It sucks so much when you pour all your time and mind energy into someone or something that doesn't actually "love" in return. Have you ever pushed for something, changed for someone or put your own goals/reality aside to get what you [think] you want? You actually lose sight of yourself (blinded by love i think is what people call it). Then you wake the f*ck up and realize it wasn't love after all just a very foggy distraction to keep you from doing and being what and who you are. Eventually you find love in a natural, wasn't looking for it kind of way. That waking up part, that is the balance that comes while traveling. You start seeing your life, the life of others, and the world in a larger perspective.
Recently, I had the great pleasure of rafting the Mighty Clarence River. This trip was 10 days long, 8 of which were spent on the river or on the rivers edge. The trip was hosted by Sanna and Ellis Emmett, 2 people that actually showed me the meaning of quote. They took 22 people (strangers for the most part), put us in 5 rafts with loads of gear, and we paddled from Hanmer Springs to Kaikoura, which I believe is just over 200 kilometers. There were parts of this trip that were very VERY new experiences for me, and people of all ages that in a million years I would have never met if it weren't for this. After 8 days though, I had a new family and my comfort zone was pushed to the edge in more ways than one.
To give a very quick overview of trip: white water, fresh water fishing, fire dancing (yes, uncoordinated jessica), participating in dance competitions, and non-talent shows, cliff jumping, outdoors cooking, sleeping in bush and broom (a very unfortunate pricklery weed), bathing in the stream, sharing the most intimate stories, eating LOADS of chocolate, waking up in the most beautiful and serene settings, sharing my tent with lying cheating englishmen, hanging with Aussies, eating stew in at least 12 different forms, learning photography, participating in and watching photo shoots, waxing (enough said), learning from beautiful spirits, oh God the list does go on and on. 22 very different people, taken from their natural lives (losing sight) and put together for a trip (travel) every personality working together (balance) to create once in a life time experiences.
Life, Travel, Love, and um.... rafting?
