TRAVERSE 23
TRAVEL- NEW ZEALAND
MEGAN GOVERNI
MY LOVE WILL LAST FOREVER
An odd hue seemed to permeate from the scene ahead of us, an aqua blue, deep within the frozen lake gently sliding down the mountain valley it was creating. The suns warmth of the late afternoon was creating its own weather systems within the valley, dark clouds seemed to hover in defiance of what was around us. Many different languages expressed disappointment despite the scene being otherworldly, mesmerising.
Ahead of us was Fox Glacier on the west coast of New Zealand’ s south island. We sat in silence, secretly annoyed by the constant stream of tourists that just needed a photograph for Instagram to prove they were here, after all, how can a tourist prove they were somewhere without a selfie? We just wanted to take it in, nature at its finest.
Tourism has been a feature of this region of New Zealand for well over one hundred and thirty years, although the local Māori people have known about the existence of this unique formation for time immemorial, it forms a part of their cultural heritage with stories of lost love and frozen tears. I thought of that and wondered if the viewing masses were aware of the significance of such a natural feature in this part of the world or was it just another box ticked off for their social following.
The bluish hue seemed to deepen as the sun dropped lower toward the horizon and I thought back to what we had witnessed in the days leading to this point. It was my first time in New Zealand, and I’ d become transfixed by the spectacle nature provided through a kaleidoscope of colours and tones.
We’ d started our journey about a week earlier in the south island’ s largest city, Christchurch, before making our way south and slightly inland to a town called Kurow. Here
TRAVERSE 23