I am writing this overlooking a lush green garden filled with tropical plants against the backdrop of a frequently rumbling Volcano. Behind me is a trail leading into the Rainforest. I am staying at the Arenal Lodge in Costa Rica. While this accomodation had all forms of creature comfort stitched into the Wooden Cabin, i still cannot believe where i spent the last night. We were at the Pacuare Lodge, right in the middle of the Rainforest jungle, on the banks of the Wild pacuare river. It was a tree house suite perched on top of a mini hill. I didn't think I'd like sleeping without air-conditioning. But it took me back to my childhood. The sounds of the night were managed to creep easily into the cabin; the creatures whose names i did not know, the rustling of the wind through the trees. I was awakened by the first spot of daylight at 6 a.m., and then by sound of the running rapids soon after, but I didn't mind, because I wanted to greet the day!
Be it the Rain forests of Costa Rica or the Beaches of Trinidad or the Colonia pleasures of the Latin world that was once ruled by the Spanish, the thought that always crosses your mind when you are on an Unwinding vacation like this is would this live be really so good if you decide to live this all year and not just come here to soak yourself in it for a brief period of time?
I am sure every one of you - at least the avid travellers - would have felt this way at one point or the other, but this kind of thought surely does not cross your mind in every random tourist spot you hit. These thoughts creep into your silly brain only when you find yourself suddenly caught in a magical place that you cannot seem to escape or leave behind so easily! Here are some of the places where I came so dangerously close to following this kind of desire! :
- The hill towns of Cinque Terre
- The walled city of Dubrovnik
- San Miguel De Allende - the Colonial jewel
- Ronda - the sleepy hill town
- Waikiki - the city with the magical beach
I am sure you will have a list of your own.. go ahead , jot it down or make up one now and pack your bags and head out to your paradise and succumb to the desires!