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Which came first, the chicken or the egg? The millennium problem has been solved!
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
This is an age-old question, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" Philosophically unsolvable, it has puzzled thinkers for centuries. I remember watching a cross talk show many years ago. The two comedians asked and answered questions, and their words were witty, which constantly aroused laughter, but in the end they still couldn’t come to a definite conclusion whether the chicken or the egg came first.
But from a biological point of view, the answer should be that the egg came first.
这是因为随着时间的推移，进化是通过动物体内遗传物质的微小、渐进的变化来进行的。在通过自然选择或人工选择后，经过一段时间后，动物的特征就会很明显。以野生的火狐狸为例，人们做过实验来去掉咬人和逃跑的野性，通过只选择野性少和对人友好的一小部分狐狸来繁殖后代。经过35代约40年的时间，家养的火狐狸就诞生了。当然从鸟进化到鸡经过了很长的时间。在很遥远过去的某个时刻，一只不完全是鸡的鸟经过遗传物质的微小变化产下了一个包含基因突变的蛋，从而产生了世界上第一只真正的鸡。这意味着第一个孵化出鸡的蛋来自一只不完全是鸡但非常非常接近鸡的鸟。
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A walk and go (6) Australia and New Zealand cruise tour – New Zealand (The End)
New Zealand's Milford Sound is located in the Fiordland National Park in the southwestern part of the South Island. It is a world natural heritage and one of New Zealand's most popular tourist attractions. Milford Sound is a fjord about 15 kilometers long that was formed due to glacial activity. On the cliffs on both sides of the fjord, waterfalls cascade down, the most famous of which are the spectacular Jasper Falls (Stirling Falls) and the twin waterfalls (The Chasm). In addition, tourists can also enjoy the strange rock formations and deep bays. Visitors can take a cruise or small kayak across the fjord and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Alternatively, hiking can be done nearby to explore the natural beauty that surrounds the fjord. This is the spectacular Stirling Falls.
Milford Sound is one of New Zealand's most beautiful attractions, attracting a large number of tourists every year to explore this mysterious land. The fiord is home to seals, penguins, dolphins and other marine animals. The Milford Discovery Center and Underwater Observatory provide a glimpse into life of rare black coral and other marine life. Cruises are comfortable, convenient and intuitive. The scenery of the fjord is picturesque and mysterious, it is really a beautiful fairyland on earth.
The movie Lord of the Rings was filmed in New Zealand. Director Peter Jackson chose to shoot the film in New Zealand because he thought the country's natural beauty was perfect for the film's representation of Middle-earth. Many famous scenes, such as Hobbit Town, Lorien Castle, and the Wilderness of Middle-earth, were filmed in New Zealand, and New Zealand's mountains, forests, and lakes also provided the perfect background for the film. After the Holland America cruise ship arrived in Wellington, I visited the filming location of the movie "Lord of the Rings".
Image by Juan Agustín Correa Torrealba from Pixabay
Image by Denys Korobov from Pixabay
The Maori people of New Zealand are the aborigines of New Zealand. They call themselves "Maori" (Māori), which comes from the Maori word "tangata whenua", which means "indigenous people". The ancestors of the Maori people in New Zealand came from the Polynesian islands and arrived in New Zealand around 1000 AD. They established their own community and culture in New Zealand and developed a unique language and art form. Contact between Maori and Europeans began in the late 17th century, but it was not until the mid-19th century that Europeans began to settle and colonize New Zealand on a large scale. Colonial rule during this period resulted in a dramatic decline in the Māori population, as well as a severe loss of their land and cultural rights.
New Zealand Maori currently make up about 15 percent of New Zealand's population and are the country's largest ethnic minority. In New Zealand, Māori enjoy special status and rights, including the official status of the Māori language, Māori constituencies (a special constituency to ensure Māori political representation), Māori land rights and cultural protection. However, Māori still face many challenges, including unemployment and inequality in educational opportunities, as well as a number of health and social issues. In recent years, the New Zealand government and social organizations have been working hard to strengthen the rights and welfare of Māori to eliminate these inequalities and challenges.
We had the pleasure of visiting a Maori village. The Maori are good at singing and dancing, and they are hospitable and gave us a wonderful song and dance show. After the performance, we suddenly got a heavy downpour of rain. Although the tourist bus stopped not far away, it was still difficult to get there. Fortunately, I was wearing a hooded jacket, and I quickly lent my folding umbrella to a fellow tourist.
Image by Nydegger René from Pixabay
Māori sticking out their tongues is often considered a Māori cultural icon, a practice known as haka, a traditional Māori dance. In the haka, the dancers stick out their tongues, squint their eyes, and display extreme courage and strength to show the audience the cultural heritage and glory of the Māori people. Sticking out the tongue may also symbolize the intention to challenge and threaten an enemy. In modern times, Maori usually perform haka on some special occasions (such as sports competitions, important meetings, etc.) to show the charm and uniqueness of Maori culture, and also to convey the confidence and pride of Maori to the outside world.
Because I bought Holland America Line's "Have It All" special meal, I ordered lamb chops and ribeye steak in the separate night. The taste was good, and the waiter was also very good.
Image by dacheng1995 from Pixabay
Image by Robert Owen-Wahl from PixabayWhite Island, New Zealand, is an active volcano that last erupted on December 9, 2019. At the time, about 47 tourists and staff were on the island. The outbreak reportedly killed at least 21 people and injured 26, including a newlywed couple on their honeymoon. During an eruption, the volcano spewed hot gas, steam, magma and ash, creating a plume of smoke that reached 12,000 feet (3,658 meters). Immediately after the outbreak, the local government launched a large-scale rescue operation, including sending helicopters and rescue teams to the island. The volcanic eruption has also attracted widespread attention from the international community. For more than three years, when our cruise ship passed by, the huge crater was still emitting bursts of white smoke.
