So we go. A few days later we see the swell pumping, and following the instructions of our local ‘guide’, we end up on a very secluded area that hides a very good looking wave. Uncrowded, again! It’s pointless to tell you the story; you’ve all guessed that we rode this wave until our arms fell from our bodies. So of course this is all about SUP otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this in a magazine. But if we are honest, we might have found good waves much closer. We could even have had bigger ones if we followed the beaten path and looked at the forecast. What makes this trip so special is that for the first time, we saw what a tropical place looked like before the arrival of men. Almost. We saw more animals of all kinds in a few days than in a whole lifetime. We heard noises that we will never hear again in other places. We had to live with the sun. We had to miss some sessions because, yes, we got lost and did not find the place we were looking for. This is something that is worth the trip. Getting lost. Having a break. Enjoying the very simple things such as the flight of red parrots. Hiking into a waterfall with a local guide who knows what wilderness means and how to respect it. We have seen things that might disappear one day. Sooner than we can imagine.
More than turns on waves, we have brought memories and pictures back home, being able to share and explain why this is precious. Why a nice resort and paved roads are not the right things to wish for this place. Being a stand up paddler, it might be easier to love our environment. It can help us realize that not everything should turn into growth, consumption and marketing. Some things should just stay as they are meant to be. Wild. Unexploited. Raw. It is still a privilege to be in the middle of such beautiful places and we will never take it as granted. SUP
