Description
Between the Nelson fires and the beauty of Cobb Valley, I discover the incredible solidarity of the New Zealanders. A chance encounter during a trek leaves me wondering: do we travel to escape solitude, or to finally find ourselves?
Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Transcription
Between the Nelson fires and the beauty of Cobb Valley, I discovered the incredible solidarity of New Zealanders. A chance encounter during a trek leaves me wondering, do we travel to escape solitude or to finally find ourselves? I've already been traveling for a month since finishing my job at the Kiwi farm. After exploring a good portion of the North Island, it's finally time to take the ferry to the South Island. The one everyone says is the real beauty. My welcome committee consists of sentlies. If you don't know them, they're tiny mages from the mosquito family. These nasty, persistent little beasts are ready to devour you he second they spot a patch of exposed skin. Their bite is uniquely infuriating. Their saliva triggers an itch so intense it will drive you mad. They move in swarms, capable of ruining the most stunning landscapes. People say you get used to them. But you never really do. Sometimes retreating into the van is the only sane option. And don't even get me started on the wasp and bobbin bees. Vicious little shit. Fortunately New Zealand isn't just annoying insects, it's also home to an incredibly kind and resilient population. They know how to stick together when things get tough. Upon my arrival on the South Island, massive forest fires were ravaging the Nelson region in the Northwest. On February 5th, 2019, faulty farm machinery sparked an initial blaze. The flames grew so large and spread so fast that nearby towns had to evacuate immediately. But while the fire brigades fought gallantly, new fires started popping up out of nowhere. It appeared to be the work of arsonists, making the firefighters' battle nearly impossible. Many roads were blocked, forcing travelers into massive detours to stay out of harm's way. It took nearly a month to extinguish the main blaze and lower the risk of it flaring up again. In total, over 2,400 hectares went up in smoke. And countless people had to flee their homes. Solidarity kicked in instantly. Collection for clothes, food, school supplies and blankets appeared everywhere. Messages of hope were taped to supermarket windows and shop fronts. Even in churches, people left prayers for the firefighters to stop the flames. If there's one thing that impressed me in New Zealand, it's this wave of solidarity. No need for ground declarations or press conferences. Only people just organize themselves and step up for one another. It was heartening to see and show just how much Kiwi wear their hearts on their sleeves. Despite the chaos, life goes on elsewhere. That's why I decided to tackle my first major trek in the Cobb Valley region, 23 kilometers in a single day. It didn't seem too daunting, the terrain was relatively flat, the scenery was pleasant and the sun was out. When I got back to the campsite, I crossed paths with Alan, a man in his 60s from the small town of Takaka. He had a welcoming look, though his face was etched with fatigue. Alan had been hiking for three days straight on a loop trail. He told me he needed to recharge and escape the daily grind for a while.
I love coming here.
He confessed.
I'm British but I've moved to New Zealand over 15 years ago. I love this region. It's peaceful and the people are so great.
Alan was running a bit low on supplies so I shared some of my meal and a beer with him.
Where are you from?
He asked. Belgium. I'm here on a working holiday visa. It lets me travel and stay for a year. I work and save a bit to keep the project going.
Interesting. What's your end goal?
I love discovering new things, exploring unknown territories, being surprised. I mean, traveling is my passion.
But what's your ultimate goal?
I don't really know yet, I admitted.
Maybe you're still searching for yourself. Or maybe you're looking for a partner.
I honestly don't know, I repeated. Maybe yes, maybe no.
Oh, you are. Human beings aren't meant to be alone. We are fundamentally social creatures. We need to be surrounded by people so we don't turn sad or go crazy.
Being alone is good every now and then though.
The older you get, the less you'll be able to stand the solitude. I was divorced when I first arrived in New Zealand, and I was truly miserable. When I found my partner, we became stronger together. We still do our own activities, but when I go home, I'm happy to see her and to know that someone is always waiting for me.
We parted ways on those wise words. That's the real beauty of travel. Meeting people will make you think, will challenge your perspectives, and will force you to question your own certainties.
