The black-backed gull above surveys land and sea.  We can only imagine how he perceives the islands of New Zealand.  When you get to Middle Earth (aka New Zealand) there are things you expect to see, thanks to reading the travel guides ahead of  time.  But the best part of traveling are the surprises —…

Flowers and animals add a lot to a film like the Narnia tales or LOTR and Peter Jackson had lots of critters and plants to choose from. Three stars to whoever can first identify the following flowering plant. This is yellow gorse, which belongs in the UK, particularly Scotland, but is invasive in New Zealand.…

Mountains.  Big, beautiful, snow-covered mountains of considerable height and breadth.  It is no wonder that these ranges in Middle Earth are called the Southern Alps.  Though not as high as the Alps in Switzerland they are breath-taking, and serve various purposes in the LOTR films.  There is Mordor and Isengard and the trek of Gandalf…

Those of us who love LOTR or the Narnia Tales or both, know perfectly well what a huge roll water plays in these works.  In terms of plot, water works.  Who can forget the dramatic scene where Frodo paddles off on his own but Samwise will not let him go?   “I’m going to Mordor…

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