Elisabeth Easther talks to Tourism West Coast's marketing manager
I'm from Hokitika, born and bred, and that's a big part of who I am. Lots of Coasters like to say how many generations back they go, but I lose track around four. At a certain age, I thought I wanted to be somewhere bigger, but going away and coming back helps you appreciate where you're from.
When I was 16, I signed myself up for Spirit of Adventure, so I had to travel to Auckland. I'd never been on a plane before and I had no idea how fast a plane went when it took off. I remember having this huge smile on my face, and seeing the world from above, I realised just how small my town was but that what surrounded it was stunning. The Spirit of Adventure was fantastic, stepping out of everyday life and taking a good look at where you're headed and what you want.
I went straight from high school to Otago and did three years studying marketing management and design studies. Graduating before my 21st birthday, I returned to Hokitika and worked at the newspaper. I had a fascination with Argentina's flag and I hung it in my office next to a quote about being 22 and having to travel, even if you had to sleep on floors to do it. So I started saving.
Flying into Buenos Aires, I travelled solo around Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Chile. One highlight was La Paz in Bolivia. I hated my first week there, and if I'd flown straight there, my culture shock would've been so much I'd have come straight home. Llama foetuses hanging in doorways at the Witches' Market, instead of taxis there'd be a man leaning out of a van with a megaphone, squeezing people in till the vehicle looks like it's going to pop. It was chaotic and loud with non-stop protests and gun shooting. Firing shots is always part of protests there. But after going to La Pampa, an area in the Amazon rainforest, I came back and realised that chaos was part of their lives, and how I do things at home isn't necessarily the right way. And that's why you go travelling.
I got mugged in Buenos Aires. I was about to start a tour so I decided to dress a bit more nicely and put on a necklace. It wasn't gold but it was shiny and looked like gold. I'd been to Buenos Aires three times before this and was feeling pretty confident, when three young guys came over and one yanked the necklace. I thought he was going for my shoulder bag, so I turned around and walked away, then felt the chain go down my back. I don't think they were hoodlums, they weren't doing it for fun, there's just so much poverty there. But I was pretty glad I was starting a tour the next day.
Another thing that scared me was during a silver mine tour in Bolivia. Deeply religious people, they believe that God is above ground, but underground he can't help you and it's up to the devil to keep you safe. So they have these sculptures in the mines called El Tio, and they worship him with gifts of cigarettes and alcohol, to stop the mine tunnels collapsing on them. El Tio is pretty much the devil and I found him scary.
Many people thought I was crazy for travelling on my own but I tell them how good it was and how much I learnt.
When I got home, I returned to the newspaper but I was adamant I'd go away again. I had the travel bug, then I got this job with Tourism West Coast. Now, rather than lugging a backpack around, I take holidays or work trips. My favourite place here is Underworld Adventures, a caving tour out of Charleston near Westport. It's kind of like Waitomo Caves, where you jump in the water and float along on these big black tyres under a galaxy of glow-worms. It's the only time I've ever been speechless in my
whole life.
Further information: See westcoast.co.nz