And then she slipped...

My second day in this amazing country, and I couldn't believe what happened. Really. I went to class. I was probably still a little blown away by being here, still hyped, still geared-up and obviously I had some culture shock going on. I hadn't settled yet and was still adjusting to so many things. So, taking all this into account, what I'm going to say next, wasn't initially all too fantastic, but it turned out to be what I needed.. The best..

What it was that happened, inspired me to write this poem, about the whole thing.. So I thought I'd share it.

I played, I interacted, I ran and I fell,
Smack said the tail bone and I couldn't even yell,
The room left my mind and people gathered near,
But I could do nothing, only contain that tear,
I sat, I focused, I felt and I ached,
I admitted it was too much, for my own sake,
My head was frazzled as I was lost in the shock,
Both teacher and peers knew this was no mock,
I lay, I despaired, I cringed and I worried,
Why had this happened, all because I hurried?
It was only day 2 of this amazing time
What was the reason that led me to write this rhyme?
With eyes closed, hands healing, mother-some gestures-all so appealing,
I thought to myself: with what am I dealing?
The pain was in my tail bone but the emotions were rising,
As I lay on this bench, I didn't care to start hiding,
With a bad feeling in my chest, causing my head to spin,
The lesson continued and I was looking pretty dim,
Questions were floating, asking: is this a sign?
Shouldn't I be here in India, is this not my time?
Over and over I tried to get back in with the game,
But something was stopping inside as I felt no flame,
I could no longer be there, I needed to leave,
What a let down it was to witness this Niamh,
I cried and felt awful, but didn't know why,
All I know was to get away from that lie,
It was telling me things that weren't even true,
And Doris know straight away why I was so blue,
"Nothing is trying to tell you what you're made yourself believe,
It was just an accident and nothing pushing you away from what you want to achieve".
She was so right, But it was hard to see,
As the emotions were so intense and wouldn't let me simply be,
The pain in my back was still very much there,
But I knew something else stirred, something for which I needed to care,
I was brought to my room after the kindest concern,
So not once did I feel alone nor did I yearn,
No yearning for another place, people or situation,
And once in my room I felt gratitude and appreciation,
All the doubts of thinking this was all wrong,
Had left me, once solitude made me feel strong,
No more wondering as to why I had endured,
It just made me see that this experience is so pure,
It's pure as gold and as precious as can be,
It's also so vulnerable and could end so easily,
So with a fall on the floor and an ache in my chest,
I've realized how much I love being here and how I'm blessed,
I'm the luckiest person I am to be here, so safe,
And appreciation for that fall is most definitely the case,
The haziness, the daze, the sentiments and floatation,
Didn't manage to harm or stop this adventure; this creation.

What it came down was: I was in class, we were practicing a game to play with the children.. It was almost like musical chairs. Everyone was excited, hyped and eager. As was I. The floor was slippy, I was wearing sandals without any grip.. I got up to change chairs, ran a little too fast, bumped into another guy, and crashed to the floor. Hit my lower back and tail bone on the tiles and was suddenly in agony. I couldn't move, wanted to faint. Then wanted to cry, then I wanted to be sick. My ass and lower back were numb, all within a split second of being bashed into. I couldn't believe it.

This happened on Tuesday. As the poem describes, it led to a lot of things. But it all worked out amazingly in the end. Within 20 hours of the fall, I was back in class, with hardly any pain at all. It had gone. And with that pain having been dealt with, I found a new light or manner in which to approach this India. I'm here, only now. For how long? Nobody knows. What could come it? That's the mystery. So there is no more haste, no more rushing, no more doubts. Instead I can just stop and simply look around and appreciate where I am. I am where I aimed to be.. Right here, amidst the craziness.. It's amazing.

So just one day, I was set off my course. And that was fine. Wednesday morning I was reborn almost. The world looked like a different place. Or maybe my eyes had only realized what they failed to see, since getting of the plane on Sunday and having that fall on the Tuesday, as I hadn't properly landed my head, as well as my eyes, here in India. But now everything had been switched-on. And what I'm doing right now, really is the dream and the reality all rolled into one. I'm so so lucky and I love it here so much..

I was in a lot of doubt, when it came to deciding whether or not to share this little incident. Do I make people worry by saying this? Should I just keep it to myself? But I figured, it's what I was going through and it struck me hard, emotionally, when it first happened. But eventually led me to feel amazing. So, yes, I can share it. It can also been seen as reassurance for those at home: how amazingly caring the people are, which gives me confidence for when mishaps come about and it also shows that I'm not easily put-off when dealing with so much all at once. It is all proving to serve me so well. And I'm not letting anything get the better of me..

Castaway

This is a poem I wrote, regarding the past week. It started just after leaving the Aboriginal Laura Dance Festival on Sunday (the 21st). We arrived in Cooktown, on Sunday evening and spent Sunday night sleeping on the grass in a park in the middle of Cooktown, under the palms trees and stars with kangaroos hopping around.. What a great experience. Cooktown was the most northerly place we have access to on this roadtrip. So it was the hottest too.. We had an amazing week, and this poem sums it all up..

