There’s a different kind of serenity when you glide across a water body, listen to the rhythmic dip of the paddle and take in the gentle embrace of nature’s wonders. Kayaking is more than just a recreational activity, something that I quickly learned in a minute (not joking) and is now one of my greatest delights in life. As you gently dip your paddle into the water and glide forward, this is one water sport that brings tranquillity to you.
Striking Silence, Let Go of Control
My bucket list for this year included becoming a master at diving on my very first try. Yes, as humans, we are never easy on ourselves. So often in life, we just have to excel in whatever we do, however we do. Although sea diving couldn’t happen, I stumbled upon the profound and immersive activity of kayaking which I will say is almost similar to the practice of letting go.
However, for someone who is still taking swimming lessons, sitting in a kayak by themselves with the sole thing in their mind being “what if they drown?” could be challenging. But now, the rest is history and this year marks two seasons of kayaking already: one in the tranquil waters of a lake and another, in the vast yet rough waters of an ocean. However, the access to peace and solace has captured me for good.
My first kayaking experience was in the clear and therapeutic backwaters of Kerala in the Vembanad Lake. Although it was my first time, I would like to believe I am a natural at it! Of course, the kayak was wobbly at first. But as I got used to it, I got better at handling it. The experience was made simpler by the Vembanad’s calm waters.
The silence is striking, broken only by the gentle lapping of water against your kayak’s hull. At times, there’s the occasional call of a distant bird. I found myself paddling through serene mangrove forests, local fishermen in their traditional wooden canoes and glimpses of village life along the shoreline. As you quietly approach, you might spot a graceful heron perched on a log or a majestic eagle soaring overhead. I think, when you kayak, you seamlessly blend into the environment and become an observer rather than an intruder.
Then, came the most dramatic sunset of my life. The water reflects the changing colours of the sky, creating a kaleidoscope of purples, pinks, oranges, and blues. At that very moment, I stopped paddling and tried to absorb the stillness of the moment. Maybe, finding bliss is not complicated! Kayaking taught me to appreciate silence, almost a meditative experience, offering solitude and introspection.
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Overcome Fear, Navigating Roughs Like Water
I would never describe myself as an “outdoorsy person,” or someone who would do something out of the box. For context, I am and have been for the entirety of my life: someone staying in control of everything. Being a Virgo, it’s in my soul.
My second solo kayak journey was in Vietnam, amidst rough waters and waves of the oceans. But this time, instead of being nervous, I felt confident in my ability to navigate and control my kayak. I was seeking a more exhilarating experience in life. Oceans are a unique type of water body that educates you to be robust and resilient. While lake kayaking is similar to appreciating the basic things in life.
As I paddled to the waves, the chaotic water with its tumultuous waves and unpredictable currents appeared to be putting my agility to the test. At the same time, I wouldn’t deny the allure of turbulent oceans and the sheer thrill of conquering the untamed. The water was a shade of jaded indigo, I had never seen.
However, kayaking in the oceans is difficult; you must paddle much more forcefully than in the rivers. You could glimpse a bird or two hovering along the shoreline on occasion. But I was missing the sounds of nature that the backwaters gifted me. While the turbulent oceans offer an adrenaline-fueled adventure, the serene lakes provide a different kind of satisfaction—one rooted in tranquillity.
At times, I would also imagine how my mother would immediately disapprove of this idea. In retrospect, my mum was definitely correct because I did fall down in the ocean with no locals nearby if it hadn’t been for my friend that day. And at that very moment, I realised how tiring it was when I struggled and panicked to come up. Until I realised that it was pointless and that being calm was the only way out. At that moment, Mother Nature carried me at her own pace to survive that little fall.
Even now, when I think of the still yet sudden rough waters of the ocean with ripples of sunlight and breeze gently blowing, it has brought me deep peace and contentment. The blueness of the water and its magical setting is overpowering to remember falling in the ocean for 10 seconds. Well, I survived!
As I pen this, I can say I have become more intuitive. Because either you live life or you keep weighing it. And one way to let go of your need to be in charge is by kayaking. You won’t regret doing it. I’ve definitely not.
Cover image credits: Canva