Mountains meet the sea

Kaikoura. Even before I got off the bus I had already seen dolphins jumping clear out of the water and seals lazing with their little, pale grey pups. This country continues to amaze and delight with its vibrant scenery. Went to the beach for sunset and watched the fading sun illuminating all the layers of the mountain range in the background set behind the turquoise ocean with albatross gliding on the thermals above me.
There is something so dynamic about the landscape here, partly, I think, because the mountains are still growing and forcing their spectacular summits ever upwards and partly just the colour of the water which seems to animate everything around it. Just stunning.