Here, in unexpurgated glory, is the complete, original story of the Journey to Paradise. Thanks to
Rushan for spurring me on to dig this up! I wrote this short story in mid 2002. It is inspired by an actual journey taken in that year by a certain special group of people , to a place that is marked on maps of
New Zealand as “Paradise”. Yes, it is a real place, although I am still not sure to this day where it actually is.
Until yesterday, I hadn’t read this story for almost 3 years, and it prompted a lot of memories about a key time in my life. I’m not quite sure if I am the narrator or not, he/she certainly sounds a lot more authoritative about the expedition than I recall feeling at the time. Although the text was only read once in public at at youth service at St Paul’s Remuera, it strikes me that it could have made a great short voice play for radio… ah, another project for a rainy day.
The story is best read accompanied with a large pinch of salt or some of your favourite music. I suggest the following, the opening track on Trinity Root’s album “True”, which I was discovering for the first time during those short, cold days surrounded by the Southern Alps.
Trinity Roots – True
From True: Independent TR_02 [Buy]
Enjoy, and comments are very welcome.