New Zealand honey is a type of honey known for its high quality and unique taste. The honey is collected from native flowers by wild bees in New Zealand, so each New Zealand honey has a unique flavor and nutritional profile.
There are many types of honey in New Zealand, the most famous of which is MANUKA honey. This honey is made from the nectar collected by wild bees on New Zealand's unique Manuka tree. It tastes rich and has a unique Manuka honey taste. In addition, New Zealand honey also includes kappa honey, bee pollen, royal jelly and so on. Among them, kappa honey is made from the nectar of plants collected by kappa bees in New Zealand. It is rich in nutrients and has many health benefits.
New Zealand honey is highly regarded for its high quality, which benefits from the protection of New Zealand's natural environment and strict management of bee breeding and collection. Many people choose to buy New Zealand honey for its natural health benefits, which include antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, to name a few.
Soon the 14-day pleasant cruise came to an end. I left the cruise for the airport with 2 bottles of New Zealand honey bought on a shore excursion in my luggage. Before going ashore, there is a special person responsible for inspecting the honey. Any honey that is not produced in New Zealand is not allowed to be brought ashore, and New Zealand honey is not allowed to transit in Australia. Fortunately, I flew directly back to the United States and brought back MANUKA honey.
We saw a small plane at Auckland Airport. This is a record-setting aircraft for Jean Batten (1909-1982), who was a famous New Zealand female pilot who became a world famous long-distance pilot in the 1930s. Born in Rotorua, New Zealand, she has developed a strong interest in flying since she was a child. Through continuous efforts, she has made extraordinary achievements in the field of flying.
In 1934, Jean Batten flew across the route from England to Australia in just 14 days, 22 hours and 30 minutes. In 1935, she set the record again, becoming the first person to fly between London, England, and Auckland, New Zealand, in just 11 days and 45 minutes. In 1936, she set a record flight from England to New Zealand in just 10 days. Jean Batten is not only an excellent pilot, but also a very brave woman. She faced challenges, such as bad weather and mechanical failures, but she persevered to achieve her goal. She also joined the RAF during World War II, rising to the rank of first lieutenant in 1941.
Batten has received many honors and awards throughout her career, including being made an OBE. Her courage, determination and fighting spirit inspired countless people and made her one of the most admired women of the 20th century.
I flew back to the United States smoothly, and everyone was very happy at home. This is a walk and go trip, without any preparation, and it went so smoothly. I ate well and had a lot of fun.
I uploaded a photo of myself and asked AI to make an avatar of me. I have only heard that it can rejuvenate, but it turns out that AI can really do it. The image, the lighting, and the color of the clothes are all the same, and I transform into a handsome boy with piercing eyes in a few seconds.
Thank you very much for reading my blog post, see you next time.
The end.
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A walk and go (5) Australia and New Zealand cruise tour – Tasmania
After leaving Melbourne, the cruise ship arrived in Tasmania (Tasmania) the next day, which is Australia's smallest state and is located in southeastern Australia. It is an island state made up of the Australian mainland and some surrounding islands, separated from the state of Victoria only by the Bass Strait, which is about 240 kilometers away. Tasmania is a beautiful and characterful place, known for its beautiful natural environment, rich wildlife and rich history. It has vast forests, mountains, coastlines and islands.
In addition, Tasmania has many historical and cultural attractions, such as the World Heritage Site of Ottawa and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Whether visitors like nature, history, culture or food, Tasmania is a great travel destination. Here, visitors can engage in various outdoor activities such as mountaineering, trekking, biking and fishing. The Overland Track is an Australian bushwalking track across Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. More than nine thousand people walk through it every year.
Tasmania is also known for its food culture, with acclaim for locally produced fresh seafood, cheese and wine. When I went ashore to visit a winery, I tried the chocolate wine. It tasted good, and I bought a bottle immediately. When returning to the cruise ship, because the wine cannot be brought back to the cabin, it will be kept by the cruise ship until it is sent back when leaving the ship on the last day. When we get home and play cards with friends, we all drink together, and everyone likes it.
After leaving the winery, the tourist bus soon came to an unobtrusive building called "Wonders of Wynyard", who knew it was a treasure trove of antique cars after entering the door. There are a large number of various cars from the beginning of the last century, especially the antique cars of the famous Ford Motor Company.
Ford Motor Company is one of the world's largest automakers, headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, USA. It was founded by Henry Ford in 1903. At the beginning of its establishment, Ford Motor Company mainly made high-end cars, which were expensive and only a few wealthy people could buy. However, by 1908, Ford introduced the famous "Model T", an inexpensive, durable, and easy-to-handle car that became the car of choice for the average American family.
The reason why Ford's Model T is so popular is that Ford has implemented a production line manufacturing method, which greatly reduces production costs and greatly reduces the price of cars. This manufacturing method not only improves production efficiency, but also becomes the iconic manufacturing method of industrial production in the 20th century. The appearance of automobiles has greatly improved productivity, formed a highway network and promoted rapid economic development. Here's a 1911 "Model T" below.
In the 1940s, Ford began mass producing military vehicles, helping the United States to victory in World War II. After the war, Ford began to introduce a wider variety of cars and continued to innovate in automotive technology. Ford introduced new technologies such as front-wheel drive, tire pressure monitoring systems, and battery ignition systems to continuously improve vehicle performance and safety. Today, Ford Motor Company is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world. It has an extensive sales network and a rich product line around the world, producing and selling various types of vehicles such as cars, trucks, SUVs, pickups and luxury cars.
Standing on the coast, it is common to see fishing boats passing by. Australia's fishing industry is an important economic sector, providing a large number of employment opportunities and contributing a considerable part of the gross domestic product. Australia has abundant marine resources, and its fisheries resources include a wide variety of fish, shellfish, crustaceans and other marine life.
