Stone Wall

Jan 9, 2016 | The Great Journey, Thoughts

Nocturnal ambiance outside our flat.

 

 

When at last my head crashes into the hard bricks, I notice that my body had to be pressed against it for a while now.

In that moment I realised without any doubt: There is no going on from here.

I take a step back and see myself face to face with it: So this is it, the Stone Wall of Reality.

There is always a way.
This way doesn’t necessarily have to be straight, but it always has the direction onwards.
That way I went on my way, leaving Wellington for the South Island, looking for a job to save up money for the further travels. I try on a high level of difficult, as I went around Christchurch and in Queenstown you can hardly make money, really. Here in Dunedin I had sheer luck with the job at the airport and even that didn’t last forever.

Now it has been some weeks of silence around the employers as it is the school holidays in New Zealand. In only two and a half weeks I will depart from here and until the 10th of May I will travel exclusively.
My calculations didn’t include this much literal unemployment and because of that the question of fundraising had to be answered in a different way. In fact, I am on this trip but once and I did the best I could.
Of course it would have been nicer to have made it all by myself. On the other hand, I am in New Zealand for over a year only once in my life.

Back in Germany I will have plenty of time to make good for the funds retroactively. The here and now is the only thing that counts! And that shall be free of any worries!

So I peel my body off the masonry and take a look around. My idea to make it through my travels independently stays behind that wall. So I better make friends with one of the other ways. It’s about time, as I don’t want to spend the last two weeks down here grimly looking for work.

Very shortly I will hold my beloved parents tight and we will have the greatest road trip of all time! The same will happen again with my best friend and after that I will travel 4 countries in one month…
Sometimes it goes different than you planned; but the details are beneath the big picture, which is far more important.

Life is good, just go for it!

 

Appendix:
For some, this post might sound all sad and resigning, but it is actually a triumphant read. It is a great moment to be true to yourself about changing something. Whether it is some change of mind or an active, visible step in the right direction.
In the end you will always be happier… 🙂

The Answer

Jan 4, 2016 | The Great Journey, Updates

Here it is, the answer to the question I get asked the most:

On the 10th of May 2016 I will return home!

That is the date one part of my adventure will end and the next, exciting part begins. As the return home is a grand experience. I will see my nephew for the first time, will likely not recognise many poeple and will have to get used to many things…

But first and foremost I will have to complete some ways, as the reason for the fixed date are the flights booked.
I will leave my best friend in Australia after a few weeks there and fly over to Singapore on my own, from there travel through the country to Bangkok and finally turn towards Germany…
Traveling tips for those areas are always welcome. 😉

Besides, I am left with only one month until my parents will land in New Zealand. Time flies so fast… I am looking forward to that time so incomprehensibly much! 🙂

 

Now for this project:

I thought I would give some of my most important belongings on my journey the chance to speak their minds.

Here’s number 1:
[Disclaimer: What you are about to hear is German.]

 

 

Happy New Year!

Jan 1, 2016 | Photos, The Great Journey, Trips

 

 

Last year I was sitting in heavy thought over Wellington and entered the new year in a calm way. This year, which was the most exciting and great in my whole life by far! Back then I could only have guessed and it went all different anyway. But it was all very good this way! I think I have found some answers to the question: What makes oneself ‘grown up’?

So I had 2 trips left on my bus pass that had to go. Thus, I decided for a little trip to Christchurch and was on my way on the 31st. We took a longer break in Oamaru, which I used for photos…

 

 

Christmasy, aye?

Having arrived in Christchurch in the evening I first went to the hotel, only to wander off to the botanic gardens with my new pal, the tripod. I still don’t crave the company of partying younger folks and that made me end up in a quiet corner in the gardens. Though music still came through, I was not being disturbed.
Alongside some sweets from home, some cups of tea and my camera gear (camera + tripod, try not to gasp) I started experimenting. The tripod has a much steadier hand than I when it comes to longer exposures. 🙂

 

 

Unfortunately the stars, or more like the earth, don’t stay still…

 

 

 

 

Wheee, the earth is moving! 😀

 

 

At the hour of midnight I walked to the place where the fireworks were supposed to go up.

And I found it! When last time I wasn’t in the midst of many people, this time I was part of a crowd. I let tell me where the fireworks were supposed to go up, set up my camera and waited.

 

 

 

 

3, 2, 1..HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 

 

 

 

I was satisfied. Great shots, some balance between tranquility and crowd for the night and I finally saw Christchurch. 🙂 Besides, I slept alone in a room for 20 dollars. 🙂

A few words on Christchurch: The city was destroyed by a devastating earthquake in February 2011 in great parts and you can still see it to this day. It must have been a wonderful city, buzzing with history and culture! But today it only lies smashed in smithers. Building sites everywhere, collapsed houses, road blocks, site fences… Sad.
Maybe the city will bloom again in a few years. I hope it works out well for it.

In the morning of the new year I went towards my bus and with that I wasn’t for more than 12 hours in Christchurch.
I hope you are also happy with your start into the new year! 😉