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Pinecone hunting in Auckland 1

I have fallen in love with these rough, jagged pine cones when I accidentally saw them on my neighbor's lawn three years ago.

Those were also the last pine cones before the tree was cut down to make way for townhouse s. Those woody pine cones, so distinctly autumnal, have stayed with me ever since.

Every March and April, after each storm, I search and look for them along the streets and roads I pass. I visited several parks, big and small, in Auckland, including CornWall Park, but the pines I found weren't the kind I needed. They were just ornamental pines reaching high into the sky, not the kind with longneedles and cones. So, my final choice was to go into the forest, about one or two hours' drive from the city.

And then, just like the saying goes: when you desire something strong enough, the universe conspires to help you achieve it. And just like Santiago in "The Alchemist," I found my "treasure": not far away, but in the most unexpected place: just a 5-minute drive from home, a place I pass by almost every week. You might say: "Oh, they're just ordinary pine cones, you can order them online and have them delivered right to your door, why go to all this trouble for three years?"

The fact is, If you've ever woken up early to wait for a flea market , or traveled dozens of kilometers to an orchard just to pick a few fruits that are readily available in supermarkets, you'll understand this feeling: choosing, admiring, and savoring. That's an experience that convenience can never give you.