Explore. Inspire. Grow: Chile
We're all getting older.
But that doesn't necessarily mean we're all growing.
So many of us become complacent with the passing of time. When we're comfortable, we're satisfied. When our surroundings are familiar, we're happy enough. But is happy enough good enough for us? Should we be so willing to accept a life for ourselves that is just comfortable, or simply good?
I've been incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to travel extensively across this amazing world we call home. Ever since I was a young child, my parents instilled in me the idea that travel and exploration was more than important; it was everything. Whether it was exploring far off lands, other provinces throughout Canada, or simply having the imagination to explore my own backyard, they assured me that experiencing things outside of what was familiar was the greatest education I could receive. And so, three weeks ago, with my parents wisdom and the blessing of the tentree team, I set out on a new adventure: South America. It was time to inspire myself, and to find out what inspired others at the opposite end of the Americas. It was time to grow.
Joined by a few friends from home, we set out to explore the deep, DEEP south, starting our journey in Chile.
Santiago saw us brushing shoulders with the Pop and Rock elite at Lollapalooza, while experiencing the "Big City Life" typical of this sprawling metropolis of 6.3 million people. Footlong hotdogs drowning in guacamole and mayonaise, and roasted chicken with french fries dominated the food palate.
Valparaiso welcomed us with a parade of pastel coloured houses and vibrant graffiti murals spread out across rolling hills, inviting us to lose ourselves between the narrow winding cobblestone streets and staircases climbing up the steep hills. Only a few short weeks later, a fire heartbreakingly ripped through the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and destroyed nearly 3000 homes, displacing countless more people.
At the very bottom of the world, on the very southern tip of South America, I was filled with a complete and utter sense of awe. Island chains, covered in golden hills reaching towards the dark grey water where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet, dominated the landscape. We watched, amazed, as a group of king penguins huddled together for warmth on Tierra del Fuego, "The Land of Fire". We experienced first hand the mighty power of nature when evacuations were ordered for low lying areas of the city of Punta Arenas after an immensely powerful 8.2 earthquake struck northern Chile, calling for a widespread tsunami alert for the entire Pacific coast. We climbed to the famous three peaks of Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, an arduous but incredibly satisfying journey that took us on an 18 km round trip up (and back down) nearly 900 meters of elevation.
Heading back north, we stopped by La Serena, the "unofficial surfing capital" of Chile and a city with seemingly more universities than people, before popping over towards Vicuña in the Valle de Elqui. An arid yet beautiful valley, occupied by vineyard after vineyard, it is most famous for its production of Pisco, a grape-based spirit and Chile's pride and joy.
Our last stop took us north to the Atacama desert, both the oldest and driest (non-polar) desert in the world. Towering sand dunes, imposing snow capped mountain peaks, extensive white salt flats, and a beautiful emptiness surrounded us. We explored a geyser field at nearly 4300 meters above sea level, watching the steam billow from fissures spread across the desert floor as we struggled for breath, adjusting to the extreme elevations. We partook in a stargazing tour, staring up at the brilliant lights of stars and planets alike through telescopes in what is known as the absolute best place in the world to watch the night sky. And we went swimming in the Laguna Cejar, a small lake with a salt content more than three times that of the ocean. Relaxed and without a care, we floated along without any effort, the beautiful vistas spread out around us the only distraction.
While 24 hour bus rides may leave you feeling completely and utterly exhausted, and food poisoning may force you to take up full time residence in a bathroom for day or two, it's all simply part of the experience. Without these "lows" that come with travelling, there would not be the amazing, beautiful, and inspiring "highs" that come along with them. Experiencing the perfect solitude and silence of a desert night, the sense of satisfaction and fulfillment after reaching the peak of a mountain, watching the daily lives of others around the world and how different yet entirely alike we are, or witnessing the perfect simpleness of stunning wildlife for the first time; this is what our lives are about. Removing yourself from the familiar, the comfortable... that is when you experience the unbelievable.
For all the difficulties and hardships that come along with travelling, the rewards and experience gained more than make up for them. It's moments such as these that you realize, growing is not about getting older. It's about experiencing anything and everything the unknown has to offer. Here at tentree, we want to inspire people to do just that. To explore the unknown. And to begin to grow.
*Credit to Matt Sandham for some of the photos. Stay tuned for the next instalment: South America's wild wild west, Bolivia.