(Prices in NZ dollars)

These are just a few activities in one of the world’s biggest adventure city.  Sadly, my wallet was close to being empty.  However, I didn’t let my near-empty wallet stop me from having fun!

Two women from Argentina relax on the grassy lawn by the lake and enjoy chatting and laughing while a group of girls quietly drink alcohol in coffee cups.  A young man lying on a boardwalk occupies himself by texting on his cellphone as a group of Brazilian men leap into the Wakatipu lake.  Visitors enjoy their meal at outdoor restaurants while looking at the mountains being changed into various hues as the sun descends below the sparkling, bright blue lake. A resident walks her dogs while the grass sways back and forth from the flow of winds.

Instead of doing all those overpriced activities, I spent my last moments in New Zealand viewing people enjoying their activities and the spectacular scenes of the South Island.

As the global warming continue to melt our precious planet, it is extremely imperative to view the glaciers, snow capped mountains, and all the natural wonders of our planet in order to be able to gain appreciation for caring our own environment.  Visiting the Fox Glacier in South Island was an experience that I absolutely could not miss.  Seeing the glacier was almost as if I was viewing an enormous sculpture.  The forms of the curves and cracks were just marvelous.  As I was walking on the glacier, I felt as if I was walking on giant carved ice!  While my pictures may be not so exciting, viewing them is no different from examining Piet Mondrian’s work or Frank Stella’s work.  It’s all about appreciating the simple forms, colors, and lines.

Flocks of sheep dash across the field causing dust to leap into the air – an image that depicted the intensity and the speed of sheep running across the terrain.  Mountains ascend from the grassy field and a scintillating lake.  A herder watches the sheep being crammed into a small area surrounded by gates.  A red barn with various shades of red stands under the sunlight.  The cool breeze creates a very relaxing moment.

I was at the Flock Hills, a sheep farm.  It was an immeasurable experience to see how sheep are raised at a farm, and how herders gather wool.  Flock Hills is located about 40 km from Christchurch, a very boring city where there’s not much to do.

People shopped with umbrellas over their head in Picton.  Ferry boats sailed across the ocean from the North Island to the South Island.  Cars cruised through the mountains.

The landscape was the same, but the scenery was just simply different.  The hues were different from what they would normally be if there was sun and no clouds.  I was just simply experiencing a unique image – seeing unique formations of clouds and values of darkness and lightness on the mountains.

Everybody knows that I absolutely adore turquoise!  It’s the color that causes immediate love at first sight.  I headed to a river that meets Lake Taupo.  The water was as turquoise as it could be.  I could not move my eyes away from the glamorous scene.  Right by the lake, people were leaping into the water, an activity known as Bungee jumping.  I have to admit that I truly regret not having done Bungee jumping.  It was not because I was fearful.  It was simply because of financial reasons as I had to shell out big bucks for a new lens as I broke mine in Australia.  However, it was worth buying the new lens as I was able to enjoy capturing the moment.  As I missed Bungee jumping, that means that I will have to make a trip back to New Zealand!

As I was heading closer to the lake, the smell grew stronger.  The moment I saw beautiful sparking blue water surrounded by mountains, I felt as if the atmosphere was very quiet.  There were no people walking by the lake or sailing in the water.  However, there were bubbles and water gushing into the air.  I forgot about the rotten egg smell for the moment as I was staring at the magnificent scene.  Within seconds, I began to feel as if I wanted to scream for a gas mask so that I could stay there to enjoy gazing at the view of the landscape.  Because I absolutely could not leave without capturing a memory of this place, I pinched my nose as tight as I could while managing to look through the camera viewfinder and pressing the button.

Hues of pinks, blues, and purples spark up in the sky causing me to think I was seeing an aurora.  The lake shimmers in various colors as if I was listening to a music clip with a music visualization.  I feel as if I was living inside a painting.  I’ve never seen scenery so beautiful as I’m seeing now.  In fact, this scenery is a once in a life time moment because even, if I come back to the same place, the scene will never be the same.  Every night, the sunset creates many different patterns in the sky.

By the lake, there is a building with a perfect triangular roof.  Bright red strips of wood with carvings of simple forms of creatures installed on the walls adorn the building.  I look closely at the carvings and notice that they have unique characteristics which are Maori symbols depicting spirituality.  One of the common symbols decorates the place, spirals, a symbol meaning a new beginning, growth, and harmony, which certainly fits the moment when we wake up every morning and are ready for a new day of adventures that allows our minds to grow.  A strange looking creature known as Hei Tiki, a symbol simply meaning good luck, covers the walls of the Maori spiritual place.

Inside the building, a Maori family stands and their smiles hit the spot.  They were presenting their spiritual place.  They’re just people who happen to have different rituals and are indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand.  They’re just like the Native Americans who only wear costumes during ritual events.

Details to come soon…