This article was originally published in the Washtenaw Voice, the newest extension of my Graphic Design/Photography studies. It was not an easy feat trying to condense my trip into 1100 words (as I'm sure you can guess by my typically-wordy entries), but it was a rewarding challenge to embrace. It also featured a sneak peak of images, of which you readers will see much more in the coming weeks! I hope you enjoy.
I've followed countless times as Bilbo runs impulsively from
his door at Bag End – past the pigs, through the vegetable garden, and over the
weathered fence, gaining momentum as he races along the footpaths of Hobbiton.
His eager anticipation is palpable, as the first steps of his journey unfold.
When asked where he is off to in such a hurry, Bilbo shouts the essential
mantra for every soul propelled by wanderlust: “I’m going on an adventure!”
Without a doubt, this adventure is real. I can tell you I've
stood at the gate of Bag End and gazed upon the rolling hills of Hobbiton. I've
lain in the grass where Bilbo’s 111th birthday party was held. And when I
couldn't take any more photos of the iconic landscape from my childhood
musings, I was presented with a complimentary beer at the Green Dragon Inn.
Arriving in Middle Earth marked the realization of a goal I
had set for myself many moons ago. The goal was simple: Travel to New Zealand
within the next five years. I arrived with three months to spare in the fifth
year – and no shortage of spirit.
“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find
something… but it is not always quite the something you were after.”
Unlike my own journey, Bilbo’s was indeed quite unexpected.
I am sure many of us can identify with the reluctance Bilbo felt before leaving
the comforts of his own home in search of adventure.
But without challenging opportunities, how are we expected
to test our resolve? Bilbo did not find the Ring in a pretty field with
flowers, and we also must embrace uncomfortable, sometimes dark, situations if
we hope to uncover treasures of great worth.
With Hobbiton checked off my must-do list, I joined an
adventure bus that gave riders the chance to experience New Zealand as a
dynamic and cohesive tour. I had embarked on this trip alone, and was concerned
that the personalities in the group might interfere with my wanderings and
wonderings.
What surprised me was how quickly this mixed bag of
international travelers was able to foster a meaningful atmosphere – group
dinners, family photos, cakes and cards celebrating the birthdays of
recent-strangers.
“There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember
you are over the Edge of the Wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you
go.”
It didn’t take long for me to get attached to my new
companions. They pushed me to explore adventures that even my typically open
mind had written off. On the eve of one particular day-trip, my roommate took
it upon herself to convince me I should join.
Her efforts resulted in one of the best highlights from my
trip: driving through a lush rainforest to go hiking on a frozen glacier. “It’s
just ice,” I had told myself, but the vast, constantly moving landscape
presented a staggering purity that I’ll never forget. To be such a minute
visitor in a wild arena capable of such natural force was awesome in the truest
form.
Above-ground hiking was not our only wild encounter. Donning
wetsuits and rubber boots, we spent an afternoon crawling and squeezing our way
through the glowworm caves of Planet Earth fame. I’m not sure what I expected,
but I found myself encased in a few tight spaces desperately fighting off
claustrophobic paranoia.
You can do it. Don’t be a wimp. If he can fit through, so
can you. None of the typical mantras brought any relief; my only motivation was
the understanding that forward motion was the only thing keeping me alive.
When I look back, I realize that my moments of confinement
account for less than 10 percent of the afternoon, which helps me to recall the
canopy of luminescence and the bellows of group laughter more clearly.
I also consider the fact that Bilbo, while equipped with the
Ring, did not have any glowworms or friends to help him find his way out. (I’d
like to note that there are multiple ways to experience the infamous glowworms
that do not require any amount of hiking or squealing. Please do not be
dissuaded.)
It was encounters like these that allowed me to trust more
fully – both in my own capabilities and in my communion with others. But as
much as I had come to appreciate the benefits of my close-knit group, I
resolved to cut ties with what was familiar and easy and comfortable, and once
again venture out on my own.
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded
gold, it would be a merrier world.”
I spent a few weeks dating myself. Romantic dinners were
enjoyed pouring over a new book, while generous glasses of wine continued to
pour nearby. Lazy days were spent entirely in bed.
Photo walks through the numerous gardens were followed by
late-night strolls along the harbor. Intimate moments were shared with complete
strangers, as I remained open to the intelligence and stimulation within.
Make it a point to find and enjoy local delights – there are
plenty of adventures hidden within daily endeavors if you are just willing to
dig a little.
Maybe you’ll jump in a car with five strangers to see a live
rugby match, but I can guarantee you won’t come home strangers. Maybe you’ll
book a flight to see that seven-piece funky-soul-reggae band and discover a
native ghost along the way.
Perhaps you can splurge and attend a red carpet premiere of
the latest Hobbit film. But what do I know? I’m just some girl who stuffed her
life in a backpack and boarded a plane.
Just as Bilbo took a leap of faith in leaving the comforts
of Bag End, I encourage everyone to rebuke the complacency that comes with
material possessions, and take the first steps of your own adventure.
You may find that a lack of tangible distractions allows a
clearer sense of identity and confidence to shine through, whether you share it
with companions or treasure it internally. An adventure can be in the next
neighborhood or the next country, just as long as it removes you from your
comfort zone.
Through the soaring highs and the heavy lows, I have found
more fulfillment and satisfaction in three months of wandering than in years
spent on my own couch. Because when it comes down to it, each of us is “just a
little fellow, in a wide world after all.”
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| The road goes ever on.. The start of the tramping trail. Waiheke Island, NZ. |
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| Tramping trail on the coast of Waiheke Island, NZ. |
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| An inviting Hobbit hole in Hobbiton. Matamata, NZ. |
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| The Party Tree of Bilbo's infamous 111th birthday party, with view of the Green Dragon Inn. Matamata, NZ. |
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| Down from the door where it began.. Bag End and its gate. Matamata, NZ. |
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| Group photo with Stray family, in front of Gollum's Waterfall. Tongariro National Park, NZ. |
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| Milky Way over Blue Duck Station. Owhango, NZ. |
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| The lighter side of Mt Doom (Mt Ngauruhoe). Tongariro National Park, NZ. |
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| Cape Foulwind walkway along the West coast of NZ's South Island. |
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| Silhouette group photo through a cave on Fox River, NZ. |
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| Glacial wave-like ice formation on Fox Glacier, NZ. |
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| Hiking across Fox Glacier with a backdrop of the rain forest. |
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| Mirror Lakes reflecting the Misty Mountains (Southern Alps) of NZ's South Island. |
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| Waterfall inside of Milford Sound, NZ. |
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| Taiaroa Head Lighthouse. Otago Peninsula, NZ. |
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| Coastline along the Otago Peninsula, NZ. |
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| Moeraki Boulder, naturally occurring spherical boulders along Koekohe Beach, NZ. |
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| There are 10-14 sheep for every one human in New Zealand. Seen here just below Castle Hill, NZ. |
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| Re:START Stacks. Following the earthquake, businesses reopened in shipping containers. Christchurch, NZ. |
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| An 'angel' hangs suspended during a late night Arts Festival in downtown Christchurch, NZ. |
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| Mud Battle. A hostel group lathers up with mud from hot geothermal pools in Rotorua, NZ. |
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| Reflecting pool outside of The Gallery and Cafe in Helena Bay Hill. Bay of Islands, NZ. |
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| Moureeses Bay. Bay of Islands, NZ. |
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| Wine and appetizers were complimentary at the premiere of the Hobbit. Embassy Theater, Wellington, NZ. |
