Autumn in Central Otago

I recently had the good fortune to drive form Dunedin to Wanaka just in time to see the last of the autumn colours.

I stopped at Butchers Dam just outside of Alexandra where the lake was still, clear and reflective.  A very rare occurrence in these parts.  The week before I had driven through and the colours were bright and crisp, they had faded somewhat after the weekends rain, but still beautiful anyway.

I also stopped at Cromwell in time to see this beautiful days end.  Again this stillness of the Dunstan is rarely ever seen.  I think this is the only time I've seen it quite this calm and I've been driving this route for a couple of years now

Top Of The Lake

Top of the lake, AKA Glenorchy.  And one shot in Kinloch.

Misty morning that broke out into a sunny day.  Stunning through and through!

Some travels in recent times

Lake Tekapo (on a sunny day) About a third in from
the left is Mt Cook - NZ's highest mountain at 3754m

Lake Tekapo (on a miserable day)

Old cottage McKenzie Country

Old cottage Banks Peninsula 

Lake Ianthe (on a miserable day) 

Lake Ianthe (on a sunny day)

Our Lady of the River

Bruce Bay

Lake Moeraki, sunset

Lake Hawea - nearly home!

Winter time!

On the way home from Christchurch this week.  We had a massive snowfall in the south the week before and there was huge amounts of snow in some areas.  The drive was stunning - and slow with al the stops I had to make to look at and photograph the scenes.

Driving up the main road in Methven.
An incredible view of Mt Hutt!

The Southern Alps in Canterbury

Canterbury

McKenzie country

Lindis Pass

Lindis Pass

Lindis Pass

Lindis Pass

Lindis Pass

Lindis Pass

Socks at Lake Hawea

Home again, home again joggety jog...

I arrived back in Auckland last Tuesday - a week today, but I stayed the night there and went on a wee visit to Butterfly Creek again to see the croc keepers there.

It was my first night with feather pillows and a divinely comfortable bed - soft in all the right places!  I also had my first proper hot shower in 3 months.  At the croc bank we only had room temperature water so even though the water was mostly about 30-35ºC, it was coolish compared to air temperature.  I never complained though as having cool showers was a necessity of life in the oven that was Chennai!  Directly after a shower, I'd sweat and getting dry enough to put clothes on was not a very activity.

The bliss of having a hot shower and getting dry and dressed with no problems was indeed a moment of note in the history of Jenn.  It took a few days to get used to hot showers though - even though they are vital here.  No one in their right mind would have a cool shower when it is 0ºC outside…

Arriving at Kuala Lumpur on the way home.

On Wednesday I arrived back in Queenstown with not one item of winter clothing to my name.  In a word "Brrrrrr".  I was losing up to 40ºC from the last week in India.  A shock to say the least!

Luckily I had pre-warned mum and she arrived with a warm jacket, scarf, hat and gloves.  I had suggested she just bring me a feather duvet, but the jacket etc was probably much easier with seat belts and carseats in mind.  It wasn't too bad, overcast but mild, thankfully.

Lucy lit the fire when we arrived home and we had leek and potato soup with toast for dinner.  Perfect! 

I've been in NZ a week today and time is passing quickly and quite sneakily!  I have to make a plan for the next few months and then another for the medium term…  If anyone has any bright ideas of new and exciting careers that require little effort on my part, do get in touch!  

And another last day :(

Now it's time to say a fond adieu to Sri Lanka.

I can't wait to come back - I found my little paradise here and I never knew it existed in this wonderful country.

I had no idea that there were opportunities to see so many animals and birds, I'd never looked into it of course.  But still…  I was amazed to see a leopard, lots of monitors, both land and water, so many muggers, so many elephants, even a gorgeous tusker who came so close to us.  So many birds, storks, herons, eagles, little birds, big birds and those pesky peahens by the millions (or so it seemed!).  They're not really pesky, but they are so common - and so noisy!

I met heaps of wonderful people here.  I also had no idea that there are so many people so passionate about keeping the environment safe and well for the creatures that live here.  The work they do is incredible and given the circumstances that they fight against, they really are phenomenal!

I would love to come back very soon and bring people who I know would love it here also.
Thanks Sri Lanka!