During my troubled adolescence in South Africa, full of family arguments, uncertainties about the future and also the beginning of my illness, I often felt the desire to spend some time alone, far from everyone, to recharge my flat batteries.
I got on my motorbike and at full speed like an arrow went here and there around Pietermaritzburg, discovering new calm places where I could just sit and meditate.
Photo by Norman Hammer
There were many suitable hideouts where I could find some peace, but I always chose the same spot because the only noise came from the falling water into a beautiful light green lake with brown reeds which surrounded it, muffling any noises even more. This place was in the south side of Cleland on a private property. I just drove through the gate which was always left open and which gave me access to a world of dreams.
I found myself in the high grass in the savanna bush where I rode for a long way on a small foot-path used by the natives and drove until suddenly the small lake appeared in front of me. I parked my bike against a trunk of a jakaranda tree and found a big flat stone that I could lie on and from where I spent hours admiring the beautiful scenes of nature which came into my eyes. The air which covered the lake was still and hot like a golden fog that lay heavy on the water.
Under the clear greenish surface I could see many tadpoles. The lake was full of them, to the great satisfaction of the few fish which lived in it.
Photo by Mr. T in DC
You could also see some young green frogs jumping around, in the effort of hunting insects flying on top of the water. There were also fat brown frogs squatting and trying to catch flies with their small bulging eyes. They spotted the poor victim, opened their wide green mouths and shot out their long red sticky tongues catching the flies, which of course had no chance of escape.
One late afternoon, I was just looking at the lake when I saw a big brown snake bending over the water flicking his split tongue as if smelling the air to detect any danger. It bent further and looked as if it was drinking water. All of a sudden it turned and disappeared in the bush and then a great silence enclosed the lake. Time seemed to stop.
After some time spent on that smooth rock I felt a lot better, more relaxed, my worries had got down to the right size, so I could resolve them, or so I thought.
About Mauro
I got my inspiration for this website from the song called “Imagine”, and so I decided to go on this adventure. I have always wanted to put up something like this where my friends and I could express our memories and dreams for the future. Share them with us, because if many people dream the same dream it will certainly come true.
Speak Your Mind