The rain-forest is sprawled out below and I take in the panoramic view from the suspension bridge hovering several lengths above the forest. The air around here is cold, and I tug in my overcoat tighter around me. The chill doesn't bother me much. In fact, I think I could get used to it.
This place has done wonders for me. I remember people mocking me when I told them of my plan. Staying at the resort around the rain-forest ALONE? You won't have fun. What would you do on your own for three whole days! I remember my own hesitation and uncertainty about this trip. But something made me go ahead with the decision and here I am, standing at a beautiful place and feeling blissful and contented.
I feel the crazy urge to write something. But what? This place here feels like the culmination of the journey of a lifetime. So where and how do I begin my story?
I clutch my ever-present notepad tightly and the pen hovers above it, wishing to write something but not getting a start. I reflect on my life, hoping to find something that can be said to be the origin of my journey as a traveller and a writer.
My life, like infinite number of others, has not been a bed of roses. There have been ups and downs and there will be many more ahead. But nothing, absolutely nothing, can ever beat the regret of having passed up a chance in my early years to build a solid foundation for my passion for writing. What do they say about the regret that accompanies you to your death? This possibly will make it to the list.
I made books my best friend, and spent the better part of my childhood and teenage stuck behind books - books that spoke to me, that soothed my soul and quenched my thirst for the perfect companion, for I couldn't find anyone better than a book!
The laughter drifting from a couple passing by, brings me back to the present and I take a deep breath as I shift gears from the past to the present. Several couples and families pass by. They make me feel grateful for my constant companion - Solitude. It is precious and I cherish it. It has made me a better person, my solitude, and has often answered questions asked by my very soul.
The bridge swings slightly, making the travellers laugh with anxiety and nervousness. I hold on to the railing, feeling a moment of panic. But it passes away, as the bridge steadies itself after another wave.
I think about the hardest decision of my life - leaving a well-paying job. On one hand, were the branded possessions of my life, starting from my clothes to my travel-kit. On other hand, was the promise of adventure and a summons to my soul. I spent many a sleepless night over this, and finally found the right and sensible solution.
Far below, a bird calls out, and hundreds of birds respond to its call with vigour. Suspended in the air, with a panoramic forest below and the sudden eruption of the birds' calls, I feel a sense of awe and wonder. For a second, all the travellers in the bridge fall silent, looking for the source of the sound. After few minutes, every one quietly leaves the bridge, probably making way for the nocturnal beings. It is a beautiful and mystic twilight in the forest!
Does it scare me? No. I feel a deep sense of gratitude and contentment. I know what to write now. I leave for my room in the resort, having found what to write - for my first assignment as a travel writer. And while I am not where I had hoped to be, I am grateful for where I am at, and excited about where I am going!
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