by Julie

Captain Cook and amplitude

I love maps. All kinds: new, antique, obscure, land maps, charts of the sea, weather charts. I have absolutely no idea how one goes about drawing a map, as I can just about read one. My general ignorance of the process of map making makes me admire Captain James Cook even more. I managed to take this photo of a map of his travels which was displayed in the Tairawhiti museum in Gisborne in New Zealand, before the staff there told me I wasn't allowed to take photos.   Captain Cook originally got the gig to explore…
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by Julie

Farewell Aotearoa

It's hard to believe I am coming to the end of my time in New Zealand. It is such a varied and beautiful country - I met a woman who said we don't have history but we have scenery! And they have it in spades.       The New Zealand people are really nice and friendly - way nicer than the Aussies. Much as I loved Australia, the people you meet in public were very closed and there was no chit-chat, the way there is at home. I think the Australians are very insular and their interest…
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by Julie

All you need is love 

Te Papa in Wellington is the national museum of New Zealand and has some brilliant stuff about the history of this country, from Maori to pakeha (the European settlers of NZ). However this was my favourite thing. The Beatles in New Zealand with Maori tikis round their necks. Call me shallow.
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by Julie

Fit for a queen

Legend is that Queenstown got it's name by being so pretty it was 'fit for a queen' and it's hard to argue with that. It has to be one of the most beautiful places I have been. The mountain range is called 'The Remarkables' and that sums it up!      I saw a full rainbow today for the first time I'd say - it was beautiful. You can see part of it in the photo, alongside my grinning mug. (Bought a new rasta coloured hat today - a treat for the next lot of photos.)…
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