حطموك ياقلبي
01-31-2007, 05:42 PM
My Unforgettable Adventure
By Thamer Bin Marzouq
Here's one of the most unforgettable adventure I ever been through in a sea voyage across the Atlantic. My story started, since I disobeyed my parents, traveled to Spain, and boarded a ship for the first time. We set sail, and at the beginning, everything was fine. Few hours later, things started to change, for we encountered a great and violent storm. After a painful struggle with the storm, which lasted for many hours, it ended with us all into a shipwreck in a coast of a Caribbean island. I survived the accident, and I was saved later by a rescue team
It all started, when a very close friend of mine from Spain, and his name is Marco, invited me aboard a ship sailing for Brazil. He told that he already rent the ship and arranged everything. At the beginning I hesitated, but then I asked him to give me more time to think and to counsel my parents. He informed that his mother refused the idea, but he is traveling despite her resistance. Therefore, I should do the same if my parents rejected the idea. I insisted to tell them first. "Foolish and risky" my father described the invitation, and according to my mother, the only thing I have to concentrate on, is my study. Regardless my parents' disagreement, I myself was afraid of taking such a risk. Unfortunately, and at the end, I succumbed into temptation and accepted the offer. Besides, I didn't want to disappoint my friend. So, I decided to travel with Marco, despite my parents' rejection. The next day, September 4, 1998, I traveled by air form Saudi Arabia to Spain. Marco received me at Madrid Airport, and then he took me to his house, to have some rest before going to Barcelona. At the following day, we went with his car to Barcelona, where the journey would start. When we arrived at midnight, we were so exhausted. So, we slept for few hours at the nearest hotel. After we woke up, it was morning. We headed immediately to Barcelona Harbor, and boarded the ship
In September 6, 1998, we set sail from Barcelona under our request, and the real adventure started here. We were prepared and well-equipped. As soon as the ship sailed, Marco introduced to me; the captain and the crew members. He told me that the captain was so excited to see me. He was a well-mannered man. After we met, the captain invited me and Marco to his cabin. There we had a short conversation. "How do you know each other my good man?" the captain asked me, "he is an old friend", I replayed, "We where taking an English Essay Course in the same class since six years ago. Then, he asked me if I ever been through sea voyages before. I answered: "It's my first one, and I hope we make it to Brazil soon". The man immediately laughed at me. Then, he put his right hand on my right shoulder, shacking it repeatedly, looked at me in the eyes, and said: "my friend, we both know this saying; " what goes up must come down", but in fact, it does not go always in our condition. See my friend, we don't have any idea whether we are going to make it or not, and what the sea might hide for us. Sea voyages are full of dangers and risks, and this is the point. Anyway, don't worry, we got all things under control", then, he left. However, I didn't want to concern myself with what he said. It was our thirteenth day in the sea, and so far, everything was fine
The following day, things started to change to the worse. All the crew including me, Marco and the captain, were so frightened this time. The wind started to develop very fast and strong, and the weather was becoming too bad. Meanwhile, I was walking on the deck, and I accidentally, heard the captain crying at the sailors here and there, and saying: "pay attention, all of you; this storm is a great one, it's not like its sisters. I don't want any mistake. Otherwise, we will hazard all. Understand me". At that moment, I comprehended and realized what was the captain hinting for at his cabin. During that time, the situation was upside down, for the weather was so dark and extremely gloomy. Every time I looked at the crew running and climbing here and there, I saw the real terror and panic in their eyes. As if they are telling me, that we will never going to make, and I should give up hope. The high and great waves were throwing us randomly, and we were driven forcefully by the angry winds. The violent storm caused the death of four of our crew and weakened the rest. The captain and Marco didn't show up yet. Meanwhile, I was at my chamber, holding my bed so strongly, echoing my parents' speech, and asking Allah Almighty for deliverance. After several hours I went up the deck again, and started to search for Marco, but I didn't found him. I found only the captain. He was crying and yelling at his crew. Suddenly, he looked at me but didn't say a ward. Neither did I. We were speechless
