Christchurch

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

In the historic Botanical Gardens and in gardens throughout the stressed city, nature seems to consolingly offer the gentler side of her creative forces. Mighty old trees withstood the barrage of quakes and autumn leaves cheer with their colorful procession to a winter that will be followed a new spring.

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.