Mount Sunday, New Zealand for Skywatch Friday

 The film location for Edora in Lord of Ring

Weather is very fickle here. Zero phone reception there too. 

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Skywatch Friday

Success hacks

* Find the pain you enjoy

* Focus on what you can control, ignore the ones you can't 

* Turn off the autopilot 

* Adopt 10 x Max 

* Focus on fewer things for a longer period of time 

Devil's Bowl Waterfall at Arthur Pass in New Zealand for Water H2O Thursday

 

This was taken using a telephoto lens from a distance. Very strong UV there so the colour adjustment is rather tricky. 

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Water H2O Thursday

It has been rather difficult to get back to work immediately after the trip. My body is sore everywhere as well. Thanks for the work out in NZ. 

Five Lanes Eatery Complex, Christchurch for Sign2

 

I was wandering into the complex realising there is so much cheap eats to have.

The signs are quite cool all around. The vibe is great for me.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sign2 and FACE OFF

Devil's Bowl Waterfall, New Zealand for Treasure Tuesday

 

The walking trail leading up to this waterfall is very steep and challenging. I almost gave up 2/3 into the journey.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Oxford Terrace, Christchurch Mural for Mural Monday

 

Just outside a modern Chinese restaurant 

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Mural Monday

Lake Pearson reflection New Zealand for Sunday Best

 

I had no sleep for the past 35 hours. I have to recuperate before commenting again 

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sunday Best

Galah for Saturday Critter

 

I haven't done much photography on birds lately. 

Galah is very loud. They always wake me up every morning. 

I would be on the flight back to Melbourne now. (I have to wake up at 2 am in the morning to catch the flight). 

Linking Saturday Critter

Lake Pukaki New Zealand for Skywatch Friday

 

This was taken from 2 days ago trying to get some shots when the fickle weather decided to cloud break

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Skywatch Friday

I am heading to Mount Arthur today. Cloudy forecast. At least not raining anymore. But who knows? 

Lake of Clear Water in New Zealand for Water H2O Thursday

 

Lake of Clear Water is really a lovely place to visit. Storm briefly stopped when I stopped by. Finally, some mercy on me!

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Water H2O Thursday

I sourced myself a back pain after an accidental fall on the slope of snow. It is hurting really bad. 

New Zealand Town Fairlie for Sign 2

 

This town is on the way to Aoraki the highest mountain in New Zealand. The only place I can eat some hot pies and warm latte that tastes like cough medicine. 

Thanks to the pouring rain in Christchurch. I stay at hotel processing my shots all day. Even the city river is flooding the banks. Did I bring so much needed rain to NZ?

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Sign2

Mount Cook, Aoraki, New Zealand for Treasure Tuesday

 

Bad luck the weather is raining and snowing in Christchurch. Apparently, the town is suffering drought for the preceding few months. 

I did not end up participating Hooker Valley Trail or Tasman Glacier walk. Pity. Will do it next time.

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Christchurch Mural for Mural Monday

 

I arrived Christchurch on Saturday. I had to grab something to eat before I rest for the next day to Mount Cook.

It looks rather funky

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4

Linking Mural Monday

Mirror Show exhibition in Port Melbourne for Sunday Best

 

Joel and I ventured into this mirror show exhibition. Quite fun snapping away.

Sony A7RV

FE 14mm f1.8 GM

Linking Sunday Best

Butterfly for Saturday Critter

 

Old photo in my old house in Hawthorn

Linking Saturday Critter

Leaving this morning to Christchurch. 

Da Xi Taiwan for Skywatch Friday

 

The place is renown for Tofu. 

Linking Skywatch Friday

Pulpit Rock Cape Schanck for Water H2O Thursday

 

I have been here many times when Joel and I wondered where to go. Not visiting coast lately as I am busy travelling abroad.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Water H2O Thursday

Toucheng Old Street Facade for Sign2

 

This is an abandoned old street left from Japanese occupation era. 

The words on both sides of the entrance say

Exploding crackers get rid of old wax

Cherry Blossoms in the cold bring the spring 

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

This is linking Sign2

Metal Art Museum in Port Melbourne for Treasure Tuesday

 

This metal art museum is a wonderful exhibition. It features up to 300 metal robots. Some of them are from my childhood Manga memories. Joel and I spent a long time trying to do bokeh shots in there. This place is really reserved for nerds.

Sony A7RV

FE 35mm f1.4 GM

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Melbourne Mural in UNION LANE CBD for Mural Monday

 

Many many eyes

Sony A7RV

FE 50mm f1.2 GM

Linking Mural Monday

Nan Zhuang Old Street Railway for Sunday Best

 

The place has Japanese buildings left behind since the occupation in the 50s. 

It is also good to catch up with Joel today. Good friends are like old wine. The older the better.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sunday Best

Grasshopper for Saturday Critter

 

Right on the dying lawn of football field in Hawthorn East

Pentax 200mm f2.8

Linking Saturday Critter

Just got back to Melbourne. Then I will be heading out to NZ again in a few days. 

