Sunday, March 15, 2009

Wanaka - new, old and a larger landscape that does change, be it slowly.

These days as parking becomes more of a hassle in downtown Wanaka [and sadly more Queenstown like] I park above Ardmore St. on Lismore and walk down to do my shopping and get a coffee and muffin at Soul Foods. The return up-hill exercise does me good too!

Roy's Peak in the background never changes much, but the foreground does...
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Downtown the old Masonic Lodge is becoming a symbol of the past, and it's being kept tidy. Perhaps helped by funds accrued by hiring out the land around the building as parking space...
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I found this photo on the wall recently out at Lake Hawea at the hotel in good enough light to photograph it. I find it so symbolic of the past history of Wanaka that I know I had no choice but to make a photo of the photo. Obviously a winter shot [note ski auction banner] - the center building is the old Wanaka Town Hall, now long gone. What a great atmosphere that building had. I even remember going to movies there 45 years ago as a kid, and it never changed really, just becoming a maintenance impossibility until it's demise several years ago. For those of you regular Wanaka visitors the Infinity Investment Group's building is now to the right of the site. From the right: Wanaka Four Square still in operation, next Tuatara Pizza just changed hands to something ... Bistro and it used to be Monley's cafe. Then we now have Soul Foods downstairs in what used to be where you did NZR bus bookings, and the Gilliams sold magazines and newspapers in the 80s. Upstairs was a yoga studio until recently, and the large carport was where the NZR [New Zealand Railways] buses used to load and unload. Correct me if I'm wrong but prior to this it was a garage [Mansons?]...
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This photo I've republished from this week's Mount Aspiring College newsletter. Twenty Years Young they say, this year. I still vividly remember attending the official opening by Princess Anne. It was a very hot day, and it was the last time I ever wore a suit in my life! I was also wearing my favourite glacier sunglasses and must have looked a sight. I was so "heat struck" I missed the opportunity for meaningful conversation over little onions and cheese bits stuck on toothpicks, with glasses of wine or cups of tea!
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Last night I made this shot up on the mid slopes of Mt Iron. From a Wanaka landscape photography point-of-view I quite like it's "vanishing point" point, that leads my eye on a journey into a sense of distance [Mt Iron being an area that challenges me composition wise]. Again though while the basic form of the mountains remain unchanged as you'd expect, the growing vegetation speaks volumes about the evolution of the area...
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6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Interesting your thoughts about how the human element of a place changes over the years and this also brings changes to the physical landscape. i kind of like the way you have stayed so connected to your town. SOmetimes when I admit to always having lived in this city I sense an unspoken reproach in my listeners response. "you mean you have never lived anywhere else? come on what's wrong with you?" Actually not much. I like it here but I could like it somewhere else too it I needed too. I just dont need to yet.Although I did spend last week end in the maniototo and loved it and will spend next weekend in queesntown which I also expect to be amazing.

March 19, 2009 at 11:00 PM  
Blogger Donald said...

Hi Marg

Yes, interesting. It was said during a tough time in my life that I carry my home in my head, and there's truth in this. But I also believe that it is all of us, the connected "we", that make [or break] the flavour of a place, so it seems important to invest in this in whatever little ways we can, and thus make a place a home. Then for ourselves, and those who visit, feel surrounded by an inner peace.

I think it's a total privilege to have been born and to live in New Zealand, and that this has to be discovered. So on this basis I quite agree - why move!

I wish others would value it more, and this is one of the reasons I publish photos so often, as we all need to value our environment

I hope you enjoy your Queenstown visit - it looks like the weather is settling down a bit, and the trees are "turning" here, so it should be stunning.

Cheers

Donald

March 19, 2009 at 11:30 PM  
Blogger Ruahines said...

Kia ora Donald,
I only got my first taste of the south island this year while visiting Bob Mc Kerrow. I am planning a more extensive tour and you have given me another place to add to my growing list. Cheers!
I also love the fact you have only worn a suit once. Maybe if more didn't the world might be in better shape. Have a great weekend.
Robb

March 21, 2009 at 4:46 PM  
Blogger Donald said...

Hi Robb

When you do that extensive tour put time aside for a get-together!

Been a bit busy of late, but hope to blog again tomorrow - it has become a sort of Sunday habit.

Cheers

Donald

March 21, 2009 at 11:01 PM  
Anonymous montreal florist said...

I hope beautiful landscape change to more beautiful and convinient village.

September 26, 2009 at 6:50 AM  
Blogger Donald said...

Thanks for your comment montreal florist.

It sounds like you're hoping for a shift to somewhere better. I wish you well in your quest.

Cheers

Donald

September 26, 2009 at 9:18 AM  

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