Nature has many thrills to offer. When we are out in the wild, we face challenges quite unlike those in our urban lives. Through these challenges, we add color to our lives and often learn how vulnerable we are in the path of nature’s ever-changing state. This is a story about how I learned these lessons through my own run-in with nature.

It was a balmy summer evening on Railay Beach, Thailand. Known for its rock-climbing scene, the giant sheer cliffs were quite a spectacle as I headed towards the beach from town. Although I was not there for the climbing, I wanted to catch a glimpse of the action before it got dark. With a mixture of locals and tourists, hundreds of people were gathered along the cliffs, bouldering their way up its face.

There were two sides to this small island. Always curious (or unsatisfied), I decided I wanted to
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check out the other side. To do this, one has to follow a kilometer long path bordered by cliff on one side, ocean on the other. This path is a mixture of sandy beach and jagged rocks that need to be stepped over in order to reach the other side. Once I arrived on the other side, I looked forward to exploring this unknown land of Thai paradise. I made my way down one path after the next, getting lost on purpose, with no agenda at all. To my disappointment, this side of the island was essentially a resort—one fancy hotel after the next. After this quick realization, I started to head back. I then arrived at my next important insight: the sun had set and it was pitch black. With no lights to light the path back to the beach, I would need to grab a flashlight if I were to return back to the other side. I discovered a store that sold flashlights and through some luck and great generosity on the part of the storekeeper, was offered a flashlight to help me get back.

When I returned to the beach, part two of my not-thinking-ahead issue displayed itself before me: the tide had rolled in. Using the flashlight to illuminate some of the trail back to the other side, I was able to see that much of what I used to get to the resort side was now under water. Yet being that the only other options were to take an expensive boat to the other side or pay for a resort hotel room, I took my chances with nature. While extremely dark, for a while I was doing fine, stepping from rock to rock, doing my best to avoid slipping and falling into the black water. Then I turned the corner and all that changed. All the rocks had submerged underneath the water. There was nothing I could use to step on and I had no way to gauge how deep the water was. What’s more, the waves were crashing into the cliff face with tremendous force. I was getting soaked and realized the danger in that moment. If I jumped down into the water and was swept into the cliff by a wave, any significant injury could be the end of me. My brain started churning, and I realized I needed to time my jump correctly, and pray that it was shallow enough to make a run for it. Checking the pattern of the waves, I jumped when there was a split-second lull in the action. As I felt my feet take hold of sand, I took off aiming (aimlessly) not to run into any more rocks. The Thai climbing gods must have been on my side, as I did not, and after 200 feet or so I reached the other side of the beach.

This brush up with nature was good fun in the moment. There is nothing quite like being on your own, out in the wild, having to think and create on your feet. And it is fun specifically because of the risk, the challenge. However these situations don’t always end positively. The wild is unconcerned with fairytale endings and cool stories. Carrying a humble yet adventurous spirit, we can head into the wild and add that color to our lives.


Josh Kohansamad ’12

josh-photoJosh Kohansamad, B.A. psychology (minor in leadership studies) ’12 was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity as well as chairman of the University Program Board. While at Chapman, Josh went abroad on the Semester at Sea program, opening the floodgates for a life of travel. He recently returned from a three-year teaching stint in southern Japan and is currently seeking out his next adventure. Trained in Constructive Living, Josh is an avid reader of books on mental health and psychology. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports and speaking Japanese (so that he doesn’t forget it all).