A little repose in Mombasa, Kenya, July 2011

Beach time and Haller Park

Ahhh...nothing like a little beach time after spending weeks working every day offshore! Upon completing my final rotation on the MMO/PAM job in Mozambique I spent time with a friend from the ship relaxing at the Voyager Beach Hotel in the northern beach area of Mombasa. We had a great break relaxing at the hotel and exploring a wonderful local site, Haller Park. 

The highlights of visiting Haller Park included walking through the forest (Haller Park is a converted quarry region; from barren disused quarry to forest, grasslands and ponds), seeing, and scratching the necks of, the giant tortoises, watching the alligators feed and seeing the hippos including the now famous Owen (of Owen and Mzee). Such a nice break after working hard on the offshore rotation :)

Views around the Voyager Beach Hotel

One of my favourite places to hang out at the hotel...the pool!

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Love the vegetation in the park!

They actually had to make this sign??

Aldabra tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) 

Two of Haller Park's hippos (Hippopotamus amphibius)

Crocodiles of Haller Park 

Feeding time!

Aldabra Tortoise ...apparently they like a good scratch on their necks and heads :)

Back on the MMO/PAM job in Mozambique, June, 2011

Busy second MMO and PAM rotation offshore, Mozambique

It's always great when us MMOs get contracts with multiple rotations and after a lovely break at home I returned to the Geo Caribbean to work on the same contract I was on in April. This was another wonderful rotation with more calm seas, good sightings and acoustic detections. I feel so lucky that I was able to return for another wonderful rotation offshore Mozambique where I was able to once again enjoy the amenities of the Geo Caribbean and the wildlife the offshore waters offer :)
  

The fish market in Dar...so stinky!!

Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus)

Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus)

More short-finned pilot whales! (Globicephala macrorhynchus)

Cabo Delgado Lighthouse, off northern Mozambique

Roughing it on the way to work...at the Pemba Beach Hotel, Mozambique

A skink hanging out in a tree at the hotel

Home sweet home, May, 2011

Visit with my brother on the west coat of Vancouver Island, Dinner with friends, winery tour and scenes around Beacon Hill Park

When I completed my contract in Mozambique in April (see previous post) I came home to relax and enjoy my time with family and friends. My brother, who lived further north on Vancouver Island, had rented a small cabin on the west coast of Vancouver Island during his week of holidays so I joined him for a couple of days. We had a great visit, during which time we enjoyed the views of the ocean from the cabin (and the hot tub facing the water!) and hiked along the ocean. 

After catching up with my brother I had dinner and met up with friends at one of my favourite restaurants in Victoria, Ferris' Oyster Bar and Grill, went on a wonderful winery tour in the Cowichan Valley with Wilson Tours and wandered around Beacon Hill Park, which is literally right next to where I live, and had coffee at the Dockside Green Caffe Fantastico to meet my friend Natalie's new puppy. It was a lovely way to spend my break at home :)

Lunch with my brother at Mom's Cafe in Sooke 

Can't stop looking for whales...even from the hot tub with a glass of wine, off the west coast of Vancouver Island

Local wildlife, a bald eagle, also enjoying the views

Love the west coast beaches!

Dinner with friends at Ferris' Oyster Bar and Grill. Yum!

I couldn't resist taking a photo of this little guy waiting for his owner outside of a pub on Government Street 

Cohen, the coolest Devon Rex cat ever!!

One of my favourite bike rides...along Dallas Road to Beach Road in Oak Bay. Views of Chatham and Discovery Islands with San Juan Island, WA in the background

My good friend Jacklyn and I at Rocky Creek Winery during our wine tour in the Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island

Funky place at one of the stops during the wine tour

Blue Grouse Winery

Views around lovely Beacon Hill Park near my place

Having coffee with my good friend Natalie and her new sweetheart of a pup, Darcy!

So cute!