Allison's Travel Notebook

Amazing Alaska

Allison's Travel Notebook
26th-June-1996

Two days of being here and the excitement hasn't died a bit. I'm ready since 20 minutes and waiting for Lisa... Sooo usual!
"Are you done?" I asked patiently, knowing my answer very well... "Not Yet" Lisa replied as if stealing the words from my thoughts!

This Summer Lisa and I travelled across the globe all the way to Alaska. If it were upto Lisa we'd be here a long time ago in October but we're here now since I insisted on going in June. They say it's the best month to visit Alaska, as it offers longer days and the driest time to tour this wonderful place. Since the moment we've landed here (about two days back) Lisa has wanted to try the outdoor activities. I not only agreed but have been ecstatic to go along because only a fool would miss the opportunity to make the most of this amazing destination for skiing, mountain biking and kayaking.
Blooming flowers around town and the pleasant weather of warm days and cold nights only added to the charm. Situated at the northwest of Canada, Alaska is the largest and most sparsely populated U.S. state, widely known for its diverse terrain of open spaces, mountains and forests, with abundant wildlife and many small towns.

Talking about Wildlife.. I've been looking for reindeer's ever since I've set foot here... I learnt people here call them Caribou's and we need to go to Tundra to spot a few... But since it's not actually the season for reindeer's, we are totally dependent on luck!

Our Safari yesterday took us to something like a large animal park of forest, snow and ocean, where... There were brown bears, black bears, and polar bears, even happened to spot a Bison. They say the whale's are nearing extinction.. :(

Wildlife exploring was fun Although today we decided to try the outdoor activities ranging from mountain biking to skiing and paragliding!!!

"Lisa hurry we're going to be late for the rally" I yelled across the room. Lisa usually took really long to get ready.
"Almost done Al" she replied nonchalantly just like she had been doing for the past 35 minutes!

-S-cc-r-ee-eeeeec-hhhh- the squeaky door opened wide revealing a cute Lisa dressed in a baby blue sweater top, jeans and boots with a matching snow hat. Her cheeks were flushed glowing red with her blush and light Cherry Chapstick clad lips. Her wavy strawberry blonde hair fell graciously on her shoulders making her look all the more attractive. She looked too young for a 25 year old! My memories drew back to the day I first met her- I was 13 and she was 10. It was our first journey away from home and we grew to be BestFriends so gradually that today I can't imagine traveling without her, not like I'll ever have to!

"Hello" I heard Lisa's chirpy voice through my thoughts... The look on her face told me she must have been saying something that I've just missed and I gave her my same cute cheesy smile that managed to get me out of every tough situation!
"Lost in thoughts now huh? Didn't I hear someone yelling about getting late a minute ago?" She spoke undeterred by my smile.. she was too used to it!

"Let's leave, it's not like I was the one who took an hour to get ready" I replied smirking wide since I knew I had this!

"Ohh! Come on now, I hear mountain bikes calling my name" she said just like the dramatic little lady she is! "Ahh right the same voice I've been hearing since an hour" I played along adding a hint of taunt laced with sarcasm to tease her as she opened the door!

Grabbing my cheetah print sling bag that matched my boots I ran out-a the door sticking my tongue out at her. She was soon to catch up.

Amidst the running and laughs we realized that we had already reached where we had to, just in time for the first rally... Now if you think we're innocent enough to be following the group you're totally long because we've been planning to wander away and have a little touring on our own. Because honestly, when do tour guides take us to fun places?
Eagerly We jumped onto the cool fun looking bikes ready to finish the instructions part and start our own little expedition!

Now that we were a-top this huge mountain I realized how majestic and breathtaking Alaska is, so great that mere words cannot possibly describe the totality of its beauty.
As I paid attention the tour guide continued monotonously "Being the largest state in America by area, it features tall, snow-capped mountains, rolling plains and picturesque coastlines, including a long strip of land along the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean. The state has always been known as an outdoor paradise, a place where sports and fitness enthusiasts, including mountain bikers, are free to explore the vast wilderness laid out gorgeously within its borders.
Scenic and exciting mountain biking trails exist throughout Alaska, including those in parks which have been specifically crafted for that purpose. Collectively, these courses have made the state one of the premier destinations for outdoor cycling. Highlighting some of the features that consistently draw—and mesmerize—riders from across the country and around the globe"

"Duh! That's exactly why we were here aren't we!" Lisa joked that made me giggle turning everyone's attention to me for a few seconds. I looked as Lisa who seemed to be amused at her work. Mouthing a "Sorry" I looked away trying to get over the embarrassment. They continued but I was no longer paying attention, there was something that caught my eye... A Reindeer!!!

Tapping Lisa's shoulder I asked her to follow me quietly which she did with much enthusiasm! As we were considerably away from the group Lisa said "so who was it that caught your attention this time?" I looked at her seriously "Shhh, you'll scare  it away" and pointed towards the bush ahead of us. Watching her jaw drop at the sight! But suddenly we heard a gun shot at a distance making the reindeer run away before we could decide to follow it.
"Ohh my God, Al what was that? Why would someone shoot such an innocent creature?"
Almost sad I replied to her
"Because that's what people here do... Mainly for food!!!" Watching it happen was more Painful than reading it in books, but that was the law of nature... we couldn't do anything... Before we could turn and go back we heard screams of a baffled domestic Caribou and our curiosity got the best of us. We left our cycles by the tree and walked towards the screams that grew louder with each step! From behind a tree Lisa and I watched as five men clad in brown uniform with long guns hanging off their shoulders were skinning one reindeer alive! "Are they insane?" Lisa yelled earning their attention. They looked at us as if we were prey. I felt the adrenaline rush to my limbs and grabbing Lisa I sprinted off towards our bikes. The men were fast enough to catch us and soon enough we were being dragged back to where we started from! They tied us to two adjacent trees, so tight that the rope would cut through our hands! Our mouths were taped. One of them who seemed to be their leader kept staring at Lisa... "You'll weren't supposed to see that" he said and then he whispered something to the other men and two of them ran towards Lisa, untying her from the tree. They pushed her towards the man who spoke and --Tear-- he ripped her sweater off her in one simple motion. My eyes widening in shock! "This girl interests me, soak the other one in Caribou blood and tie her to the tree in the middle of Kodiak valley for wild animals to prey on" he said and I gasped at the cruelty of his words, trying to yell in vain as they untied me and dragged me. I kept moving frantically to free myself from their strong grasp that didn't work at all!
I looked at Lisa who was sobbing bitterly now, completely naked kneeling before the man "Do as I say and I'll spare your life" I heard him say as he ripped off the tape from her lips... She looked at me one last time, shame and regret reflecting in her tearstained eyes as she pushed the leader of that gang away pulling the piston from his side pocket and shot him and all the men one after the other... She turned away from me not looking at me even once, and said... "Keep smiling it suits you, don't blame yourself... It's just that I can't live with this memory" Those were her last words as she pulled the trigger aimed at her head and fell straight to the ground...

That was it... The end of my desire for Wanderlust lust... The end of my friendship with my sister like friend... The end of life for me... The end of Tomorrow!

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