25 March 2018 Sunday
Woke up to a cool sunny Sunday morning. A fair amount of packing before we loaded up our luggage and then checked out from the hotel.
An easy ten minutes drive and we were at Te Papa Museum. After parked our car, we explored the water front beside Ta Papa Museum…
Crystal clear water sparkled a little in the morning sun.
Cool breeze tinted with very light sea salt scent fed our nose and grip our sense….very relaxing !
At one corner of the bay….a group was starting their morning expedition….what a great way to start a sunny Sunday morning.
Notice the cool architecture behind … facet in every direction. I think this is impressive.
Closing in… it housed an eatery… where people simply relax on grass patches.
They have everything for a relaxing morning….we should have spend a lazy morning here if time permit.
Look where this birdie was heading…
This is the iconic City to Sea Bridge.
Scaling the bridge through the entrance…
On the upper platform of the bridge…
Bridging across the main motorway…
Looking across the bridge….
The city side of City to Sea Bridge
Zoom in on the split pyramid….
and viewing right through the center.
Looking across the motor crossing … several symbolic poles sculpture stand out…
Poles with complex sculptural background… totally confused over what it try to project….a little recollection on what I learn from Len Lye center -art should make me confused and probably little angry etc… but experience or enjoy the complex feeling !
And I especially like this….a lengthy representation of what I always say – Only Action Counts.
Our next Target….Sunday’s Farmer Market
Farmers came in with truck load of fresh fruits and vegetables…
Locals roam the market and do their fresh picks…
Very fresh and good stuff…
our pictures at the farmer’s Market
Just beside the market is an alley where stall sells hot food… our blunch.
As we ate, we looked out at birds swaying in the cold wind.
I always like to capture flying birds because it represent efficient nature creation – if only man-made structure can be as efficient.
Our next Destination – the most visited museum in New Zealand. 
The display externally looked magnificent
and building simply look majestic…
We decided to head for the uppermost level….as we stepped into the lift ???
We were greeted with an overview of Wellington when we stepped out of the lift.
Our pictures
Heading one level down… display of creatures and figures…
and a guarding policeman…
This is an interesting piece.. Is this boy part of the art piece.
Animals display…
and this elephant hangs over two levels.
another hanging art pieces…
This gigantic hanging art piece is simply elegant and very impressive.
Zoomed in…
Other hanging art pieces…
a lot more simple and elegant work…
This is the art gallery…
These are my liking…
And these are Maori art pieces
And this section – is all about Total internal reflection…
a little confused…..
I am asked to try out ? and still confused. I started to quote Len Lye – on what is art all about.
The next exhibits area features the Pacific Sisters…based on internet information, the exhibit was newly added and is less than a month old.
Fairly mixed in natures of exhibits…. which include fashion…
Jewel and accessories…
and contemporary art…
The lower level of the buildings features historical exhibits… which include migrant, war and Maori cultures…
A history of migrants…
and it was named 20th century crossing … (borrowed phrase from the book “The crossing”)
And what does the migrants carries with them…
Together they shape the history of this country…
The next hall …tells the war history New Zealanders was involved.
It was like walking through history…
with detailed elaboration on days of intense fighting.
when it all started…
entering the darkness of war…
There are good accounts of war zone…
The living space and the hard tack that was eaten…
There are altogether four rooms featuring enlarged size duplicates of war time figures…
This is Private Jack Dunn…
Zoomed in… to highlight this is the amount of details Weta Cave had done to construct the exhibits…
The battle is on….intensity of firing
Going on different angles…
Giving the last shot of his life …
And a very expressive military doctor…
and the message…
Walking out of war zone, we entered section that elaborate the volcanic nature of New Zealand.
Suddenly, we realised Lake Taupo is more than a lake – it is a dangerous crater lake – active and has blown off numerous time…based on study on rock crystal…
A short clip showing the structure of planet earth
And ancient creatures that exist during those era…reptiles
and hybrid of reptiles and birds…
and then those flying creatures…
At one corner of the hall, display of the largest Squid ever caught…
Our pictures at Te Papa Museum
Yes… it is a very good Museum, we had blend ourselves into the exhibit.
Looking down…we were close to the exit.
We had a peep outside the building…
Completely flooded with bright sunlight…
Going with filter…
The sea was glittering – It is cool sunny day – What a beautiful Sunday !
Heading to our next destination…
Guarded well.
Entrance…
Our pictures at Weta Cave Entrance…
Be careful he bites…
We had sometimes before the Weta Cave Tour commence. Exploring their created characters…
And learning to be an actress…
The first section of Weta Cave Tour covered creative work that shows up in movie… very details but no photography allowed !
Pictures taken before exit…
Part II of the tour covers the making of Thunderbirds series.
Miniature buildings were constructed for the show…
Zoomed in and I think these look real..
And we entered the cockpit and do the flight !
And our guide gave good elaboration on how shooting was done !
Overall, it was an eye-opening visit. It was a little late as we make our way to the Car Rental Office… returned our car and the staff send us to the Airport.
The sun is setting fast when we arrived at the airport.
Entering the departure hall… and Gandalf is there to bid Good Bye to tourists.
The setting in the departure hall was superb… throw ourselves back… relax while waiting for our flight back to Singapore.
End of Day 16 :We had a very wonderful day – coastal front, City to Sea Bridge, Farmer’s Market, excellent exhibits in Te Papa Museum and good exposure to film making at Weta Cave…Sighting rolled on and on just like movie.
Yes, it is 16 days of very enjoyable varieties as we traveled round North Island.
I would say the same statement on my returned trip of South Island : The most important prize is the superb wonderful memories that engraved in our soul, carry within us years after years in our life….
Return : NZ North Island Day 15
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