If you're lucky, you'll spot an Echidna, a mammal that lives in Australia and New Guinea, also known as a hedgehog. They are monotreme mammals, one of only five egg-laying mammals in the world, and the only mammal without nipples.
The body shape of the echidna is particularly peculiar. It is covered with short and dense bristles, about 5 cm long, and there is a layer of soft hair under the bristles. Their bodies are shaped like a cone, with long, pointed noses that can be retracted. They have short forelimbs and strong hind limbs for fast running and digging.
Echidnas mainly feed on small invertebrates such as insects, earthworms, ants and termites, and use their sharp mouths and long tongues to catch food. Echidnas hide in burrows or bushes during the day and come out to feed at night. Due to its unique biological characteristics and unique appearance, echidnas are considered important cultural symbols and tourism resources in Australia and New Guinea.
The Tasmanian Devil is a carnivorous marsupial native to the island state of Tasmania, Australia. They are the largest carnivorous marsupials in existence and are known for their strong jaws, aggressive behavior and distinctive black fur with white markings on the chest. Tasmanian devils are generally nocturnal and are known to scavenge or hunt prey such as birds, reptiles and other small mammals. They are also known to have a very strong sense of smell, which helps them locate prey and carrion.
Unfortunately, Tasmanian devils have faced major threats in recent years, including a contagious and often fatal facial tumor disease that has decimated the devil's population. As a result, they are now listed as endangered, and conservation efforts are underway to help protect and preserve remaining populations.
Had a great day in Tasmania seeing our ship from afar when it was moored in Port Burnie. The next two days will be at sea, heading to beautiful New Zealand.
After returning to the ship, because today (Feb 14, 2023) is Valentine’s Day, there is already a beautiful Valentine’s Day cake in the ship restaurant
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A walk-and-go (4) Australia and New Zealand cruise tour – Melbourne
Holland America Line has a "Have It All" premium cruise package that includes shore excursions, wine and beverages, specialty meals, and WiFi. After I bought it, I can drink as much as I want with my cruise card. Although the upper limit is 15 glasses of wine and drinks per day, I can only drink 2-4 glasses, and I still feel good. Especially every afternoon from 4:00 to 5:30, I relax and drink fine wine on the deck on the 10th floor. Under the bright summer sun in the South Pacific, watching the happy people and the endless sea view, I feel how life can be like this good?
The hotel called an online car-hailing car for me, and I arrived at the White Bay Cruise Terminal. After delivering the large suitcase, I first submitted a 24-hour negative COVID19 test certificate and vaccination history to Holland America Line, and then presented my Australian and New Zealand electronic visas and my own American passport, and soon boarded the ship smoothly. The cruise attendant was already waiting on my floor. As soon as I met him, he guided me to the room and opened the door for me enthusiastically. He is an Indonesian, a very nice guy.
Holland America Line is a luxury cruise company headquartered in Seattle, USA. Founded in 1873, it is one of the oldest cruise companies in the world. Holland America Line is part of a large cruise industry renowned for its elegance, tradition and luxurious service. Holland America Line's fleet of 14 ships, including large cruise ships and ocean-going expedition ships, offers itineraries around the world. Holland America Line's destinations are all over the world, including the Caribbean, Northern Europe, Mediterranean, Far East, Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica. In addition, Holland America Cruises also provides themed cruise tours, such as food, music, culture and sailing themed tours, to meet the needs of different travelers.
Holland America Line's ships are characterized by tradition, elegance and luxury, with elegantly designed cabins and public areas, as well as high-quality food and service. There are a variety of entertainment facilities on the cruise, including theaters, casinos, spas, gyms and various restaurants. In addition, Holland America Line offers a variety of travel experiences, including cultural, historical and natural adventures. I like the food on board, especially steak, crispy roast pork, Nanyang style fried rice noodles and soup and Japanese sushi. The water used by this cruise ship comes from desalinated seawater, so there is plenty of water.
Just after dinner, I heard the captain say on the radio that the ship will sail soon, and I hope everyone can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Sydney Harbor on the deck. Because the boat has to pass under the Sydney Harbor Bridge, it depends on the water level under the bridge, the tide and the time. I immediately went to the 10th floor deck, it was very windy, but fortunately the weather was fine.
Soon after, the ship was going to pass under the bridge. It seemed to me that the antenna on the ship was higher than the bridge deck, and finally passed without any danger. Cheers to the official start of our 14-day cruise!
The next day the cruise ship sailed on the TASMAN sea, the sun was shining but the sea wind was blowing so hard that it was impossible to take a walk on the deck. When watching the show in the evening, the captain raised a glass to welcome everyone to board the ship, and the atmosphere was very joyous. There are great shows every night, with programs such as the BBC Earth Concert, and the partnership brings their innovative and stunning shows to the world stage. The award-winning soundtrack will be performed live as BBC Earth's incredible wildlife footage fills the big screen. It was an unforgettable experience that gave everyone a new perspective on the planet.
There is also a troupe of elite dancers that tours the Holland-America route and presents the works of famous choreographers. Combining high-level dance with technology to create a unique program, and using state-of-the-art projection technology to add a new dimension to dance and wow the audience, they blend modern dance with vivid imagery to depict emotional range.
Image by Alexandr Ivanov from PixabayAfter a day at sea, we arrived in Melbourne. Melbourne is one of Australia's most vibrant and cultural cities. Located in the southeastern part of Australia, in the center of Victoria, Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. According to 2019 figures, Melbourne's population is 5.17 million people. Melbourne has a temperate maritime climate with four distinct seasons, with warm and pleasant summers and relatively cool winters.
