Gator Glade
I learned a
lot from visiting the Everglades
National Park . I didn’t
know that the male mosquito pollinates the local orchid. I was unaware that
there is a water plant in the glades that consumes mosquito larvae. That makes
it a carnivorous entity. I also didn’t know that at mating time, the bull
alligator physically poses himself in a curved position, makes a call to lure
the female, and when they meet, he pulls her down with her testing him to see if
he succeeds at keeping her down, then she accepts the romance. Otherwise, she
leaves with the attitude, ‘see you later, alligator’.
Yes, the
walk and the ride by tram were both educational. Experience also confirmed for
me after seeing, hearing, and some interaction with birds and animals (no, we
didn’t get too close to the gators), that the creatures of the wild are easier
to deal with than humans.
Back at the
Miami Iskcon Centre, I saw a good side of humans, which was one of cooperation
and enthusiasm. Basically, I was facilitating a group of Krishna
followers in organizing sankirtan in three categories – food, book, and mantra
distribution. This approach to devotional life is generally a morale booster.
Everyone went home feeling fulfilled, renewed and hopeful at the prospect of
increasing their devotional output.
My final
adventure of the day was an encounter with the police. I was walking in the
dark in a residential neighborhood near my host’s home when a police cab pulled
over. The officer coming out asked what I was doing. I explained.
“I got a
couple of calls, people here don’t see too many monks in orange robes.”
I
explained, “I’m visiting, I’m from Canada .” I gave him my card.
Two more
police cars came over after they received the report. The police just came over
to say they wanted to see the walking monk. They were congenial, kind, although
in the beginning of the urgent calls they received, it was likely a response to
terroristic paranoia.
May the
Source be with you!
6 km
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