The Tourist
Some month ago I came to New Zealand. I was looking forward to it. And I read a lot in advance. Certain imaginations, characterized by glossy articles in adventure magazines about the most beautiful and wildest landscapes in the world, have settled in my head. They are about spectacular and remote beaches, untouched nature, healthy forests and seclusion. Those imaginations have matured in work and sweat for the preparation. And one does want the imaginations to come true. Is the distant land once reached, and some places are visited, the touristy eye is basically inclining to see what it wants to see. It is inclining to ignore things. Important things. The people who live in this country need work. They need Electricity and they have to be supplied with goods. They need areas to live, to dispose their rubbish and to spend their free time. They build airports, harbors and facilities. All those things they need for living. Humans need a lot to live. Those circumstances are most distinct at the North Island and in the Auckland area. The artificial, the manmade is part of New Zealand as well as the rough and untouched nature from the articles in the European outdoor and adventure magazines. And it happens just too often, that this is transcribed in an unscrupulous, thoughtless and profit-oriented way. But who is thinking about that while coming here, beside all those dreams and expectations?