When I was standing beside the Niagara Falls on the Canadian side (the American side isn’t as exhilarating) and the Iguassu falls in Argentina, these were my thoughts: “At least a million tonnes of water flows down here every minute. It’s been flowing like this for centuries. It’ll flow like this when I’m gone back to my country India.”
O’ what an experience to go underneath the mist caused by the Falls. What a view! At the world’s highest fall at Niagara and the widest at Iguassu, it’s breathtakingly beautiful! I was lucky to be there. As William Wordsworth said, “Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive. But to be young was very heaven.”
It occurred to me that these and other sights will be there whether someone’s watching them or not. This is nature. I’ve seen many striking sunrises and sunsets, and many that I’ve not. In the Himalayas, the deserts, the sea and the sky, incredibly fascinating things are happening which no human eye’s seeing and appreciating; yet they’re happening and happening free.
When we see one such display of nature on a planned trip, we feel blessed and enriched; imagine all the wonders of nature which we’re not seeing. E.g. vast expanse of sands at Mandawa, Rajasthan where the Sun rises oh-so-grandly from across the sea of sand in the horizon.
World under sea, with whales and giant turtles. Nasca lines seen from a plane in Peru. Stepping onto a vast void from the hilltop in Rio riding a glider. Skiing down hills of sand on your tummy. Wildlife in Ranthambore.
Watching Everest peak from a plane hanging up there in the air. Enormous forts and palaces in India. Castles in England. Ghats and Ganga of Benares. Lily white clouds engulfing the plane flying above London – the list is endless.
I’m humbled and feel blessed every time I’m in the midst of such sights and adventures. The largest ‘show by Nature’ is forever on. One’s running at the nearest park/ sunrise in our city. Sacrifice your sleep and look around.
There’ll always be an adventure or a show around you. You must explore these now when you are young.
