The wind in my hair, the salty spray of the sea roughly kisses my lips and face. I haven’t showered or shaved in two days, and I’m in a rigid-hull inflatable boat bouncing through the wind and surf off the coast of a small island nation. I’ve made this trip so many times in the last 24 hours that my skin’s starting to cake with salt. On the wind I can smell the burning of rice patties. It’s a scent that even here, in this faraway place, brings me back to the familiarity of childhood. I can feel the sun scorching the salt-coated skin around my eyes and neck. The boat drops off the face of a wave into a trough, and I tightly grab the rubber pontoon I’m sitting on and my camera bag. There’s a treacherous boarding ahead, and it’s one more thing to anticipate with barely-concealed glee. This is living…
Andrew: Your writing is wonderful. I am “with” you on this trip – smelling the burning rice patties, the smell of the ocean, the salt spray. However, I lack considerable in the camera department and I would probably lose my camera overboard, because hanging on would be far more important to me.
Loved the picturesque description.
Grandma
We’ll be looking forward to hearing about this boarding. Sounds, hmmm, like something a mom may not want to hear about though? Treacherous? Hmmm… We are praying for you… Love, Mom
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AAAArrrrghhhh there pirates around?
JRS
(I jest, but it’s a real problem in SE Asia – hopefully it’s not too bad in Sao Tome & Principe!!!)