I’ve been meaning to do this post for a while, but have gotten so caught up with other trips and adventures. A few months ago, when I was planning my trip down to Christchurch for Easter, I decided I’d try and recreate some of the shots I had from almost seven years ago when I studied abroad. I also knew I’d get some great time hop opportunities (hopportunities?) when Melissa and I road-tripped down the West Coast.
Without further ado, come with me on my journey down memory lane!
Christchurch city center then…
and now
Christchurch Cathedral before…
and after
It was heartbreaking to see how the city center has fallen to pieces after the big earthquake.
When I left he city to visit my favorite spot, the Port Hills, it was a relief to find myself amidst scenery that was much the same.
The view over Lyttleton Harbour then…
and now
And a selfie then…
and now
When Melissa came to visit, it was wonderful to have a willing reenactment partner to stand behind the lens and put up with my direction.
Punakaiki Pancake Rocks then…
and now
The observation deck at Punakaiki then…
and now
Erosion then…
and now
Global Village Hostel then…
and now
As you can see, time has had zero impact on my weirdness.
Strange hostel decorations then…
and now
Fox Glacier then…
and now
It was absolutely mind-blowing to see how much the glacier has receded.
On the swing bridge then…
and now
Glacial river then…
and now
Notice how you can just see the glacier in the first one, but now it’s invisible from this angle.
Wanaka waterfront then…
and now
Weird giant hand statue then…
and now
Queenstown observation deck then…
and now (+ friend and major camera upgrade)
Giant kiwi then…
and now (in a chokehold?)
True-to-size moa then…
and now
Lake Wakatipu then…
and now
I can’t even begin to describe how happy I am to be back in New Zealand, and this photo project really brought that home. I didn’t know if I’d make it back, but I never stopped dreaming of this magical country. I think this quote from Nelson Mandela really sums up how I felt when taking these photos and contemplating all the time that has passed since I was last in these exact spots.
“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to see the ways that you yourself have changed.”
FlyAllOver 
Thanks for taking us on your time hop. You can see how much you love NZ. Great pictures.
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Thanks, Daddio! One of my favorite posts yet.
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Grateful to your able assistant Melissa for enabling you to do this cool project. Looked like lots of fun. Thanks for another virtual thrill, Kelsey.
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You’re most welcome! Glad you enjoyed it. This was a fun project.
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This would mean that time is just another dimension, that future events are “already there”, and that there is no objective flow of time. In this view, time travel is impossible because there is no future or past to travel to. However, some 21st-century presentists have argued that although past and future objects do not exist, there can still be definite truths about past and future events, and thus it is possible that a future truth about a time traveler deciding to travel back to the present date could explain the time traveler’s actual appearance in the present.
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