highlyeccentric | Selected photos from New Zealand

Monarch butterfly, Canterbury Museum. The butterfly-breeders from the Botanic Gardens set up a hothouse in the top of the Museum, with racks of chrysalises in various stages of opening, and the older butterflies one could talk to and have on one's hand.

Near Duntroon, North Otago. Or, where Betsy pulled over to call her sister and get directions, because we hadn't found Narnia.

This gave rise to the following text message exchange between Kris and I:

Me: We got lost looking for Narnia.
Kris: Well stop looking and go back where you came from! Everyone knows you can only find Narnia when you aren't looking for it.

Betsy conceded this was probably true, but in fact, you can only find Narnia when you know to look for the strangely-placed signs.

Not Narnia, but almost as good?

NAAARNIAAA!

Or at least, Elephant Rocks, site of Aslan's Camp.

Strangely, JJ Abrams saw fit to bless this photo, even though it was in Narnia. Also, Betsy made me climb up rocks! She's a bleeding rock-climber. I am not. It was undignified. The mud of Narnia was on my knees for days.