Another RTA in Laos
We have probably all met at least one person who has cheated death in some way. Someone who, if they had been in a certain place a moment sooner or a moment later, or if they had made that connecting flight that they just missed, would not be with us to tell their story. And of course for every person who is able to tell us about their fortunate turn of events there is another who had a similar but opposite experience and ended up on that flight or in that accident.
I remember meeting a restaurant manager in New York who had previous worked in the Window on the World restaurant at the top of the North Tower of the WTC. He had worked his normal shift on September 10, 2001 and had been asked to do some overtime to cover a sick colleague. As he had worked late that night, his boss told him to have a late start the following morning and not to come in until 10am. The rest of the story; well you know it.
Recently we met a couple who had been caught up in the tsunami in 2004, when they had been on holiday in Sri Lanka. They were stranded on the ocean side of their hotel when the water came in had climbed to the highest point they could reach. The water quickly came up to their waists and was still rising. They feared the worst and were helpless to save themselves. Thankfully for them it receded and they were able to walk away, although they lost everything they had brought with them.
We too had a close shave some years back. We were hiking in the Samaria Gorge in Crete, and had been chatting with a couple who we met along the way. We must have talked with them for 20 minutes or so, and then they took a break while we continued our descent. It was a couple of hours later that we knew something was wrong as we saw paramedics crews rushing up the gorge. We soon learned that a woman had been hit by a falling rock and killed instantly, and a little while later we were shocked to discover it was the lady we had been walking with only a few moments before.
Should these close encounters teach us that the world is a dangerous place and is best avoided? Of course not. Bad things happen everywhere; in our own back yards as well as in faraway places. On the contrary these occurences are constant reminders of the fragility of our own lives and of our own impermanence. However careful we might be, none of us can ever dictate with certainty the timing of our final hour.
Rather than taking this as a negative, it can and should be a reason to grasp the opportunities that arise and not put them off for another time. If we dream of visiting a certain place and plan to do it in 20 years when we retire, how can we be sure of our existence (let alone our ability or willingness to visit our dream destinations) when that time finally comes around? Yes life is fragile; so why put of to an uncertain tomorrow the things that we are passionate about doing today. Or put more eloquently, ‘Life is uncertain, eat dessert first’.
This has a great message for all you who need to get over some of those fears and get back out there taking some chances. I just got done hiking the Appalachian Trail about a month ago from Maine to Georgia and this is what kind of thinking I had to have to do it. I wanted to do it so bad for like five years, but every year when spring rolled around I always had a different “excuse” for not going. I don’t have enough money. It’s not the right time. This or that or whatever. Finally, I just had to say that I wasn’t going to put it off again, that life is short and I may not live to see next year, so I just up and went. I walked 2,178 miles across the Appalchian Mountain Chain and had the experience of a lifetime. I think about it everyday and can’t wait for the next adventure!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Eric. I guess the bigger the trip the more obstacles you can put in the way. Pleased you managed to make it. It sounds like an awesome adventure! How long did you walk for? You must have seen so much and had so many highs and lows. Have you written about it? Would love to read about your experiences. Thanks again and well done for taking the plunge.
“However careful we might be, none of us can ever dictate with certainty the timing of our final hour.” – i love that line
Andy, your posts just get better everyday. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Emma and Smita for your comments
These are some incredibly important viewpoints, and I’m very glad I read this blogpost. It’s a reminder to seize the day, and not wait too long before we do the things we really urge to do – a reminder we all need from time to time!
@Andy, My experience is that dream destinations that you think are worth waiting 20 years for will never match all the expectations built up over that time.
Another factor is Climate Change, one of the guides in Chamonix has taken his young children skiing down the Vallée Blanche as he doesn’t believe they will be able to ski it when they are older. Resource depletion means that some travel destinations may be too expensive to get to in 20 years time. This is the age of cheap transport, unless nuclear fusion power or some new very cheap energy source can be harnessed travel, will never be this cheap again.
So what can you do? One option is to take a sabbatical but I did that; I never went back…
Actually close encounters with death lead most people to become more spiritual and travel becomes less important.
@Eric, After reading Bill Bryson, the Appalachian Trail sounds a great adventure. I notice you didn’t list getting bitten by Copperhead snakes or eaten by bears as an excuse for not going.
Excellent points John. The world is changing and 20 years is a long time. Who knows if we will be able to visit, or as you say whether those place will still be the same as now?
You are so right there! I love your ending as well. Why do we always want to wait until the end of our lives to enjoy something so precious as living? Especially since (as mentioned) our bodies make no guarantees (especially as we get older!), nor does climate change!
We travel by motorcycle and we have had a couple of close calls (this trip as well!) but I would rather live life and see everything that I can rather than play it safe at home. And I would do everything all over again. Too often we let life pass us by just to be able to say we were “safe.” But if I would rather take the risks and do the growing that traveling allows me, rather than staying home and getting hit by the bus as I run across the street to buy milk!
Wise words Sherrie. Just been reading your stories on your blog and sounds like you’re having a great time in Iceland! Will look out for your next updates