Aside from seeing a whale in the flesh, meeting Steve was another highlight of my recent trip down South. He was our tour guide and instantly he became my favourite Christchurch local. He shared his own anecdotes of the 2011 earthquake. On how he witnessed the Cathedral fell right before his eyes. The terror of the past is still fresh in his memories, but that doesn’t discourage him to tell beautiful and happy stories to visitors like me. His knowledge about history and animals fascinated me, but its his character that really blew me away. I fell in love with his zest for life and his passion for people. More than being an amazing tour guide and photographer, Steve is a good man. A genuine happy soul. Funny because he has a good resemblance to Santa Claus hehe. In a few hours we’re with him, we have found a family. I gave him a big hug the moment I stepped down from the propeller plane. I was like a kid hugging my dad and letting him know that I have crossed one thing off my bucket list. And just like a dad, he was so happy for me. Thus when we’re on our way home, my brother and I felt a little sadness in our hearts knowing that we had to say goodbye to this wonderful man. We miss his laugh, his deep voice and his funny stories about everything. I’ll never forget about him. Sometimes its really the people you meet that makes a trip one to remember. Steve inspires me to be a better person and to be more kind. And just like him, I also aspire to leave a mark in every person I encounter–to familiar or a stranger.