Because Life is Beautiful

I set myself a challenge: take 365 pictures in a year. That’s one a day, everyday. No excuses, no borrowing an image from another time - one a day. A challenge it’s been indeed to constantly be looking for an image that is part of my day. It can be anything. Something inspiring, something ordinary that tells the story of that day, anything at all.

When we are on the road in Bingo it is easy. Every day is different, filled with new sights and destinations. We have been in Wellington for a few months now and it has become much harder. When you get into the routine of day to day life the challenge becomes greater. There are only so many sights on the same walk to work that have grabbed my attention, only so many images standing in work that I can justify as my picture of the day.

I’m trying to be picky, it is a challenge after all, otherwise I could just step out of the front door and click. There have been several attempts starting back at the beginning of April, but a missed day here and there have meant back to the beginning, back to day one. So far since the 28th April everything has been on track, at least one a day.

I hope you like them, and remember, loosen up those fingers and feel free to comment.

Gareth

ps. We are back on the road right now so shots will be posted a little intermitently. It’s worth the wait though isn’t it?

DAY SIXTY

In Wellington ‘pon windy hill of Kelburn survived winters chill,

Through gardens of glorious scent and colours of spring ascent,

Our feet did lightly tread upon course to waters edge,

Where words are written with rhyme

To capture our wonderful Wellington time.

DAY FIFTY NINE

Wrapped

The last job of the night - wrapping the cutlery for the potential of tomorrow.

DAY FIFTY EIGHT

Spider man was once told “With great power comes great responsibility” and a new phone. It’s also true when you work for a temp agency and your wife is sick of being your secretary.

DAY FIFTY SEVEN

Rocky Reminder

Sunshine in Windy Wellington, enough to warm the chilliest of Wellington winters.

DAY FIFTY SIX

Boys Rule and girls Drool

I learned this a few years ago from a very wise 11 year old.

DAY FIFTY FIVE

Windy Welly the Umbrellas Terror

Swaying, light on our feet

This catcher of winds a blessing shelter from the rain until the fated day when Welly has her way.

Turned inside out with broken limbs,

forlorn and shattered, beaten by winds whims.

DAY FIFTY FOUR

L’Amour

Some pictures remind me of the people we have met along the way. This one is Sanchia for she loved the sweet scent of Parfait Amour more than all the rest.

DAY FIFTY THREE

Home Sweet Home

After an in auspicious start to living in Wellington finding a real home with all its comforts was a welcome treat

DAY FIFTY TWO

Drinkies

A few after work beverages and it doesnt take long for the dance moves to come out

DAY FIFTY ONE

Garnished

What would a hot chocolate be without its saucer friend?

DAY FIFTY

Canucks

Vancouver reach the final of the Stanley Cup only to be out done by a team from the US with more Canadians. Even in New Zealand we can’t escape the hockey

DAY FORTY NINE

Undressed

Out of one uniform into another, ready for pavlova

DAY FORTY EIGHT

Choking

All the money in the world and no championship to show for it…

DAY FORTY SEVEN

A beautiful sentiment for a beautiful garden

DAY FORTY SIX

Hangers

The art of life, or the life of art?

DAY FORTY FIVE

Chef

Stephen fires a fresh dough for a lunchtime wrap.

DAY FORTY FOUR

Shauna TWO JOBS Roughley

Relaxing after a long day. Sorry Lovely Lady, for once the picture doesn’t do you justice.

DAY FORTY THREE

Sweet Mothers

A Wellington institution that Shauna and I never made it too, but might still. There is at least one more trip to the windy city on the cards.

DAY FORTY TWO

Tasting

Proceed we did to taste some beautiful New Zealand wines, a few beers from the folks at the Emerson brewery, even a couple of sneeky Aussie wines from South Australia where Shauna and I met. Thanks Rod for inviting us along.

DAY FORTY ONE

Quiet Time

After a hard day at the office everyone needs a drink and a little quite time.

DAY FORTY

Courtney Place

The home of movie premiers, theatre, food and fun.

DAY THIRTY NINE

One Red Dog

Shauna and I met some lovely people working here. It will live long in our memories for so many reasons as you will see in the upcoming days of the 365 Challenge. As with so many of our adventures there is no such thing as regrettable moments just more stories…

DAY THIRTY EIGHT

Cuba

The street for people watching, decadent hot chocolates, urban style, and a fountain made from buckets.

