I love the silence. I love the stillness.
Although, it took me some time to find it…
Over the last 11 days of my journey in Colombia, I’ve been Cartagena, and Santa Marta.
It’s been 2 weeks of half-day trips, full day trips, booking new hostels, managing the backpack, out for delicious dinners, and having drinks. We’ve met the locals, working on our Spanish, and also making new friends with other travelers, joking and laughing.
It’s been amazing. It’s been freedom. It’s been exploration. It’s been discovery. It’s been as much fun as I’ve had in my entire life. I’ve felt alive.
It’s also been non-stop. I have not had a break in 2 weeks.
From Santa Marta, we traveled 45 minutes in a jeep to the small mountain town of Minca. Then another 45 minute ride on the back on a motorbike. The motorbike ride was uphill, winding through narrow dirt, mud, and rocky roads.
We ducked small branches hanging over the roads while we tried to capture the mountains and countryside surrounding us in a panoramic and majestic way.
Our ride ended on top of a mountain that seemed to be one of the highest points in the entire range. The view was stunning, breathtaking, and refreshing. All the clichéd words don’t give it justice.
We arrived at Casa Elemento in Minca, our home for the next 3 days.
Fruit trees scattered the perimeter of the property, hammocks everywhere, area for a campfire, a tree house, a pool, and bar and patio are set up perfectly to relax as you look at this view.
The sunset fell over the mountain to the west. Dusk engulfed the valley below, then the sky, and darkness followed. 3 hours later complete darkness.
I walked down a path, away from the ambient light of the casa.
Complete darkness, save for the crescent moon just above the mountains to the West. Complete silence, save for the crickets, and other insects softly humming in the darkness. Complete stillness, save my body, softly rising and falling with each breath I take.
I look up at the stars, in silence. I look up at vastness of space, in awe.
I observe stillness and space above me, and in that moment, I feel the stillness and space within me.
I whisper to myself, “I love the silence.”
It was the first time on this trip I stopped going.
In the stillness and the silence, and I felt vibrant, alive. More so than the aliveness I felt the first 11 days on non-stop going and activities.
The silence, the stillness, and the spaciousness, and the infinite mystery invigorated me. I thought to myself, I’m part of this mystery. I’m experiencing it.
In the midst of traveling the World for a year, I will experience adventures, new experiences, new people, new surroundings, new projects, and new fun.
I will go.
I will also stop. I will remember to be silent, to be still, and to find space.
I will heighten my aliveness.
I will slow down, so I can enjoy this fast-moving ride called life.
Joseph Metcalfe
Joe – wonderful words! For a few minutes, I felt transported to your world. And reminded me of a book that I read non-stop in my youth – Be Here Now by Baba Ram Dass.
I’m going to have my daughter Bernadette (21) read your posts because in a few months (after graduating college) she’s embarking on a solo trip around Southeast Asia.
Continue to savor your adventures.
Rich
Hey Joe, I just came back from Casa Elemento! You described it perfectly! It was such a good time there and after four months abroad now, I recognized that silence is the most powerful thing we all need from time to time! Safe travels and a lot of more silent moments for you guys! Tobias
Hey Tobias! Thanks for reading dude!! I appreciate it, and yes Casa Elemento was great!! Safe travels to you as well, my friend!