Cured by the Ipanema beach shores

by Ayanda Mthembu (South Africa)

Making a local connection Brazil

I'm not a seasoned traveler, Yet! But last year I decided to embark on a multi-city birthday/holiday trip that may have left holes in my pockets but patched the holes in my heart, mind and soul forever. And for that I will always be grateful to the people and the land of Rio de Janeiro. As a young man who lives in the concrete jungle of Johannesburg, South Africa, it is no surprise that I’m plagued by the pressures and anxieties that affect many urban dwellers. I’m a clothing/textile designer by profession, so like everyone else in the city, I’ve had to get up every morning for my nine to five, because that’s what the social system requires for my survival in the big city. In December last year I made the impulsive decision to spend most of my savings on a birthday trip to New York City and Rio de Janeiro. As a millennial this is obviously not shocking since we live by the YOLO(You only live once) motto. But it needed to be done or else I was going to be mentally fatigued throughout the holiday season. For the first time i listened to the little desire that had been nudging me to travel for a while. Yes I was worried that this was not an economically sound idea. Even while I was amazed by the sights and sounds of New York, these worries and concerns would make an occasional visit to my mind. This kept going on until I made it to the second leg of my trip, Rio de Janeiro. The first time I set foot on the beach shores of Ipanema, I felt a 180 degree turn in my life. It was an unspoken, intuitive shift. Not to sound fluffy, but the warm smiles, welcoming energy as well as the physical beauty of the Brazilians transformed me instantly. I was suddenly transported to Carioca paradise. I was overwhelmed. I was inspired. I was born anew. I didn’t know that in this tumultuous, precious planet of ours exists such relentless passion, adventure, beauty and sheer happiness. This sounds like an exaggeration but it is the literal truth. It didn’t take me long to morph into this state of being. I literally left all of my lifetime woes on the Ipanema sea as soon as I was in contact with it. I’ve been back in South Africa for almost 2 months now and I simply haven’t gotten out of the Brazilian state of mind. I’m forever seeking passion, joy and adventure in every moment, I vigorously believe in making every moment count. My priorities have completely shifted. I now know that a state of complete happiness and fulfillment is possible and all you need is an open heart and the elimination of the normalization of anxiety and worry. Negativity is such a foreign concept to Cariocas, and this is still puzzling to me since Brazil is regarded as third world country. My encounters with the locals, whether brief or extensive made me better and happier. I remember those endless beach parties that went on past sunrise. I remember how everyone was still energized even after those parties and were always looking forward to gather again later in the day cause they had formed strong bonds during the course of the festivities. The friends I made in Brazil still check on my well-being till today. Sometimes their positivity and love still feels too good to be true but I’ve learnt to believe that there’s so much goodness in the world and it’s my responsibility to tap into it and share it with others. I miss those endless laughters under the sun with caipirinha cocktails clenched in my hands, the constant dancing. The peaceful moments spent alone in the wee hours on the quieter beaches of Ipanema. The visual stimulation of it all. The immersion and indulgence of Brazilian culture left a permanent mark in my heart and I hope the impact will never reach depletion. Hence it is imperative for me to go back for my second fix later again this year. Yes the sea waves washed all over me and I will never be the same.