These photos are the clean streets, yet just off them, well, not terribly pleasant.
This is an overview of Trinidad.
This is a typical street (although this one isn’t cobbled). And yes, more horses and carts than cars!
This is the image on the quarter coin (see below) – a famous Trinidad scene.
This is one of the main highways – 4 lanes. A couple of interesting things. First, note the condition of the road. It was full of potholes and uneven surfaces and the driver frequently changed lanes or slowed down to avoid these. Second, where is the traffic? Not many can afford a car so not much traffic at all. In fact, look at the photo below to see how people get around in Cuba.
Hitching (and often paying for it) is the most common way to get around outside of the cities.
This is the major department store in Cienfuegos (about 150 000 people). I don’t think Harvey Norman has anything to be concerned about.
Rubbish collection in Cienfuegos.
This is my favourite – you’d take your chance wouldn’t you? Give up or run? Run! Mind you, if they catch you, have a look below to see where they send you.
The prison just outside of Cienfuegos.
Here is a picture of the inside of the Cuban plane (which was filthy by the way) as we landed. It looks like smoke but imagine it is vapour of some sort. Both when landing in Cuba and back in Mexico, the passengers clapped once the plane landed! I don’t recall these two things occurring on any Air New Zealand flight.
Did a tour in Savannah on a Segway. I want one!!!
Went to Disney World and got on all the rides I wanted too – OK, so a big kid at heart.
Went to the Kennedy Space Center – an absolutely amazing experience.
The Space Shuttle Atlanta on the launch pad for the last ever launch scheduled for 24 February.
Saturn 5 which was the rocket to launch the Apollos. This is over 100m long and is totally overwhelming to look at.
A space suit.
There have been a lot of pictures of the devastation, some of which I have shared elsewhere. However, this picture below is different as I think it shows the acceleration and force. I lifted the remote control off the couch about an hour after the quake, and expected to find a clean outline of the remote (dirt flew from everywhere and has totally embedded in the couch).
However, what I found was that not only the outline of the remote, but the buttons had been impressed into the couch. Given that nothing fell on the remote to drive it into the couch, the only explanation was the force of the quake lifted and drove the couch into the remote at such an acceleration that the remote didn’t bounce but became imbedded into the couch!
I am in Bangkok for a workshop. Here are some pics.
The infamous water taxi.
Madame Tussauds – I could have smiled I guess.
In the article below, the Coastguard describes people’s at-risk behaviour as “crazy” and “human nature.” I don’t agree with the “crazy” but do agree with the “human nature.” People see very clear positive outcomes for watching a tsunami rather than the negative outcomes for missing such an extraordinary and scarce event. In addition, we see the lack of antecedent control when the consequences do not support the desired response.
So, as is often the case, the positive outcomes follow the at-risk behaviour and the negative outcomes follow the safe behaviour.
ARTICLE
Many Kiwis Ignore Tsunami Warnings
People heading to the beach to watch the tsunami are crazy, says the coastguard.
Coastguard Northern Region duty officer John Cowan, said today people heading to the beach should turn around and head the other way.
The tsunami warning for the east coast had little effect on many people on Auckland’s North Shore who continued to head to the beach and head to sea in their boats.
Two women having coffee on Milford Beach said they had a good vantage point and another woman about to head out on a walk to Takapuna Beach said she had her flippers.
However, Mr Cowan said the warning should be heeded and people should head to high ground.
“Stay away from the beaches. Don’t go out on the water and if you are already out on the water up anchor and head to deeper water at least half a mile off shore.”
Mr Cowan said many boats were ignoring the warning and heading out to sea but many people spoken to up and down the East Coast Bays on Auckland’s North Shore were unaware of the tsunami warning.
Mr Cowan said it appeared human nature was allowing people to head to the beaches for a vantage point.
I moved house less than 12 months ago. These pictures are next door to where I used to live. I walked past some of the worst parts of the inner city less than 12 hours prior to the earthquake. Glad I have the memories as what was there no longer exists.
