When I was in Central America, I started a list of goals I wanted to accomplish in my lifetime. Since those sweltering days, I haven't really thought of any items to add to my illustrious list (if you can call it that). Here's what I have so far:
___Goal #1: witness lava flowing down the side of a volcano
Well, I have taken the time to add one more goal in my life.
___Goal #2: see the aurora borealis and make an earnest attempt to draw it (even though I suck at drawing)
I have to mention that appreciating nature is harder for some than others. I'm not quite sure how much I enjoy the natural world, but I've come to learn a few things about myself. I learned these things on my recent trip to Argentina.
First, nature in motion is far more exciting than nature at a standstill. Take the wind and the rain... The elements are in constant movement whether in rhythm (as the rain often is) or in total chaos (as the wind often is). It doesn't matter whether rhythmic or chaotic, because these things MOVE. Hahaha... (I also like shiny things... Oooh...shiny...) My favorite part of my trip to Argentina was seeing the waterfalls at Iguazu. Words or pictures could not describe just how amazing these hundreds and thousands of waterfalls are. The tremendous volumes of water, the water's constant and ferocious flow, the variety of cascades different in height, width, power, etc., everything... I haven't seen the Niagara Falls, but I hear that huge waterfall has nothing on the "cataratas de Iguazu." Here I relate to you how I spent my Christmas in the year 2005. I was near the tip of Argentina, close to the South Pole, watching the glaciers as they were melting. Now, I have the greatest admiration for glaciers... I mean, look at all the pretty shades of blue, the tremendous size and majesty of these frozen mountains, their significant role in creating and destroying life... But there's just something about waiting to see glaciers break for four long hours that is reminiscent of watching paint dry. In other words, it's kind of boring because nothing MOVES much... Hahaha... Okay, I really don't want to sound like I dislike glaciers; in fact, I love glaciers. When you hear that thunderous sound of the massive ice breaking and see the splash of water as the ice hits the ocean, sinks, and once again emerges, you can't help but be amazed... Okay, I take it back; glaciers are also awesome. But you get my drift? Motion is exciting.
Second, nature needs to be appreciated from different vantage points. That's why a single picture can hardly capture the moment. The wonderful thing about the national park at Iguazu was that it was designed so that tourists could get different glimpses of the waterfalls. Some of the viewing areas were below the waterfalls, some above the waterfalls, and the rest somewhere in between. But wherever I was, I could always see something new... I think my favorite vistas were above the huge mother of all waterfalls (appropriately named something along the lines of "the mouth of hell") and below the waterfalls from a boat as I was thorougly drenched. Even with the glaciers and the lakes and the mountains and the plains, it was all a matter of perspective. Otherwise, I think I would have died of boredom when I saw my umpteenth lake...
Finally, attitude and mood is usually important too... Oh, and also who you're with... Good thing I was on my best behavior...
I think that's all I wanted to share...
___Goal #1: witness lava flowing down the side of a volcano
Well, I have taken the time to add one more goal in my life.
___Goal #2: see the aurora borealis and make an earnest attempt to draw it (even though I suck at drawing)
I have to mention that appreciating nature is harder for some than others. I'm not quite sure how much I enjoy the natural world, but I've come to learn a few things about myself. I learned these things on my recent trip to Argentina.
First, nature in motion is far more exciting than nature at a standstill. Take the wind and the rain... The elements are in constant movement whether in rhythm (as the rain often is) or in total chaos (as the wind often is). It doesn't matter whether rhythmic or chaotic, because these things MOVE. Hahaha... (I also like shiny things... Oooh...shiny...) My favorite part of my trip to Argentina was seeing the waterfalls at Iguazu. Words or pictures could not describe just how amazing these hundreds and thousands of waterfalls are. The tremendous volumes of water, the water's constant and ferocious flow, the variety of cascades different in height, width, power, etc., everything... I haven't seen the Niagara Falls, but I hear that huge waterfall has nothing on the "cataratas de Iguazu." Here I relate to you how I spent my Christmas in the year 2005. I was near the tip of Argentina, close to the South Pole, watching the glaciers as they were melting. Now, I have the greatest admiration for glaciers... I mean, look at all the pretty shades of blue, the tremendous size and majesty of these frozen mountains, their significant role in creating and destroying life... But there's just something about waiting to see glaciers break for four long hours that is reminiscent of watching paint dry. In other words, it's kind of boring because nothing MOVES much... Hahaha... Okay, I really don't want to sound like I dislike glaciers; in fact, I love glaciers. When you hear that thunderous sound of the massive ice breaking and see the splash of water as the ice hits the ocean, sinks, and once again emerges, you can't help but be amazed... Okay, I take it back; glaciers are also awesome. But you get my drift? Motion is exciting.
Second, nature needs to be appreciated from different vantage points. That's why a single picture can hardly capture the moment. The wonderful thing about the national park at Iguazu was that it was designed so that tourists could get different glimpses of the waterfalls. Some of the viewing areas were below the waterfalls, some above the waterfalls, and the rest somewhere in between. But wherever I was, I could always see something new... I think my favorite vistas were above the huge mother of all waterfalls (appropriately named something along the lines of "the mouth of hell") and below the waterfalls from a boat as I was thorougly drenched. Even with the glaciers and the lakes and the mountains and the plains, it was all a matter of perspective. Otherwise, I think I would have died of boredom when I saw my umpteenth lake...
Finally, attitude and mood is usually important too... Oh, and also who you're with... Good thing I was on my best behavior...
I think that's all I wanted to share...
