SAIL AWAY …

‘Let me sail, let me sail,
let the orinoco flow,
Let me reach, let me beach
On the shores of Tripoli.
Let me sail, let me sail,
Let me crash upon your shore,
Let me reach, let me beach
Far beyond the Yellow Sea’

– ENYA

Packing my bags for a short sail to Myanmar & more.

Once a year or so, I take up the invitation to speak as a Guest Lecturer on cruise ships. Of all the options available, this sail seemed to be the most enticing with Myanmar as one of the destinations.

On my last such cruise I enjoyed the wonderful destinations of Jeju & Okinawa etc. But the best and most unexpected part of the trip was the time spent experiencing the open ocean and the open skies.

I just sat and stared on the deck for hours and hours.

The wind forced its way into every single cell of the body and the vision of the ocean flooded the brain. Without changign my position,  the sights would vary, with the ocean changing its character and colors as we moved on, with the sun playing Holi with the skies and eventually the stars filling up the vision. Doing that experience solo, without a voice, with an empty mind allowed the pure experience to be absorbed fully without distraction. Am looking forward to more of that again.

My young kids envy me for the ‘luxury’ that the Azamara Club cruise offers but I am indifferent to the that aspect. For the places I will see, the people I will meet and above all the ocean-communion I would do this in a bumboat as well!

jm

Jan 2015