| Environment The Ocean: Conquest
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Secrets lie beneath I am a mountaineer. I climb peaks. I walk on snow. I breathe air at 20,000 feet. I find nothing other than mountaineering really moving me. So what was I doing at the Westcoast ? Sea ?? Sand ?? Me ?? Frankly, I don't quite feel the same way about the ocean as I feel about the mountains. I am a nature-lover alright but I am not drawn to the ocean. Neither, am I averse to the beach...the ocean is just not the same for me. I don't know the reason for that but let me figure why I don't come often to the mighty waters of the world...is it because I am not in complete control in the water ? Or are movies like ' Titanic ' and ' Jaws ' playing on my mind ? Well, in that case, 'Baywatch' should have been very inspirational. |
Environment
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The sea has always fascinated me from childhood, when I took vicarious pleasure in reading the adventures at sea recounted in such masterpieces like as R L Stevenson's Treasure Island; Jules Verne's 20,000 leagues under the sea; and Jack London's Sea Wolf. One of my childhood heroes was Steve Reeves, only because of his role in the swashbuckling film, Morgan the Pirate. The sea continues to hold its spell on me. As my daily morning walk takes me to the mangroves by the edge of the Mumbai seas, I silently mouth Byron's exhortation: "Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean-roll!" The ocean isn't hostile towards me but I sometimes imagine otherwise. Don't have waterphobia of any sort - I just may have an attitude problem here. I remember when I was floating in an inflatable raft in the ocean with my Dad...I kept looking at the water as if something was there that I couldn't see...a sense of suspense that I didn't like. Perhaps I have a fear of the 'underwater' . Maybe that's the reason I am very comfortable staying on the surface like oaring on a boat or enjoying long parties on a yacht. I am not thrilled to get in the water. It's almost like the space beneath is forbidden. I have traversed deep crevasses, climbed dodgy ice walls and clung to high rock cliffs but I am a little bit nervous about wandering in the depths of the ocean.
I have understood that the ocean has a beauty and grandeur of its own. The relentless sounds of waves and changing colours of the water and skies is alluring. The horizon has always left me staring and thinking...a point on earth where water touches sky...where the sun takes a dip to open a galaxy of stars sparkling over the dark waters. I love to watch the beauty of the vast ocean, the restless water, and the openness that cannot be compared with anything else in the world. For miles ahead one can see until the naked eye can see no further. And yes, the beautiful mermaid is for real.
Played in its calmness,
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Editor: Romola Butalia (c) India Travelogue. All rights reserved. |
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The islands themselves opened to us a magnificent vista of silvery sand, colourful corals and a myriad variety of fish. A combination of scuba diving and glass-bottomed boat rides revealed a diverse culture of huge brain corals, star corals and staghorn corals; unbelievably sized sea cucumbers, sea anemones, and star fish: and shoals of sturgeon, angel and butterfly fish. Oh what beauties does this sea hold!
Do I lack the drive because there are no distinct accomplishments like summiting peaks or scaling rock faces ? Admittedly, I love victory. I love the glory of overcoming the most enduring obstacles. Personal accomplishment attracts me. Damn.. I suspect that I enjoy nature when I get my ego boosted there. I think I have found the link between an adventurer and the machismo. No wonder then that I begin to enjoy the ocean when I have the company of the fairer sex for a beach trip !