Plenty of Tranquility

by Ammaarah Bint Farook Mahomed (South Africa)

I didn't expect to find South Africa

Just a few more steps... three, two, one and here we are -what a sight to marvel at! The wind whistled past my ears echoing the peace and serenity I felt at that moment. Standing at the top of the Robberg Mountain, the view beneath me left me awestruck. Rich and diverse floras surround massive rocks that scatter the shoreline of the gorgeous blue waters below. The tranquility immediately captured my heart, and always will. When we decided on exploring the Garden Route by undertaking a rather adventurous road trip, I expected a beautiful beach and spectacular nature. But nothing quite like this. Growing up and spending my entire life in Johannesburg, the bustling city centre and money capital of SA, I was used to the usual fears of crime and a burdening busy routine. One that makes you forget to stop for a while and just breathe. Little did I know that the exact thing I didn't expect to find would be just what this trip had in store for me! I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, savouring every last second of the fresh and clean air I would never get in Johannesburg. The air I was used to was saturated with pollution and exhaust fumes, a constant reminder of the unhealthy environment we resided in, but this air was unlike anything I'd ever come across. The waves ebbed and flowed, seagulls soared above the water, teasing everyone with their freedom and ability to remain in this heaven on earth, forever. When you spend your life in the city, you grow up to be a certain standard of tough. “Be firm, be prepared to fight” is what I was told from a young age. Now at the age of 19, my entire being has grown into a defensive one, ready to take action at even the slightest hint of danger. Is this really who I wanted to become, I often ask myself? Is this the kind of life I wanted to live? The answer dawned on me after a short trip just a few kilometres down to the coast of Plettenburg Bay. While on top of Robberg, I questioned so many things that are taken for granted-fresh clean air, serenity, peace and most of all tranquility unlike anywhere else... That very evening, it was nearing sunset. I happened to be out by the nearby shops, alone. Immediately with the onset of darkness comes fear and a reflex defence. This is how we grow up in Johannesburg- always thinking about the worst possible scenarios. I quickly began walking across the street back to the hotel, being cautious of holding my belongings near to me and not making any eye-contact. Sound a bit like a paranoid prisoner? Yes, we grow up in a crime filled city as prisoners in our own skins, our own homes shut behind huge walls, gates and enough alarm systems to arm a castle. And yet in that short 2-minute walk, I felt utterly safe. In fact, in my anxiety and paranoia to get back to the hotel, I accidentally forgot to take my wallet from the counter of the shop. What surprised me even more was a young man tapping my shoulder to return it to me. My first instinct was an immediate preparation for the little martial arts I knew! And there it was- exactly what I didn't expect to find in my very own country just a stone’s throw away from my home- safety and tranquility. The ability to walk freely without fear of being attacked. The ability to be a living, breathing person-not a prisoner in four walls. And where did I find all of this? In a place that felt like another country within my country! A tranquility that can only be felt from an absolute certainty of your safety coupled with the most spectacular nature I ever laid my eyes on. Tranquility, within a crime ridden country, these small pieces of heaven are exactly what one will never expect to find- definitely what I didn't expect to find. One simple word tranquility- something we never knew we were not feeling until we experienced it.