It’s getting colder nowadays as the summer comes to an end. With temperature averaging 25 degrees celcius, I better grab hold of the final few weeks of fine weather to get myself some shots in the summer. Too bad, there ain’t any spyshots in this series cause ya know, this is a family outing. So I’ll keep my zoomer in my bag.

Spirit of Tasmania. I can take one of these cruise to Tasmania for only $99.

Surfers surfing under the sun.

This is how it works.

Suicide attempt? Seaweed isolated from the water. I threw it back to the sea, where it belongs.

Seagull with wind surfers in the background.

Lone Seagull.

I’m not sure whether it’s legal to harvest these mussels, perhaps a small amount would do no harm? We took about 20+ home, most of them are mid-sized mussels, and they taste freshly great!

I haven’t been active on Valentine’s Day, for most of my life I’ve been a single, until I met my wife that is. Perhaps my own cupid was sleeping for the first 19 years of my life. That’s pretty bad huh?

Well anyway, for those who doesn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, remember to wake up your own cupid. Until then, Happy Valentine’s Day!

It’s been a while since I last blogged. I’ve been on lazy-mode since coming back from New Zealand, and it took me more than a week to finally process the pictures and post them out here.

I don’t know why, perhaps it’s the lazy nature of the New Zealand countrysides, but I haven’t got any inspiration to write anything yet. Anyway, since the old saying goes “A picture is worth a thousand words”, I’ve prepared this 8,000 word post for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

The Flight

Panic status is still on ‘relax’ mode. That means there’s plenty of time to shop around for alcohol.

I’m flying on an Emirates Airbus 300 and I must say, I’ve never seen this feature on any other airlines before. There’s actually 3 different views that you can choose from! This shot showing the aircraft approaching the runway. It’s pretty cool ya know.

Just peel one of these off and stick it on your seat, and the air-stewardess will obey your command. No kidding, it works!

Welcome to Auckland

Auckland’s Sky Tower greets as I approach the city centre.

Sky City welcomes the year of the dog.

A big banner wishing you a Happy Chinese New Year.

One of the streets in Auckland decorated by the red Chinese lanterns.

Usual scene of the crowd in a casino during every Chinese New Year. Let me tell you, almost 80% of the visitors are Asians.

That’s all for now folks. More in the next post.

When I was a kid, Chinese New Year means a lot to me. I’ll wait 358 days for that one week of holidays, I’ll make sure that I’m well and strong before the Chinese New Year, just to enjoy the feast, the food, the angpows, and the firecrackers, in the biggest festivities of the Chinese calendar.

I missed the time when I can join my group of friends on angpow-hunting row.

I missed the time when I could still receive angpows like a kid.

I missed the time when I can place small bets on a poker game and doesn’t have to worry of my wallet leaking holes.

I missed the time when I can have reunion dinner with my family, even though it’s a simple one.

I missed the smell of the firecrackers, and the noise of it going off.

I missed the time when I could still light them off fearlessly despite the fact that I almost blinded by them (”Chai Lei” exploded in front of me at point blank range!).

Photo courtesy of Sixthseal.com

What Chinese New Year? This is just another day of my life abroad in Australia.

She must have watched too much kung fu movies last year :/. Anyway, Happy Chinese New Year!