Yesterday I flew from Auckland to Christchurch on my way to Kuala Lumpur and Chiangmai in northern Thailand where I will house sit for a friend for a month. No irksome task, but while in Christchurch for a few hours between planes, I was privileged to see something of how this brave city is coping with the results of two major earth quake events in the last twelve months.
DESTRUCTION
A grand memorial arch stands strong over a broken bridge
Demolition in the city centre is more prevalent than restoration
Like giant Triffids or machines from War of the Worlds the destruction continues
The sympathetic can get no closer than this to the ruined cathedral
A brooding hobbit overlooks the ruins of the city centre
The competing zones - the red zone of destruction
and the green gardens of persevering new growth
NEW LIFE
The botanical gardens presents an entrance panorama that might
well be from Kew gardens in the old country.
Autumn colours soothe with their subtlety
An encouraging bough beckons us into the gardens
The first shrub we come to welcomes us with a formal bouquet
A last leaf on one tree bids farewell
to a late newcomer on another
New and old leaves dispose themselves with Ikebana perfection
Nearby a Peace Bell reconciles with an old human foe
but peace on earth ..... in the earth ..... is what people seek in this city
As new tremors shake the city that peace seems elusive
and with no clear future yet in sight, brave citizens grope their way forward
As our plane carries us away from Christchurch and New Zealand snow mountains glisten.
