Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Swan Lake (without the annoying ballet bit!)



This is Lake Tarawera near Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty. Shrowded in mist behind the lake is Mt Tarawera. In 1886 the moutain erupted destroying covering large parts of the country with ash. Worse still is that the so-called eighth wonder of the world, the Pink and White Terraces were destroyed. This eruption was fortold on this lake with the sighting of a phantom canoe or Waka Wairua, which elders of the local Maori tribe, Te Wairoa, insisted was a portent of doom.

When I went, I saw no portent of doom nor eruption. The swan on the right however, looked a tad shifty.

San Nakji for President!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is one shifty swan. Or should that be swimming swan?

Fahd Mirza said...

What's the word for the other one? perhaps 'aloof' or 'serene' or what?

rubyslipperlady said...

You have to be careful of those shifty swans.

roman said...

Swans are very deceptive creatures. They look serene and calm on the surface but I have been told that they are, in fact, vicious when their territory is invaded by other swans or geese.
Don't get to close! :(

Friar Tuck said...

looks wonderful

Oricon Ailin said...

Swans are pretty but can be mean. I got chased by one...it wasn't cool.

BUT...I very much admire the picture. I wish we had scenery like that around here. I miss the mountain lakes and such. I have to travel many hours to see such beauty.

Anonymous said...

Shifty swans, eh? I'll take a gander and guess that geese get grit in your gizzard too.