Hello from the other side
No, I'm not Adele, I'm just literally on the other side of the world in New Zealand, writing to you from the inside of my home for the past four weeks.
Home sweet home.
It's been a while, hasn't it? If you want the long story short there are some snippets of my travels online, though there's a lot of recency bias there.
A reminder to all the international drivers on their way to visit Mount Cook.
What I’ve been up to
I've been in New Zealand since February 1st. The first two months were spent living out of a car and tent; it's only been this last month where I've had the luxury of a camper van, which offers much welcomed protection against strong winds, heavy rains, and cold nights. I've never been so grateful in my life to have a real mattress - What luxury! Hearing the rain drumming a steady beat on the rooftop is steadying and welcoming - it reminds me that I'm inside a sheltered vehicle, protected against the harsh outdoor elements.
Traveling nomadically from campsite to campsite has made me appreciate the small things that I used to scoff at. I remember reading a line in a book on gratitude about a monk being fully present and grateful for something as basic as washing his hands and rolling my eyes at the idea. Now I am so grateful to be able to wash my hands. I savor the feeling of running water pouring over my hands, lathering and lavishing real soap between my fingertips - it's pure joy compared to the quick pump of hand sanitizer.
New Zealand is the first place I've been to in the world where I've felt truly alone. There are a little over 5 million people living in New Zealand (compare that with New York City's 8.3 million) and 77% live on the North Island (1/3 of Kiwis live in Auckland). As a result, the South Island, where most tourists vacation, is pretty remote. This means easy drives while navigating driving on the left side of the road and little to no traffic lights. Most of my human interaction comes from a simple "hello" when crossing paths with someone while hiking. While camping in a tent, human connection came from a casual greeting when intersecting someone in the toilet or kitchen. I've come to realize how important common spaces are, whether they be a communal coffee area in the office or a local park in the city. Living in a certified self-contained vehicle (aka it has a toilet) means that I can "freedom camp" (park almost anywhere and stay the night), but it also means that there's limited interaction with other travelers since most keep to their vehicle. For the most part I enjoy the solitude and thrive in it. But sometimes I'll treat myself to a coffee at a cafe so I can be surrounded by others or phone a friend back home.
New Zealand is also a stunning country full of natural beauty. I love driving here because it feels like cruising. The roads are sparse with other cars so it feels like I have the whole world to myself and can fully savor the feelings of wonder and awe when looking out into the landscape.
It's autumn here which is a bit of a mind bender - I'm so used to associating "April" with spring, greenery, and flowers. Instead I've got some lovely golds and reds, popping up in small patches around the island
Golden leaves on the running path in Wanaka.
Latest on the blog
There's no latest on the blog (other than this)...yet! Surprisingly, despite being a modern and advanced country, New Zealand doesn't have that many areas with cell phone coverage or wifi. Between that and packing up and moving everyday, I've been focused on driving safely and making sure I have somewhere to sleep every night. I've rediscovered my love of writing and taken a countless number (too many?) photos, so I can't wait to post again and share all my joy with you.
A visitor joins me in New Zealand! At Mount John Observatory in Lake Tekapo.