For many hours, we were struggling against the storm, till we reached a Caribbean island. When we approached the coast of the island, the stormy winds and waves reached their outmost anger, and I really feared for my life this time. The mighty waves drove the ship powerfully onto some enormous rocks near the coast, splitting the ship apart, and immediately drove the parted ship ones again onto the sand, breaking and damaging everything. The ship and were crew were clearly doomed at that moment
All thanks to Allah Almighty for having His mercy upon me. I survived the shipwreck, but I lost all the sights of the crew, including Marco and the captain. I made it to the shore, and after that, I looked back for a little while at the wreck, with tears and agony. Later, I realized that I was the only soul survived. Neither Marco nor the captain, or anyone else was a life. The storm didn't show mercy at all. I was terribly exhausted and a little bet injured. I just wanted to lie dawn on the sand and sleep as much as I could. I slept perhaps, for eight to eleven hours. When I woke up, it was the morning of September 22. Suddenly, I heard a strange noises and it seemed to me like a helicopters engines, flying by. They were the rescue team, and they were approaching the wreck sight. At that time, I was so glad and happy, for I praised the name of Allah many times. I was so thankful for his infinite Kindness and gratitude. I started to wave with my cloths and shout at all my strength remained in me over and over, until they noticed me. In fact, they were looking for other survivors. Finally, they landed next to me, treated my wounds, and then they picked me up. We headed immediately to Brazil. When we arrived, the police had some of my testimony witnesses. Finally, my family arranged everything with the Saudi Embassy. After several days, I traveled home, and it was in September 24
Through the way home, even when we landed, I never stopped thinking about what happened to me and Marco. It was a punishment from Allah I'm afraid. Sometimes, I believe that Allah Almighty wanted me to learn from Marco's example. I think what happened to me, is just a warning that I should not disobey my parents again. I started repeating the whole story over and over, beginning with leaving my parents without their permission, till the shipwreck. At the end, it appeared to me that earned the lesson perfectly. I wish if I could realize the consequences from the beginning
By Thamer Bin Marzouq
Here's one of the most unforgettable adventure I ever been through in a sea voyage across the Atlantic. My story started, since I disobeyed my parents, traveled to Spain, and boarded a ship for the first time. We set sail, and at the beginning, everything was fine. Few hours later, things started to change, for we encountered a great and violent storm. After a painful struggle with the storm, which lasted for many hours, it ended with us all into a shipwreck in a coast of a Caribbean island. I survived the accident, and I was saved later by a rescue team
It all started, when a very close friend of mine from Spain, and his name is Marco, invited me aboard a ship sailing for Brazil. He told that he already rent the ship and arranged everything. At the beginning I hesitated, but then I asked him to give me more time to think and to counsel my parents. He informed that his mother refused the idea, but he is traveling despite her resistance. Therefore, I should do the same if my parents rejected the idea. I insisted to tell them first. "Foolish and risky" my father described the invitation, and according to my mother, the only thing I have to concentrate on, is my study. Regardless my parents' disagreement, I myself was afraid of taking such a risk. Unfortunately, and at the end, I succumbed into temptation and accepted the offer. Besides, I didn't want to disappoint my friend. So, I decided to travel with Marco, despite my parents' rejection. The next day, September 4, 1998, I traveled by air form Saudi Arabia to Spain. Marco received me at Madrid Airport, and then he took me to his house, to have some rest before going to Barcelona. At the following day, we went with his car to Barcelona, where the journey would start. When we arrived at midnight, we were so exhausted. So, we slept for few hours at the nearest hotel. After we woke up, it was morning. We headed immediately to Barcelona Harbor, and boarded the ship
