Opposites Abroad

There are people who live for roller coasters, paragliding, maybe even skydiving.

And then there are people who live for beautiful views… firmly planted on solid ground.

It will surprise absolutely no one that I belong to the second category.

So when we were at Universal Studios in Florida and my younger brother begged to go on yet another roller coaster, my parents did what any supportive parents would do - they pointed at me and said, “You go with your brother.”

I was already consoling myself on how the rollercoaster was only going to be a maximum of 5 minutes and if I kept my eyes firmly closed, it would be over before I can even realise I was hanging upside down!

After a ride or two, my brother ultimately gave up asking and just decided to go on the rides himself!

That's how different we are. We grew up in the same house. We did not grow up with the same appetite for risk.

"Something Fun"

Family holidays required negotiation.

According to my brother, every trip had to include one “something fun.”

Now, what my brother classified as “fun” and what I classified as “fun” were rarely the same thing.

On a trip to Portugal, we went to Algarve and Lisbon. It was in Algarve that he stubbornly decided that his 'something fun' for the trip would be to go... parasailing.

The thing is, it was an activity that I secretly wanted to do myself, but I was just too scared.

There was no way that my parents would muster up the courage to join him, which left the last member of the A Square Planet (back then) - me - to join him. After lots of consolation and a dramatic internal pep talk - delivered entirely by myself to myself - I agreed.

Parasailing in Portugal

Initially, it was fine. The guides strapped us in tightly. We felt secure. Then we were slowly lifted into the air. Because it was gradual, it felt manageable.

And then I made a mistake.
I looked down.

“Oh my god. Oh my god. We are SO high up!” I cried. Starting to freak out.

My brother looked at me. His face briefly looked worried and soft. But then I think he realised he had to be cool.

"What did you think would happen when we went parasailing?" he responded. "we are so high up!" he teased me.

Fair. I took in deep breaths and tried to relax.

When the wind calmed down, I dared to open my eyes again and then I noticed the view.
It was spectacular.

“Actually… if you don’t look down, the views are incredible,” I admitted.

“Yeah, the views are amazing,” my brother agreed. I want it noted that he agreed with me.

Momentarily, peace was somewhat restored.
For about three minutes.

Then I heard him fidgeting.

“What are you doing?” I asked, staring straight ahead because eye contact with the ocean floor was not an option.

"The harness isn’t sitting properly. This is… inconvenient."

Naturally, I start freaking out again.
“Oh my GOD. We are in the AIR. How are you going to fix that?”

"It's okay, I think I have fixed it"
30 seconds later...
"No, I didn't fix it. This is not ideal."

“This,” I informed him, “is exactly why you shouldn’t tease me for being scared."

I don’t know if the guides heard me or simply saw him wriggling mid-air, but they slowly brought us down and adjusted the belt.

And off we went again.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy myself. Because I did. I loved it. Despite all the bickering that was done in the air. And after we landed, I felt so brave.

Achieving a balance

Here's the thing when you're travelling with someone that is the complete opposite of yourself: You stretch each other.

Catering to them, you often find yourself being pushed outside your comfort zone and gaining experience in something that you would have never done otherwise.

He drags me to the sky.
I drag him to the gift shop.
He lives for the adventure.
I live for the photo opportunity.

I always say, the universe always aims to achieve an equilibrium. It's not spiritual. It's science.

Over time, you start adopting traits from each other.

At Universal Studios in Florida, after he had conquered half the park, I requested we go on the Minion ride - technically a simulator, but it absolutely feels like a roller coaster.

Afterwards, we ended up in the gift shop. And while I let my inner child run wild, my normally serious, composed brother was playing with the Minions too!

We grew up in the same house, with the same parents. We just didn’t grow up the same way. Travel makes that obvious. But it also makes something else obvious - that you don’t have to experience a place the same way to share it.