Melbourne is known for its diverse cultural and arts events, including museums, concerts, film festivals, fashion weeks, food festivals and more. In addition, Melbourne is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia, with many well-known attractions, such as the Royal Exhibition Building, St. Paul's Cathedral, Flemington Gardens and so on. Melbourne is one of the education centers in Australia, with many world-renowned universities, such as the University of Melbourne, Monash University, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and so on. Melbourne is one of Australia's commercial and financial centers and one of the most competitive cities in the world. Its main industries include finance, education, medical care, tourism and technology.
Image by Paul Macallan from Pixabay
I took a shore excursion to see the long-awaited "Angel" sculpture by local artist Deborah Halpern. The sculpture is 7.6 meters high and weighs about 2 tons. It is made of colorful ceramic fragments. It is one of the iconic sights in the heart of Melbourne, attracting thousands of tourists to appreciate it.
"Angel" is on the side of the Southbank Promenade, close to the Yarra River. The place is a very busy tourist area with lots of cafes, restaurants and shopping around. In Melbourne, this sculpture is also very popular and has become one of the representatives of local culture and art.
Deborah Halpern is a well-known local artist whose work is regularly exhibited in galleries and museums across Australia and internationally. She is known for her vibrant and colorful art style, and "Angel" is one of her most famous works. First exhibited at the 1988 World Expo in Melbourne, the sculpture represents peace, harmony and the connection between human beings. "Angel" is a beautiful, vibrant and meaningful sculpture that has become an iconic sight in the heart of Melbourne. It not only represents the artistic style of artist Deborah Halpern, but also represents the cultural and social values of the city.
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A walk-and-go (3) Australia and New Zealand cruise tour – Taronga Zoo
The next day (February 11, 2023) I will board the ship. After getting up early in the morning and having breakfast, I tested myself for COVID19 and the result was negative. I am very happy. Immediately reported the test results online, and successfully received the Boarding Pass. When I saw the boarding pass, the boarding place was indeed the White Bay Cruise Terminal. Now it's time to go to the zoo and see cute Australian animals.
Founded in 1916, Taronga Zoo is a very famous zoo located in Sydney, Australia. It is located on a hill beside Sydney Harbour, where you can enjoy the beautiful view of Sydney city. This zoo is one of the oldest, largest and most popular zoos in Australia. Taronga Zoo covers an area of 52 acres and is home to more than 4,000 animals, including more than 350 native Australian animals and more than 250 international animals. The zoo adopts advanced animal protection technology and environmental protection technology, and provides many unforgettable exhibitions and activities. Visitors can see kangaroos, koalas, penguins, crocodiles, lions, gorillas, elephants, giraffes and many other animals. The zoo also offers a variety of events and experiences, including keeper talks, animal feed experiences, lion tours, penguin tours, band performances, and bird shows. In addition, the zoo also has a cafe, restaurant (Taronga Food Market) and gift shop, Taronga Zoo is a very popular tourist attraction in Sydney and a family-friendly place for visitors to enjoy the day.
In this era of artificial intelligence, we ask the famous ChatGPT to write a prose poem to add to the fun:
This is Taronga,
The prosperity of the animal kingdom,
Kangaroos and koalas are lazy,
Elephants and giraffes are graceful.Greenery, clear water,
The hills are rolling and the scenery is superb,
Here the animals run free,
Wildness and harmony coexist and blend.Tourists are like clouds, attracting the attention of the world,
Visit this magical zoo,
Appreciate the uncanny craftsmanship of nature,
Harvest memories and precious life experiences.Taronga Zoo,
World attractions, the spiritual home of mankind,
May the source of life flow forever,
Nature and human beings will always prosper together.What a "nature and human beings will always prosper together"! Visitors can take a shuttle ferry every 30 minutes to Taronga Zoo at Circular Quay. The ferry trip is definitely an unforgettable experience. In just over 10 minutes, tourists will pass and admire the Sydney Harbor Bridge, the International Cruise Terminal, and the Sydney Opera House. The weather was beautiful on the day I went, a brave lover was driving a small plane in the sky in the blue sky to write a marriage proposal, wishing good luck and success. The plane is writing "Marry Me" in the blue sky.
After a while, the ferry arrived at the zoo pier, and a zoo bus was preparing to pick up tourists to the main entrance of the zoo. I know that walking along the seashore is another gate of the zoo. I like to walk, so instead of taking the zoo bus, I walk along the seaside. The scenery is beautiful all the way, and the zoo will arrive soon.
There are a lot of giraffes here, walking around leisurely.
The zoo is facing downtown Sydney, the Harbor Bridge, and the Opera House, with a picturesque view.
Image by candicebo from Pixabay
Giraffes are the tallest terrestrial herd animals, their necks can be as long as 2 meters,
and has a very long tongue and neck. They are herbivores, feeds mainly on leaves and shoots. Giraffes are interesting animals, it has a very strong heart and can run very fast. Very friendly, they can often be seen feeding them in safari parks or zoos. 
Image by videoshmoop from Pixabay
I learned from the Internet that there used to be Fennec Fox in the Taronga Zoo. I searched for a long time this time and checked the zoo map, but I couldn't find it.
The fennec fox is one of the smallest canids in the world, about the size of a kitten. In 2013, it ranked first on the list of the world's cutest species. There are huge ears, the ear length is about 15 cm, and the ratio of ears to body is among the best. The large ears of the fennec fox can dissipate heat to adapt to the dry and hot climate of the desert, at the same time, it can quickly respond to the small sounds around it. 
Image by Stevie Lee from Pixabay
The koala bear is an arboreal animal endemic to Australia,
has gray soft fur and large, round ears. Koala bears are herbivores, feeds mainly on leaves. They live in trees and use their sharp claws to climb. 
Koala bears are very lazy and usually sleep in trees for more than 20 hours a day.
Image by Jongjoon Moon from Pixabay
Alpacas, also called grass mud horses, have the highest economic value of wool and are very cute animals.
