Gruta Azul, Chapada Diamantina, 2007.
Am I the last one to watch “Into the Wild”? And how on Earth did I miss the book in the first place? If you’ve been missing out like me, go watch it asap. I saw it on Sunday and I am still carrying it around with me. It’s a poignant film. It’s one of those that slowly builds up till it finally sticks and stays with you for a while.
It’s the story of a troubled boy disillusioned with family and society, who changes his name to Alex Supertramp and sets off on a two-year journey. He goes from South Dakota to Southern California, to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico, and at last, to the Alaskan wilderness, where he dies of starvation and accidental poisoning. Although the premise may sound depressing, the film fills you with such hope and an incredible sense of possibility. It’s full of crisp air and sunshine. It’s brave and it’s almost spiritual. There are plenty of moments where you just want to grab a backpack and start hiking away to feel as immersed in the world as the main character.
Personally, I see myself in “that” Alex in many ways. I can relate to his soul searching, his wish to breathe in the purest essence of life, his guts to leave everything behind ~ including his family ~ to follow his dreams… And mostly, I can deeply relate to his final realization, which is: “Happiness is only real when shared.” (Hopefully I’m not ruining it for you here)
Thank God that in my case, I didn’t have to face death alone to find this out. I had this epiphany while traveling through India in 2003. As I watched the dry landscape of Rajasthan from the scratched Indian Railway windows, I looked down on my white linen shirt colored by the desert’s orange dust, I took another bite of my ‘pakora’, and I knew right then, that something was about to change for me. Suddenly I realized I could no longer bare neither that summer heat nor that silence. I needed to start sharing moments like those in order to validate them. My free spirit was no longer enough for me.
Of course, to this day, I still believe that there is nothing like traveling alone to make you feel like an individual. I think that from time to time I will crave that feeling of invisibility and empowerment, that you only get when you are on your own on the road. And I am sure I will always need my solitude to regain balance and to create. On the other hand, there comes a time when you need someone else to participate in the joy with you to make it real. Which is why I love traveling with RC, and why I started taking photographs and blogging: to tell my story and to get someone else’s point of view to meet mine.
But anyhow… About Into the Wild…
Sublime ~
Also check out the lovely score & sound track (lots of Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder songs). I’m posting here one of my favorite tracks: Rise. Beautiful lyrics & melody!!
And don’t you love that word?
That is my “challenge word” for you today:
RISE (to whatever calls you to do so!)
Enjoy!
*****
Rise, Eddie Vedder
Such is the way of the world
You can never know
Just where to put all your faith
And how will it grow
Gonna rise up
Burning back holes in dark memories
Gonna rise up
Turning mistakes into gold
Such is the passage of time
Too fast to fold
And suddenly swallowed by signs
Low and behold
Gonna rise up
Find my direction magnetically
Gonna rise up
Throw down my ace in the hole
I’ve had that movie on my “to watch” list for more than 8 months – so I didn’t read through your post, in case there were any give-aways… I must watch it soon and then we can talk about it in person very, very soon.
I love that photo of you and R from last week – I don’t know how I missed you posting that little gem of love.
i’ve been wanting to watch this movie as well…has been postponing out of fear that I would want to pack my bag and go! Movies like this always inspire me to RISE! and do it…but my husband is different… grounded… which is good… think we will have to watch it together :-) maybe it inspire him to RISE…
mmm….excited!!!
Enjoy your weekend..and yes, I’ve also come to realise that life is much more fun and meaningful when shared… so much more! xx
Well, be alone for a while, it does help you find yourself. And it’s good.
But of course, after a while, when you want to share images, sounds with the person that you think he can understand.
I think it’s phases in our lives. We need both.
I was in the Scottish Highlands, hiking, by myself, when I had the same true moment you wrote of…after that, it was important to me to find a someone special to share my moments with…made all the difference.
What a powerful, wonderful message, and I always love hearing little snippets of your own travels. You are my hero!
Gosh! That is a gorgeous photograph, Alex. Is that from a previous trip somewhere? Did you go swimming, diving or splunking in that cave? You have me dreaming of doing that now… :)
I haven’t seen Into The Wild yet.I was worried that it would be too depressing but it sounds like it would also be a fulfilling film. Like The Butterfly and the Belljar.
Hope you are having a good weekend!
Yes ~ Sus! That is a cave in northern Brazil (Bahia). The cave is located in the middle of the arid desert land… You drive to the spot and then, hike down a few hundred steps where you find this magical cave! That is me in the pic :) right after swimming in there. It is a crazy feeling to swim in that cave, since the water is like a mirror. Super clear! This is a calcareous rock cave formed by emerging underground waters. As the sun rays hit the interior lake, there is a reaction between the light and the minerals present in the water, mainly magnesium, creating this gorgeous turquoise tone you see above. It’s surreal! Archaeologists have pulled a couple of intact mammoths from the bottom of it and there seem to be more that have yet to be pulled!
Mammoths? So interesting!!
Anyway, “Into the Wild”–everyone’s talking about it. There’s another book to add to my wishlist (my parents are travelling & I’m compiling a list of stuff for them to buy me..stuff you can’t find here.)
Bummer–the movie’s not out on DVD till next month :(
That song is an epiphany all by itself: “Gonna rise up/Turning mistakes into gold”
This is such a beautiful post Alex ~ I just want to say thank you for visiting my blog this week ~ and also I must second your “sublime” on this movie~ I saw it last year and it lasted with me for days too.I bought the music and have been loving it as well ~ I’m so glad you are sharing your journey with the rest of us. I think that’s one of the many reasons blogs and their bloggers are so WONDERFUL!!!
Into The Wild was one of my favourite films in recent years. So moving and beautiful. it left me with lots to ponder about the individual journeys we take and the connections we develop with others. I remember reading criticisms of the original article and then the book, claiming that it celebrated selfishness and foolhardy behaviour. As devastating as it must have been for those who loved Christopher McCandless, for me his story was about something bigger than that sad loss. thank you for sharing your beautiful words.
Hi Alex,
Thanks for this recommendation! I remember hearing about it awhile back but never saw it, so we rented it this weekend.I love the poetry and wisdom in this story. I think Sean Penn did a beautiful job.
Great post.
this photo is amazing alex…such a beautiful post *hugs*
Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.
top 10 popular songs: 1. Owl City – Fireflies; 2. Bob Dylan – Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door; 3. Black Eyed Peas – Boom Boom Pow; 4. Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Under the Bridge; 5. Lady Gaga – Bad Romance; 6. Madonna – Hollywood; 7. James Brown — I Got You (I Feel Good); 8. Eagles – Hotel California; 9. Rhianna – Umbrella; 10. Credence Clearwater Revival — Fortunate Son
Omg – she is so funny.