The free iOS app Kupu is rather clever. Take a photo of an object and it selects the Māori word (kupu), with alternative options. Tap the speaker icon to hear the word. Today’s experiments produced great results. Screenshots below.
My little Aphra the cat actually allowed me to cuddle her yesterday, and to take a selfie! She’s nearly 17 now.
The first quail eggs of the season from my 4 Japanese Coturnix Coturnix quail. Yum. I fried these.
This map is so great — it puts New Zealand near the centre of the world, rather than falling off the edge (or not appearing at all).
a projection centered around Antarctica to emphasize the role of the oceans
Well, I was just thinking: that pheasant squawk sounds like their earthquake alarm. Next minute… And it was not ‘unnoticeable’.
Snorkelling at Utuko Reef again yesterday I just snapped loads of pictures. Between contact lenses, mask and being underwater it can be hard to see what’s in shot. This photo pleases me. 🗺🇳🇺
The sea snakes are apparently very poisonous and also afraid of people. I took this shot from the rocks above though. 🗺🇳🇺
A snorkeling photo that actually worked! Stripy fish. 🗺🇳🇺
Limu Pool, Niue 🗺🇳🇺
Utuko Reef.
Utuko Reef from Crazy Unga Cafe. 🗺🇳🇺
Ahhh, Niue at last. The view from our cottage on the northwest ‘corner’ of the island. 🇳🇺🗺 No whales to be seen at the moment but this season could be late.
Getting closer. The flight to Niue takes almost 3.5 hours. We cross the dateline so we arrive yesterday. 🗺 🇳🇺
These Canada geese were right by the road in Pekapeka. Kitesurfers were catching waves at Waikanae.
August & September are the worst months of the year in New Zealand, so a good time to holiday elsewhere. In 2015 we visited Spain, Portugal and Morocco. In Morocco we did a camel ride to overnight at a Berber camp in the Sahara Desert. (Me and random tourist in last photo.) 🗺
Oshi, on the other hand, was waiting impatiently for his turn. He was quick to brush as his coat’s very fine and not dense. Either he has a very low pain threshold though, or he’s a wimp. Any tangle is tricky to get out. Luckily there were few.
Sasha hates being groomed but endured it staunchly. Good thing too, as ears and tail were massively tangled and knotted. Took ages.
This Black Swan pair was at the beach today. A passing vehicle startled them moments later. What amazes me is how straight they hold their necks while flying.
Down at the beach this morning: Matuku, white-faced heron.
Sunrise comes in half an hour. Birds are singing their wakeup calls. It’s only a couple of degrees above freezing. There’s a mist in the air. I love this place.