Kangaroos are one of Australia's most famous animals,
they have strong hind legs and a long tail. Kangaroos have relatively small forelimbs, they hop on their hind legs and move very fast. Kangaroos are herbivores, feeds mainly on grasses and young leaves. Mother kangaroo has a pouch, cubs can be kept inside, hence the name. 
Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay
Kangaroos and koala bears are Australia's star animals. The day I went was hot, so I quickly bought an ice cream to eat. The zoo only accepts credit cards and not cash. There is also a good restaurant in the garden, and I had a satisfying lunch.
Elephants are one of the largest land animals in the world,
It has a very strong body and a long trunk. They are herbivores, feeds mainly on trees, shrubs and grasses. Elephants are also very intelligent animals, can remember the location of things and human language. There are no native elephants in Australia. There are Asian elephants in zoos. In its heyday, there were as many as one million wild elephants. Now there are only about 40,000. The zoo's elephant area is located next to the waterfall. Taronga Zoo often has concerts in summer, and the back of the stage is facing downtown Sydney, what a beautiful scenery.
After spending a pleasant day at the zoo, when I was about to return to the hotel, I suddenly thought of where to eat dinner? I'm so full from lunch, now I just need to eat a little bit. Just walked past a donut shop and got a donut and coffee, awesome. Ready to board tomorrow.
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A walk-and-go cruise in Australia and New Zealand (2) - Sydney Harbor
Although Australia has lifted the COVID19 entry restrictions, the cruise company Holland has very strict epidemic prevention measures. Not only does it require all vaccinations against COVID19, but it must also have a negative test for COVI19 within 24 hours before boarding. It also requires everyone on board to wear a mask unless they are eating. From the United States to Australia, there were huge crowds of people along the way, and most of them did not wear masks. It is almost impossible not to be exposed to COVID on the road. How to do it? Only strengthen my own immunity. I take two capsules of Airborne every morning to keep myself in good shape while traveling without getting cold, overworked, or rained. Keep the temperature in hotel rooms or ship cabins above 21C or 70F, wear masks in closed spaces and avoid close contact with other people for a long time. And after returning to the United States, take a good rest for a few days. It seems that these measures are very effective, and the whole journey feels good and energetic.
Due to jet lag, I went to bed early and woke up earlier. The hotel has a buffet breakfast, which is very convenient, simple and affordable, and coffee and juice are all available. I also really like the hot soup there.
Sydney, Australia's largest city, is also a cosmopolitan, diverse and prosperous city. Sydney has a population of approximately 5.5 million people and English is the official language, although many other languages can be heard from around the world. Sydney is located on the east coast of Australia and is the capital of New South Wales. The urban area of Sydney is located on the south bank of Sydney Harbour, surrounded by mountains and ocean, with picturesque scenery. Sydney has a rich cultural background and history, including Aboriginal Australian culture and European colonial history. The Sydney Opera House, Harbor Bridge and Sydney Tower are iconic buildings and attractions that attract many tourists. Sydney has a mild climate with four distinct seasons. It is hot and humid in the Australian summer (December to February). Sydney has two international cruise terminals, one at Circular Quay and the other at White Bay. I called to inquire about the cruise company and learned that it was Circular Quay. Because in the end which terminal may change at any time, just like the boarding gate of the plane often changes. I want to go to Circular Quay to confirm it first, so as not to panic temporarily.
Circular Quay is in the Rocks (The Rocks NSW), a historic masonry neighborhood of sand-paved alleys, dead-ends and courtyards in the heart of Sydney, on the edge of Sydney Harbour. The history of this area can be Dating back to Sydney's early settlements, it is home to many cultural and historical attractions. There are many museums, galleries, boutiques, pubs and small shops in The Rocks, making it an ideal place for visitors to learn about Sydney's early history and culture. People can enjoy food and entertainment here. I bought a stuffed koala bear with a baby koala on its right shoulder at the gift shop in The Rocks for our cute little granddaughter.
I took the train from Central Station (Central) to Circular Quay for three stops. When I got off the train, I saw the international cruise terminal. A cruise ship had just arrived, and people were dragging their luggage off the ship and walking towards the station. I went to the cruise terminal and asked a staff member what ship was on Saturday. She was very enthusiastic to find it for me, and then told me that it was MAJESTIC PRINCESS, and said with a smile that whoever has the largest ship would berth at Circular Quay, because the cruise ship departing from White Bay must pass under the Sydney Harbor Bridge. It seems that our Holland ship was smaller, so it's a pity that a good place was given to the big ship PRINCESS. I found out later that everything was the best arrangement. The cruise ship passing under the Sydney Harbor Bridge is a picturesque and fascinating scenery. All the tourists on the ship rushed to the deck, waved and cheered with the Harbor Bridge and the pedestrians on the bridge, and there was joy.
Image by Alistair McLellan from PixabayThe Sydney Harbor Bridge is an iconic bridge and one of the main attractions in central Sydney. Completed in 1932, it connects Sydney's city center to the northern suburbs across Sydney Harbour. Visitors can walk, cycle or drive across the bridge and enjoy stunning views of Sydney's seascape and skyline from the bridge.
Image by Squirrel_photos from Pixabay
This time I wanted to walk on the bridge, and when I got to the rock area, the bridge was right in front of me. Just can't see the elevator on the bridge. There happened to be a British couple who also wanted to go on the bridge, so we walked together and quickly found the elevator to get on the bridge. From the bridge, we could see the International Cruise Terminal and the Sydney Opera House.
Image by Pascal Beckmann from Pixabay
The Harbor Bridge is the only bridge that can be climbed. From a distance, I saw many people slowly moving up the bridge ridge. At high altitude, the sea breeze must be howling. The people climbing are really brave and full of adventurous spirit. Of course, a glimpse of the peerless beauty will make them unforgettable for life.
