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Published: September 28th 2009
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I am in paradise right now! This small town is like a gem hidden inside a rainforest. The nature here is green with lots of exotic colors. I went on an all day trekking on this tour that said it would take us on a raft boat for three hours and then take us to see wild animals. So it was a 5 person tour with a local safari guide, a cook, and a gunman. We trekked for about 2 hours on paths that were barely paved, meaning the area was quite new! Anyways, we finally get to the point where we get onto a raft boat, and I thought it would be the orange one where we would be going down crazy rushes. But it turned out to be a long bamboo raft, which was really chill. Haha, definitely not the fast rafts that I was thinking about. So we jump onto the raft and get ready to go but we’re barely moving as the guides were rowing the boat. Then they told us to pick up these skinny paddles that were laying next to our feet and row! Then I was like, “Wait! OH, Hell, No? You’re gonna make
us row for three hours??” Hahaha, you don’t understand how much work I did! I was in front by myself rowing BOTH sides of the boat, while there were a young married couple (where the man was kinda girly and ‘icky’ about mud, haha) and then there was a couple of British girls behind them that LOVED talking.
After a long work out session on the bamboo raft we finally reach this spot where we get to this spot where we would trek through the wood and spot some animals. After the long safari trek, we reach a spot to eat lunch. The safari guide dared us to jump into the water and start swimming. The water was green and didn’t look safe. So I said OK! Haha, of course, right? It was twenty five feet deep and the water was murky. But the water felt sooo good. I remember when I was younger, I had this deep fear of swimming in open water where it was dark underneath. Especially if the water was still. Swimming in rivers or streams are safe because the water is continuously flowing and thus everything is always changing. However, in still water like
long trek
walked for hours swamps or lakes, there are animals like snake, crocodiles and hippos that become territorial of their space. These animals will attack you the instant you accidently invade their space because it is so important to them. This led my train of thought towards the human side of things where in a limited space, we become aggressive if anybody trespasses. We believe we own this piece of land even though the earth is not for any of us to claim. The Native Americans never believed in owning land and they were even more insulted when they were thrown out of their homes and ‘given’ another piece of land to live at. They were confused because they were spiritual and their mentality was “How can you give land if you cannot own it?” They just wanted to move freely in a world where they knew was always changing, like a river!
Anyways, back to my story about swimming, this becomes my favorite moment in my entire trip so far. I decided to conquer the fear of ‘still, open and dark water’ so I swam out really far, towards the heart of the water. It was getting more frightening the more I
swam out, but I had to convince my thoughts that it was completely safe but it wasn’t quite working. Then, it started to pour rain! I thought I would panic and swim back to shore, but for some reason, I was completely relieved. Remember how I was writing in my previous blog about how much I loved rain? It helped because I enjoyed the rain and forgot all about the thoughts of snake and alligators. The rain released my fear of the dark and open water, sort of like the ray of light in the dark, if you will. I was ecstatic, I loved the moment because India was going through a big drought and they needed all the water they can get. It was pouring but I was already wet so I just soaked it all in. The rest of the tour group was hiding from the rain. All my clothes and possessions were drenching in the rain so I started to swim back to shore. Then I thought, ‘Wait… who cares? Its just stuff!’ and I continued swimming in the rain with my water-proof camera! It was a great moment for me because it kind of marks where
In the water
is the camera in the water or am I? I am so far in my personal journey where I am willing to face my fears, not be attached to possessions and be with nature! Well, I have a lot more to go and internet is getting harder and harder to come by, so hope all is well for everyone!
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Editor ar Kollam Beach
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Fast Forward at Kerala
I am happy you visited kerala and enjoyed its beauty at the fullest. The adventure you experienced would surely make Kerala, a hot spot for other tourists too. But as I visit your post and while reading your expedition with the safari troupe, just realized that how much fun you would have had on a virgin beach which is popularly called - The Gateway city of Kerala backwaters. I am referencing you to Kollam Beach which is an old sea port town on the Arabian coast , stands on the Ashtamudi lake.