Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

Hear

This week I’m in Chapada Diamantina, the national park of the state of Bahia in Brazil.

I had a 3 hour flight from London to Lisbon, a 5 hour wait at the airport. An 8 hour flight from Lisbon to Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. An 8 hour coach journey, a 1 hour minibus journey and finally a 10 minute car ride to arrive at my beautiful mountain home for the next week.

Little did I fully comprehend that my journey here would also mark the beginning of a personal Vision Quest, of sorts. Traditionally, a Vision Quest involves a solitary and meditative retreat in nature, seeking to elicit transformative visions that offer guidance and profound insight.

I'm curious about the insights that will emerge after nearly three weeks in Brazil. I might explore this more and share some of them later, but what I appreciate right now is how, within just three days of being here, my awareness has grown more profound. My senses, especially my sense of hearing, have become finely attuned.

More than anything I love the sounds of the insects. It feels like I can actually feel my whole nervous system exhale.

I'm now even more intrigued by the "invisible visible" sounds present in our everyday soundscapes, the ones we often tune out in the rush of daily life's demands and the impact that has on our mental health and well-being.

Whilst I leave you to reflect on that, here are the sounds from my porch at night.

Enjoy.