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March 14, 2005
Stop the bus!
(Day 26) Open any photobook of New Zealand, and you're bound to find pictures of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman reflecting on the surface of Lake Matheson. The lake, formed 14,000 years ago as Fox Glacier was retreating, is located only 6 km out of town. I woke up early, rented a bike, and headed out to try my hand at capturing one of New Zealand's most famous images.
Weather conditions need to be perfect for the peaks of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman to be visible. While they were still visible this morning, clouds were quickly moving in. I pedaled like a madman on my poor excuse for a bike. I arrived only to find the shot ruined by clouds. Damn. Being a photographer is tougher than I thought...
Back in town, I caught my shuttle bus to Queenstown. It would be a five hour ride. Might as well do a bit of writing during the trip, I thought to myself. I looked through my bag. Where was my notebook?! Mentally, I retraced my steps, trying to think when I last wrote in it. Shit... I think I left it in the TV room, back in at the hostel. I surveyed the contents of my bag, wondering what else I might've left behind. Argh. I think I left my hat back there too.
In my four weeks of travelling, I've lost a pair of headphones, two hats, a towel, a bottle of shampoo, two bottles of mayonnaise, and my notebook. My penchant for losing things was really starting to piss me off. It's just a matter of time before I leave my laptop charger somewhere. That would really ruin my trip.
My mood was lifted as we entered some of New Zealand's finest landscapes. It seems the farther south you go, the more amazing the views become. Spectacular mountain ranges... clear blue lakes... I only wished the shuttle bus would stop for some kodak moments! Pictures shot through windows of a moving vehicle usually didn't turn out the best. Driver! Stop here! Or here! Or anywhere! The bus kept on going... Eventually I gave in and started snapping away. I took dozens of pictures, praying that couple would turn out well. Being a photographer is hard work! Not only do I have to worry about lighting conditions, camera stability, proper framing...
I have to hope the freaking bus stops!
Thanks to everyone for their support and comments! Knowing people are reading keeps me motivated to continue the updates!
Posted by markyiin at March 14, 2005 02:19 AM
Comments
Welcome aboard Liz!
It actually wasn't very cold. The other amazing thing about the glaciers is they're actually located in the middle of a temperate rain forest. It was maybe about 60 degrees on the ice?
Posted by: markyiin at March 14, 2005 02:38 AM
whoa... 60 degrees on the ice?? how does it stay as ice then? it'd be interesting to hear some of the stories of the other travelers... there seems to be a bunch of swiss and swedish?
Posted by: Anna at March 14, 2005 09:16 AM
Lol, would it be great if you did not remember at all you've ever left any thing behind.
The pictures are really amazingly beautiful, and It must be breathtaking. No wonder so many people visit.
Just curious, Does Alaska has the same sceneries.
Posted by: mojess at March 14, 2005 12:35 PM
Awesome pictures Mark. I must say, you're doing a great job with the blog. You have a knack for writing.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 14, 2005 01:20 PM
Uh, that last comment was posted by me. Forgot to put in my name. ha.
Posted by: Scott at March 14, 2005 01:21 PM
May I ask why you're carrying around mayo?
Also very nice pics. Warm air + hiking on glaciers seem like my kind of hike
Posted by: Liz at March 14, 2005 03:22 PM
Wow, I think those are the best pictures of your trip so far (although I did really like the ones of the Emerald Lakes). It sucks that the bus didn't stop for any pictures or anything though. The best scenery is always out in the middle of nowhere and NZ being such a scenic country, it would only make sense for them to stop for pictures.
The ones you posted turned out very well though, thanks for the update!
Posted by: OREOSpeedwagon at March 14, 2005 07:55 PM
Thanks for the postcard! You have all of us back here pretty impressed with your pictures. I have enjoyed reading about your adventures. I am sure they are a lot more interesting to write rather than a test procedure for a keyset.
Those glaciers must have been awesome. Looking forward to reading about your future adventures.
Posted by: Tony at March 14, 2005 08:29 PM
Just got your postcard, thanks! It's funny how I didn't meet many japanese ppl in california nor pittsburgh, but somehow they are always there when you go to tourist areas. ^_^ Asian americans? I think it got beaten into us that we shouldn't do fun things like travel around the world.. instead we should hole ourselves in some office and make monies and invest our monies to make more monies.
Anyway, i thought you wanted to get away? i know the feeling of being isolated... i don't know why, recently, even though i've been here for awhile, i suddenly feel very isolated from all that's familiar....
Posted by: Anna at March 14, 2005 09:57 PM
I often worry about leaving stuff behind so the previous night, I make a checklist of what to pack up. That usually does it for me. However, considering that you're tired the previous night, you'd probably forget to do that too! Oh well, as long as you have the essentials, you can always replace the rest. -GEM
Posted by: GEM at April 11, 2005 07:04 AM