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Reflections: Why travel

Do people know that there are fish that live under the sea that are black and yellow striped? Do they know that when they face you head on they are so thin all that remains to be seen are two tiny orbs of their eyes before they dart off? Do people know that these fish look like bumble bees swimming round clumsily bumbling about until they decide it's time to return back to their haven of the coral?

Do people know there are similar fish, bigger in size, but grey and yellow striped that aren't afraid of humans in masks? Do they know that these fish will face you and won't even move when you stretch out your hands towards them and swim in their direction longing to get close? Do you know that these fish swim with you and keep you company, maybe eight or ten of them all around you, friends temporarily until they tire of you?

Most mustn't know this because if they did they would be out snapping on snorkel masks or, at the very least goggles, and wading off into the sea to have a look every chance they get.

The sea is such a magical and enchanting place and is one very good reason to go and travel. Why should we stay chained to the nine to five? Now I've seen some of these beautiful creatures I can't stop planning when to go and see some more.

But let me tell you about the black fish, the ones smaller than my hand, pure black, that look soft to the touch, almost furry. The one in front of me, so vivid I can see her now, is so completely black except for an exquisite fine line of lilac across her tail fin. This is a cute fish and she stops at the first glimpse of my shadow, she turns to face me, bold and brash, she opens her mouth as if talking to me, conversing, revealing lilac lips and a light lilac mouth. Such a bewitching spectacle, she doesn't know the power she holds over me. She stays that way for what seems like minutes, looking directly at me. It feels like she has stopped to talk to me, her mouth opens and closes as if engaged in chit chat and I can see the brilliant contrast of the lightest lilac against the inkiest black of the rest of her body. When she has finished having her say she turns and retreats to her coral. Perhaps she was chiding me for invading her space, perhaps she was trying to chat and got bored by the stupid human goggling at her and not talking back. All too soon she is gone. I seek more like her and all others of her kind do the same; they turn, chat, look cute and swim off. I pray that my memory or my words


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