We’ve been traveling around Aotearoa/New Zealand for a week now. My friend Charles emailed me yesterday: “It grieves me to know that you will have to spend time in purgatory (Catholic version) or reincarnated as something like a Dung Beetle for your present pleasures.” 🤣
Okay, okay – I was already very nicely settled into my Catholic girl guilt about enjoying a COVID-free vacation, thank you very much.
We are headed back to the U.S. in about a week. When I tell people here in Aotearoa/NZ that they often say things like, “What?! But it’s not safe!” When I tell my U.S. friends they often say, “Sorry New Zealand didn’t work out for you.”
No, the U.S. is not particularly safe compared to Aotearoa/NZ which has always been paradisiacal, but right now happens to also be virus-free, and mostly tourist-free (we haven’t had to wait in line anywhere – which is weird and contributes to my nagging guilt – why can’t I single-handedly save the NZ tourist industry?)
And, actually, Aotearoa/NZ has worked out better than I could have possibly imagined – it’s been lovely living here and we would love to stay and continue to enjoy this amazing country, but the reality is that our home, our work, and our peeps are back in the states.
Brett’s parents passed away about 5 years ago and his brother now lives in Melbourne, Australia. Whereas I have a big noisy family in the U.S. beckoning us back – including my parents (mom is particularly excited and enthusiastically cheering us back).
This week, instead of a yoga blog, I thought I’d share a few shots from our guilt-tinged adventures.
Since we’ve been living in Christchurch in the south island, we decided to start our tour by traveling further south to Dunedin – which is a hip university town with a bit of Antarctica in the air (and may I just interject here that if you happen to be a hot-flashing menopausal woman – Dunedin is definitely your scene). We browsed around the farmers market which is in a train station, and took a gorgeous solitary walk on a nearby beach.
We also walked up Baldwin Street, which has received the moniker, “steepest street in the world” – watch out San Francisco.
A poem greets you as you ascend the Baldwin Street steps:
I fell in love with the wood pigeons (Kereru in Te Reo Māori) when we lived in Christchurch. They are huge, plump, and make cute noises. They also have laid back nervous systems, evolved from eons of predator-free living on these islands, so they love to stare at and contemplate you.
After Dunedin, we headed up to Queenstown – which apparently is typically swamped with tourists. But it was just quiet, quaint and gorgeous for us ridiculously privileged Kiwi-Americans.
We headed up the gondola and then donned blue plastic helmets and hurled ourselves down concrete tracks in go-carts. I squealed. We’re big lugers.
We also signed up for the obligatory Lord of the Rings tour. This is mirror lake – which they used for the scenes with the dead bodies that Frodo and Sam encounter in Mordor. (I’m no photographer, so I can’t believe I took this picture BTW).
The elves of Lothlorein gifted us with attire (from the back of the Mercedes tour van). I think Brett does a pretty good short-ish Gandalf – and Bhaerava seems to have some elvish genes.
Apparently Queenstown is the place that American billionaires build bunkers lined with all the luxuries they need to survive the apocalypse so we found this bar’s name particularly hilarious. Kiwi’s have a great, slightly dark, sense of humor (or that would be humour here I think LOL!)
We then headed up to Aoraki (Mt. Cook) which, so far, is my favorite spot in the whole country. I could’ve stayed their for weeks – incredibly serene. We stayed at a place called “The Hermitage” – the chef was amazing. But it’s mainly the mountains – which have an extraordinary vibration. This is truly a sacred spot.
The trails sparkle with pounamu – the sacred greenstone of the south island.
I was sad to leave Aoraki, I would like to sit there and meditate for days. But…adventure calls.
All for now. With love and respect.
Kristine
P.S. I’m mostly on vacation, but still got a few things happening – at the end of this month we will be sending out some info about a big sale on our Subtle Yoga Resilience Society membership – please keep an eye out for an email from me! (not signed up for our emails? please click here.
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Absolutely love your family pictures and the landscape!!! Welcome home!
Thank you so much for the tour. The photos are fabulous. I may never make it to New Zealand so I appreciate you sharing your travels with us. it’s an adventure and a journey that you will always be able to cherish.
Namaste’
Brenda
Awesome. Thank you for sharing this New Zealand adventure. You stories, with pictures included, make me feel almost as good as your yoga classes:)
Your experience reminds me of the phrase; “There’ no place like home….., There’s no place like home….., there’s no place like home” Bring some of that NZ loving kindness back to the States.
Wow your in my country, I did yr course thru lockdown. I am in Kaikoura I hope you get hre its stunningly beautiful and no tourist at the moment..
Oh gosh Penny, I just loved Kaikoura! We went to see the seals, they’re so cute. I’m sorry we missed you! xoxo
Wow, what an awesome, wonderful, & memorable experience for you and your family. Thank you for sharing your precious family moments with all of us.
Thanks Dona!
So glad for you that you had such a marvelous and exciting experience. Family strings pull hard on our hearts, though. I am sure you will be glad to get back to your family. I love what you do, and your generosity is very greatly appreciated. Safe travels.
yes so true! Thank you Patricia!
Beautiful pictures… enjoy and have fun… spend good quality time with family… Bless you all.
Enjoy enjoy enjoy!!!!!
What an extraordinary wonderful experience….
Just be grateful for the blessing to have witnessed and been moved by all this beauty.
thank you!
Hi there, I was going to purchase your amazing offer of 83% discount for subtle yoga for anxiety, depression, fatigue etc containing 5 modules and lost the payment link. There was a 90 minute count down and so may have missed out. Please let me know if I can still purchase. Thank you.
thank you!
Beautiful pictures! Glad you are enjoying yourself and shedding some of that Catholic guilt! Spending time in this beautiful place can only bring you closer to a higher power! Namaste.
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your photos and travels. New Zealand is wonderful! My husband and I had the opportunity to visit last January- just before the world shut down- and we wished we had never left! Such beauty and diversity in such a small country- we lived in a van and loved every minute of our time there…
Thanks Ruth, yes, it’s lovely – a remarkable place indeed.
My first thought was “ how I hope her bolster arrived!!!”
Travelling Mercies!
Your trip seems so interesting and amazing. Thanks for bringing us along with you. As always, I love your writing and continue to experience better understanding of resilience and the many aspects of Yoga practice. I have learned to the importance of self study and setting intention and better understanding of our Sankalpa. The quote that comes to mind for me is ” Show me your accomplishment, show me you achievement, and the knowledge will give me courage for mine.” Thanks so much. Happy Mother’s Day! Stay safe. Stay secure. Happy Trails to you all.
Love New Zealand, I spent 6 months there years ago. Its such a beautiful country and the people were so nice and relaxed. Very like Ireland in ways really. i can’t wait to return. Meanwhile we are happy that we are allowed travel within Ireland from tomorrow! Appreciating the small things in life. Good luck Kristine, on your return to the USA
I am busy recording where you have visited, as NZ will be my “gotta do it” trip abroad in the next 5 YEARS. Waiting for my hubbie to retire. He is a geologist, so I will have a personal guide to the geology of the country. I cannot wait!
Beautiful pictures! and What a lovely commentary! Thank you for sharing!:)