O/T Things that leave you in awe....

[Heid]

I was in Acapulco in July 2001, was travelling throug hthe mountains and jungle just outside of the city to go on a sort of rocket powered white water rafting (http://www.shotoverjet-acapulco.com/acapulco.html), anyway it's a long trip through teh most amazing forested mountains, and we stop to take pics, on this high mountain pass.

As I get out of the coach, I can see these HUGE birds in the valley below, gliidng with the biggest wingspan I have ever seen. There are two sets of 4. I am transfixed, and I ask the coach driver what the birds are.

Apparently they were condors! I can't explain how huge these things were, but you could see the ends of the wing feathers, and it was amazing.

BTW Acapulco is the real Mexico, the Pacific side is beautiful.

[Trace]

The miracle of birth does it for me, I have been present for the birth of all of my children and I've played midwife to horses and dogs etc loads of times, it's still thrilling and emotional

Don't call girls the weaker sex until you've witnessed it guys

Great post Rod

Not quite the same as childbirth but birth all the same.  A girl that used to live down our road had a bitch and my dog got to it one year, few weeks later she came hammering on my door screaming that the dog was in labour but nothing was happening.  I shot over there to fiind the dog trying to deliver her first pup.  I didn't think twice about it, I was straight in there helping her, she had no idea as she was only a young dog, I had to break the sacks and everything. I stayed and did the same for all 6 pups.  That was the most amazing experience for me.

I know giving birth to your own child is amazing too, but we women don't appreciate the miracle at the time, we're too busy screaming in pain and wanting to kill the man that helped get us that way!  lol

I've wanted to train as a midwife for the past 14 years, but having a mortgage to pay has stopped me from taking the great leap of faith and becoming a full time nurse.  I guess I'll just have to settle for a one time midwife to a dog.

[thetank]

Great thread.

Reminds me that there's more to life than poker.

[Nightfly]

Rod, a wonderful post. Thanks for giving us that. I had to take a moment out to consider what I have seen recently that is awe inspiring and came up with driving through the Drakensberg range in Natal on Chritmas day, two years ago. It makes you feel somewhat insignificant in the grand scheme.

If You want to see some of the Drakensberg relatively cheaply (and in the comfort of your own living room) then watch the film Zulu with Michael Caine. A particularly breathtaking area known as the Amphitheatre is the backdrop to this film.

Went there once....Amazing

Don't frow them spears at me!

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[Dingdell]

I once saw a bin man pick up some dropped rubbish during the bin collection......

Well someone had to bring the post back to reality 

[madasahatstand]

hi all

i love all this story telling about real life experiences and how simple things can make you really happy. As  a studet nurse i was also in awe when i helped the midwife deliver babies. i was on such a high with this mirical that i used to stay well beyond my shift to see a birth and help the mother. its a mirical every time!

another thing i saw, probably one of the most brilliant experiences ill ever had, was when i was camping in the Isle of Skye at Sligachan. It was september 2003. me and my b/f were looking at the stars (like we alwys do when camping) when suddenly this star starting shooting across the sky. it stopped and then came back and started jumping up and down. we could not believe it and have tried to see it again since but with no joy. i researched what it could be and found lots of similar 'ufo' stories. The most rational explanation i could find was the americans test their new/secret planes over the north sea and they land on europes longest military runway in macniharish near mull of kintyre. its supposed to be disused but i visited there months after i saw the star and it was certainly not unused. apparently the scandnavians have been complaning of sonic booms for years and insist its got something to do with test flights over the north sea. very interesting.

a much more sad thing  (am i allowed to tell a sad one?) is when i was a student nurse again. my friend had stayed overnight with me and there was a loud chapping at the door the next morning. it was the neighbour from downstairs saying one of her baby twins was not breathing (the baby had fallen out of a basket). my friend and i ran down and began resusitating the baby. the paramedics got there and took the baby away to hospital. the most amazing thing happened. the other baby twin started going blue and had laboured breathing in sympathy. we rushed it to hospital beside its sibling and it was fine. i couldnt believe that although this baby had not fallen, it was having the same symptoms as the one who had. ill tell you, it was automatic pilot me and my pal were on. after it, we were both shaking like leaves on a tree

mad

[Rod Paradise]

My Mum's now back from visiting my neice in Ireland, so I got her to send me a picture from the Euchan Falls, the path passes above them & you look down on them to watch the salmon jump.

Click to see full-size image.