Silent courage.

Tags

Courage, Drive, Family, Growth, Life, Love, Passion, Thoughts

Goals of enlightenment should always include moments of complete bliss and gratefulness of the path we’re on. I’ve come away from my recent weekend break with many such moments, all of which were reflected upon with the culminating event of a gentle flight across the snow blankets of the cascade mountains, and a piercing sun to guide the way home. Solitary thoughts that should the world end at this second, I am truly happy and have deepened faith in the spirit of people.

Looking at life charging its way through peoples eyes, dodging worry, anger, fear and exhaustion, and breaking to a single piercing point of happiness is truly inspirational. For some people, the fight that is raging within makes an occasional appearance to the surface, like some simmering possession that wants not so much to take over, as to be submitted to. A distant look would appear; “I’m tired…” echoes unheard throughout the room and with that thought, a flash of anger and a facial contortion of “Oh no you don’t…”.

Something completely fascinating to me has been the reflex actions by the family – as if there were some mental link sending out instructions to the hive on a change in state and how to compensate for it. Despite an intense love for my own family, we never achieved that vast emotional awareness of each other. We’re an introverted bunch when you get past the surface; just some of the baggage that I had carried into the role as a parent. Because of this, I am incredibly grateful, however short a time it had been, for the acceptance into the current fold and the opportunity to observe and engage with a group of truly bonded people. Thank you all, so very, very much for the enlightenment you gave me and which continues to make me grow.

Amantani Island.

Tags

Amantani, Coca, Culture, Family, Food, Headache, Hike, Muna, Pachamama, Peru, Potatoes, Quetchua, Quinoa, Sacred, Travel

Almost three hours after leaving the Uros islands, the boat pulled in to our destination for the night of Amantani island. The groups lined up and waited for a few minutes to meet the women of the house each of us is staying in. Shortly after, we were led up the winding paths by our translator, before waiting for our host to catch up.

The language of choice it Quetchua which I have zero words of in my volcabulary. Thankfully that’s what the translator was there for, although the family does speak Spanish as a second language, so we could manage some greetings and graces. The housing and room is very simple yet pretty clean and the sheets look soft on the bed. After resting for several minutes, we were ushered down to the cocina, where the lady of the house proceeded to feed us with local vegetable and quinoa soup (incredibly tasty), followed by a selection of potatoes (Peru being known for thousands of types) and some cheese fried in egg. Just before the meal ended, out came the coca leaves and some Muña, which smells and tastes like lavender. A cup of hot water is supplied to place the leaves in and requires soaking for a couple of minutes. The extremely refreshing tea, is used for the altitude, headaches, and to aid digestion. It’s certainly working its magic. The family is always laughing but very quietly and the kitchen very simple. The sound of guinea pigs can be heard from the rear of the house and our guid confirms that these will indeed be used for food later (but not for us).

With luch working its way down, we were invited to visit the local community center for the kids, which was literally five minutes walk away. Our guide explained that there are just a few of these buildings on the island, but the island actually has ten communities on it (so not everyone has access). It’s certainly a work in progress and if we’d known more beforehand, we would have brought some Spanish school books along as gifts. Our guide asked if we’d like to play with the kids for a bit but we didn’t know what to do, as nobody spoke English and there were only two kids who were busy colouring. After watching them colour for a little while longer, it was time to head back tot he house and take a couple of hours out the Sun to rest.

After another tasty meal for dinner, there was a hike to the highest part of the island and the sacred place to worship Pachamama (Earth Mother). The hike was fairly strenuous, not being used to the altitude and a tremendous headache hit me about half way. Got to the top, in time to view a wonderful Sunset and escape shortly after from the crowds of most French, who kept rudely walking in front of shots, or trying to push people out the way. My headache is still going strong after getting back to the bedroom and instead of attending the zoo parade (my translation for the evening dance that was mostly for you spending money with the locals), I’ve popped a couple of Aleve and intend on enjoying a blinding sky of stars, before heading to bed.

Memories still fading.

Tags

Birthday, Family, Importance, Legacy, Memories, Mum, Relevance, Thoughts, Time

It never ceases to amaze me how much of our memories are either lost, locked away, or just buried, under a congruence of new thoughts. The human mind, is often very unforgiving when it comes to not taking people for granted, making autonomous their existence and influence, the way that we absorb ultimately subconscious actions, such as walking or driving.

Does this mean they are unimportant elements of the past? certainly not. What it does mean however, is that we are all, no matter how rich or famous, ultimately destined to be forgotten as physical beings, given enough time. At the very best, some will remain as a collection of words on a page, or image on a screen. What is never lost, is the influence that we all leave on an individual which will eventually make its way, however filtered, to other generations who interact with the lineage before them. Every single one of us leaves a legacy, no matter how small or unapparent it may seem.

Here’s to those sub-conscious influences passed to me. While new memories sometimes smother older ones, the often invisible legacy will always continue.