Memorial Cross

Whanganui, NZ, August 2013: For a small country, in population at least- New Zealand has many war memorials. This striking memorial cross near Wanganui commemorates the death of many local country men (both pakeha and Maori)- who fought and lost their lives needlessly in the 1914-1918 war- 18,000 miles away…

Qadisha

Lebanon, November 2005: Prior to traveling to the Middle East I had read William Dalrymple’s 1997 book “From the Holy Mountain: A Journey in the Shadow of Byzantium. It was in these pages that I’d first heard about the Qadisha valley. The mystery of the place intrigued me, so I was determined to visit it […]

The Watchtower of the Plains

Manaia, South Taranaki, NZ, August 2012: The Manaia Redoubt- constructed around 1880 on the site of the former pā Te Takahe- was the response by the local armed constabulary to the passive resistance of the Parihaka chief, Te Whiti, and his followers. The original wooden watchtower (35 feet high)- blown down in a storm and […]

Desert Tracks

Danger!! Mines!!

Siem Reap, Cambodia, 3rd March, 2001: Excerpts from my diary that I just rediscovered: “We got a tri-shaw out to the land-mine museum…” “It was just a couple of shacks really, but loaded with defused mines of all shapes & sizes, makes & models- Russian/Chinese mostly- but also local….” “The guy who set it up […]

Luft

Carterton, Wairarapa, NZ, March 2014: Two years after the tragic Carterton hot air balloon crash, Balloons Over Wairarapa lifted off again… On January 7th 2012, a scenic hot air balloon flight, collided with a high voltage power line while attempting to land, causing it to catch fire, disintegrate and crash, killing all eleven people […]

Arctocephalus

Wellington, New Zealand, today: Had a close encounter with this gang of young local males today. They were your usual hairy, lazy, good for nothing bachelors. One barked at me when I got too close. By strange coincidence, an elderly man was attacked in New Plymouth today (400km Nth West) by a young male seal- […]

Moeraki

Otago, New Zealand, Aug 2007: The Moeraki Boulders are large, spherical boulders lying along a stretch of Koekohe Beach in North Otago, New Zealand. Scattered along the coast, either as clusters or isolated boulders, they have been protected within a scientific reserve. The most striking aspect of the boulders is their unusually large size and spherical […]

Turuturu Mokai

“Turuturu Mokai” is one of the oldest fortifications built by Maori in New Zealand and was fought over during the Taranaki Land Wars of the 1860s. Situated just outside the South Taranaki town of Hawera, it was once a former public reserve and popular playground. However, in recent years the Ngati Tupaia controlled reserve has […]