Day 1's blog was written by Deborah.
Once we disembarked from the plane, we began with a four
hour bus ride while taking in the stunning scenery of Sri Lanka (for those of
us who weren’t sleeping). The greenery was simply awesome, compared to the
starkness of the arid, dust-ridden Qatari planes. Generally, groups head to the
camp to start off, but, apparently, our group was excited and prepared enough
to dive in head first.
Our first stop was lunch. After hours stranded in the air
with nothing but processed airplane food for sustenance, real food (consisting
of ripe, delectable pineapple, and an extremely filling wrap – of which some of
us had two) and a great view downriver was a blessing. Now, we headed up into
the luscious mountain jungles. This was where we first encountered our very
attached – excuse the pun - friends, the leeches. Despite not feeling a thing,
they certainly left a mark once they ate their fill.
After the hike
through the treacherous mud, we finally got to step into the pristine, crystal-clear,
yet raging, frothing waters of a river. The current tugged at our lifejackets,
giving us a friendly shove over the edged we were too scared to jump off of
ourselves. Never in our lives had we experienced such a thrill. And that was
only part of it. Next up was a surprise.
We never expected to float 500 meters downstream to our camp
site. But that’s what we ended up doing. Huddled together, holding hands, feet up,
one-by-one each travel group was sent into the freezing waters. Contrary to the
river’s appearance, instead of rocketing off into the distance, carried by
raging rapids, we trickled slowly downriver, gently pushed by caring currents.
Once at the rough-hewn rock steps that led to our camp, we were more than ready
to get out of the icy water.
After clambering out we found piping-hot soup waiting for us,
which was certainly welcome, and then we were finally allowed to settle in,
setting up our bedrolls in our respective huts. To end the day, we played cards
and chatted amongst ourselves, eating and laughing as the sun sank below the
horizon.
Editor’s note: the school participated in canyoning today.
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