Description
Between the Nelson fires and the beauty of Cobb Valley, I discover the incredible solidarity of the New Zealanders. A chance encounter during a trek leaves me wondering: do we travel to escape solitude, or to finally find ourselves?
Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Transcription
Between the Nelson fires and the beauty of Cobb Valley, I discovered the incredible solidarity of New Zealanders. A chance encounter during a trek leaves me wondering, do we travel to escape solitude or to finally find ourselves? I've already been traveling for a month since finishing my job at the Kiwi farm. After exploring a good portion of the North Island, it's finally time to take the ferry to the South Island. The one everyone says is the real beauty. My welcome committee consists of sentlies. If you don't know them, they're tiny mages from the mosquito family. These nasty, persistent little beasts are ready to devour you he second they spot a patch of exposed skin. Their bite is uniquely infuriating. Their saliva triggers an itch so intense it will drive you mad. They move in swarms, capable of ruining the most stunning landscapes. People say you get used to them. But you never really do. Sometimes retreating into the van is the only sane option. And don't even get me started on the wasp and bobbin bees. Vicious little shit. Fortunately New Zealand isn't just annoying insects, it's also home to an incredibly kind and resilient population. They know how to stick together when things get tough. Upon my arrival on the South Island, massive forest fires were ravaging the Nelson region in the Northwest. On February 5th, 2019, faulty farm machinery sparked an initial blaze. The flames grew so large and spread so fast that nearby towns had to evacuate immediately. But while the fire brigades fought gallantly, new fires started popping up out of nowhere. It appeared to be the work of arsonists, making the firefighters' battle nearly impossible. Many roads were blocked, forcing travelers into massive detours to stay out of harm's way. It took nearly a month to extinguish the main blaze and lower the risk of it flaring up again. In total, over 2,400 hectares went up in smoke. And countless people had to flee their homes. Solidarity kicked in instantly. Collection for clothes, food, school supplies and blankets appeared everywhere. Messages of hope were taped to supermarket windows and shop fronts. Even in churches, people left prayers for the firefighters to stop the flames. If there's one thing that impressed me in New Zealand, it's this wave of solidarity. No need for ground declarations or press conferences. Only people just organize themselves and step up for one another. It was heartening to see and show just how much Kiwi wear their hearts on their sleeves. Despite the chaos, life goes on elsewhere. That's why I decided to tackle my first major trek in the Cobb Valley region, 23 kilometers in a single day. It didn't seem too daunting, the terrain was relatively flat, the scenery was pleasant and the sun was out. When I got back to the campsite, I crossed paths with Alan, a man in his 60s from the small town of Takaka. He had a welcoming look, though his face was etched with fatigue. Alan had been hiking for three days straight on a loop trail. He told me he needed to recharge and escape the daily grind for a while.
I love coming here.
He confessed.
I'm British but I've moved to New Zealand over 15 years ago. I love this region. It's peaceful and the people are so great.
Alan was running a bit low on supplies so I shared some of my meal and a beer with him.
Where are you from?
He asked. Belgium. I'm here on a working holiday visa. It lets me travel and stay for a year. I work and save a bit to keep the project going.
Interesting. What's your end goal?
I love discovering new things, exploring unknown territories, being surprised. I mean, traveling is my passion.
But what's your ultimate goal?
I don't really know yet, I admitted.
Maybe you're still searching for yourself. Or maybe you're looking for a partner.
I honestly don't know, I repeated. Maybe yes, maybe no.
Oh, you are. Human beings aren't meant to be alone. We are fundamentally social creatures. We need to be surrounded by people so we don't turn sad or go crazy.
Being alone is good every now and then though.
The older you get, the less you'll be able to stand the solitude. I was divorced when I first arrived in New Zealand, and I was truly miserable. When I found my partner, we became stronger together. We still do our own activities, but when I go home, I'm happy to see her and to know that someone is always waiting for me.
We parted ways on those wise words. That's the real beauty of travel. Meeting people will make you think, will challenge your perspectives, and will force you to question your own certainties.
