The guises of the wonder agents come in many forms...
One particular wonder had been hiding during much of the trip… under the personal layers of one undercover wonder agent also on the Slow Flow trip…
The Worldwide Confederation of Wonder Collectors
A place to share things that inspire wonder and awe… New wonder agents always welcome, site still in development.
Electric Eel Energy
A demonstration of eel energy.
One of my favourite articles I have found in The Wonder Book of Wonders so far is that of this demonstration of a 220-volt electric lightbulb being powered by connection to the head and tail of an electric eel.
Found: The Wonder Book of Wonders
A book found at the Ahu Ahu Ohu abandoned commune on the Slow Flow trip.
On a hike into the Ahu Ahu Ohu, an abandoned commune upriver from Atene on the Whanganui River, this book was found upstairs in the common room of the former community. John Milnes, a former member of the community, advised I take it with me lest it become firewood there. It is now joining my library of wondrous things I am collecting for the Miranda House.
The commune's community building where the book was found.
Thundering, Groaning Skies
A sound file of the amazing thunder we encountered on one of the last days on the river during Slow Flow. Some geeky research here about the physics of thunder and lightning involving the rapid expansion of rapidly heated air.
[ Audio to be added ]
Nga Taonga Puoro
Hearing the sounds and stories behind many maori instruments made for a magical evening.
Hearing the haunting sounds and stories of the many taonga puoro (musical instruments of maori culture), was a lovely gift from Jerome Kavanagh of Hui-a one still gentle evening at Mangapapapa.
[ Audio to be added ]
Fantastical Formal Attire
Jonah and Julian share a moment of wardrobe madness and glee.
Displays of human inventiveness abounded as we gathered for an evening meal requiring formal attire, Whanganui river style.
Sparkling Grass
The purple grass at Whitianga marae site twinkled spectacularly at night under the LEDs of my headlamp.
We arrived at Whitianga on our first night of Slow Flow, on a misty, eerie evening. Later that night I found myself amazed at the shimmer and twinkle of some incredibly water-laden grass, glowing purple under the LEDs of my headlamp. These are the same grasses by daylight.
Salt tree
There are old stories of a salt tree from the many people who once lived near to Whitianga and Whakahoro of the upper Whanganui river. Local inhabitants would to go to this tree to gather salt for cooking. Deeply inland from the ocean, might it be that due to the river once being a seabed, that there is an aquifer of water below this tree that has retained salt deposits from this time?
The Sleeping Gurgling Roar
Subterranean anatomical caves of audible complexity. A phenomenon to behold when lying within 5 feet or even 25 feet in some cases, from the snorer.
You can listen here to the Soaring Snoring one of our fearless leaders on the Slow Flow trip.
Hello world!
Hello and Welcome to the HeadQuarters of the Worldwide Confederation of Wonder Collectors!
This is a brand spanking new site that has just been installed but not made all flash and customised yet. Check backand you may see it evolve into a site where you can join our leagues of Wonder Agents, adding small wonders from across the world!
From the desk of Agent Miranda on behalf of the Bureau.
Great Balls of Fire!
Shortly before coming on Slow Flow, Sue James reported seeing from her backporch in Whanganui, accompanied by Sen and Sonja, a large orange ball of fire that travelled evenly across the sky, till disappearing behind clouds. We are still trying to figure out what that might have been. Some feel it was a shooting star, though it seems it may have been too large for this explanation.