Most photographed falls, Yellow-eyed penguins and gemstone beach

There really is a penguin coming in from the sea after feeding and then walking up the beach to the nest. Mia and Kelley are in the viewing blind.

Next photos are on Kelley's last day with us. At a really cool gemstone beach. However, it was blustery as usual. Apparently, "everyone" knows that November (Spring) is usually windy in New Zealand. 

Highland Dance, Catlins Coast and misc.

Halloween is not really celebrated in NZ--or at least in the small town of Tuatapere. However, that night the local Highland dancers (Scottish) and the local Pipe Band (Bagpipes) had a performance at the "Club."  The girls had been taking lessons, one of them quite reluctantly, and so this was their one and only opportunity to perform.  It was one of my favorite memories of NZ so far, in part because if I had been here as a tourist, I would not likely have known about the performance and secondly, because so many familiar faces of the community were in attendance.  I actually felt like part of this town and it was a nice feeling.  Plus, the dancing and music was wonderful.

Meili and her friend Courtney

(classic Duck dance)

Since my girls are beginners--I did not have to purchase the kilts outfits, they were in dances which the costumes were provided.

Can you spot Mia, Beau and Meili in the photo? Pretty certain that the American and Chinese American Scottish dancers are not seen very often around here.

Where the Seas has washed away the earth to reveal fossilized trees.