Adventure First Step First Step -John Eickert Philosophers say that any adventure, across the city or across the world, begins with the first step. I disagree. I think it begins well before that, with a dream of something wished for and then the commitment to go. The will subsequently drives the feet to action. Therefore, the intention of an adventure precedes those first few steps of the actual event. Maybe this is simple, but then maybe this is complicated. Tomorrow Elizabeth and I set out for an adventure. We both wish to see the Himal again and have the chance to ride elephant in search of tiger. We will step from our home in Montana to Seattle, then Taipei, Bangkok and finally Kathmandu. Ah, but what is the intention. Perhaps it is nothing more than the excited beating of the heart or even the need to develop our personal existent thereby expanding the thirst for new. Surely there is more to life than the every day? This morning I rose from bed and realized I was a different person. My heart felt warm and light. There was an air to kitchen conversation, senses heightened. How will it go? What will we see? What dangers lay ahead? Will anyone miss us while we are gone? Will the cat notice we are gone will she care? This conspiracy of questions enhances our lives and changes our outlook. Every moment takes on new importance. Simple tasks take on greater meaning. The cycle of daily life is broken. The heart beats at a new tempo. So much ‘out of the ordinary’ lies ahead. We have been to Nepal before, but how has it changed, how have we changed? We hope to spend time at Bardia and Chitwan. We should see rhinoceros and deer, but will we have luck with tiger and leopard? Elizabeth has never ridden an elephant, will she like it or become motion sick? If we travel on to Tibet, how many new buildings will there be in Lhasa to shadow the ancient ones? When at Rongbuk, will the sun shine and grant expansive views to the north face of Everest or will the mountains be moody and the accommodations freezing? Will our trek in the Annapurna’s be under friendly skies or will we hurry from place to place. This unknown, the stepping out of the normal day and into a grand game of chance is what I am trying to relate. It is a good feeling, a happy feeling. I wonder how many of you have experienced this feeling. I wonder how many of you are waiting for some time in the future when the ‘time is right.’ It is all too easy to just plan, too easy to not go. This is unfortunate. Adventure is everywhere. We had originally hoped to visit India on this trip, but with Susan in Austria and the price of airfare rising, we will wait for another time and another chance for the heart to beat and the senses to rise. ( Photograph of rhino in Chitwan National Park, SusanSharma) P.S See the trailer of a film shot mostly in Chitwan National Park by clicking here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvRbbHzS4bI

Adventure

First Step

First Step

Philosophers say that any adventure, across the city or across the world, begins with the first step. I disagree. I think it begins well before that, with a dream of something wished for and then the commitment to go. The will subsequently drives the feet to action. Therefore, the intention of an adventure precedes those first few steps of the actual event. Maybe this is simple, but then maybe this is complicated.

Tomorrow Elizabeth and I set out for an adventure. We both wish to see the Himal again and have the chance to ride elephant in search of tiger. We will step from our home in Montana to Seattle, then Taipei, Bangkok and finally Kathmandu. Ah, but what is the intention. Perhaps it is nothing more than the excited beating of the heart or even the need to develop our personal existent thereby expanding the thirst for new. Surely there is more to life than the every day?

This morning I rose from bed and realized I was a different person. My heart felt warm and light. There was an air to kitchen conversation, senses heightened. How will it go? What will we see? What dangers lay ahead? Will anyone miss us while we are gone? Will the cat notice we are gone will she care? This conspiracy of questions enhances our lives and changes our outlook. Every moment takes on new importance. Simple tasks take on greater meaning. The cycle of daily life is broken. The heart beats at a new tempo.

So much ‘out of the ordinary’ lies ahead. We have been to Nepal before, but how has it changed, how have we changed? We hope to spend time at Bardia and Chitwan. We should see rhinoceros and deer, but will we have luck with tiger and leopard? Elizabeth has never ridden an elephant, will she like it or become motion sick? If we travel on to Tibet, how many new buildings will there be in Lhasa to shadow the ancient ones? When at Rongbuk, will the sun shine and grant expansive views to the north face of Everest or will the mountains be moody and the accommodations freezing? Will our trek in the Annapurna’s be under friendly skies or will we hurry from place to place.

This unknown, the stepping out of the normal day and into a grand game of chance is what I am trying to relate. It is a good feeling, a happy feeling. I wonder how many of you have experienced this feeling. I wonder how many of you are waiting for some time in the future when the ‘time is right.’ It is all too easy to just plan, too easy to not go. This is unfortunate. Adventure is everywhere.

We had originally hoped to visit India on this trip, but with Susan in Austria and the price of airfare rising, we will wait for another time and another chance for the heart to beat and the senses to rise.

( Photograph of rhino in Chitwan National Park, SusanSharma)

P.S

See the trailer of a film shot mostly in Chitwan National Park by clicking here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvRbbHzS4bI

Indian Wildlife Club Ezine (October, 2006)

Adventure

First Step

P.S