Counting my blessings of my nearest forest

by Sanele Percy Mncube (South Africa)

I didn't expect to find South Africa

Have you ever thought that the saying of crawling first before you learn how to walk could apply to traveling? Well to me it has.I have always loved traveling to places and capturing the Beutifull moments mother nature can offer us and believe me I am obsessed. Not far from where I am staying there is a forest that has always been the major feature in my area but as embarrassing as it sounds for a 21 year old who grew up around it I have never taken time to visit it and indulge in the beuty of long trees, a small path and the fresh breeze coming from the trees and the amazing vocals coming from the birds who have always found a shelter in this forest..Last week I decided that I was going to visit and witness this beuty..I had already imagined to find a dull forest full of long grass, some snakes and firewood only ..I woke up early and took a small picnic busket and off I went..As I entered this beuty I was firstly breath taken by the huge rocks inside that were along the big trees including gum tree..As I stood on top of one huge rock I could see my five room home alongside with everything that was surrounding my house like the primary school and local clinic..The view was breathtaking that I took a couple of photos with my old camera that was a gift from grandpa..As I continued getting inside the forest I could not believe how rich it was with the natural forest fruits including blue berries ,plumps and many more..I was eating the fresh fruits while amazed as I was going deep into this Beutifull baby. The birds were competing with their vocals as I was getting deep ..Diffrent Beutifull melodies from the birds I could listen to while indulging on the delicious fresh forest fruits...As if that was not amazing enough I found myself standing in very crystal clear small river with mineral water ..The river had a shape of a banana and I could not believe it..What is better than drinking some mineral water after feasting to some delicious ripe forest fruits? I was busy getting those minerals for my body like nobody's business...At this point my journey had become very interesting. "All this Beutifull features has been hidden right under my nose",I kept thinking to myself... Look What's that cute white little plants next to the river ? Yay Mushrooms..I have seen mom coming from the forest with some fresh mushrooms and when i would ask her where she got them she would get angry and tell us we were not allowed to come anywhere near that forest. That is why I had never visited it and I did not mind as I was busy being a child playing and all.My Beutifull journey ended with collecting some strong firewood for my mom and my journey was a very amazing fulfilling one but most important is the lesson I learnt from it. We spend so much time wishing and complaining that we don't have money to travel and see the beuty of nature but we fail to appreciate the surroundings around us..Yes with the Morden setting of our enviroment it always seems impossible to find the right spot but if you keep looking around you you might be suprised when you find that little natural joy and embrace it. Go out with your friends to the nearest mountains, hills and valleys? You might be very surprised of what natural treasure might be hidden right under your nose.And guess who is going back to the forest next week?Yep you guessed right