HeHuan Mountain for Skywatch Friday

 

Love the clouds

Mount Hehuan is a 3,416-metre-high mountain in Central Taiwan. The peak lies on the border of Nantou and Hualien counties and is located within Taroko National Park. Hehuanshan is a popular destination in central Taiwan.

Sony A7RV

FE 14mm f1.8 GM

linking Skywatch Friday

Suao Port for Water H2O Thrusday

 

Suao port is where Dad used to take me to do his fishing. You can see the oily water surface in the dock

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 

This is linking H2O Thursday

Mazu Shrine Birthday celebration for Sign2

 

Mazu is the patron deity of fishermen, and her birthday on the 23rd day of the third lunar month (it falls in April or May) is celebrated each year with frenetic explosions of colorful activity.

The sign says 1065th Birthday celebration. 

It is situated at an entrance of a night market

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sign2

Bagua Buddha Statue for Treasure Tuesday

 

I was lucky to see no crowd in the spot. The rain actually stopped for the moment. That was a moment I realised I was meant to take the shot.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Hosier Lane Melbourne for Mural Monday

 

He is quite popular as an emu artist lately.

Sony A7RV

FE 50mm f1.2 GM

I am so looking forward to coming home to Melbourne later this week. I am missing out mushroom season and autumn leaves turning there. 

Linking Mural Monday

Long Teng Broken Bridge for Sunday Best

 

There is an interesting story about the town of Longteng that is revealing of the superstitious beliefs that local people once held. When the first settlers started to cultivate land in the area, they believed that Liyu Lake, located nearby, was inhabited by a carp spirit which brought hardship to the people. In order to overcome this evil spirit they planted yuteng (a poisonous plant) in the Longteng Mountain area. At the same time they gave the mountain in the east the name Guandao Mountain (lit. Guan Sword Mountain) hoping that the Sword Mountain would cut the Yuteng Rattan. In this way, they hoped to poison the evil carp spirit. The ploy must have been effective, for people no longer believe that the evil carp spirit harms the people of Longteng. In the morning of April 24, 1935 a strong earthquake hit central Taiwan. lts epicenter was near Mt. Guandao, and many buildings in the Sanyi district were destroyed. A reminder of this earthquake remains in the ruins of the arched bridge over Long River. It can be seen from the railway line between Sanyi and Houli.

The ruins of Longteng Bridge join Chengxing (Shengxing) Station as one of the top-two visitor attractions on the Jiushan tour route. This historic span is notable attraction both for its simple beauty and as a memorial to the two major earthquakes that severed the bridge twice at the fifth northernmost pier, including damages caused by the 921 Earthquake in September 21, 1999.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sunday Best

Butterfly for Saturday Critter

 

Back here in Taipei just last night. The magistrate misspelled her name and land title so waiting for the court to rectify the errors would take another 6 months minimum. Travelling around the middle part of Taiwan is a tropical experience. So humid and hot. 

The above shot was taken when I was experimenting a new macro lens a while back. 

Canon 5D 

Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro

Linking Saturday Critter

Pyramid Hill for Skywatch Friday

 

On the way back from a nursing home visit.

Love the sunny sky

DJ Mini Pro4

Linking Skywatch Friday

Golden Waterfall Taiwan for Water H2O Thursday

 

This waterfall was adjacent to a highway. Not exactly hard to take a snap. 

Linking Water H2O Thursday

Pesgrave Place Sign/Art for Sign2

 

The article is more about people's representatives are mere puppets of power faceless people. The sticker message on the other hand is an impossible dream. 

Sony A7RV

FE 50mm f1.2 GM

Eating a lot of shaved ice here to alleviate the heat. No fun. 

Linking Sign2

Wufengqi Waterfall (五峰旗瀑布262, Yilan County, Jiaoxi Township) - first stage for Treasure Tuesday

 

I arrive this place in the rain. Really muddy to walk the trails. So I did not continue hiking to stage 2-4 of the waterfalls. I did this without a tripod. Steady hand for 1.7 seconds.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Hopetoun St, Footscray for Mural Monday

 

This is an iconic mural when Joel and I came here for a quick Pho!

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Mural Monday

I will be going to Taichung from Tuesday to Friday. No Wi-Fi. Enjoy singing in the rain. 

Lanterns in Taiwan for Sunday Best

 

It is literally raining everyday here. Including the same forecast for the next fortnight. Apart from the same usual public service inefficiency, I would take walks and long trips snapping street scenes.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sunday Best

Grasshopper macro for Saturday Critter

 

Looks like an old Japanese superman movie costume. 

Pentax 200mm f4 Macro

Linking Saturday Critter

Great Stupa of Universal Compassion Bendigo for Skywatch Friday

 

This is spherical panorama looking sleek in the magic hour

DJ Mini Pro4

Linking Sky watch Friday

I always envy TV Rom Com where the main cast family members are always decent human beings. The relatives I encounter always treat me like a bank account. 

