Thinking back over your lifetime, is there an event, experience or adventure that has greatly changed your life course?

·      Have you ever done a bungee jump?

·      Have you driven up to the top of the Baldwin Street in Dunedin, the steepest street in the world?

·      Have you ever explored a glacier?

Back in 2016, I was experiencing a significant setback in my lifetime: I failed in my investment, I had to close my factory and sell my business. 

Likewise, my daughter was doing no better than me: She was addicted to online games and struggled with her academics at the Shanghai middle school. It was called to my attention when I found out that more than AUD3000 in my account was gone and had been used to buy her virtual weapons.

When I blamed her for her irresponsibility, she retorted: “Where were you when I needed your help?”

Truthfully, this was a question hard to answer for me.  All these years, I had focused on my own business rather than her development.  Now, ironically, I had a question for myself: “what’s your next stage of life?”. 

Nothing is better than a trip away to help you to answer the big questions about life, and nowhere is as pure as New Zealand to allow you to have a peaceful mind. When I suggested a trip to New Zealand during her school holidays, my daughter’s answer “Yes” was not a surprise.

After our flight landed at the airport of Christchurch, we took our car immediately from Hertz and started our dream journey.  In the next 28 days, we reached nearly every corner of the South Island.  

·      We fished for lobsters at Kaikoura.

·      Watched the sunset at the drifting sands beach of Hokitika.

·      We explored the Franz Josef glacier.

·      Hiked the Milford Track and much more. 

This immaculate land washed all our annoyances away. 

Of course, I will not forget to mention the adrenaline rush moments during this trip. 

·      Our car got stuck in the snow at the Weka Pass and was rescued with the help of another vehicle. 

·      We lost our way at the Milford Track, while my daughter kept singing the popular song from the Chinese movie “Monkey King”: “大王叫我来巡山“, which means “The king asked me to patrol the mountain”. 

Before arriving at Queenstown, I kept on telling her that Queenstown was a paradise for extreme sports. When I finally asked her to choose between Bungee jumping and skydiving, she asked me to choose either. 

“what?  you know I have acrophobia.” I protested. 

“You jump, I jump. It’s a deal.” She had never been so determined.

(Right: Vincent's daughter Sara in full flight)

I finally found myself standing on a platform at Kawarau bridge, more accurately, kneeling. “It’s your show time.” The coach looked at me, smiling. I knew he really didn’t mean it. While I was still wondering whether it was too late to a//sk for a step back, the annoying voice sounded again: “Look into the distance, countdown, three, two, one . . .“    I couldn’t remember whether I jumped by myself, or I was pushed down. When I was aware that I was still alive, I was already on a boat, dizzy, with all my hair wet.  

Another challenge came to us at the Baldwin street, as I mentioned, the steepest street in the world. When we arrived at the foot of the steep slope, I asked my daughter: “Would you like to take a photo here or drive to the top?” “Of course, there!” she pointed upward.  

It was not until our car slowed down and nearly came to a halt, then I realized it was a 1.4L Volkswagen Polo and the engine might not be powerful enough.  What was worse, I didn’t have any backup plan if the car stopped halfway or even slipped back. I stepped on the gas hard and the car roared painfully: “Graar - - -“     “Graar - - -“.  

Bit by bit, the car moved forward and finally reached the top after exhausting itself. 

When we passed by a car struggling upward on our way back, my daughter waved triumphantly, greeting with uncontrollable excitement: “He - - - llo - - -“, while I was still wondering whether our car might flip over.

I would list a lot more of our adventures if time allowed. To me and my daughter, it was a journey of intimacy with nature, intimacy with each other; a journey of ego awakening; a journey filled with joy and laughter. 

Now my daughter has turned out to be a clinic psychologist. One day recently, I asked her: “Sara, I am proud of your achievement over these years, but what triggered you to make a difference?”.

“Oh, do you remember our trip to New Zealand?”