It's a pity that when we walked on the bridge, the weather gradually became gloomy, and it was going to rain heavily. Everyone was rushing back. A mother was playing and running with a little boy, so cute.
After getting off the bridge, I went to the Mercantile Hotel for lunch. It was my favorite fish and chips. At this time, it was raining heavily. I was secretly glad that I did not encounter such heavy rain on the Harbor Bridge.
After lunch, it rained and the sky cleared. I immediately started walking along the sea to the opera house. The Sydney Opera House is one of Australia's iconic buildings and one of the most famous opera houses in the world. It sits on the edge of Sydney Harbor, and has a distinctive sail-shaped roof design. People can enjoy world-class performances here, including opera, ballet, concerts and plays. In addition, the ground floor of the opera house is a rest area and restaurant, surrounded by many beautiful parks and restaurants, it is an ideal place to relax and enjoy cultural activities.
Image by reinhardcwieland from Pixabay
Looking towards the International Cruise Terminal on the way to the Opera House, it was very beautiful.
Sydney has countless fun places, Bondi Beach, Hyde Park, Sydney Tower, Wollongong, Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens, Darling Harbor, Taronga Zoo, Jenolan Caves, Nan Tien Temple, Centennial Park, Queen Victoria Building, Chinese Garden and Chinatown, Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Harbor National Park, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, University of Sydney, Sydney St. Andrew's Cathedral, Circular Quay, Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney Museum, St. St. Mary's Cathedral, Mrs. Macaulay Seat, Sydney Wildlife World, Wollongong City Gallery, Rose Bay, Sydney Observatory, Three Sisters. So many interesting places, where should we go tomorrow? I'm still a kid at heart, going to Taronga Zoo tomorrow.
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A Walk-And-Go Cruise in Australia and New Zealand (1)
When I'm craving an unforgettable sea adventure, an Australia and New Zealand cruise is an excellent choice. It's home to stunning coastlines, spectacular mountains and one of the world's most beautiful cities, Sydney. December to February is summer in Australia. The weather is sunny and warm during this time. In late January 2023, from Minnesota, the world of ice and snow fairy tales in winter, to Australia and New Zealand, which are full of beautiful sunshine in summer, it is so attractive to take a walk-and-go cruise!
A goddess who just went to college at the age of 87 said a famous saying: "We don't stop playing because we are old, but we grow old because we stop playing." I very much agree. I also like the ideal life represented by the famous online sentence "Poetry and the Distance". My poem is a poem from the Tang Dynasty, "If you are happy in life, you must enjoy it to the fullest, don't let the golden cup be empty to the moon", and the distance is of course Australia and New Zealand half a world away.
I'll do it right away and check it out online. Soon found out that Norwegian has a 12-day Spirit cruise. Isn't this the last time I took it on a pre-pandemic Mediterranean and Middle East cruise? Great cruise! If you depart from Mingzhou on February 5, you will arrive in Sydney just in time for the departure on February 8. It was the end of January at that time, that's all, I was going to buy a boat ticket and air ticket the next day. Unexpectedly, when I bought the ticket, I found that the price of the ticket increased by 117% in one day. I thought to myself that the stock market has not risen so fast, and air tickets are already expensive, so how can I bear the price increase? Thinking about it later, looking at other cruises, Holland America Line's Noordam has an almost identical itinerary, 14 days. The ship sailed on February 11 and disembarked on February 25. The time was just right, and it was Noordam. After I bought the ticket, I checked it out. It turns out that the US passport requires a visa for Australia and New Zealand, which is very easy. These are two mobile apps. After downloading from the App store, I enter my personal information, take a photo, and receive the visa within a few minutes after paying the money.
After packing my luggage, I booked a hotel. I knew that Sydney’s public transportation system is very convenient, so I found the hotel Mercure Sydney near the Central Railway Station. I arrived in Sydney three days in advance, not only can I play first, but also I am not afraid that the delay of the plane will affect the departure of the cruise. Departed on February 6th, after a transit in Houston and a 22-hour flight, one day was lost when crossing the international date line, and it was early morning on February 8th when we arrived at Sydney Airport. Australia no longer checks for COVID, so customs clearance is simple and easy. After picking up the luggage, follow the Trains sign and soon come to the subway station.
I was told that US credit cards can be used to board the subway directly. It is extremely convenient to use, just press the credit card to enter the station, find the railway line of The central railway station, and you will arrive after a few stops. Press the credit card again to get out of the station, turn left at the gate of the train station, and you can see my hotel not far away. I arrived at the hotel at 9 am, too early to check in. After I left my luggage at the hotel, I walked to the Sydney China Town Hotel not far away and ordered Shanghai Xiaolongbao.
Image by KANGHEE HAN from Pixabay
Tipping is not mandatory in Australia, and generally not as widely accepted or practiced as it is in some other countries. However, tipping for good service is becoming more common in certain industries, such as restaurants and cafes. In these cases, a tip of 10-15% of the total bill is considered appropriate for exceptional service, although this is still not expected. Rounding to the nearest dollar is also common for convenience, but this is not considered a tip. In other businesses, such as hairdressing, taxi service and hospitality, tipping is also not required, but it is allowed if the service is exceptionally good. Tipping is not a big part of Australian culture in general, but if you think the service has been particularly good, leaving a tip as a token of appreciation is a sign of kindness.After eating, walk towards the port and watch the street view of Sydney. The streets are full of people, healthy, beautiful and friendly, and prosperous. Soon I saw the Circular Quay elevated train station, facing the harbor. As soon as I arrived, I saw a lot of people going in at the opposite ferry terminal. It turned out to be a port cruise ferry. I was on board right away as soon as I pressed my credit card. It is unbelievable that the most famous Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House are right in front of you.