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Description
Between the Nelson fires and the beauty of Cobb Valley, I discover the incredible solidarity of the New Zealanders. A chance encounter during a trek leaves me wondering: do we travel to escape solitude, or to finally find ourselves?
Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Transcription
Between the Nelson fires and the beauty of Cobb Valley, I discovered the incredible solidarity of New Zealanders. A chance encounter during a trek leaves me wondering, do we travel to escape solitude or to finally find ourselves? I've already been traveling for a month since finishing my job at the Kiwi farm. After exploring a good portion of the North Island, it's finally time to take the ferry to the South Island. The one everyone says is the real beauty. My welcome committee consists of sentlies. If you don't know them, they're tiny mages from the mosquito family. These nasty, persistent little beasts are ready to devour you he second they spot a patch of exposed skin. Their bite is uniquely infuriating. Their saliva triggers an itch so intense it will drive you mad. They move in swarms, capable of ruining the most stunning landscapes. People say you get used to them. But you never really do. Sometimes retreating into the van is the only sane option. And don't even get me started on the wasp and bobbin bees. Vicious little shit. Fortunately New Zealand isn't just annoying insects, it's also home to an incredibly kind and resilient population. They know how to stick together when things get tough. Upon my arrival on the South Island, massive forest fires were ravaging the Nelson region in the Northwest. On February 5th, 2019, faulty farm machinery sparked an initial blaze. The flames grew so large and spread so fast that nearby towns had to evacuate immediately. But while the fire brigades fought gallantly, new fires started popping up out of nowhere. It appeared to be the work of arsonists, making the firefighters' battle nearly impossible. Many roads were blocked, forcing travelers into massive detours to stay out of harm's way. It took nearly a month to extinguish the main blaze and lower the risk of it flaring up again. In total, over 2,400 hectares went up in smoke. And countless people had to flee their homes. Solidarity kicked in instantly. Collection for clothes, food, school supplies and blankets appeared everywhere. Messages of hope were taped to supermarket windows and shop fronts. Even in churches, people left prayers for the firefighters to stop the flames. If there's one thing that impressed me in New Zealand, it's this wave of solidarity. No need for ground declarations or press conferences. Only people just organize themselves and step up for one another. It was heartening to see and show just how much Kiwi wear their hearts on their sleeves. Despite the chaos, life goes on elsewhere. That's why I decided to tackle my first major trek in the Cobb Valley region, 23 kilometers in a single day. It didn't seem too daunting, the terrain was relatively flat, the scenery was pleasant and the sun was out. When I got back to the campsite, I crossed paths with Alan, a man in his 60s from the small town of Takaka. He had a welcoming look, though his face was etched with fatigue. Alan had been hiking for three days straight on a loop trail. He told me he needed to recharge and escape the daily grind for a while.
I love coming here.
He confessed.
I'm British but I've moved to New Zealand over 15 years ago. I love this region. It's peaceful and the people are so great.
Alan was running a bit low on supplies so I shared some of my meal and a beer with him.
Where are you from?
He asked. Belgium. I'm here on a working holiday visa. It lets me travel and stay for a year. I work and save a bit to keep the project going.
Interesting. What's your end goal?
I love discovering new things, exploring unknown territories, being surprised. I mean, traveling is my passion.
But what's your ultimate goal?
I don't really know yet, I admitted.
Maybe you're still searching for yourself. Or maybe you're looking for a partner.
I honestly don't know, I repeated. Maybe yes, maybe no.
Oh, you are. Human beings aren't meant to be alone. We are fundamentally social creatures. We need to be surrounded by people so we don't turn sad or go crazy.
Being alone is good every now and then though.
The older you get, the less you'll be able to stand the solitude. I was divorced when I first arrived in New Zealand, and I was truly miserable. When I found my partner, we became stronger together. We still do our own activities, but when I go home, I'm happy to see her and to know that someone is always waiting for me.
We parted ways on those wise words. That's the real beauty of travel. Meeting people will make you think, will challenge your perspectives, and will force you to question your own certainties.
