I’m not sure why but seeing these animals in the middle of New Zealand’s biggest city always makes me smile. I guess it may be because farming is so central to New Zealand’s identity, even in Auckland, which is denigrated in rural areas as “the big smoke”.

Grey warbler

2 Comments

gw-whatipu

As I work at editing a thesis this morning, I can hear the distinctive song of a grey warbler outside the window. This tiny bird is endemic in New Zealand and there is a huge population of them all over the country. Yet I have never seen one. Hence the use of this wonderful Forest & Bird image instead of a pic of my own. Apparently it is only the male riroriro that sings so beautifully – amazing that such a loud sound can emanate from such a small body. It is delightful to hear and a welcome accompaniment to my work.

 

Auckland botanical gardens

Leave a comment

IMG_2694

It was the perfect way to spend a beautiful summer’s evening, walking through the Auckland botanical gardens with friends, admiring the various pieces of sculpture scattered throughout the extensive space. All one’s senses were engaged – plants, flowers and works of art to look at, the aroma of herbs on the breeze, birdsong and the sounds of children playing, the smooth lines of some of the sculptures inviting you to touch them. One work called Lens had a granite disc in the centre, which was warm to the touch despite the heat having gone out of the day.

Walking at 10am

Leave a comment

IMG_2471

I set off to walk around the Orakei basin at 10am today. It was such a pleasure, not only to be in such a beautiful place, but also to walk comfortably for an hour at that time of the day. If I walked in Ipoh in the late morning,  I would collapse into a puddle of perspiration after half an hour! We are spoilt for choice when it comes to walkways in Auckland. There are so many dedicated footpaths in green spaces, usually with wonderful views and populated by large numbers of birds. This morning I enjoyed the views of the city dominated by the Sky Tower and the green slopes of Mount Hobson and Mount St John. I loved walking among the trees and watching the shags drying their wings while perched on a tree stump over the water.

Raglan lookout

Leave a comment

IMG_2475

This is the view of Ngarunui beach from the lookout in the Bryant Memorial Reserve at Raglan. I think it may be my favourite spot in the whole world. Twice last week I walked up the hill from Manu Bay, stopping often to watch the tui (and once a huge kereru preening itself on an exposed branch). After pausing at the bench overlooking the surf break, I walked down the steps, along the path shaded by tall ferns and onto the lookout platform. Sitting in the warm summer sun, listening to the waves breaking on the rocks far below and watching the surfers, the boaties and the birds is idyllic. I don’t think I would ever tire of it even if I went there every week. As it is, I get only there about twice a year now and it is all the more special because of the long break between visits.

Home for the summer

1 Comment

IMG_4739

Pohutukawa, black beach sand, waves breaking off the point, lamb on the barbecue, sauvignon blanc in the fridge. We are going home for the summer! After completing our second year in Ipoh, we’re ready for a Kiwi Christmas and spending time with our girls, our family and our friends. Only two more sleeps!