A Trip to Paradise

Not figuratively, it’s an actual place.

A place with a name like this carries some degree of expectation.

Back in New Zealand, A friend asked me if I had ever been to Paradise. I did a quick mental search of all the most pleasurable experiences Id encountered on my trip, ready to unload an anecdote or two.

Turns out I was standing thinking for longer than is socially normal because she then interrupted me by pointing out they were going today.

It wasn’t a metaphorical description of some natural wonderland. It was the name of a real natural wonderland I would be fortunate enough to visit that day.

Paradise can be found in Otago on the South Island. It is An hour’s drive from Queenstown, where I was living at the time. The drive itself is lovely, taking you along Lake Wakatipu and passing by one of the most photographed signs in the world.

When you take a short walk in Paradise, you are treated to some incredible views of the surrounding mountains and the lake. It’s been the shooting location in a few TV shows and was even used to film the point where the fellowship enters Lothlorien in the Lord of the Rings.

I really enjoyed this day. The natural beauty and serene environment give you a powerful inner peace and leave you contemplating. My friends and I drove there together; we shared 6 bottles of beer between us while enjoying the sunshine, soaking in the landscape, and chatting about life and the uncertain future.

China is filled with beautiful locations, but I miss having this natural beauty so accessible to me. I miss being able to hop in a car and find somewhere spectacular within an hour’s drive.

How about you? Can you find natural beauty the same day you seek it? Or are you locked in the sprawl of an urban jungle?

Thank you for joining me on this short written reflection! Click here if you want to see where else I’ve been lucky enough to end up in!

If you want to travel why not read this story about language? Sharing Randomly has released the latest prompt in the travel series. Do you have any language stories to share? I know I’ll be joining this prompt.

Here is an extract

“I once read a book by Khaled Hosseini that stated something on the lines that places are like doors you can go to, but languages are the keys that allow you to take in the culture. What a beautiful way of life if you ask me.”