Earth Day celebration - sorta

This week is the 2nd week in the mid-semester break. We spend the whole of last week marking students mid-term test. Most of the tutors who were marking were complaining that the University cut the pay they gave us for marking; how bad students answers were etc. However, it was extra cash, and we NEVER turn down some decent money for decent work.

Today, we finished some marking for our labs, and I had done some analysis for my data. So we decided to go for a shore dive at our local spot - Enclosure Bay. It's free, it's there, and the "vacation people" are back home and the bay is not so crowded. The high tide was at 12.35pm, so we geared up, and was at the Bay at around 12.45pm. Maybe it was because we were a bit late, and the tide was already starting to go back out, or maybe it was the amount of rain we got the last couple of days... the visibility wasn't that great. However, we got about 45mins of bottom time, saw a couple of fishes, lots of triple-finned fishes, a clown nudibranch, lots of inverts etc.

And on the way back home, Hannah reminded me that we should take a picture so that we can remember our 1st dive in Enclosure Bay in year 2014. BTW, Happy Earth Day, and there is no better way to celebrate it than going diving :)

Fish / coral tank update

Actually not much to update. Everything is doing fine. Coral frags are starting to grow and compete for space. It is quite clear to see which corals uses what strategy to gain some advantage. Pavona is making a huge space around it by stinging everything around it, the plating Montipora is growing fast, covering huge grounds and shield any coral below it from the light, but it is also "running" away from the stinging nematocysts of the neighbouring purple Acropora. The twin Hydropora has very strong nematocysts and having been keeping the Seriatopora in check, otherwise, the Seriatopora will take over the entire rock due to its fast brunching growth!

It is a race in the tank!

Look what came in the mail today!

We have been driving "illegally" around the island for the past month. This is because the van has failed the WOF (Warrant of Fitness) test due to the metal railing in which the driver's seat belt was attached broke. We had waited in vain for about a month for the Oneroa Automotive (local garage) to look for a used seat. Finally, I decided that the local guy is probably too busy and I went about looking for the seat myself. Within a day, I found the seat, bought it for NZD150 on TradeMe, and within a couple of days it is here..delivered to us via the NZ Post, all wrapped up! The employees at the Post Office was quite surprised when they saw a driver's seat in their list, and was wondering if the rest of the car is coming soon :)

We got the seat bolted in ourselves, and ready to send the van back for WOF inspection tomorrow. Then, we can register the vehicle and no longer will we be illegal :)

On another note, we had to do out medical check-up as well (every 36 months) for our visa application. We found the cheapest place in town, and after spending nearly 3 hours waiting in the clinic, we finally got all our tests done. The good thing about this clinic is that all their tests are done in-house, and within 24 hours, our results are submitted to Immigration New Zealand. And you probably guess it - both Hannah and I are well and healthy. I am a bit un-weight, but still within the healthy category. Therefore, Hannah is looking for ways to put some weights on me, so that I do not weigh the same as her :P