NZ Visual Diary - entry 242

Buddhist Monks and cruise ship

I spotted them as soon as they emerged from the Britomart Transport Centre. In their bright orange robes, the Buddhist monks were hard to miss. I suspect they came from the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple in South Auckland.

Whatever other business they needed to conduct, they were intent to begin their visit to the central city as tourists. Phone cameras in hand, they did what all tourists do: they gawked at the sights of central Auckland and they took pictures - of themselves and the curious objects that abound in the city centre.

For two years during the height of the COVID pandemic New Zealand sealed its borders. No tourists disembarked ship in Auckland Harbour and we forgot the familiarity of summers with ocean liners in our harbour. The port was eerily quiet, devoid of visitors and the vessels from which they made their port of call.

Therefore, it is commonplace post-lockdown to see people gather at dockside to stare intently at the berthed behemoths. Monks are not exempted from participation in this seasonal ritual.

Accuse me of stalking but I could not resist the urge to follow them as the monks headed for the cruise ship. I knew that their bright robes and diminutive form set against the massive but colourless sea vessel would be a great study in contrast.

I was not disappointed.