We did Lake Hauroko track as part of our pre-Kepler track training, being the newbie NZ trampers that we were.
Look at that view! :D
It has been almost 3 years since my last post here. While I have put myself on house arrest for the past few days for flu reasons (it hit me, bummer!), this blog suddenly dawned on me again. Oh yes, I have missed making entries here. I used to be so religious in posting even though I know I'm only reaching little to no traffic... but what the hell, I'm having fun anyway.
Sooo... for the past years I have been tramping, camping, driving around most of south island New Zealand, wallowing on its awesomeness (during my days off work, of course). The NZ landscapes have enthralled me so much that I became addicted. There was a point when my week was incomplete when I can't go hiking. I know, right? That's how beautiful this country is. Crazy beautiful-- you would not believe this place actually exists but yes it does and I am very blessed to be an expat here.
These are highlights of my escapades for the year 2015; I'll do another for 2016. Here it goes...
Middle Earth Adventures 2015
Ocean View Track, Bluff
Waituna Lagoon,
Autumn in Arrowtown
Waipohatu Falls Track, The Catlins
Waipohatu Falls, The Catlins
Blue Mountain top, Tapanui
Titans Rock Track, Piano Flat, Waikaia
South Mavora Lake
Lake Hauroko, Fiordland
McLean Falls
Along the Kepler track, tackling the steps on our way to Iris Burn Hut
Our tired faces on day 2 of our Humpridge tramp
This year resurrected the outdoors woman in me; I was a part of an outdoors group back in my university days but after that I have become stagnant. New Zealand is the perfect place for me to reawaken my passion and live the outdoors dream again.
This year's Christmas is the first one I will be spending without my family-- away from home. It would be a brand new experience celebrating the holiday season on my own but I know I can manage. Bing Crosby's I'll be Home for Christmas fits me well; so, I decided to do a ukulele cover.
I have been looking forward to seeing Kimbra perform live since I came here to New Zealand. She had a show earlier in August that I missed for some reason. I decided that I would be on the look out if she ever comes back to promote her latest album, The Golden Echo.
Lo and behold, a pre-sale of tickets to her show on 18 November was popping in my Ticketmaster notification. I became undecided at first because my circumstances that time didn't seem to be favorable to me watching concerts. I visited the Ticketmaster website everyday to keep updating my cart; always clicking the "remember for later" button as to the purchase of the concert ticket.
Exactly a week before the concert, I finally decided to hit the "Buy" button. There's no turning back, I'm seeing Kimbra-- finally!!! I have been listening to her ever since her Vows album, long before Somebody That You Used to Know hit the worldwide charts. That video posted on Tumblr by Sirens' Songs of her live Two Way Street performance at Sing Sing Studios won my heart. Since then I got caught in the web of Kimbra's awesomeness. Whoah!
The venue was The Powerstation. It was perfect for the performance-- standing right next to the stage was right where I wanted to be.
The event was a promotion of her new album hence most of the songs she performed were from The Golden Echo. She opened the show with Teen Heat, which was the first song in the record as well. Settle Down, Two Way Street, and Cameo Lover were the ones she played from Vows. After performing Miracle, Kimbra and her band exited the stage and we were all surprised that that was her last song. We were screaming and shouting her name asking for an encore. She couldn't resist leaving us hanging. (You just can't do that to your fans, Kimbra. Hahaha.) She ended the night with Come Into My Head with incredible energy and passion.
Kimbra is commended for showing how passionate she is of music. Her live performances are proof. She always gives her best, bringing so much energy and vibe in every song. In that concert, I witnessed that and it's spectacular! Artists that project their burning love for the music they make are those that strike me the most. Kimbra is one of those artists. I can see how she's doing a splendid job.
I am looking forward to another Kimbra concert. In fact I'm still hung up on that show. Can't help browsing my gallery from time to time for the pictures and videos of that night's performance. You can't blame me though, I just love Kimbra. She's simply amazing!
My shots from the show:
Watch a few videos I took from a few chosen songs (they're shaky; I was actually moving to the beat. Hehehe.)
Last year, I went to visit the Summer Capital of the Philippines for the first time. Baguio City is situated in the Mountain Province of Luzon where you can enjoy the cold air while sipping rich black Benguet brew, eating strawberries and looking at beautiful flowers in bloom. Sounds like a good way to relax and let time pass.
I did not let this trip pass without clicks here and there with my film cameras though. This place is perfect for the slide films I had loaded for cross processing.
It has been a while since my last post; about 7 months now. Well, I was busy for quite some time figuring out things for my future. So here I am an expat in the land where Frodo was walking miles and miles to Mordor to destroy the "precious". Yes yes you guessed it (I knew you would)... New Zealand!
I've stayed here for a few months and I am enjoying it. I went to a few places and I am in awe at how beautiful this country is. So far, I have lived in 3 cities-- Dunedin, Invercargill, and Christchurch in less than six months. And I spent a few days at Auckland. Which is a good coverage in a short period of time if you come to think about it.
The beginning of my New Zealand life in snap shots:
Auckland
Dunedin
Invercargill
Christchurch
More to come as I move forward through this new path... Cheers!