Hua Lien Beach View for Water H2O Thursday

 

Hualien is the meeting point of the Central Cross-Island Highway, Suao-Hualien Highway, and highways leading south to Taitung.

Hualien County is home to several world-class scenic attractions. In 1590, Portuguese sailors passed by the eastern coast of Taiwan and were so moved by the grandeur of what they saw that they named this land "Formosa," the beautiful island. Since that time, the majestic views of Hualien have come to represent Taiwan.

Formerly known as Qilai, Hualien's current name derives from the phrase "huilan" (eddying water), a reference to the swirling currents of the Hualien River where it meets the sea.

Hualien is Taiwan's biggest county, with an area of about 4,628 square kilometers and a population of 350,000. The county borders the Pacific Ocean to the east and is hemmed in by the Central Range to the west. With its towering peaks, azure skies, vast seas, scenic valleys, cultural diversity, and friendly kindhearted people, Hualien has become one of Taiwan's first-choice travel destinations for local and international visitors alike.

There are some 200 after quakes after the initial one 1 month ago. I am not planning to go anywhere near the location now.

Sony A7RV

FE 14mm f1.8 GM

Linking Water H2O Thursday

Going to another province for 2 days. No access to Wifi. 

Pesgrave Place Sign for Sign 2

 

A little wild. 

The rainy monsoon season is too much for me here. Trying to sort out Mum's family affairs is not exactly easy either. 

At various government departments today, most public servants I met tried to encourage me to move money back into the country etc. I don't even have any income here and barely spend time at all. why would I want to do that? 

Sony A7RV

FE 35mm f1.4 GM

Linking Sign 2 and FACE OFF

Petrified Forest in Cape Bridewater near Portland for Treasure Tuesday

 

This area is called the petrified forest from an early theory that advancing sand engulfed an ancient forest of coastal trees that once covered the sea cliff, petrifying them for all time.

Actually the formation is a collection of hollow tubes of limestone called “solution pipes”, eroded by millions of years of rainfall. The process starts when water gathers in a shallow pan of sand and seeps downwards dissolving the limestone. The mineral saturated water then cements the sand, forming hard, trunk-shaped pipes. Most pipes around Cape Bridgewater are only three metres high, although some are as much as twenty metres.

The Petrified Forest is easily accessible from the car park at the end of Blowholes Road, Cape Bridgewater.

I have been to this area 4 times in total. This is the most recent snap. 

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Sifu street art on Queen St for Mural Monday

 

This looks so cool

I am on plane now. I may log on intermittently whenever time permits 

Sony A7RV

FE 35mm f1.4 GM

Linking Mural Monday

Stingray Bay, Warrnambool for Sunday Best

 

This was taken on an overcast day. No good sunset to use but the water reflection creates a lovely pattern.

Sony A7RV

FE 14mm f1.8 GM

Linking Sunday Best

Rosella in Mount Dandenong for Saturday Critter

 

They are the song birds

Olympus 150mm f2

Linking Saturday Critter

Mount Alexander Sunset for Sky Watch Friday

 

The granite outcrop of Mount Alexander rises 350 metres above the nearby township of Harcourt. Enjoy bushwalking, picnics, lookouts with stunning views and a chance to see some of Australia's iconic wildlife.

Within the 1,400ha of Mount Alexander Regional Park there are a number of magnificent lookouts including Lang's Lookout, Dog Rocks and Shepherd's Flat that offer spectacular views over the surrounding landscape. The 4km long West Ridge Walking Track provides a link between these lookouts, while Joseph Young Drive provides vehicle access to Dog's Rocks and Lang's Lookout, as well as the Leanganook Picnic Area.

While exploring the Park, visitors can regularly see Eastern Grey Kangaroos and Black Wallabies, along with numerous native bird species. Keen eyed and patient visitors might also be able to spot Koalas among the Manna Gum trees (identified by distinctive smooth bark with ribbons of handing bark), and the endangered Brush-tailed Phascogale, Echidnas and Sugar Gliders.

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Sky Watch Friday

Bridgewater Bay, Mornington Peninsula for Water H2O Thursday

 

It was an overcast day at Bridgewater Bay, Mornington Peninsula.

A different take on the flow effect.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Water H2O Thursday

One planet Save Planet for Sign2

 

I spotted it at Hosier Lane the other day. I was playing with DOF.

Sony A7RV

FE 50mm f1.2 GM

Linking Sign2

Mungo National Park Desert for Treasure Tuesday

 

This area is now protected that no one is allowed to visit unless a permission is sought from the elder. of course, it means monetary tribute of some sort.

Mungo National Park is a protected national park that is located in south-western New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The 110,967-hectare national park is situated approximately 875 kilometres west of Sydney in the Balranald Shire.

Linking Treasure Tuesday