On Being Lost In The Woods

If you have yet to have the wonderful opportunity of being lost in the woods, I highly recommend it. Wait, let me rephrase: I highly recommend getting lost in the woods and then finding your way out.

While waiting to move into my 5th cottage at Jungle Bay on a recent day off, I decided to get some exercise in and hike the Zom Zom Trail at Jungle Bay. Two points about Zom Zom trail.
1. Zom Zom is the trail on our own Jungle Bay propery that historically and is currently used by locals as a fishing point.
2. I had been on the trail once in my second month here, after the new intern on his sixth day at Jungle Bay asked a fellow staff member to guide us there (he was a tad more into the nature thing than I was)

Anyway, the first time on the trail I think I was too focused on keeping up with the pace that I neglected to take notice of the trail, or in some more positive words, I was just putting my complete faith in the guide and enjoying the scenery,. So perhaps my decision to go on the trail my second time by myself and without telling anyone that I was gonig was not my brightest. What is that they say about hindsight being 20/20?

I got lost twice: Once on the way to Zom Zom, and once on the way back to Jungle Bay.

There I was skipping along the trail filled with the euphoria of being surrounded by the beauty of nature, when I suddenly realized I wasn’t really following a trail, but was kind of blindly just walking in the forest. Hmmm, now when did that happen and where was that brook I remembered crossing last time? Fortunately, through the quiet of my pondering I heard the sound of the brook and instinctively (cause I’m "Nature Girl") started walking towards it. My newfound “Nature Girl” pride was short lived when upon reaching the brook I realized I still hadn't found the trail to Zom Zom. Standing at the bank of the river and noticing that going right meant bouldering uphill, and following the brook to the left meant following the bank down hill: I went left. Fortunately, my laziness (brilliance) paid off as I quickly reconnected with the trail and was once again skipping along the path to get the reward at Zom Zom point: An Amazing Panoramic view of the Atlantic atop some massive volcanic boulders.

After thoroughly enjoying my sunbathe on the rocks and congratulating my new found “Nature Girl” instincts, I headed back to Jungle Bay practically singing “La La La” as I headed towards Jungle Bay…over the brook and through the woods back to Jungle Bay I go… "La..." My singing came to a stop when shortly after crossing the brook I found myself not really following any trail (again) and lost in a clearing of identical looking trees. But this time, I couldn’t use the sounds of the river as a guide and blindly starting walking towards what I thought (hoped) was the direction of the trail and Jungle Bay.

There I was zig zagging back and forth through the steep rainforest and even crawling up some steep parts, when my frustration at the situation I had put myself in started to hit. Why had I thought going on this alone was a good idea? Why hadn’t I told anyone that I was coming out here? I had no cell phone to call for help, no hope for help on the way, no helicopters to signal smoke to, no voice to shout for help with (for once my loud voice had met someone louder: the Atlantic Ocean). Looking around me and taking in the colors of the blue green water of the ocean filtering through the green leaves of the jungle, it dawned on me that the only way I could make it out was by myself. In no way is relying on others a bad thing, and I’ve recently learned how fortunate I’ve been in my life to know that help is always a phone call away, literally and figuratively speaking, but as intimidating as knowing that it was just me out there it was also inspiring.

Looking at the blue gree water it also dawned on me that I had seen a similar beautiful ocean view from the path on my walk out here. Another “nature girl” instinct kicked when I figured that as long as I maintained this view it would eventually lead me back to the path and Jungle Bay. Sure enough I was reunited with the path for the second time that afternoon, and euphorically trekked back to my new (5th) cottage. "La La La:

I happened to pass one of the housekeepers on my way back to my cottage who was curiously taking in my Dirt smeared clothes, sweat soaked tank top, scraped up legs, and blinding smile. When I recounted my adventure back to her complete with all my “nature girl” instincts, she looked at me with a genuine smile and pride in her eyes and said “Good for you, Voula.” To which I couldn’t agree more.

So go “Get Lost” until our next adventure.

Take care and thanks for reading,
Voula

DISCLAIMER: I accept no responsibility if you get lost in the woods.
DISCLAIMER 2: Since my experience in the woods, Jungle Bay has put down wonderful white posts that guide you along the path making getting lost a lot less likely