We got out of the car after a bumpy dirt road ride. The air was hot, we were sticky. The valley was endless pine tree plantations. The screaming of bugs and insects reverberated through the valley, and we thought that this was the perfect way to spend the day.
But then we looked down and saw that we were not dressed for a hike of any length. Even a small one.
I had flip-flops on, my fiance had a pair of jeans on. We did not really have any water with us. But this was after all unplanned and not part of the day's plans.
We were here, and we were not planning to go back soon, so we just had to fit this into our plans.
So, please join me virtually as I take you on this short hike, through some untouched forest betwixt massive pine plantations, and an unexpected indigenous ceremony upon which we walked in unnoticed.
The Destination in the Background
We saw the little feet indicating the route we needed to take to get to the waterfall. We saw the waterfall in the distance, our eventual destination. As we turned around, we saw the endless plantations stretching and covering the horizon. It is sad that native forests were destroyed to plant these "dead forests". In the background, facing towards the real old forest, there were thousands of sounds - birds, insects, animals. But facing these endless swaths of plantations, there were no sounds, only the wind trying to breathe through these trees.
Alas, we set out for the short hike! As I noted, we were underdressed, by a long shot. I had my trusty flip flops on and my fiance her pair of jeans. We had only one small bottle of water with us, but we knew we had to do this hike.
The pathway (below) was beautifully maintained - lucky for us! And the sun tried to shine on us through the forest thicket. But to no avail as the thicket was too thick and overgrown. It was an old forest amidst the dead pine forests.
Photographs From Within the Old Forest
I could not stop myself from taking some nice photographs of the forest. These old forests are becoming rarer by the day - few corporations want to see them as it does not bring them money, but most locals see them as sacred (as I will show at the end of this post!). It is sad to see their demise, as people across the world destroy them just to make extra money.
Luckily, I could take some photographs of these old forests while they still remained.
I could feel the earth breathe through this forest. The air was thick, but alive. I breathed this fresh air in and I myself felt more alive than ever. I could see myself living in these places, in a hut of some kind seeing the forest move around me. But these were only short-lived utopian ideas.
Sensing and Approaching the Waterfall
As we walked deeper into the forest, we started hearing more and more waterfalls, water flowing through the forest, and the growth turning to bright green overgrowth.
Various species of ferns covered the sides of the valley, indicating the presence of water.
The smell of the earth also became different, moist, wet, and alive with different vigour than we previously when we were further away from the waterfall.
It became louder and louder.
And interestingly, there was a kind of surprise at the end of our journey, when we reached the destination...
The Bridal Veil Falls
As we walked through the thicket, we saw the top of the waterfall.
A thin bridal veil, the water came down in droves but it remained a mist as it fell further down the mountain.
As we approached the waterfall, we heard the loud screams coming from below. At first, we were worried that someone got hurt, then we got scared that something else was happening, but then we saw the indigenous priest praying.
We tried not to disturb them, and I felt a kind of moral conflict taking photographs of the event, but it was in a public space. And it serves as a memento that these places of beauty are still seen as sacred. (See the photograph below).
The waterfall was also so long and high that I could only take a video to show its true size, as my 50mm lens was too close to capture it in its entirety.
I took a couple of videos to illustrate its beauty.
In the end, it was a pretty special short hike. Unplanned always serves to expand our horizons, challenging our need for structure.
The Beautiful Cliff Faces
As we were planning to go, I looked up and saw all of the beautiful cliff faces. It was incredible how in such a small space so many different rock formations presented themselves.
I tried to capture a couple of them, and they had a stunning beauty of their own.
Nature truly is the most wonderful of artists.
It presents itself as so many layers, and I see myself in them.
As complex beings, as layer upon layer forms each passing year, we become more and more of ourselves.
Our mistakes become dense layers that create us.
We are poetic beings with many phrases challenging the very notion of what we are perpetually renewing.
Postscriptum, or So yet another Journey Ends
So many journeys end, but that is what gives them meaning.
I hope that you enjoyed this hike, unplanned with some unexpected adventures and gifts. It is a rare moment that we capture by being present.
For now, happy and safe travels and keep well.
All of the musings and writings are my own, albeit inspired by the beauty of the forest and the unexpected finds that presented itself. The photographs are also my own, taken with my Nikon D300 and 50mm lens, or my Nikon D3200.
//:# (//:# (!worldmappin -25.08164 lat 30.72426 long Bridal Veil Falls d3scr))
fermentation is magic.
and your stone wall picture looks like huge grains in old wood
Thank you so much! It really does look like that. Thanks for the visit!
:3
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Old forests are becoming rare to enjoy, one set of waterfalls I have not been to for many years. Well worthwhile visiting the region with much on offer.
Excellent photography with story/memories to share, smell, sight amazing nature never stops exciting those who take time to enjoy while there.
Thank you so much. Indeed, these old places are just magical and full of so much life.
The area has so much to offer, it felt like a waterfall around every corner! Such a wonderful place.
Spent many weekends up there when younger, exploring these waterfalls.
Now special pathways more commercial, not quite what I remembered when we went through years later with the boys.
Nothing can remove the natural beauty around each corner in this region!
I am so sad that we cannot experience nature in her true form any longer, as everything is so commercialised. Hopefully, people will return land so that nature can "re-wild" again - I see it is becoming more popular in America. Buy vast lands to restore it.
Many places are seeing the affects from not respecting the land, some turn back the clock in small spaces, hopefully more will become aware that we don't need so much!
It is always wonderful to see when nature wants to return, and when we give her that respect, she does indeed return. But with too much damage, I think the future will be less colourful.
Irony is if we live by natures laws not human laws we would be better off, leave more areas for nature to flourish.
Hiya, @ybanezkim26 here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Travel Digest #2389.
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Thank you so much, @ybanezkim26, I really appreciate it!
You are very welcome @fermentedphil! it was well deserved. ☀️
Keep up the great work 💪
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STOPWow congrats
Thanks!
feel like experiences like this really make you appreciate the beauty around us and the unexpected moments we get to live.
For sure, this is all it is about. Nothing in the world can replace it.
Wow, that's an incredible achievement! The physical and mental strength it must have taken to conquer such a vast and challenging landscape is truly inspiring. I bet the views were beyond words. I’d love to hear more about your journey, what was the most unforgettable moment of the hike?The photos are just legit amazing! I am wondering if you used preset on them?
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! The hike was really not that difficult, at least not for me. Some of the other people struggled with some of the higher ascending. I am not using any preset on the photographs, but thank you so much!
Walked that a long time ago - say 40 years ago - not with flip flops but certainly with no water
I am sure that there was more of the natural forest back there 40 years ago. It is sad to see how much of the forest is gone due to the logging going on there. Thanks for your comment!