If you could Build a trip of a lifetime, where would you go and with who?
... with author Kristina Tanso
In the movie, Shall We Dance, Susan Sarandon’s character eloquently says, “We need a witness to our lives. … You're saying, ‘Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness.’” While this stellar line was delivered in the context of a life partnership, it resonated deeply with me.
Growing up where relocation on a regular basis was par for the course, I always felt like I was dipping in and out of someone else’s experience—witnessing their beautiful lives, knowing that in a year’s time, or even less, I would’ve fallen deep into the crevices of their memories. The only witness to my participation in these little moments in time were my own words that filled journals, carried in a portmanteau that followed me from one place to the next. And, while I am grateful that I was able to see some incredible places, and learn about foreign cultures, I always felt like something was missing—and I didn’t quite know why…
This sentiment is the heart and soul of Milo’s story in Milo and His Magic Skateboard, where his character is lucky enough to have a magic skateboard that takes him wherever he wants to go. All he needs to do is think of the place he wants to visit the most, clap-clap-clap his paws, and there he is! Yet with each passing moment, the excitement and novelty fade. He cannot fully enjoy the beauty, history, food, and all the magical things that each place he visits offers, because he feels as though something is missing.
I wanted to subtly capture the emptiness one can feel—and that I have felt—amidst the most exciting of times and in the busiest of places. That phantom feeling of having someone next to you, whom you can turn to, to say, “wow”, to crack an inside joke, or share knowing laugh. Little big things that are constructed and conditioned by our social habits. And, so when I think of taking a trip of a lifetime, I immediately think of going somewhere with the people I love: life-long friends who share and bear witness to our lives. For me, those would be my closest girl friends with whom I’ve travelled with before, and share a similar travel style to.
Our trip of a lifetime looks like this: we get a camper van at the northern tip of South Island in New Zealand, where our first stop is Marlborough Sounds. We swim with dolphins and close the day out with a visit to the famed Cloudy Bay winery, for a sophisticated meal and delicious New Zealand wine. Then, we make our way towards Christchurch to hike Kaikoura Range, and scale its highest peak, Tapuae-O-Uenuku, which is Mฤori for “footprint of the rainbow.” From there, we cut across the island to Arthur’s Pass, and make our way down to Queenstown where we ditch our camper van for one of those stunning design lodges Queenstown is known for. We taste all of New Zealand’s culinary offerings and offset our indulgences with daily hikes on one of the many collection of trails available to us. The adrenaline junkies amongst us may decide to paraglide, or bungy jump of Kawarau Bridge. Of course, a trip to the South Island is not complete without visiting the stunning Fiordland National Park, where we are treated to the sights of incredible nature and wildlife… and if we are lucky enough, the ever-elusive kakapo bird, a ground-dwelling parrot, that looks like a fluffy, green chicken.
It’s of the utmost importance for me to give back, whenever I take a trip. So, throughout the journey, we will find ways to volunteer, whether it is working with children or doing something in the conservation space. And when it comes time to say goodbye to New Zealand, and to each other, we create space for gratitude. Gratitude for the fact that we shared a chapter of our lives together, filled with new stories, new inside jokes, and memories unique to us—reaffirming that this moment of our lives will not go un-noticed, because we have noticed it, and will carry it with us forever.
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