October 30, 2007

Dear Mommy Chona,

How are you? I’ve been in New Zealand for almost a year now and I really miss the Philippines especially “Chowking” noodles, I h ope you are in good health. It’s hard to be far away from my own country and away from My family but sometimes we have to sacrificee for the benefits of our own family.

There’s a lot of adjustments that I’m doing right now here Wellington, a new life for me to my family especially the two kids.

Unlike in the Philippines, you can go to the shopping mall up to 9pm but here, 5:30pm, all the shopping mall are getting ready to closed.

Mommy, the late business hours for the shopping mall are up to 9pm only during Friday. However, you have to go to Lower hutt to the Queensgate shopping mall, the largest mall in welly , half the size of SM centerpoint in Sta. Mesa, Manila .

Take care of yourself. I heard what happened in glorreta 2. By the way, Christmas is near one month to go, just wait for my balikbayan box. Thank you so much for the prayers and even thought we are not so closed and I’m thankful to God for the blessing that He gave me and you become my mother dear. By the way, Daddy Ener is working in China right now. Just Take care of yourself and will see you soon

Your son, Mico

I was talking to Tui, my maori friend last October 18,2007 and asking him what is the best to go during the labor weekend that my kids will enjoy and he suggested to go to Cape Palliser to see the fur seal.

I was excited to see a seals on my own eyes and then I said to my self, “Where is Cape Palliser?”is that on the South Island.

My friend said Cape Palliser are located in Southern-most tip of the North Island,and blessed with some of the most outstanding coastal scenery in the lower North Island and The largest breeding colony of fur seals in the North Island is also found here.

I said ,”WOW” and I want to go there to see the fur seals sun bathing and resting in the grass. I prepared everything the map the i will used and how much the petrol should i fill my car.

In the morning of Oct. 20,2007, around 5 am, i woke up and prepared the foods for my two kids and for my wife , “itlog ” ang ulam namin”. by six am we are moving going to the seals colony but we have to go to shell station in Newtown, Wellington for a full tank just to make sure.

By 7 am, We are traveling 100/kph from Terrace Tunnel to State Highway 2 after the zigzag road, We turn right to State Highway 53 going to Martinbrough and another right straight to Cape Palliser.

I thing the traveling time from highway 53 to
the seals colony approximately 2 hours you will
pass first to ngawi a fishing village.

After ,We pass the Fishing Village,no more nice road. Gravel road up to the seals colony and lighthouse. For me no pain to gain.

A few minutes from Fishing Village, We saw alots of fur seals resting in the grass.

For your Information,according to Department of Conservations.The seals breed on steep boulder beaches with plenty of crevices and tidal pools. Their layer of fat and thick fur coats, which enable them to endure long periods in water, can cause overheating on land. Crevices provide shade, and tidal pools a place to cool off.

The dominant male mates with numerous females, so many males do not get a chance to breed in every season. They often have sites where they haul out (rest), away from the breeding colonies. These sites may become breeding colonies

if females visit them.

Breeding

Adult males are the first to arrive at the breeding colonies, from late October to early November. They establish territories that they defend aggressively, and remain on land, fighting but not feeding, until mid-January. This inter-male competition has promoted the evolution of large males, weighing up to 185 kilograms (an average female weighs 40 kilograms).

Females arrive from foraging at sea in late November, and give birth to a single pup (conceived the year before) by early January. About eight days later she will mate – usually with the dominant male. The female does all the nurturing of the newborn. She stays with the pup constantly for about 12 days, then alternates between feeding at sea and suckling. As the pup grows, the mother needs more food to make enough milk. Pups are weaned in July or August, and the pregnant females go to sea to fatten once again. The young pups then head out to sea, coming ashore at times. Females start breeding at around four years.

For More pictures and video,check this : http//santosadventures.multiply.com and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuWhiFbYv_M

Back to my blog, We also went to Cape Palliser lighthouse, 250 steps from the ground. As I said before, Cape Palliser is home to the largest breeding colony of fur seals in the North Island.

It’s also the place to see the majestic Putangirua Pinnacles, which were formed 120,000 years ago by heavy rain eroding an ancient gravel deposit. So, see you for my next adventures.

Welcome to Wellington

This vibrant and creative city is nestled between a sparkling harbor and the rolling green hills. Wellington offers a chic city experience in stunning natural setting.

Wellington is an incredibly compact city- the best way to discover is magic is on foot. The excitement of the city is only a few minutes from a peaceful walk through native bush or along rugged coastline and we want our friend to experiences while staying with us before she will go back to the Philippines.

At 4pm, We went to Brooklyn to see the Wind Turbine.

The Brooklyn wind turbine was installed on the top of a hill in Brooklyn, Wellington in March 1993 as part of a research project.

5:00 pm – We went to Mt. Victoria, this is a great vantage point to view of Wellington, surrounding hills and looking out into the Cook Straight

By 6:30 pm, We headed to Oriental Parade straight to the coastline of Wellington up to the Owhiro bay.

There is a monument on Mt Victoria called the Byrd Monument. This monument was built orginally in 1962 to honour arctic explorer Rear Admiral Richard Byrd. This has since been redesigned, it consists of over 2000 ceramic tiles depicting the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights. Definately worth a trip up here either in the day or at night, to gaze over the city of Wellington.

After a long driver , A good dinner at Fisherman’s table -T-bone Steak, my favorite food.

and overview the beautiful Wellington at night