Telica Roars in Nicaragua

Telica Roars in Nicaragua

Now and then, we come across a place that is so awe inspiring it brings back your entire lifetime in front of you. It reminds you of every choice you made and every decision you took. It convinces you that when you arrived at various crossroads of life, you chose one path over another just so you could get to that exact place at that exact moment. Telica imparts a sense that you would not change the path that brought you there, even if you had the chance to.

Looking up into the sky, I am reminded of the vastness of the universe. Stars dot the black dome overhead in numbers that one cannot dare to fathom. A few hundred meters away, Telica lets out her mighty roar sounding as if one jet plane after another might is taking somewhere close. And yet amongst the bombardment of ones ears, there is a certain stillness. The thunderous noise of gases exuding out of the earth is somehow accompanied by the calm silence of the universe. It compels you to comprehend the universe’s enormity, and as you come to realize, of your own immense significance. I made up my mind not to sleep that night as soon as I first glanced at the floating clusters of stars overhead. I was not going to waste my time in such a paradise of a place. I was not going to let this moment of freedom slip away. The brilliance of the moment reminded me of my own individuality that allowed me to make my own decisions, and yet, at the same time how integrated I was into the entire universal system.

The hike getting there is equally as enchanting and liberating as the view from the top. It reminded me of nature’s candor to sprawl its seeds in any corner of the world, and consequentially, the liberties of its creations. One comes across majestic, shady trees that Mother Nature must have surely nurtured for the very purpose of sheltering those who braved to climb the volcano. The shades of the trees rejuvenate the body, the colors of the landscape rejoice the eyes, and the sounds of nature tranquil the mind. You hike through lush green vegetation around the mountain under the scorching sun, climbing up steep slopes at times. Nevertheless, one seldom gets the chance to think about the difficulty of the trek. The first sight of the volcano with its thick cloud of smoke rising above it persistently reminds one of nature’s incredible might.

The moon glistens the land at night. Its silver rays eventually disappear behind the blanket of smoke and then behind the barren flanks that characterize Telica’s summit. As dawn impedes the night, the golden beams of the sun reflect off the rocky, ferrous earth reminding one of a Martian landscape only to realize it is covered with lush green trees in the distance. The dying bonfire almost parallels the ruddy refection of the earth. As the sun marvelously silhouettes multiple layers of hills that it rises above, its rays eliminate the chill from the crisp breeze. From the edge of the crater, one can see a mosaic of tents just down below. Their scattered colors gently dance to the rhythm of the zephyr that almost gives out a sense of piety.

I had decided to impulsively join three other travelers who had crossed my path just the day before. I was not bound by time. My resolve to accompany them on the trip was fully justified there and then. And for reasons more than one, I had met them and made my decision within the split of a second. Vulcan himself must have led me there.

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