Sydney Dee Why - Narrabeen Lake

Had to have a little sleep in from the night out before with Tara and Marty and some wine ...:-) I took Marty's bike and Tara's helmet to have a spin around and ended up going to Narroween Lake. This is just about 5km frm Dee Why. The lake was larger then I thought but with great views and a nice trail for MTB as well wanderers.

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Sydney Rozelle - Sas's Birthday Party

The BIG PARTY of Saskia, celebrating her upcoming 3rd birthday. A lot of preparing but all worth for a good party. Started off dry but after 1,5 hr there was a lot of rain but the large open tent kept us dry.

And of course some "poffertjes", this was on Saskia's mom birthday, tuesday the 27th.

Auckland Tower

Arrived at 7pm Auckland on the 21st of October and just here for 1 night before flying to Sydney. Some nice shots of the Auckland Tower.

Rotorua - Thermals

Rotorua the next morning, instead of rain a great day. The lake is just on the end of the centre of Rotorua and from here I walked along the water.

Just along the waterfront I passed by this "Maori Village This whole area is "Thermal area", you can see it by the damp coming out from the soil/water.

Some Maori and me.

After the special Maori community in Rotorua I found this local Thermal Park with natural springs and mudpools as well.

Taupo - Mount Tongarira

In the bus @ 8.00am to Taupo. Left rainy Wellington and during the busride the weather was all kinds. From sunny to rainy. We drove thru the dessert road passing Mount Tongarira. In the photo hardly to see but it's there.

Arrived in taupo I had about 4 hrs for taking the next bus to Rotorua. So just enough time to walk to the HukaFalls outside Taupo.

A great walk thru some lush forest with natural spa thermals along the river up to the falls. The weather was everywhere from rain & windy to sunshine.

Back in Taupo it was cold and rainy and around 4/5pm most shops were closed as well the coffeeshops. I had to wait for about an hour and luckily I found a McD in town for a cuppa...

Traintripping around Wellington

What a surprise... supposed to be a rainy day but this morning waking up in the YHA hostel at Wellington on the 6th floor, opening the curtains I had an awesome view !!

I decided to buy a day-pass for the bus $6,00 and one for the train $10,00 to go outside Wellington. Started of by taking the train to Porirua. A trip just about 40min. north of Wellington. Small town with a lake and some hills. So I had a short walk just on the edge of town, on the hill. Got rewarded by a nice view over Porirua...

From Porirua I took the train back to Wellington and changed here platforms to go up north-east for Upper Hill. This ride took about 50min, into this valley passing a couple of rivers. When aariving at Upper Hill I didn't had much time so looked for the tourism info and they gave me a map and told me that just behind the station there is this park with some hikes. So after having a quick lunch I took off to this park. Walked all the way up for the view and had to go down straight away so that I wouldn't miss my train.

Getting back in Wellington I did catch up with a good friend of mine and we had a drink just up the road. It was great to catch up and as well worth the "rushing"... :-)

Wellington - New Zealand

After 10,5 hr flight from Osaka to Auckland I had a little delay from Auckland to Wellington. That flight was less then 1 hr and I arrived with rain and gusty winds in Wellington.

Osaka

My last day in Osaka was very relaxing, packing up my luggage from the studio and took the sub down to Tennoji area.

I walked thru a park, in a shopping street and ended up in this large Swim & Spa World in Tennoji. In the month of October they had special deals so I ended up going to the onsen, asian spa's. Nice....

http://www.spaworld.co.jp/english/service.html

Daytrip to Nara

Arrived in Nara, just about 50minutes by train from Osaka, went down to the tourist office. The woman over there spoke good english and gave me a map of Nara and circled where I should wander around the park. I started off with the "Three Storied Pagoda"

Just straight next to it, is the "Five Storied Padoga".

In the same area was a museum in a nice park setup with some deer just walking around. From there I went across the street direction "Todaji Temple". On the way over there was a park with deer, stalls and lots of schoolgroups.

I just walked around the park where some kids again asked me some questions and where they gave me a present, something they made themselves. I continued to the "Nigatsu-do Hall". From here was a great view over Nara all the way to Osaka.

From the "Nigatsu-do Hall" the path passed by a large green steep grasshill where all the schoolkids played and had lunch. I finally came at the "Kasuga Taisha Shrine" where this cute little boy was nicely dressed.

And a deer is ready to order an icecream or maybe a coffee...

In this restaurant I had a choice to sit on a carpet or an ordinary table, so being in Japan I choose to sit on the carpet, taking off my shoes and sitting not to comfortable but ah well...

They take the order and cooking the food on your own table. I had a lokal dish like scrambled eggs, veggies and some Udon noodles. Taste was great and very heavy so I couldn't eat it all.

Daytrip to Kyoto

The Kiyomizu-dera temple was very crowded with tourists but mainly with schoolgroups from around the area and beyond.

Even the "Rockstars" visit the temple

Kiyomizo means clear water and they believe it has some healing or so when you drink from it.

School group had some questions for me to practice their english, they gave me some presents made from paper and we had to take some pictures.

Ginkakuji Paviljon beiing renovated and when it got build it was supposed to be covered with silver, but it never got realised. There were some nice sand features, gardens and a walk through the forest.

Just about 20 meters behind this temple there was a mountain walk up to Mt. Daimonji. Half way up the mountain these rocks with a skirt.

The walk up Mt. Daimonji goes up to 466mtrs. Great views from here over Kyoto.

Wednesday 14th of October, Osaka City day

Today was a more relaxing day, took my time in the morning, had to catch up with some sleep and I spent the afternoon in Osaka City. Walked all the way from where I stay to the city. Passed by the longest shopping street/arcade, the Tenjimbashisuji Street with it's total of 2.6 km and over 600 shops.

Further on my way direction the city I went over some fly-overs, passed some more shopping streets and followed my way up to.....

"The Floating Garden Observatory". This is one of the highest buildings in Japan with 170mtrs. Greta elevator ride up and nice views from the top