The Paradise
Rio Dulce Guatemala, Guatemala |
Rio Dulce Guatemala, Guatemala
“Places like this make you feel grateful to be alive. It’s so beautiful.” Lorained commented as we found ourselves in Finca el Paraiso. I met her just this morning in El Tortugal.
It rained so much last night, and the croaking of frogs kept me awake. Loraine wasn’t sure if she’ll go because it was still cloudy and drizzling. I am leaving tomorrow, so I thought it’s now or never. I said we could take the chance.
Good choice. We were lucky.
It was still drizzling as she accompanied me for breakfast in town and caught the shuttle afterwards. The 45-min ride cost Q15 each way to Finca El Paraiso.
The rain eventually stopped as we walked from the highway, inland towards the falls, following the river. The river was very clear, there were Mayans or locals washing their clothes and bathing by the banks. In some parts, the substrait was of solid, smooth white slabs of rock, which made the water all the more appealing.
It only took around 10 minutes walk to reach the falls. It was steaming. The water falling through the pool of water below comes from a hot spring above.
The place lives up to it’s name. It’s indeed paradise to swim in cool-warm water, and shower under hot falls — there’s just nothing like it I’ve experienced. I have seen so many waterfalls from Niagara, to Camiguin (Philippines) to Tasmania, Cairns (Australia) and Tongariro (New Zealand), but there is something special about being able to immerse myself in the water and not just look at how beautiful the waterfall is.
Upstream, Loraine and I soaked in the hot water. Further upstream, there was a small pool where there’s a mineral mud spa which we spread all over our body. Made the skin feel so smooth!
It was at this place that I finally made a decision on something I have been swinging back and forth on for the past month. As I laid on my back on the crystal clear hot spring, the water running through my body, gazing at the emerald jungle canopy above, listening to the soothing sound of stream of water gushing through the falls, I had a moment of clarity and insight: this is happiness — my body feeling warm, basking in the water, the heat, the warm weather. I just felt at peace, happy and fulfilled. I just knew I would feel miserable in freezing climate… my body will rebel against that.
This evening, I was about to e-mail my decision but the electricity went out. Storm hit El Tortugal. Loraine and I continued to chat in the cozy library. As she listened to my story she said “It sounds to me like you’re already telling me your decision. I think that will make you happy.” The serendipity of it all was that she embodied attributes of one of the characters in my novel… I did ask God for signs and help in my discernment.
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