Don’t Attempt to Adjust that Dial…

My alternate titles for this post are, “Oh, Really??” and “Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection in Action”.

These photos are from the thermal springs in Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, Rotorua, New Zealand. All of New Zealand is earthquake-prone and Rotorua steams and belches and burbles from the many, many underground geysers and hot springs. Rotorua is gloriously alive!

My first title, Don’t Attempt to Adjust that Dial, is because the colors are not normal. In fact, thanks to the high concentrations of various chemical and metallic elements, the colors of the pools are downright creepy. (According to their website, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is known as “One of the 20 Most Surreal Places in the World”.) https://www.waiotapu.co.nz/information/

this green is not normal!

neither is this yellow!

I suspect the Champagne Pool’s orange isn’t normal either

The second title, “Oh Really??” is my sarcastic and astonished response that the park felt like they needed to post signs warning that the springs are damned hot:

Seriously? They have to warn people NOT to walk over and enter this pool?

clouds of steam continually billow

Personally I thought the clouds of steam gave away the secret, but maybe that’s just me.

And the third alternate title “Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection in Action” was my response when I spotted this sign:

Apparently it isn’t enough to inform visitors that the waters are boiling hot. No: the park has to go further and admonish visitors NOT to climb over the waist-high fences and wade into the springs.

I say this proves beyond a doubt Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection, aka the law about survival of the fittest/brightest/least stupid.

NOTES: © Jadi Campbell 2025. To see Uwe’s pics from our trips go to viewpics.de.

PS: The park is run by Te Arawa Group Holdings, a local Maori tribal business. In addition to these signs, their Health and Safety Page has these warnings: “There is NO SMOKING allowed within the attraction.” And this: “Thermal pools can be very hot (over 100⁰C or 210⁰F) or have toxic gases or fumes at the surface. Also, thermal pools can form a thin crust over the top of them that looks like a solid surface, but will break if a person stood on it. Thermal pools can be hidden under vegetation. Please refrain from trying to touch any water or go the edge of pools as you can cause yourself serious harm.” And this. “Steam can be attractive to visitors, for your own safety, please refrain from sitting on, standing over, touching or placing any body part over steam vents or crevasses. These can be very hot and cause serious harm to your skin.” And this… “Being an active geothermal area with uneven terrain, sturdy footwear is recommended. Jandals, sandals, flip-flops or high heeled shoes are not suitable.” https://www.waiotapu.co.nz/health–safety/

Darwin’s turning in his grave!

I am a Best American Essays-nominated writer. My books are Broken In: A Novel in Stories, Tsunami Cowboys, Grounded, The Trail Back Out, and The Taste of Your Name. Recent awards include Finalist for the 2025 Compass Press Book Award for The Taste of Your Name and Finalist for Greece’s Eyelands 11th International Short Story Contest.

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Basket #5: KwaZulu-Natal Basket for Women

This the last in my series on southern Africa’s traditional baskets. This lidded basket is from KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. I had done some reading, and wanted a ‘women’s’ basket.

The shape indicates an ukhamba basket and usually holds home-brewed sorghum beer. Its coil-weave is watertight. When the basket is filled, the ilala palm fibers swell and the outer surface of the basket sweats. These baskets are used for special ceremonies (like weddings).

The double diamond pattern signifies a married woman.

The colors start with the ilala palm (Hyphaene Coriacea), harvested from the North-Eastern Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Its natural color is cream. Every other color is naturally obtained from roots, berries, bark and leaves. Black and brown are provided by the roots of the isizimane tree, which are crushed and boiled for many days. The orange comes from the roots of the xomisane plant. The ijuba plant is soaked in black mud for up to 1 week to produce the grey color.

Basket-making used to be exclusively a male occupation, but now the Zulu women create them. Today’s baskets can be used to store food or liquids, and master weavers make beautiful items of contemporary (and classic!) art.

The basket I purchased was woven by artist Zamama Khumahi.

NOTES: For more examples of Kwa Zulu-Natal basketry, go to these websites: Ilala Company South Africa, Naturesways.tripod.com , African Craft Market ©2025 Jadi Campbell. Uwe’s photos of our trips and his photography may be viewed at viewpics.de.

I am a Best American Essays-nominated writer. My books are Broken In: A Novel in Stories, Tsunami Cowboys, Grounded, The Trail Back Out, and The Taste of Your Name. Recent awards include Finalist for the 2025 Compass Press Book Award for The Taste of Your Name and Finalist for Greece’s Eyelands 11th International Short Story Contest.

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Save the Animal Kingdom! #9

Yes. It’s time for the next post on animals that may go extinct thanks to the Trump administration’s removal of environmental protections. Installment #9 from my blog thread describing what to call groups of animals … See how many you can guess. Answers listed at the bottom of the page.

1. The gulp gulped down fish.
2. A puddle needs more water than just a puddle.
3. Late season is packed with packs.
4. A blessing blesses all my dreams.
5. The kennel was so happy to be out of the kennel!
6. The hover hovered just under the surface.

Kennel, Montréal Canada

Answers:

1. Gulp of cormorants [1]
2. Puddle of platypussi [2]
3. Late season of grouse (in late season) [3]
4. Blessing of unicorns
5. Kennel of dogs
6. Hover of trout [4]

Gulp

I’m beyond dismayed – I am furious. The Trump administration is gutting environmental protections. Take action. Speak up! Write letters, make phone calls, donate to organizations like the Environmental Defense Fund and Greenpeace. Volunteer.

NOTES: [1] At last, I can list some good news for a species: cormorants, once seriously threatened by DDT, rebounded after the chemical was outlawed and are now being culled. [2] While they once thrived across much of eastern Australia, the platypus faces localised extinction, particularly in the western part of their range. WWF [3] The greater sage grouse is perhaps Canada’s most endangered species. Alberta wilderness [4] Nearly all native trout — 92 percent — face some level of risk. Trout Unlimited© Jadi Campbell 2025. All photos © Uwe Hartmann. To see more of Uwe’s animal photos and pics from our trips go to viewpics.de.  Fun animal names from www.writers-free-reference.com, Mother Nature Network and www.reference.com.

I am a Best American Essays-nominated writer. My books are Broken In: A Novel in Stories, Tsunami Cowboys, Grounded, The Trail Back Out, and The Taste of Your Name. Recent awards include Finalist for the 2025 Compass Press Book Award for The Taste of Your Name and Finalist for Greece’s Eyelands 11th International Short Story Contest.

Follow this link for Amazon.com.