Description
Between the Nelson fires and the beauty of Cobb Valley, I discover the incredible solidarity of the New Zealanders. A chance encounter during a trek leaves me wondering: do we travel to escape solitude, or to finally find ourselves?
Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Transcription
Between the Nelson fires and the beauty of Cobb Valley, I discovered the incredible solidarity of New Zealanders. A chance encounter during a trek leaves me wondering, do we travel to escape solitude or to finally find ourselves? I've already been traveling for a month since finishing my job at the Kiwi farm. After exploring a good portion of the North Island, it's finally time to take the ferry to the South Island. The one everyone says is the real beauty. My welcome committee consists of sentlies. If you don't know them, they're tiny mages from the mosquito family. These nasty, persistent little beasts are ready to devour you he second they spot a patch of exposed skin. Their bite is uniquely infuriating. Their saliva triggers an itch so intense it will drive you mad. They move in swarms, capable of ruining the most stunning landscapes. People say you get used to them. But you never really do. Sometimes retreating into the van is the only sane option. And don't even get me started on the wasp and bobbin bees. Vicious little shit. Fortunately New Zealand isn't just annoying insects, it's also home to an incredibly kind and resilient population. They know how to stick together when things get tough. Upon my arrival on the South Island, massive forest fires were ravaging the Nelson region in the Northwest. On February 5th, 2019, faulty farm machinery sparked an initial blaze. The flames grew so large and spread so fast that nearby towns had to evacuate immediately. But while the fire brigades fought gallantly, new fires started popping up out of nowhere. It appeared to be the work of arsonists, making the firefighters' battle nearly impossible. Many roads were blocked, forcing travelers into massive detours to stay out of harm's way. It took nearly a month to extinguish the main blaze and lower the risk of it flaring up again. In total, over 2,400 hectares went up in smoke. And countless people had to flee their homes. Solidarity kicked in instantly. Collection for clothes, food, school supplies and blankets appeared everywhere. Messages of hope were taped to supermarket windows and shop fronts. Even in churches, people left prayers for the firefighters to stop the flames. If there's one thing that impressed me in New Zealand, it's this wave of solidarity. No need for ground declarations or press conferences. Only people just organize themselves and step up for one another. It was heartening to see and show just how much Kiwi wear their hearts on their sleeves. Despite the chaos, life goes on elsewhere. That's why I decided to tackle my first major trek in the Cobb Valley region, 23 kilometers in a single day. It didn't seem too daunting, the terrain was relatively flat, the scenery was pleasant and the sun was out. When I got back to the campsite, I crossed paths with Alan, a man in his 60s from the small town of Takaka. He had a welcoming look, though his face was etched with fatigue. Alan had been hiking for three days straight on a loop trail. He told me he needed to recharge and escape the daily grind for a while.
I love coming here.
He confessed.
I'm British but I've moved to New Zealand over 15 years ago. I love this region. It's peaceful and the people are so great.
Alan was running a bit low on supplies so I shared some of my meal and a beer with him.
Where are you from?
He asked. Belgium. I'm here on a working holiday visa. It lets me travel and stay for a year. I work and save a bit to keep the project going.
Interesting. What's your end goal?
I love discovering new things, exploring unknown territories, being surprised. I mean, traveling is my passion.
But what's your ultimate goal?
I don't really know yet, I admitted.
Maybe you're still searching for yourself. Or maybe you're looking for a partner.
I honestly don't know, I repeated. Maybe yes, maybe no.
Oh, you are. Human beings aren't meant to be alone. We are fundamentally social creatures. We need to be surrounded by people so we don't turn sad or go crazy.
Being alone is good every now and then though.
The older you get, the less you'll be able to stand the solitude. I was divorced when I first arrived in New Zealand, and I was truly miserable. When I found my partner, we became stronger together. We still do our own activities, but when I go home, I'm happy to see her and to know that someone is always waiting for me.
We parted ways on those wise words. That's the real beauty of travel. Meeting people will make you think, will challenge your perspectives, and will force you to question your own certainties.
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