DAY THIRTY SEVEN

Children of the Arts

Poetic verse lines the waterfront, history fills the museums, songs permiate the night sky. Wellington is awash with the colour of every age from past to present, young to old. Every corner holds something new to be discovered.

DAY THIRTY SIX

Sewing Kit

I left Canada with only one pair of jeans that after Seven months were showing signs of wear and tear. My camera bag, steadily rubbing away at the seam, was in the process of revealing my right leg to the population of Wellington unless action was taken.

DAY THIRTY FIVE

Front Door

After living in the van the concept of having a front door was very exciting.

DAY THIRTY FOUR

The Scone Lady

Doing catering temp work didn’t always pay the greatest but the perks were the best in the business. The manager at one establishment used to pack me off with a bag of delicious scones after every visit. I couldn’t wait for the next chance to head back.

DAY THIRTY THREE

Explosion

It’s not until we unpacked our van that we truly realised how much we had and how organised we had become.

DAY THIRTY TWO

The Harbour is an Ironing Board

Spotting poetry along the waterfront became a daily pleasure during our first weeks in Wellington.

DAY THIRTY ONE

Rowens

The sun shining down in the morning on the start of another Wellington autumnal day. Up the steep driveway Bingo awaits our return for one of our last nights at the hostel. The hostel, like so many of Wellington’s homes, on the side of a hill.

DAY THIRTY

Dressed for Bed

Living in a van, staying at a hostel you often find yourself a little over dressed for the evenings ablutions.

DAY TWENTY NINE

Studio

Wherever I lay my hat, that’s my home, or at least wherever I lay my laptop that’s my studio and workspace…

DAY TWENTY EIGHT

Hostel

Not the most inspring of my 365 images but still part of our story. This is the hostel where we parked our van at the beginning of our Wellington Odyssey.

DAY TWENTY SEVEN

Curriculum Vitae

Resume finished and off to bed ready to hit the streets the next day to find the illusive employment offer.

DAY TWENTY SIX

Bingo Bongo Cinema

On the long drive around the North Island we watched many movies as the days became shorter. The tradition didn’t change once we reached the city and needed to escape our hostel for a few hours.

DAY TWENTY FIVE

 Escape

Escaping the hustle of Wellington we found wine. Martinborough has become renowned for its quality reds so that’s where we decided to get some clarity for the job hunt to come.   

DAY TWENTY FOUR

We arrived in Wellington greeted by congestion, hustle, life at much faster pace than we had experienced so far in New Zealand. What a shock to the system. We had left quiet country roads, solitary camping with sea views well and truly behind us. In truth only a couple of hours away, but regardless we had come to Wellington with a plan so it was time to adapt.

Getting out of the van was key so at the first opportunity we hit the streets taking in the waterfront where the Frank Kitts Saturday market was in full swing. Shauna and I loved these little monsters by Stitchlips.

DAY TWENTY THREE

Inspiration

Inspiration comes in many forms, on day twenty three it came in the form of Shona Moller at her gallery/studio on the Kapiti coast. Seeing Shona’s art, her style, the organised mayhem of colour in her studio gave me new inspiration for my photography and how I percieve my art form. From the quotes to the swatches of paint on the walls, I loved everything about Shona’s studio; it’s well worth checking it out or her other gallery opposite Te Papa in Wellington.

DAY TWENTY TWO

UnBULLievable

A small town outside of Palmeston North with bags of character reminiscent of Doo Town in Tasmania, later to become infamous in the saga of Bingo Bongo, our little camper van with the huge story!

DAY TWENTY ONE

Lost & Found

After a couple of days in the shadow of Mount Taranaki and even larger dark clouds we started to head further south sad at the fact we had not had the priviledge of seeing the summit.

Thankfully our last day in the area finished on a high. The weather cleared, the mountain and its summit found under glorious blue skies in beautiful evening sunlight. All it took was getting lost on the road, in search of a bakery to find our volcano.

DAY TWENTY

Wind Wand

Len Lye’s Wind Wand gracing the skies of New Plymouth.

