15 May 2011:

Lots of the oranges there were very large and green, but as warned by Jérôme, they are usually very dry and not tasty at all :(

Rough notes:

http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-2.html

15 May 2011:

There was a nice stream pretty far into the park. There were also a larger river that we didn't have time to go across to visit. A family was here stranded with a dead battery, which we helped jump.

Rough notes:

http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-2.html

15 May 2011:

There were some pretty spectacular crepuscular rays that day.

Rough notes:

http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-2.html

15 May 2011:

A few of the larger endemic trees were pointed out. This was a pretty big one, another had another type of tree growing through it.

Rough notes:

http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-2.html

15 May 2011:

Some cool "stepping stone" wood blocks on the trails. I was a bit disappointed we didn't get to see any cagous (an endemic New Caledonian bird).

Rough notes:

http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-2.html

15 May 2011:

More views of the red earth and hills.

Rough notes:

http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-2.html

15 May 2011:

I find myself examining plants very often on trips. Maybe I should have been a botanist.

Rough notes:

http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-2.html

15 May 2011:

view of the hills from one of the hiking trails.

Rough notes:

http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-2.html

15 May 2011:

Though the colour contrast was pretty striking here, so took a photo.

Rough notes:

http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-2.html

15 May 2011:

Thought I might as well start taking photos of myself in these places. Scenery is great, but my parents seem to appreciate photos of me!

Rough notes:

http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-2.html

15 May 2011:

Nice view of a (man-made) reservoir in the park. There is a forest that has been drowned here that is supposedly good for diving.

Rough notes:

http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-2.html

May 15 2011:

On the way to Parc de la Rivière Bleue, a conservation area in southern New Caledonia. Beautiful vibrant colours - red earth, green foliage, and blue sky. There is a lot of mineral exploration on this resource-rich island.

Rough notes:

http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-2.html

15 May 2011:

View from Jérôme's apartment in Anse Vata. Paid for by his employer, a mining company, it's in a fancy part of town.

Rough notes:

http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-2.html