Return to New Zealand — A Photo Journey
These photos are special to me because they represent the completion of a great circle in my life. Once upon a time I was a backpacking adventuress, with lofty dreams of placing both feet on all seven continents. Well, I’ve done that, but not in the way I had intended.
In Auckland, New Zealand in 1994, I found myself facing an unexpected fork in the road: I could either catch a bus to the South Island as I had planned — to be followed by job-hunting in South Africa — or I could accept an offer to replace an absentee crew member on a 31-foot sailboat that was on its way to Fiji — with unemployment to follow. I cashed in my Cape Town ticket and jumped aboard the yacht. Much to my surprise, I ended up marrying my Captain and we enjoyed seven adventurous years of sailing the high seas before settling on a tropical island in the Philippines.
As all of you know, not every romance has a happy ending. Mine ended rather badly. But throughout the good times and the bad, I never entirely forgot that I had missed out on New Zealand’s South Island. So this past April, twenty years later, I returned alone — back to the beginning. Full circle.
I hope you enjoy the photos…
India
indiaharrisdotcom 
Excellent photographs.
Thank you, Victor!
India, what breathtaking photos.!!!
Thank you, Maxine! I loved New Zealand and hope to go back again…
And just what is this “once upon a time” nonsense? Seems to me the adventuring goes on apace! And those photos! You have learned much in the time I have been seeing your work. I hope some magazine is buying those wonderful views. They need to be seen far and wide.
Thank you, Phyllis!! Yes, the adventuring continues, but the backpack rarely comes out of storage. I’ve been lucky to learn from and travel with some awesome photographers, particularly Chris Mclennan and Dean Fitzpatrick, so I hope my photography will keep getting better and better. As for selling photos — maybe some day!