DAY NINETEEN

Roadside Stop

Heading to New Plymouth and Taranaki the light broke from beneath a blanket of clouds releasing rays onto this beautiful countryside. Seeing the light we pulled the van over into a handy gateway, dodged the few vehicles on the road to find a vantage point at the edge of a field. The result, what you see above.

DAY EIGHTEEN

Bridal Veil Falls

Go to places like Thailand to be overwhlemed by temples, come to New Zealand to see Waterfalls. Through intermitent downpours we followed the walkway to view Bridal Veil Falls. It was worth the risk of being soaked to the bones to capture this image and several more.

DAY SEVENTEEN

Lake Okareka

The beautiful morning view from our DOC (Department of Conservation) campground. The blog doesn’t do justice to majesty of the panorama, the three shots spliced together make this image over a meter long.

DAY SIXTEEN

Beautiful Lake Tarawera

DAY FIFTEEN

Surrounded by sulphurous fumes, acidic, oily pools, bubbling, gurgling mud; simple serenity alighted the ground next to the van. In New Zealand’s geothermal areas it is amazing to find such fragile beautiful creatures in what can feel like such a toxic atmosphere. In this environment this butterfly felt extraordinary.

DAY FOURTEEN

Huka Falls

On a grey, wet and miserable day Huka Falls provided some colour and excitement thanks to the immense flow of water. Not even the rain was enough to keep people away from this mighty attraction.

DAY THIRTEEN

Waipunga Falls

Time for lunch and a brief pause on our Journey from Napier to Taupo overlooking these magnificent falls.

DAY TWELVE

Toast

After a few extra days of working at the winery, digging out fermenters, we were finished, ready for another road trip. The Bingo Bongo wine cellar fully stocked, we said goodbye to 1/4 Acre.

DAY ELEVEN

I think the words speak for themselves.

DAY TEN

Moana Park

For Shauna’s birthday we indulged in a wine tour with Odyssey NZ in Napier. Of the several stops we made that day one brought us to Moana Park, a small family run boutique winery with heaps of character and some fantastic wines. We eventually left with a delicous bottle of Malbec secured in the Bingo Bongo wine cellar.

DAY NINE

Cider with Shauna

Our day had begun making Shauna a bracelet at a local Napier bead shop, enjoying beautiful art from the likes of Dick Frizzell and Martin Poppelwell in local galleries to strolling through the streets of the wonderful Havelock North. The perfect way to cap a sunny Hawke’s Bay afternoon was with a tasting tray at the Filter Room.

DAY EIGHT

Te Mata Peak

Overlooking Hawke’s Bay and the surrouding coutryside the panoramic views are stunning.

The bowl of tussocked grass in the foreground provided the perfect lead drawing my eye to the ranges that touch the horizon dappled with the warm light of the setting sun and long reaching shadows.

DAY SEVEN

Harvest Dinner

Shauna and I experienced our first end of harvest dinner celebrating the culmination of a busy period of picking and processing and primary fermentation. Grapes all pressed we headed to the delicious Deliciosa tapas and wine room in Havelock North just outside of Napier to sample an array of outstanding New Zealand wines served with tantalising tapas. Perfect!

To see more of our adventures making wine with the wonderful, expert, 2006 winemaker of the year, Rod McDonald click here.

DAY SIX

Hostel

Shauna and I spent several evenings relaxing here after tough days of making wine. On days of sustained rain the hostel offered a welcom break from the van, particularly thanks to the blazing log burner.

DAY FIVE

Orchards

Napier and the surrounding areas is not only known for its fantastic wines but also as an area of orchards, in particular apples. I can tell you from personal experience, there is nothing like eating a pacific rose picked that day, delivered straight from the tree.

DAY FOUR

Tied Up Portside

DAY THREE - 30th April

Diary Explosion

DAY TWO

Hot Chocolate can be beautiful too!

In a country renowned for its coffee I still prefer Hot Chocolate.

DAY ONE

Making wine with Rod McDonald at 1/4 Acre.

What an amazing experience with one of the most genuine, engaging people I have met. We learned a lot about wine and the processes behind the bottle. Here Shauna is adding yeast as part of the primary fermentation.

364 more days, 364 more images,

Enjoy. I did and still am!

Gareth