Image by Design n Print from PixabayI disembarked at Barangaroo. Barangaroo is a coastal area on the west side of Sydney Harbour, which was once a port used for shipping and industry. Over time, the area has been redeveloped into a mixed-use urban area, including high-end residences, offices, shopping malls, restaurants, parks, and a cultural center. I disembarked here. I bought a cup of ShareTea pearl milk tea and sipped it under the shade of the trees by the sea, watching the happy crowd coming and going by the sea.
The goal of the Barangaroo project is to create a sustainable urban community that promotes economic development, cultural exchange and environmental protection. The project redesigns the entire area with multiple buildings and public spaces, including the following main components:
Barangaroo Central: This area is a cultural hub, including multiple theatres, museums and cultural centers, and the new campus of the University of New South Wales in Sydney.
Barangaroo South: This area mainly consists of commercial buildings and high-end residences. One of the most famous buildings is the International Finance Center Sydney Tower, the second tallest building in Sydney with a height of 271 meters.
Barangaroo Reserve: This area is a public park covering about 6 hectares and is one of the largest parks in downtown Sydney. Its design is inspired by the traditional culture of Sydney's Aboriginal people, including native vegetation, rock and water features, and a 360-degree view of the skyline.
Barangaroo is a vibrant and lively area, with many well-decorated restaurants and a new and tidy cityscape. This attracts all kinds of people, from business people to culture lovers, from locals to tourists. Its future remains vibrant and will be a vital part of the Sydney metropolitan area.
I took the city loop train back to the hotel from the WYNYARD subway station here. Today is Chinese food day, I brought a Hainanese chicken rice back to the hotel for dinner. Mercure Sydney gave me a room on the top floor with a wide view, clean and bright. The first day in Sydney passed happily.
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Letters to Juliet - A Fifty-Year-Old Letter to Finding True Love
"Letters to Juliet" is an American romantic film released in 2010, directed by Gary Winick, and the cast includes Amanda Seyfried, Juliet Binoche, Christopher April and others. Set in Verona, the film tells the story of an American girl, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), who finds true love in Italy.Sophie and her fiancé Victor (Gael García Bernal) came to Verona for a trip. She found a group of women in an attraction called "Juliet's House" replying to the love letters written by tourists to "Juliet". She joined them , to help an English lady, Claire (Vanessa Redgrave), find her young Italian holiday lover, Lorenzo (Franco Nero), a young Italian who has been separated for years. While Sophie helps Claire find her lover, she also finds her true love.
With the romantic streets, architecture and food of Verona as the background, the film presents Italian culture and romantic atmosphere. The storyline is full of warmth and emotion, with romantic love, friendship and family emotions, it is a movie full of sensibility and positive energy.
Image by Stefan Schweihofer from Pixabay
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The Most Popular OpenAI ChatGPT Chat Robot
The world-renowned Microsoft (MSFT) has invested in OpenAI's artificial intelligence chatbot chatGPT. This is to advance cutting-edge artificial intelligence research and build artificial intelligence into a new technology platform.
Among the core technologies of artificial intelligence are machine learning, natural language processing and robotics. OpenAI has developed a number of influential AI technologies, including GPT (Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) chat language model and DALL-E (Deep Autoencoder for Lifelong Learning – Evolution) image generation model based on text, and through the Ethics and Society Research Program and other initiatives to promote the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence.
So what kind of artificial intelligence is such a popular OpenAI chatGPT chat robot? chat GPT is an optimized language model specially used for dialogue, which can be man-machine dialogue or machine-machine dialogue. It would be fun to have two chatbots talking to each other! GPT, or Generative Pre-trained Transformer, is an autoregressive generative language model. It is a product of deep machine learning based on a neural network that understands and responds to human language. A large amount of training is performed on a large text data set in advance, and the next word in the sequence is predicted according to the context of the previous word during the dialogue, thereby generating a natural language that humans can understand. Transformer refers specifically to the architecture of the AI model.
Please watch the video below to learn how to use chatGPT.
Earn money with chatGPT
Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay
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Momo Violin
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Late Love
"Late Love" is a lyric song sung by Li Maoshan, released on January 1, 1987. Now please enjoy Kim Yoon Gil's new version singing "Late Love".
Image by Ben Kerckx from Pixabay
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Home Oven Slow Roasted Whole Ribeye Steak
I went to Portland, Oregon for fun in 2016, and then I rented a car for a self-driving tour. I went to Butte, Montana via Pocatello, Idaho in the evening , hurriedly found a local restaurant to buy a steak and went to the hotel for dinner. Unexpectedly, the steak was grilled very delicious. Maybe it was because I was hungry at the time, and the taste was unforgettable for a long time. This year, I passed through Butte, Montana again. Unfortunately, I have forgotten which steak restaurant it is, what a pity.
Try grilling yourself a whole (4lb-10lb) rib eye steak recently, about 1lb per diner, here's how:
1. Buy ribeye roast at Costco, a large steak
2. 6 hours before entering the oven, place the steak on a baking tray with a tin foil pad, sprinkle a little salt, black pepper, and 2 kinds of chopped spices Rosemary and Thyme on the outside of the steak. Use kitchen cotton to tie the whole steak into a circle, put the long-rooted spices at the bottom, cover with plastic film and put it in the refrigerator
3. Take it out of the refrigerator 2 hours before baking, remove the plastic film
4. Preheat oven to 500°F
5. Bake for 15 minutes at 500°F to brown the skin
6. Cool down to 325°F
7. 13 minutes per pound of steak, or 52 minutes for a 4 pound steak at 325°F
8. Continue grilling for an additional hour or so at 325°F so a 4 lb steak would be a maximum of 1 hour and 52 minutes
9. Test the internal temperature several times with a digital thermometer to determine doneness
10. Rare (Very Rare 125°F – 130°F ), Medium Rare (Medium Rare 130°-140°F) or Well-done (Well-Done 160°F+)
11. Take it out of the oven and wrap it in tin foil to cool for 20 minutes. At this time, guests can drink and chat
12. Cut and serve!
When it comes to steak, don't forget the Horseradish and Au Jus.
