Original Source - Southland Times
John Birdsall, despite his obvious differences, is not an average traveller.
He is disabled, gets around in a motorised wheelchair and communicates through a typing device, but his lust for life and desire to meet and communicate with new and exciting people far outweighs any limitations his cerebral palsy imposes.
Yesterday, during his seventh New Zealand trip, the 32-year-old Englishman got a tattoo of a silver fern incorporating a koru on his back, to commemorate his love affair with Aotearoa.
He has been to Queenstown many times before, where he has sky-dived, taken jetboat trips and indulged in the vibrant night-life.
On this trip he had his customised Mercedes van, rigged with a wheelchair lift, shipped to Wellington.
Shipping the van has allowed him to undertake this six-month trip, which he started at Christmas, completely solo. He is currently staying at a Queenstown campground.
The seasoned traveller is a keen photographer, a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and has written a book, The Never-Ending Sun, about traversing Iceland's volcanic plateaux on his customised, motorised trike.
He has also completed the Isle of Man TT motorcycle circuit on his trike, and undertaken long-range road trips as far as Holland.
Sporting several body piercings, and a fan of alternative lifestyles, Mr Birdsall yesterday said the tattoo was fitting because it was an outward expression of near obsession with New Zealand.
"It's all about having fun, meet-ing people and challenging your-self to live outside the norm," he said.
"That's what New Zealand has represented for me and now I've got it inked in permanently."
Q.T Ink owner Dean Jones gave Birdsall the tattoo free of charge, saying it was an honour to tattoo someone who lived their life to the fullest.
"It's a privilege and a buzz to do something for someone who despite having a few limitations in life, uses that life to basically kick down all the barriers," he said.
For more details of John's life, travels and adventures, visit www.johnbirdsall.com
Original Source - Southland Times
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