Twilight on Aotearoa

From Kaikoura to Christchurch, July 21st 2015


It was a ride on Intercity Bus. This time there wasn't much commentary from the driver as it had been from Picton to Kaikoura.

I should have consulted Google Map before deciding which seat to take. Thinking we would go alongside the coast, I picked up a seat on the left side of the bus. Then... the best view ran on the right side... not alongside the coast, but alongside my favorite sky theme: twilight.

Hmmm... it looks like that in New Zealand, the further South the more spectacular.

Is this a desert land or just bare due to winter season?

Waiau River?

Something like Northwest China (Xinjiang)? Uhm, China's landscape for me is forever beautiful in her own way. That permanent snow capped desert mountain dripping her snow from the heights of 4000 meters above while camels march through in full dignity, a shepherd leads his sheep cross the river while his little but faithful shepherd dog stays behind making sure no sheep is missing... ooops! This is NZ in pictures, not China in pictures.

Aotearoa in twilight!!

Just as I was reviewing the pictures of the Pamirs in my head, resting down my camera on my lap, Aotearoa stretched long and slander before my eyes, telling me, "We too are beautiful in our own way!" Indeed, nowhere else have I found something like this phenomena of long white cloud. It's not white now, though. It's purplish pink, because it's twilight.

A shot from the driver's window.

Little did I know that the next day I would be riding into -- yes, into! -- Aotearoa, with TranzAlpine.