Birds of the same feather

CambridgeParkNZ, vinneve

In response to the Bird weekly – photo challenge.

If you have been here in New Zealand you will know that most birds of any feather are mostly tamed and people friendly. They can walk with you while strolling in the park or they can persistently ask you for some bread crumbs. Life is good for these birds as they are loved by many people who always bring foods for them and yes they can be cheeky at times.

Magpie birds @homeWestAKL, vinneve

King penguin.

Native of NZ.

Info link here.

geese, ducks, pukekos & seagulls @d park, vinneve

There are more to see and discover around New Zealand with all types of birds whether capable of flying or not. Some birds are natives here. If you are a bird lover/watcher NZ is your happy place! Cheers!

Domestic travels in New Zealand while on level 1

Auckland City waterfront, vinneve

I am happy to announce that we are covid free now here in New Zealand!! This is also in response to WOTD: Victory We are now on level 1 and it may stay like this for awhile, restrictions still in place. Personally, I prefer it this way to protect our safety so I am not keen of opening the border, although there are some citizens and residents (repatriation) coming home from overseas and they may bring the virus with them so they are required for a 14 day quarantine. It took 5 million people, a big team effort to do this as when we were on lockdown we cooperated and only going out to buy essentials like food. Though of course anywhere in the world there may be some silly people (not a lot here) still goes out that time to do silly things but they are being apprehended by the police and given a penalty depends on their situation/alibis. FUN FACT. Normal police officers here in NZ doesn’t carry any firearms. They carry confidence, kindness and diplomacy.

Since we are now on level 1 the government is pushing domestic travels to help our economy and communities. Buy NZ Made. Buy local products which mostly people are doing right now including me. Both Jetstar and Air New Zealand are having their sale these past couple of weeks and it has been sold out faster! I use our voucher/coupon to redeem and bought tickets to Christchurch finally! Looking forward to it. So for now we are talking about domestic travels and here’s the following information thru personal experiences from other bloggers who went here in NZ before the pandemic. Please click their link, and they have some amazing photos to show you while traveling around New Zealand.

Before you travel to any country or even if you were stranded here in New Zealand it is a MUST for your own sake to have your own travel insurance. Though our healthcare system helped this young tourist as per this link >> “How NZ generous healthcare system saved my ass”

Birds eyeview Queenstown in gondola, vinneve

No pain no gain. So yes there was a time that New Zealand looks more like this. Here is the link for “When Paradise in New Zealand becomes a ghost town”.

Auckland Sky Tower, vinneve

Here above is the response for the June Photo of the Day: REFLECTIONS.

For sure people are now thinking of reuniting / partying with their friends and families more than a group of ten since it is now permitted. It may not be the same as before but this new normal surely will stay for quite awhile. So we better adapt to it and accept all the challenges in life. Stay safe peeps!

UPDATE: We suddenly not a covid free country anymore (just of today’s news June 16th) because of 2 female citizens/residents coming from the UK and testing positive for covid but for some reason was given a COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS to drive to Wellington (from Auckland) to attend a funeral of their parents. Shall we understand this or not?!! For goodness sake! we suffered in lockdowns and up to level 3 to becoming covid free for 3 weeks and the communities all over the country cooperated and because of this hindsight WE ARE AGAIN IN TROUBLE. Why? simple. Driving from Auckland to Wellington is 8 long hours Non Stop! I do not believe they didn’t even stop to pee, eat or put on gas that is simply lying. Those people who doesn’t know that they served these women are now at risk even their loved ones! So is this harmless? NO. I cannot understand why there is compassionate grounds at all since those people who died because of covid-19 didn’t even had the chance to see their loved ones. I am so annoyed with this news. It is unbelievable and I put the blame on the health department who didn’t think twice about this compassionate grounds. That is plain stupidity if I may say so! Sorry for the outburst but we will know within this week or so if there are people at risk now because of this. Our sacrifices (life, jobs, businesses, etc) and cooperations are now put in the drain.

My Daily & Photo Challenges thru our holidays in Baguio, Philippines.

“ANTICIPATION of pleasure is a pleasure in itself” by Sylvia Townsend Warner.

This is true.  Just a few days before we go to our holiday back to my birth Country I was dreaming of going here and there. Somehow by day dreaming about it I can almost feel the pleasure of what I hope to expect.  Hoping that it will be better than before. Well, sort of.

I was seeing myself RELAXING and just overlooking this beautiful surrounding, eating warm freshly made strawberry taho, (silken tofu with syrup either with strawberries or the original vanilla caramelized brown sugar plus a sago. Taho is rich in protein that you can find a vendor where there’s a gym nearby and of course around residential areas mostly in the morning) see this LINK for a photo, sweet purple yam (Ube), and other fruits, smelling some fresh air… 

Then suddenly I have to wake up to the realization that, hey! it’s a holiday and so more people abound everywhere and we cannot do anything about it unless we go to a secluded spot where few people can go but alas! we chose to be in a famous place for tourists and families so yes, here it is folks.. people everywhere!!

crowds @Mines View Park, vinneve photo

Going up north to BAGUIO after X’mas I thought will be a good idea but no, people are still in holiday mood and tourists go to the same place that I want to go too!  It’s been a long time since I have been in these places and while the bus was CROSSING the bridge I found some interesting view.  Happy children playing, swimming, FLOATING in the little hole that’s left of the lake or river I am not sure of as it is now being reclaimed.  Nevertheless, it is always nice to watch outside the window and see the landscape that I already forgot and some interesting people along the way as our bus trek up the winding road to the mountains.

kids swimming, vinneve photo

While walking to go to Mines View Park, I have noticed this tree that was UNSEEN by many.  An art delicately carved into it seems to express its freedom. I guess not many people are looking up to see it but I did and took the opportunity to capture it though may not be in the best light to show it.

