It's not every day that one gets to see one of the seven wonders of the world! Today was one of those days for me- I got to see Victoria Falls. We started off hiking down to the bottom of the falls below to where a bridge crosses the divide in the mountains around from the falls. The hike took less than half an hour. It was absolutely beautiful. The river current is very wild and the water-mist from the waterfall is thick. The LSZ group saw people bungee jumping and zip-lining from the bridge. We also witnessed a brave man deciding to kayak down the river. The headache for me came when hiking back up the mountain. I was determined to make it to the top as fast as I could, because from prior hiking experiences, I have gotten burnt out and tired rather quickly. Before I knew it, I was hyperventilating and crying. My chest was tight and my breaths became short and brief. I stopped to rest and get a drink of water. Ty'Ronn was kind enough to take me by the hand and he encouraged me to continue to the top.
I was frustrated by the time I got to the top, but grateful and relieved that I had made another feat. I was frustrated because I thought that by deciding to speed up my pace I wouldn't get tired as quickly. However, I wound up in the same situation I was trying to avoid. Next time I know to find a buddy who will stick with me and to take my time. Regardless, I was grateful that I caught my breath, took a drink of water, and made it to the top. And yet, the best was yet to come.
After the hike, we went to the top of the falls. People were renting ponchos and little colorful plastic shoes with the holes in them. I did not rent a poncho, raincoat, or those silly looking shoes because I did not want to deduct anything from the full effect of the falls. And I did indeed get soaking wet! The downpour from the gigantic waterfall is so strong that water travels upward and creates a heavy mist which feels like a rain storm. The falls extend as far as the eyes can see. Between the beautiful scenery and the rain, I felt as if all my prior troubles were melting away. All of my problems did not matter. Another sigh of relief came and tears began to flow. Only this time, I was crying tears of joy!
-Yasmine
