I’ve always possessed an enthusiastic nature and that includes my walking pace. It’s commonly noted among hikers that there are two types of people: the sprinters, who rush ahead for a few minutes then stop to rest, and the plodders, who continue at a slower pace but rarely need to rest. I was always the annoying third kind, who rushed along at a brisk pace, but rarely needed (or bothered) to rest.
My style doesn’t work well in the tropics. In walking around Colombo at 9am on my first day, I found myself dripping with sweat and had to remind myself to match pace with the locals. As in Bali and Borneo, Sri Lankan people maintain a relaxed style of walking, keeping to the shadows, in order to conserve energy.
I recall the lazy strokes of hotel staff in Bali as they swept the courtyard and my failure to understand, initially, that their pace allowed them to work all day without fatigue. Learning to match that pace had to be one of my first tasks if I was to enjoy my time in Sri Lanka.
For a while now, I’ve wanted to return to the simple life, breaking the addiction of sensory overload from computer, television and work, and relearning the enjoyment talking to people and watching the scenery. I started on that process on my first Sunday, spending the day sitting with another volunteer and his host, watching the monsoon-like rain fall on the pawpaw tree outside their house. I’ve tried to keep that feeling with me through the trip, but even standing in the shade is exhausting for me. Bring on the rain!