Intertwining Insights
Trip Start
May 31, 2008
1
23
28
Trip End
Dec 15, 2008
Oamaru,
South Island,
New Zealand
Monday, December 1, 2008
Alas, it can't be helped and to be honest, I'm looking forward to the end of this particular journey. I'm not only travel weary, I'm soul tired. It's time to head somewhere familiar full of loved ones and recharge my batteries. I am going to enjoy being plugged in and forced to stay in one spot, even if (begrudgingly) that spot is Calgary - for now.
Nov 21/08: I think it's more than probable that people have no idea just what they mean to you or how they affect you. (Or vice versa.) Which is why you should tell people how you feel. It's likely that someone you think of often, who inspired you somehow, doesn't give you more than a fleeting thought on occasion. It has nothing to do with worth or cruelty but everything to do with perspective. It fascinates me that people can be so unaware of how much (or little) they have touched someone. I'm learning to take each person and the experiences I have with them individually, allowing it to mean whatever it may to me (personally) and not worry about anything more than that.
When last I wrote we were in Wanaka. Since then we have traveled down to Queenstown where I lost my sanity for a while and agreed to jump off of a cliff two different ways, free falling for 60 meters and then swinging into a canyon for another 200 meters at 150km/hr. WEEEEEEEE!! On the brochure they quote someone who said "Even my shit was scared!" I would like to admit that that is fairly accurate. I have video proof of my second jump - which was more a shove as I was tied into a chair - and it's hilarious so I will enjoy sharing that with everyone when I get home. It was exhilerating and I couldn't get the grin off my face all day. I thought my heart was going to burst it was beating so quickly!
Nov 23/08: Nothing will ever be like it once was. When I get back, everything will be the same but I will be so changed by this that it will all look different. Either it will excite and inspire me or it wil bore and depress me. I hope the former, I fear the latter.
Down and over to the Fiordland (Milford Sound), our next stop, where I was reminded of the Rockies but didn't participate in an overnight cruise (as you can imagine, because of the cost) though Julia told me I was missing out. Some things you just have to miss out on; especially after you just sold your first born child in order to defy death in some ridiculous adrenaline junkie activity. The drive in and out of 'the Sound' was beautiful as well with sheer mountain walls with dozens of waterfalls streaming in and out of each other. Stopping at a tunnel to wait for our chance to go, we were greeted by a handful of Keas - a parrot known only to New Zealand - they are friendly and somewhat irritating but enjoy hitchhiking on top of cars.
On our way to the southern most part of the south island, we stopped in Manapouri at a brilliant hostel which ended up in us having a wee cabin/cottage all to ourselves for two blissful days. One of which we spent curled up in front of the pot belly stove and in bed reading books. Our veranda looked out over a gorgeous lake and some beautiful trees/horses/sheep. And it was also nice to have our own space and not have to share the kitchen!
Nov 24/08: If I were ever in the woods, alone, for any length of time surely I would go insane. My mind is far too loud and obnoxious; dredging up things passed with sadistic pleasure, punishing some inner emotional masochist I never knew I had. Thoreau must have been a simple man or at least, have led a simple life before he moved to the woods; otherwise, I'm not sure how he survived it without trying to fork out is own brain and eat it for dinner. Then again, maybe he was just more disciplined than me. Mmmm, fried frontal lobe!
Invercargill wasn't too exciting, just a day stop on our way to the Catlins. We needed food, gas and a quick remind of civilization before heading into the Catlins where it is entirely possible (as it was in the Fiordlands) to run out of gas because you may not pass a gas station within a 200km stretch of windy, hilly highway. Poor Rusty! (Our car, of course, has been named....and aptly!) He doesn't go very fast and he's getting very frustrated with the one lane highways and the passing lanes always being on a steep hill that he can't go up faster than 65km/hr at best. He does his best though and we appreciate his perky attitude. He's a good little shitbox.