Arriving at a beach, going by the name of Quarantine Bay
Early on Monday morning; the start of another amazing day
In Cooktown it was, this bay we found so great
A little tropical paradise, for us it did await
We didn't have any plans, nor had we a clue
Of how long we'd stay or what we would do
Camping was prohibited but we didn't really care
All these signs were pissing us off and it seemed so unfair
So we decided to take a chance and stay for just one night
And take as much as possible from this beautiful sight
We camped within meters of that tropical beach
With a view so surreal but never out of reach
One day of baking in the sun wasn't really enough
We were having great times and they never got too tough
Doing nothing and finding the ease in living in isolation
Because there weren't many visitors and there was no civilization
One night turned into two and soon in to three
The days just kept on rolling and we were feeling so free
What were we doing and how did we fill our days?
It was mainly with relaxation and soaking up the rays
Another couple set up camp, after our first night
Tarnie and Kieran they were, and they shared in our delight
Gazing at the stars at night and listening for crocs
Apparently a 4-metered one had been spotted on our rocks
This happened weeks ago, so the danger was still there
That an encounter with this monster could cause a big scare
So swimming wasn't advisable but we did it anyhow
We weren't very sensible, when I look back on it now
The thrill of the croc being around, was definitely the case
It kept us on our toes all day and Jason longed to see it's face
We never did get a sighting of that 4 metered beast
However we did manage to hunt for food and cook up a feast
Jason is the bushman or the hunter from back then
And so a wild turkey soon would become a fried hen
He saw this turkey hanging around and simply couldn't resist
So to catch it with a snare, showed that his determination would persist
We killed and gutted it and threw it under the heat of the fire
It was going to be our dinner and our belief couldn't have been higher
Belief that this turkey would be delicious without a doubt
Belief that we were self sufficient and would never go without
But when it came to dinnertime, things weren't as they seemed
The turkey that was meant to be so nice would never be redeemed
It turned out back and not so tasty, or disgusting would be the word
It was the most overcooked and underfed turkey existing in the world
We did feel bad for taking his life and not eating his meat
But there was nothing we could do, except chill out in the heat
Then we came across palm trees with coconuts galore
Jason was climbing it, as he was ready and eager to explore
Coconut milk and the fruit itself, were soon coming out of our ears
And that's so much more tropical than having a few beers
Then came the afternoon of acting as Tom Hanks
After Jason made a spear to fish, and not on the rivers banks
Fishing as in Castaway, with the hunters eye and strength
And it actually worked to both our shocks, as a stingray caught a dent
It's a fish native to Oz and the type that's made to kill
But for us it was a yummy meal and for Jason another thrill

A sunrise each and every morning, above the deep blue sea
5 nights and 5 days of bliss, was all that mattered to me
That week has now ended and it belongs in the past
But the effect it had on both of us, was precious enough to always last..

So wealthy

Feeling incredibly rich as this life is finally being seen
However it’s nothing materialistic, neither is it a dream
A wealth that’s so new, with nothing to disguise
Finally knowing that being here, was so very wise
Being able to be sure that this is all good and right
Makes the eyes flicker at the future that’s so bright
Inside so much richness, as nothing is out of bounds
Outside so many options, with exciting new grounds

One million amazing sights that float around this head
It gives such a rush of energy, with a bright color red
The redness of Australia or the redness of this soul
Combine the two and come up with 4, now you’re on a role
Never would you have known how wealthy one can feel
With a life so full of lightness because of this lucky deal
But it’s a deal that’s not down to luck, but life as it’s meant to be
For now nothing else matters, only the sight that you can see

A day spent in this life of yours, with no reason to set a frown
It’s a change from constantly wishing you didn’t feel so down
Suddenly, naturally, spontaneously, forcefully or controlled
In whatever manner it occurred, it’s worth it’s weight in gold
One morning waking up and realizing, this is really it
Nothing more to dwell on, now you’re feeling so fit
It wasn’t until you were free from that place and frame of mind
That you can now switch-on to the world, that will treat you kind

If you let it, the world will turn out to be whatever you desire
Starting small but dreaming so big, as you reach higher and higher
As there’s no one to stop it happening, there’s no one to hold you back
Not when you feel that there’s nothing within you that you lack
As you think of what could be or what should come your way
What you’re hoping and aiming for, is more than you can say
It only took on small choice for the next one to come about
With being so excited yet calm, there simply is never a doubt

The disbelief of what you experienced, will always be there
However it’s never a reason to shy away or to easily scare
It has already given you a feeling you’ve never felt before
It’s the one you can’t describe as well as the one you can’t ignore
What a gift you have been given and it will continue to remain
Now you finally can experience that life will never again be the same
A world so amazing offering everything you want and need
You can finally feel guilt-free for taking, as you can live and breathe..