Getting on the bus for the third time, taking the same route, and then the same camp, felt quite familiar. The two times I came here before, I had different friends around, while some were still here from the start, and felt somewhat nostalgic. Heading down to an old friend, the Kelani river, to the exact spot where we first entered the water. 

 

 

We started with getting the morning started with a wake up call, referring to the cold water, which you can get used to only so much. However, we were still refreshed every time, which led to us taking part in a group exercise, uniting with our hands and practicing technical skills while also learning the safety signs. This was pretty much the usual, however something we never get used to is that split second before heating that first wave of the rapid, where you feel almost weightless as you hit the mighty rapid. This was definitely one of the most exhilarating experiences on the trip, one which I could do over and over again. This experience really helped me appreciate time, and even though it’s only 3-4rapids, it can feel like forever until it’s over where all you want to do is get back on the raft and go down the rapid. On the other hand, although the experience was pretty much familiar, something I noticed each time coming back was the more and more of sand being pulled up on the sides of places we would usually sit. Wade spoke to us about the building of this new dam, meaning that these 3-4 rapids were going to be a bunch of rocks in a few months, and that it really was the last time we were going down those rapids. This idea of time as well as respecting nature, really came to mind and in some ways infuriated me, but only so much till I knew that the only thing to do is to make a difference without just complaining. This was a mini-reality check honestly, and ignited a spark in me that was powered by a sense of meaning and purpose to make a change. This was one of the main key experiences that we as a young generation and myself as an individual of the global society to be motivated to promote the respect of nature.

Another experience that never gets old is the canyoning experience. From the inclined hike through the forest to the step before we leap into the natural pool, this never gets old. The experience as many of you know involves jumping and sliding down rocks, and into natural pools filled with the all too familiar cold water. In all honesty I think that as much as the jumps and the sliding down into the pools are fun, and this being my third time gave me a sense of geological familiarity but none of that really meant anything the moment I stepped up to the final jump and had to reconquer the fear of jumping/slipping of the edge. I think that the 10 minutes after we got out of the canyon, where we gathered together and wade, asked me about how it felt doing it for the third time and getting over the jumps, etc. In all honesty, I was a bit stunned with the question, because it almost felt like the first time all over again, as if the first time 6 years ago, or second time 2 years ago, never happened and that kind of inspired me to think why is that. I still do not have a solid answer to this but I think it was just living in the moment, even if I had done this before, doing it again felt like a new experience each time and I came out positive after all the times. This gave me a bit of inspiration to reduce the amount of perceived risk I let mess with the joy of the experience and try to just live in the moment and have fun.

The science associated days were interesting and although I was a bit moody, I got to go out and explore aspects of the area I hadn’t before. Definitely had a lot of trust in the uncle that took us across the river which was definitely a new experience but was pretty cool. I think that I have a great leech progression on the second day of the trip, where I went from getting one leech on my hand and aggressively swinging my hand and jumping up and down to helping take leeches off others the next day. This was a pretty interesting day, with getting to know and see different species specifically expanding my limited knowledge on birds.

 

 

Looking out to the river from the cabin a few minutes before departure, hearing that flowing river, most likely for the final time, it really just made me appreciate the time I have spent here, from the late nights sleeping fritters with the feeling of a spider in the room, to the jump, and the great ends to a day being the river baths, something that felt all to familiar, was soon going to be a memory and really made me nostalgic. 

I think for sure I have had many takeaways from all the trips I have done here, specifically this one, from getting over fears, appreciating the moment, respecting nature, etc.