Nov 27/08: I could never grow tired of the ocean's sound. Hearing it brings a sort of peace, like coming home - even though I've never lived near the ocean. A long walk on the deserted (really, 10km of gorgeous sand) beach today led me to realize what I'm leaving behind here. I know I have to go, New Zealand isn't mine and it's true that I don't even want to keep it, but I hope these silences on a naked beach won't be the only ones in my lifetime. I hope I don't live long enough to see all the secret places of the world taken up by tourists with ridiculously huge cameras.
Our first stop in the Catlins was Curio Bay where we found this amazing little beach house. Our view from the livingroom window was grass, sand and sea. Once again I fell asleep to the sound of the ocean and felt soothed in a way that isn't possible without the wooshing of the sea. We saw seals basking on beaches and were warned by signs and guidebooks to keep our distance. We saw the near-extinct yellow-eyed penguins, only seen in this country. The day we went searching for dolphins, we had to climb some rocks behind one and was immediately warned with a growl that we were infringing. You should have seen me run! The dolphins themselves (Hector Dolphins, the smallest in the world) were too far away to see just how small they were but I spent the morning watching them the way that people watch television (minus the commercials, Martin!). I was in awe and felt so blessed to have the opportunity to be there, witnessing.
Nov 28/08: I felt blessed to watch dolphins playing in the tempestuous sea. I was enraptured - in absolute, childish awe. Each time I saw their shiny bodies break the surface I had to hold back a squeal. I clapped my hands together like a child who is receiving their much anticipated treat. Walking passed the seal tanning on the beach and hearing the growl from his toothy mouth was also exhilerating! I ended up running, fearful of him chasing after me, but of course I was grinning the entire time. Nature has become my Plaything. I fear that once I'm back, I will find it hard not to feel restless and bored staring at the television and feeling stuck inside, hiding from the cold. I will just have to commit myself to something more, I'm sure trying to sort out my future will keep me busy enough. I will miss being able to walk next to the sea when I want to think, on lonely nights when the sound of the sea keeps me company better than any person could. Silly me - missing things (already) even before I've left them!
We drove through the rest of the Catlins, stopping at various places along the way (Cathedral Caves, Nugget Point, Moeraki Bolders, etc) to observe and view the splendor that is this Nature's Paradise. We stopped last night in Dunedin and I fell in love (lovelovelove!) with it's vicious up and down streets (think Lisbon, San Francisco), surprising secret streets/pathways and stunning, old buildings. Now we are in Oamaru, freezing our arses off and just got dried off and warmed up from seeing the wee blue penguins waddle their way out of the sea, across a very busy road, cross railway tracks and into their burrows. Awwww!! No pictures, unfortunately, because it distresses them but you can believe me that they are pretty damned adorable.
The plan is - we don't have a plan and like it that way! - that the "season" is picking up and we can't allow ourselves the freedom of spontaneity so much anymore which means we have to start making some decisions. The general decision is that we are headed towards Christchurch and we will probably have one stop in between (Timaru??) before we get there. We will be there by the weekend for one last hurrah and some shopping. Then it's up to Kaikoura so I can (finally!) get my swim with the dolphins, pleasegod don't be disappointing, and maybe get to spot a sea lion in all it's ferocious splendour.
I believe Kaikoura is where Julia and I will be parting ways as I go back up to the north island, making my way back to Auckland for my flight. Only (roughly) two more weeks to go! I can't really believe it. Unfortunately, my pictures won't upload on this computer and I doubt I'll bother with it until I get home and get them sorted - there are just too many - so sorry about that but expect one last post, probably from Canada (or Singapore since I have a whole day there! damn.) with the pictures.
Lots of love, see you soon!
xox K
Comments
frontal lobe tartar
you may have a day or two in flip flops when you return, it is Calgary your returning to....the weatherman said 15 degrees today (I think he's on crack but you never know)
Enjoy your last few weeks. I can't wait to see you and I'll try my hardest to disappoint and bore you!
xoxoT