This sweet baby girl is absolutely adored by her family. She is a treasured gift to them; I’m so thankful to share a few photos of their early days with her. Enjoy.
Archives for March 2015
New Zealand – 2
You came back for round 2! If you missed it, here was the beginning of our trip.
Early into the trip, I officially lost count of how many flat whites Nick and I drank. Goodness, they are delicious.
We left Queenstown for Milford Sound via Te Anau. This leg of the drive was truly epic!
& windy. 😉
I shot with my Rebel camera a bit during the trip. Years ago, through its lens I fell in love with photography and found a small piece of myself. I will always cherish the feeling of that little camera in my hands.
Veggie pie at Lake Te Anau. We LOVE pies.
And we love views like the one below.
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Can you see Nick in this next photo?
Next up, Milford Sound! We took a boat tour through the vast and beautiful fiord. It stormed that morning, but it was even more epic I think.
We left Milford Sound and headed along to the Southern Scenic Route: a roadway winding along the ocean on the southern island. We stopped as we saw fit. Meandering from one small town to another. This little town of Bluff was especially likable. The wind gave us a run for our money, but the ocean views and mountains made up for that, yeah? Chur.
The photo above is for my dad. He loves a field of cows. And so do I.
As so often when I travel, I returned home refreshed, invigorated, but with a tender heart. I live a delicate catch-22: travel fixed in the fibers of my being and home existing as my favorite place on earth. New Zealand awakened those parcels of my soul which need new sights, new sounds, and challenges. It did the same to Keith and his seasoned-traveler heart. We miss New Zealand. We miss Nick. We crave adventure again.
For now, we happily settle into the nooks and crannies of our little home, and continue to dream up the next voyage.
New Zealand
While still in New Zealand, I remember a distinct conversation with our dear friend, Nick. A conversation which sums up all the words I could add to such a blog post as this. Nick said to us, “What are you going to say to people when they ask you about this trip? How will you describe New Zealand.” I pondered a moment before I answered, “I will tell them, it looks just as the photos or just as a famous middle-earthly movie… but it’s impossibly more beautiful in person.” There aren’t words to describe New Zealand. The photos cannot possibly do it justice. Trust me when I say, it is incredibly, impossibly beautiful.
Nevertheless, I promised to share photos. And so I will.
We started the trip in Auckland, charming, warm, and friendly.
Next, we headed off to Rotorua in the North Island. The town is located on a geothermal hot-spot of sorts, hence all the pockets of steam coming out of the earth in these next photos.
We enjoyed learning about the Maori culture while on the north Island.
We visited a couple locations to observe the geothermal wonders.
Then, off to the South Island! Queenstown in a word: epic. Goodness, we did not want to leave!
Since I jumped in 2011, I have dreamed of doing it again. This time, I got to tandem bungy with Keith: a highlight of a lifetime, indeed! Images via Kawarau Bridge Bungy.
Before leaving Queenstown, we also visited the Gibston Valley wine region. I find vineyards to be peaceful places.
About 30 minutes after landing in NZ, I requested that Nick learn a thing or two about my cherished camera. Lucky for me, friends, Nick not only learned, he has a real eye! The photos he captured of Keith and I from our trip will be loved for years to come. So, thanks, Nick. You know how happy I am.
Too many for one post. More photos here.