Maui, a island fully
Portrait of an Island - Maui
Hawaii, United States (Part 1)
The morning awakens. The sun starts to peek over the mountains, and the birds begin to chirp, signaling the beginning of the day. That is the scene in progress. But let's go back a few days. You see, my journey starts in the great state of Washington, not to be confused with Washington D.C. But anyways, I took off, beginning my wondrous journey over the many mountain ranges that lead to Alaska. Glancing down from the dirty plane window, I catch a glimpse of the Olympic mountain range with its towering peaks and still snowy mountains, even in July. The three-hour plane ride goes by in a blink, with the scenery keeping me company. Right after the plane ride, I am off onto the road. To my dismay, it is a cloudy day, but still stunning. After a mountain-filled three-hour drive to the small town of Soldotna, I am excited to see familiar faces. I meet my Grandma and Grandpa at their house of 40 years, nestled on the edge of the river, making it a great home base for my time in Alaska.
The next few days go by blissfully, full of long summer days, with campfires and fishing taking the lead role. There is something about being around a campfire that is so peaceful and brings people together. Whether it is the sound of the crackling logs or the rawness of something so beautiful yet dangerous, it brings a deep sense of nostalgia. Fire is kind of like life. In the right hands, it can be made into something beautiful that warms people when they need it most. But in the wrong light, it can come and destroy, spreading fast and out of control. I prefer the former. While fire does spread fast, it can also be stopped. That is why it is important to have friends and family who can lead you when you need it most.
But back to Alaska. Imagine the sound of the rushing river, rolling past you with the bright summer sun warming your arms as you cast the pole into the water ever so carefully. Well, if you can imagine that, then you can picture my experience. Day after day, I cast my pole, hoping for a fish. Until on the sixth day, I finally caught one. Delighted and excited, I continued catching many more in a matter of minutes. There is something so special about experiencing the whole process, from the catch to the plate. It gives you a much deeper appreciation for the food you eat.
Catching the fish is really only the first step. Next, you have to reel it in, which is harder than it sounds, as they usually give a fight. After that comes the skinning of the fish. And then you have a choice to make: you can put the fish in cans, freeze the fillet, or smoke the fish. I engaged in all three. But let me tell you, there is nothing like the smell of freshly smoked salmon after it comes out of the smoker. It is a full-body experience that cannot be summed up in words.
There is a freshness in the air that just feels different in Alaska. The air feels lighter, the birds seem louder, and all your senses are fully in the moment. It is not a feeling of nervousness, it is a feeling of being fully enveloped in the moment. And that is something Alaska will bring out in you. I don't know if it's the remoteness or maybe it's the departure from the normal everyday things of life, but it really brings to light the things that are important, the things that matter most of all: family.
The morning ends all too soon as I rush to get out of the door to my next destination, Homer. Driving two hours and some change to the city they call Lands End. As it is the literal end of the world, there is nothing after that for thousands of miles. As I hump over the summit, about to go down to the ocean floor below, the skyline erupts with hundreds of mountains and glaciers staring right back at me. Gasping at the sight, I knew in that moment this was going to be a good day. I set up shop at an old inn at the end of the spit. With full views of the mountains and ocean, I knew it couldn't get much better. Alaska is very unique in that there are not a lot of places where the mountain meets the ocean. It is a very rare sight, but on full display here in Alaska. The sight I am seeing is the Kenai Mountains, a very long mountain range that extends the entire Kenai Peninsula. I go about my day searching through the many tourist stores for the more authentic, local places. I find that there is always a taste of local wherever you go, even in the most touristy spots, it just is harder to find.
That night, I made a fire on the beach and huddled around with friends and family over the open flames. The sun slowly started to go down, not fully setting until midnight. They call it the midnight sun, and it truly is. After the sun fades, I go in for the night for a short sleep. Now, back to that moment in time from the beginning of this story. But first, let’s give it some context. Ring-Ring-Ring; I hear my alarm going off at 3:30 AM. I wake up reluctantly, trying to remember why I woke up in the first place. I walk down to the beach and wait for the sun to come up. I sit there for hours waiting, but nothing happens. Something interesting happens when you just sit by yourself for hours. You seem more content with the little things. Time passes by slowly, with only you and your thoughts. I contemplate this as the cold air nips at my legs, while the ocean waves keep pattering on the windblown rocky beach.
After hours of waiting and almost giving in to my bed, the sun streaks across my face, illuminating a bright glow that warms my cold face and brings new life. I take out my Canon AE-1, roll the film back, and take a picture, hoping to encapsulate this memory forever. I sit there watching the world start to come back to life. The fishing boats start speeding through the water, people start walking on the beach. And I think to myself, are we all too busy in our lives that we miss the simplest moments?
If Alaska has taught me one thing, it is that life is not all about the big and shiny moments that should be on a postcard. They are about the slow and peaceful moments where life becomes bigger than oneself. Where we get lost in that moment of time. The simple moments, the ones that fly by all too fast. These are the moments I search for, and the ones we need more of. So here's to the small, simple moments in life. Go explore and GO GET LOST.
