Confusion - I

A recent visit to a wonderful Karst cave (limestone formation mostly) made me realize another instance of a confused population.

The guide told us in a strict tone, the "don't"s of the place. No touching the formations etc. Which was very good for I am not too sure how many people really would have kept away from touching the formations and taking their existence for granted.

So there I was happy that there was such importance given to see that the place remains as pristine as it can be, while on the other hand allow we humans to marvel at nature's glory without affecting it much so that this could be marveled by other coming generations too. It was praiseworthy that there was an emphasis on conservation.

But then comes the dichotomy in behaviour!!
The managers of the caves allow the flourishing practice of a "wishing well"! People drop coins with wishes in their hearts hoping for their fulfillment. The damage to the caves is the price that this practice causes.

This is how a technical web site on caves describes this practice:

"...As wishing wells are harmful to the cave and its formations, destroying the cave by releasing metal oxides into the clear cave water, they are usually nothing but a compromise with cave owners (who earn money with it) and visitors (who demand it)...."

So at one hand there seems to be emphasis on conserving this environment, seeing to it that the minimum amount of damage is caused, while at the other hand is the bowing down to the pressure of a practice which can be dangerous to the caves.

Apart from the "main" wishing well, there were many other pools that I noticed wherein tourists had dropped coins. Their hopes at the price of hopelessness for the caves.

It perhaps should be seen that the tourists are asked not to drop coins at any other place than at the main wishing well.

What I am worried is largely about the shallowness of the behaviour of the tourists. They realize upfront that this environment is fragile and their are specific "don'ts" to be followed. They realize that their actions could be harmful to this place and that it has to be allowed to be as it is. And then suddenly all this breaks down at the sight of an established wishing well and worse at the sights of pools of water, where the tourist wants to leave a trace of their presence.

I also wonder, why would a tourist drop a coin here? When this place has never been known to be a "wish-provider" place, why think that wishes will be fulfilled at this place?
I would rather expect some spots, which had a local long tradition of being lucky to be the sites for such wishing wells and not any beautiful natural place !!

Or is it a way in which man pays his respect to the tremendous beauty of nature? Nah...!!

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Tag: My Thoughts

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