Upside down / O mundo ao contrario

Ok...I usually don't speak about the places where I usually spend about 8 hours of my day, from where I often hear the birds singing...and these places are: my bed and my work place (my office and the labs). Regarding my bed, it is comfortable...though I will move soon from Wainuiomata (consequently, to another room and bed); my work place (www.irl.cri.nz), on the other hand, is located just in the bottom of the Wainuiomata hill, which it surrounded of a beautiful natural green colour.

Finally, after 4 months I left Wellington region...I have been travelling in the north island, in between Wellington and Auckland, where I was in some natural geothermal pools in Tokaanu (Tongariro national park), have been to Waikato river (river starting from Taupo lake, where we can find the famous Huka falls and the Aratiatia rapids), walked a bit of the famous Tongariro crossing (some famous walk in the Tongariro National Park, surrounded by Tongariro, Ruahpehu and Ngauruhoe mountains, these 2 last with snow on top), visited Taupo (name of the lake and a town in the middle of the north island), bungee jumped (from about 80m high) nearby Taihape, rafted rapids in the Tongariro river (river ending up in Taupo lake - Tongairo National National Park), visited some areas with some geothermal activity (as the "Craters of the Moon, near Taupo and Wai-O-Tapu, near by Rotorua) and dived in the beautiful Waihi Beach, in the Bay of Plenty.

Alister (or Ali for the friends), the admirable 90 years old man

The private geothermal pool in Ali's place (Tokaanu)

"Craters of the moon" I

"Craters of the moon" II

"Craters of the moon" III

"Craters of the moon" IV

"Craters of the Moon" V

Waikato river - Aratiatia rapids

Trying to sleep... :P

Waikato river - Huka falls

After a whole day exploring the Tongariro area, a deserved bath in Ali's geothermal pool...

...and a great dinner

Ngauruhoe mountain I

Ngauruhoe mountain II

Ngauruhoe mountain III

"Gravity Canyon", Taihape I

"Gravity Canyon", Taihape II

"Gravity Canyon", Taihape III

"Gravity Canyon", Taihape IV

"Gravity Canyon", Taihape - my Bungee Jump I

"Gravity Canyon", Taihape - my bungee jump II

"Gravity Canyon", Taihape - my Bungee Jump III

Rafting in Tongariro river I

Rafting in Tongariro river II

Geothermal wonderland, Wai-O-Tapu I

Geothermal wonderland, Wai-O-Tapu II

Geothermal wonderland, Wai-O-Tapu III

Waihi

Waihi Beach II

Now, the last new of the month...I finnally bought a car...the description can be found in the trademe auctions website, which is how I got it: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=384913723

As the previous owner described it: SHE IS A HONEY :D

At the beggining of May, I went with Bastien and a french couple his friends (Cynthia and Mathieu) to Matiu/Somes island, which is the island situated just in the midle of Wellington (both names are officially recognized, since Matiu has Maori origin and Somes came afterwards, when europeans have settled down).
It was a pleasant evening...we spent really nice time there, though not enough...since, because the last boat back was too early (about 4.30pm) and we have arrived there too lat (maybe at about 3.00pm). Anyway, we had time to have a little picnic in the island and take a few pictures (though the weather was not perfect):

Matiu/Somes island

Cynthia and Mathieu's love van

Wellington, from the boat, in the way to Somes/Matiu island

The 3 french in the island

Tuatara - cute lizard :)

Litle islands around Matiu/Somes island

Vegetation in the island...Wellington is visible from here

From here, you can see Lower Hutt, the place where I work

The boat who brough us from the island back to Wellington

Wellington from the boat

After the boat trip...we have spent some time in the city center, namely in Te Papa museum (National Museum of New Zealand). This museum is huge!!!

Maori place I, in Te Papa museum

Maori place II, in Te Papa museum

In the m,idle of May, it seems to be my birthday...so, this time, after a long time, I decided to organize some dinner for my birthday...actually, it was no Friday, 13th...and, for the superstitious, we manage to get to Saturday, 14th - which is my actual birthday...it was a long and lovely evening/night...

Playing with dinousaurs - part I

Playing with dinousaurs - part II

Playing with dinousaurs - part III

Planning the night?

Happy faces I

Happy faces II

The french cops

The following pictures were taken during a long journey that me and Bastien did from northeast to southeast Wellington...Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt, Eastbourne, Wainuiomata south coast and back to Wainuiomata...