In September 6, 1998, we set sail from Barcelona under our request, and the real adventure started here. We were prepared and well-equipped. As soon as the ship sailed, Marco introduced to me; the captain and the crew members. He told me that the captain was so excited to see me. He was a well-mannered man. After we met, the captain invited me and Marco to his cabin. There we had a short conversation. "How do you know each other my good man?" the captain asked me, "he is an old friend", I replayed, "We where taking an English Essay Course in the same class since six years ago. Then, he asked me if I ever been through sea voyages before. I answered: "It's my first one, and I hope we make it to Brazil soon". The man immediately laughed at me. Then, he put his right hand on my right shoulder, shacking it repeatedly, looked at me in the eyes, and said: "my friend, we both know this saying; " what goes up must come down", but in fact, it does not go always in our condition. See my friend, we don't have any idea whether we are going to make it or not, and what the sea might hide for us. Sea voyages are full of dangers and risks, and this is the point. Anyway, don't worry, we got all things under control", then, he left. However, I didn't want to concern myself with what he said. It was our thirteenth day in the sea, and so far, everything was fine
The following day, things started to change to the worse. All the crew including me, Marco and the captain, were so frightened this time. The wind started to develop very fast and strong, and the weather was becoming too bad. Meanwhile, I was walking on the deck, and I accidentally, heard the captain crying at the sailors here and there, and saying: "pay attention, all of you; this storm is a great one, it's not like its sisters. I don't want any mistake. Otherwise, we will hazard all. Understand me". At that moment, I comprehended and realized what was the captain hinting for at his cabin. During that time, the situation was upside down, for the weather was so dark and extremely gloomy. Every time I looked at the crew running and climbing here and there, I saw the real terror and panic in their eyes. As if they are telling me, that we will never going to make, and I should give up hope. The high and great waves were throwing us randomly, and we were driven forcefully by the angry winds. The violent storm caused the death of four of our crew and weakened the rest. The captain and Marco didn't show up yet. Meanwhile, I was at my chamber, holding my bed so strongly, echoing my parents' speech, and asking Allah Almighty for deliverance. After several hours I went up the deck again, and started to search for Marco, but I didn't found him. I found only the captain. He was crying and yelling at his crew. Suddenly, he looked at me but didn't say a ward. Neither did I. We were speechless
For many hours, we were struggling against the storm, till we reached a Caribbean island. When we approached the coast of the island, the stormy winds and waves reached their outmost anger, and I really feared for my life this time. The mighty waves drove the ship powerfully onto some enormous rocks near the coast, splitting the ship apart, and immediately drove the parted ship ones again onto the sand, breaking and damaging everything. The ship and were crew were clearly doomed at that moment
All thanks to Allah Almighty for having His mercy upon me. I survived the shipwreck, but I lost all the sights of the crew, including Marco and the captain. I made it to the shore, and after that, I looked back for a little while at the wreck, with tears and agony. Later, I realized that I was the only soul survived. Neither Marco nor the captain, or anyone else was a life. The storm didn't show mercy at all. I was terribly exhausted and a little bet injured. I just wanted to lie dawn on the sand and sleep as much as I could. I slept perhaps, for eight to eleven hours. When I woke up, it was the morning of September 22. Suddenly, I heard a strange noises and it seemed to me like a helicopters engines, flying by. They were the rescue team, and they were approaching the wreck sight. At that time, I was so glad and happy, for I praised the name of Allah many times. I was so thankful for his infinite Kindness and gratitude. I started to wave with my cloths and shout at all my strength remained in me over and over, until they noticed me. In fact, they were looking for other survivors. Finally, they landed next to me, treated my wounds, and then they picked me up. We headed immediately to Brazil. When we arrived, the police had some of my testimony witnesses. Finally, my family arranged everything with the Saudi Embassy. After several days, I traveled home, and it was in September 24
Through the way home, even when we landed, I never stopped thinking about what happened to me and Marco. It was a punishment from Allah I'm afraid. Sometimes, I believe that Allah Almighty wanted me to learn from Marco's example. I think what happened to me, is just a warning that I should not disobey my parents again. I started repeating the whole story over and over, beginning with leaving my parents without their permission, till the shipwreck. At the end, it appeared to me that earned the lesson perfectly. I wish if I could realize the consequences from the beginning