another flautist

Today I met another flautist at the Hamilton gardens. Apparently he made all his own bamboo flutes.

Hamilton Gardens

I visit the Hamilton Gardens very often. There is always something to see there, especially on Saturdays during the summer months.

Tai-chi

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Maori warriors

It was a big surprise for me to see so many Maori performing at the Gardens last Saturday.

Azaleas

Cobram drive

The Azaleas in Hamilton are in full bloom. These were seen last week along Cobram drive just opposite the entrance to the gardens. I checked out those in the Chinese gardens and was pleasantly surprised.

They were also flowering. I have missed the start because I was visiting Wellington and have not been playing my flute there for a couple of weeks.

Moon shot

This Magnolia tree is just an ordinary tree at the Hamilton Gardens, one of many flowering trees.

I was inside that doorway looking out at the Magnolia tree using the door to frame my next shot, experimenting...

moon shot

...and this is the exceptional result! When I first post this photo on FB someone asked me: Is that the moon? Now I call this my (moon shot).

笛子 meets 洞簫

I usually played my flute alone at the Hamilton Gardens. Today I met another flautist from Taiwan. He was using a bamboo flute made in Taiwan. I guess that it must be a G which had a lower and softer tone. My flute is a D and has a higher pitch, louder and the sound carries much further, especially in the middle of the night.

New game in town

Apparently cycling is one of the best cardio-vascular exercise available. It is even better than walking or going to the gym. I did a lot of walking on the golf course and had never been to a gym. The side benefit is this. You get to see areas near your house and neighbourhood which you would not have visited otherwise. Nowadays, bicycles are mostly made in China (like every thing else!) They vary in price from $299 to $4999 for 3 major designs: racing, road or mountain bikes.

Yesterday I took a 2 hr ride with Christine on the cycle track along the river bank all the way to the Hamilton Gardens. We came back using the track on the opposite, city side. This route is very busy during peak hours 7.30 to 9.30 a.m. because parking in the city is very expensive and petrol price has just gone up again by 4 cents/ litre! Cycling twice a day to and from work is probably all you need to do to keep healthy and fit.

This rear entrance to the Hamilton Gardens is seldom seen by visitors, unless you arrive on foot from Hilcrest or Hamilton East. Most visitors use the front entrance when they arrive by car or bus.

Last week, I went north to see the construction of the new Te-Rapa by-pass. When completed, all traffic going south from Auckland to Rotorua will pass on the western side of Hamilton, away from Te Rapa drive. Another by-pass route is also being constructed on the eastern side, from Gordonton Road, parallel to Tramway Road and joining the Cambridge express way at Tamahere, near the airport.

Poppy

apple blossoms

Blooms

I found these flowers at the Hamilton gardens

Fox gloves

Rhododendron

Rododendron