Art tree, vinneve photo

Lot’s of interesting photos of old houses tucked behind some bushes and even an eerily looking abandoned house that INVITING you to look what’s inside if you dare!

vinneve photo1

vinneve photo2

abandoned house?..vinneve photo

Anyway… at least something that is worth my time and effort to finally come to these places though it’s crowded, it eased away from the uneasiness when the family is around enjoying the AMBIANCE and seeing them happy, cherishing the moment together till the next holiday to come.

On top of Mines View Park, vinneve photo

Thanks for viewing!

Photo Challenge: H2O in the Middle East

via Photo Challenge: H2O

This is in response to the Photo Challenge: H2O

I thought it would be nice to showcase some beautiful places I been to with water background.  I have read it somewhere that if you dream about water it can symbolize obstacles or deep depths of whatever you are going through right now.  But it is matter of you overcoming it and a fight to win!

I would like to show you some beautiful places around the Middle East with a body of water “H2O” around them.  Let me know what you know about these Cities by commenting.  Cheers!

Al Ain Zoo, Abu Dhabi UAE. vinneve photo

Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi fronting Yas Viceroy, vinneve photo

DUBAI, Marina Bay, vinneve photo  

DOHA, Qatar. vinneve photo

Would you believe this is the DEAD Sea? It’s in Jordan. vinneve photo 

Unfortunately… I didn’t get any sea view photo from my previous travel to other Middle East destination.  Sometimes the weather (humidity or sandstorms) doesn’t permit you to take some nice photos!  So I leave you a nice quote below …

pinterest.com

Photo Challenge: Edge. Sasso.

via Photo Challenge: Edge.  Sasso.

Madonna del Sasso.  Located in South Switzerland Orselina above Locarno, in the region of TICINO.  A famous place for pilgrimage, where in the year 1480 the Virgin Mary had appeared to the vision of Brother Bartolomeo d’ I vrea and was built 7years after that.

For more story behind this church,  please click this LINK  sitting at the edge of this sacred rock mountain.  Sasso means rock.  

 

Madonna del Sasso-Orselina, vinneve photo

 

My Daily Post Challenges in Switzerland

I am currently away on holiday with the family and visiting relatives from one Country to another, and I thought it’s better for me to do some unique way of joining the Daily Post Challenge.  I have some good themes that I specifically chosen and will connect to our holidays.  I hope you will approve and enjoy some photos and makes you dream and start to wanderlusting beautiful places on Earth.  It is never too late.

July 30th Admire – Please click the link about the place for more info.

Zurich on top of the hill of LINDENHOF where it all began…

Paintings from the outside walls of Fraumunster Church

July 28TH Unstoppable – These are the photos from our journeys via Regional (more stops) and fast train (express) and then finally to final destination in Zurich, Switzerland.

July 26th Shared Journeys – with families or VIP are the best!

July 25th Sanctuary – for me a place that makes you feel at home.

Locarno, Switzerland

July 24th Clock

St. Peter Church

July 22nd Cherry on Top

@Zurich

There isn’t any cherry on top literally BUT it made our holidays more especial by celebrating a birthday even it means eating a cake three times within a month as we celebrated it with relatives in 3 different places.   

July 21st Carefree  

Birds have freedoms too!

July 19TH The Things We Leave Behind – are the places that marks some happy moments into our holidays.

July 19th FEAST – your eyes with some burst of colours everywhere

July 14th STORM

After the STORM in Locarno

We spent some family times in Locarno and though the storms came you can still see the beauty of the place.

July 13th Journey  

Our late afternoon train journey from Locarno to Zurich

We are continuing our journeys and exploring the beautiful Country of Switzerland.

Thanks for your time!

Near enough, Pure bliss.

This is in response to The Daily Post: Photo Challenge: PURE.

Utter contentment is my heart longed desire. PURE. SIMPLE. JOY.

Soon we will see you again. FAMILY. NATURES. SIMPLE yet ELEGANT life.

 

Switzerland, vinneve photo

 

Update July :  See our past travel destinations HERE while still continuing to some places in the beautiful Country of Switzerland.  Thanks for viewing! 

 

 

Daily Post Challenge: Contrast

This is in response to The Daily Post – Contrast.

” Contrast is what makes photography interesting.”  By Conrad Hall

A few collection of photos from my previous travels.  No filter just using a simple camera.

 

Paris, France

 

Sydney, Australia

 

King’s Park, Perth Australia

 

Marina Bay, Dubai UAE

 

Qatar, somewhere in the City Center

 

Kumue Farm Show, Auckland NZ

 

Yas Viceroy, Abu Dhabi

 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

Mt. Santis, Switzerland

All photos are mine.  A great travel experience while taking these simple photos, I hope you LIKE them.  Thanks till next time!  Cheers 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Challenge: Camera Lucida-Hidden

This is in response to Week #17 of Camera Lucida Photo Challenge “Hidden”.

“It is often my nature to be abstract, hidden in plain sight, or nowhere at all.”  by Gerard Way

 

Can you see someone was trying to hide among the flowers?

I wonder if this cat is waiting to pounce on a mice somewhere hiding beneath these flowers. Nevertheless, it is an unexpected opportunity not to be missed so camera ready… get set and shoot!

Soon will post about this beautiful place.  🙂

 

 

Photo Challenge: Seasons

This is in response to the Daily Post Photo Challenge – Seasons.

“Share an image evocative of the weather or represent the current “season of your life” in metaphor.”  

 

somewhere in Abu Dhabi

 

“Just like seasons… People CHANGE.”

It started to get warm in Abu Dhabi.  The sun rises early the cool weather only at night time.  With this… emotions tend to change as well.  This is LIFE.

 

photo credit: pinterest.com