Image by Larry White from Pixabay
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WordPress Blog Sites Should Not Let Authors Upload Videos
Many WordPress blogging sites have faced the same question, whether to let bloggers upload videos to the same web server as your site, i.e. self-hosted videos. The answer is No! Especially if your website is hosted on a shared server. A high definition video files can easily exceed 100-200 MB, take up a lot of hard drive and memory but also demand bandwidth and other resources, quickly exceed the limits of the web server hosting your website, and overwhelm your website and other websites also hosted on the same server.
The best way to add video to your website is with a video hosting service such as YouTube. Let the blogger upload the video to a video hosting service first, then paste the video URL to embed the video in a WordPress post or page. This way videos will be streamed from video host’s global server network without using your website’s bandwidth. It will also increase the visibility of the video and your web site.
How can you stop bloggers from uploading videos to your site? On the WordPress blog site, add a snippet as follows.
function adjust_mime_types($mime_types){
unset($mime_types[‘mp4|m4v’]); // block mp4 video
unset($mime_types[‘mov|qt’]); // block quicktime mov video
unset($mime_types[‘pdf’]); // block pdf files
return $mime_types;
}
add_filter(‘upload_mimes’, ‘adjust_mime_types’);If bloggers upload a video MOV, they getthe error message: “Sorry, you don’t have permission for this file type”;
One thing worth noting is the MIME Type. If you look up the MIME Type of MOV online, you will get video/quicktime.
But the video/quicktime type doesn’t work in Snippet.Bloggers will still be able to upload videos. Only if the MIME type is defined in WordPress that can prevent video uploading. Where can you find these definitions? WordPress has a list of registered MIME types stored in wp-includes/functions.php for developers use wp_get_allowed_mime_types() getting MIME file types. These are MIME file types recognized by WordPress. By looking the functions.php source code, you will find that ‘mov|qt’ is for blocking video files with the MOV extension.
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WordPress Blog Sites Should Not Let Authors Upload Videos
Many WordPress blogging sites have faced the same question, whether to let bloggers upload videos to the same web server as your site, i.e. self-hosted videos. The answer is No! Especially if your website is hosted on a shared server. A high definition video files can easily exceed 100-200 MB, take up a lot of hard drive and memory but also demand bandwidth and other resources, quickly exceed the limits of the web server hosting your website, and overwhelm your website and other websites also hosted on the same server.
The best way to add video to your website is with a video hosting service such as YouTube. Let the blogger upload the video to a video hosting service first, then paste the video URL to embed the video in a WordPress post or page. This way videos will be streamed from video host’s global server network without using your website’s bandwidth. It will also increase the visibility of the video and your web site.
How can you stop bloggers from uploading videos to your site? On the WordPress blog site, add a snippet as follows.
function adjust_mime_types($mime_types){
unset($mime_types[‘mp4|m4v’]); // block mp4 video
unset($mime_types[‘mov|qt’]); // block quicktime mov video
unset($mime_types[‘pdf’]); // block pdf files
return $mime_types;
}
add_filter(‘upload_mimes’, ‘adjust_mime_types’);If bloggers upload a video MOV, they get the error message: “Sorry, you don’t have permission for this file type”
One thing worth noting is the MIME Type. If you look up the MIME Type of MOV online, you will get video/quicktime.
But the video/quicktime type doesn’t work in Snippet. Bloggers will still be able to upload videos. Only if the MIME type is defined in WordPress that can prevent video uploading. Where can you find these definitions? WordPress has a list of registered MIME types stored in wp-includes/functions.php for developers use wp_get_allowed_mime_types() getting MIME file types. These are MIME file types recognized by WordPress. By looking the functions.php source code, you will find that ‘mov|qt’ is for blocking video files with the MOV extension.
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Everything I Do, I Do It For You
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You – Bryan Adams (Boyce Avenue ft. Connie Talbot acoustic cover)
Everything I do, it's for you! (Everything I Do) I Do It for You is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, the title character of the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves The song, was extremely successful, spending multiple weeks at number one on the music charts in several countries, notably in the UK where it spent a record 16 consecutive weeks at number one on the singles chart.
In popular music, a cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the song's original performer or composer. Many covers even surpass the original, such as Whitney Houston's cover Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" has been viewed more than 1.1 billion times on YouTube, becoming the one of the top music.
Now enjoy Boyce Avenue ft. Connie Talbot acoustic cover – (Everything I Do) I Do It For You.
Image by Valentin from Pixabay
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Artemis 1 Lunar Rocket Launches For the First Time!
Launched from Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched Artemis 1 rocket. It is named after Artemis, the twin sister of the sun god Apollo and the moon goddess in Greek mythology. The launch is the beginning of a series of exploration activities.
NASA's Giant Rocket Makes Fascination and History. Early in the morning on November 16, 2022, the Space Launch System in Cape Canaveral, Florida sent the uncrewed Orion spacecraft into the sky. Although many hydrogen leaks and two hurricanes have swept the rocket base at the Kennedy Space Center in the past, NASA succeeded perfectly this time! This flight test around the moon is not manned. The successor Artemis 2 will carry people around the moon, and Artemis 3 will carry people to the moon. NASA's planned Artemis missions will put the first non-white man and first woman on the lunar surface. In the future, it will stay on the moon for a long time, and start to go to Mars and conduct more distant deep space exploration missions.
The Artemis program is on track to lead America back to the moon and inspire the next generation of young Americans to be active in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
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