Water: sensuous luxury for the soul
For me, life’s little luxuries are those little pleasures or comforts that make life worth living; not necessarily are these the most expensive items money can buy, though often they are, in a sense, priceless. I make the case for water, which I believe, fits perfectly into this category.
Water crisis
It truly is one of life’s most precious and overlooked luxuries, as residents of the Western Cape, South Africa, and Cape Town, in particular, came to discover as its water crisis crescendoed in 2018. Drought had hit hard and this usually lush and verdant city became unusually dry, and brown landscapes dominated; a perfect storm for wild ‘veld’ fires. Water restrictions were the order of the day and boreholes became the high-ticket items everyone sought.
The value ascribed to water sky-rocketed. Elevated to a luxury item as water was in those moments, fearful residents scrambled to buy water from dedicated suppliers as taps threatened to go dry. Jojo tanks were in demand as most chose to save as much rainwater as possible when rain did, in fact, make an appearance. We were told that despite being surrounded by two oceans, Cape Town was likely to become the first city in the world to hit Day Zero; the day when taps would run dry.
Value of piped water
That residents truly understood the value of having piped water on tap could be considered a gross understatement. Water felt like it was the bitcoin of the day; reminiscent of the gold rush of yesteryear, it could be translated to a “water rush”. Demand escalated as water scarcity intensified.
Even though water is actually priceless as the air we breathe, people only understood its true value when threatened with its absence. Like those needing oxygen found during Covid-19, it is only when a crisis hits that one truly understands the value of what is often freely available. It proves the point that humans tend to take things for granted unless hit with some existential threat or another, and we are forced to reset our priorities. The latter, in and of itself, is not a bad thing.
It coincided with a time when talks of climate change were at fever pitch. Remember all those reports of melting glaciers and destitute polar bears? What about the discussions about the dwindling water supplies of our earth that were dominating the headlines. During those heady days, people were doing their best to have sufficient water – boreholes were being dug everywhere to access groundwater. Even that seemed to be in short supply.
By God’ s grace, the drought ended and the dams filled up. Fortunately, our collective training on how to save water was a lesson well learnt: never again will we waste water willy-nilly; forevermore will we remember just how precious it is, exemplifying both the essence of luxury and greatest necessity. As water shortages spiral in future; it may become the ultimate luxury.
Load-shedding: crisis of another kind
As for crises, it brings me to South Africa’s latest one: load-shedding or power cuts. These last for hours every day depending on the stated, predetermined stage. We all have schedules and are forced to adapt our lives accordingly. Yes, solar panels have been installed as well as generators and invertors at considerable additional, personal cost – at a time when the economy has already taken a hit and this all as corruption scandals at our power utility cast a pall over an already gloomy situation.
Imagine then the absolute comfort that a hot water bottle affords when experiencing these power cuts in winter. Some people underestimate the winters in Cape Town, assuming that Cape Town being an African city has balmy weather. It is simply not true. We shiver in cold, rainy weather sometimes accompanied by brutally strong wind that wreaks havoc around town and the wind chill factor is why we feel frozen to the bone. In those moments, the piping hot water of a hot water bottle is sheer bliss and I dare I say it, luxury deluxe.
Water sommelier
Now the province of the Western Cape is also home to highly rated, quality wines. Not only are our wines sought after and a significant driver of the local economy; tourists also flock to sample our wares. I am thus quite familiar with wine tasting. It was in this context that I first heard about water sommeliers. News24 reports as follows: “Much like wine sommeliers who are experts of wines and pair them to different types of food, [Candice] Jansen does with water.
“Water sommeliers are gaining traction in more developed markets, with primarily fine dining restaurants and the hotel industry embracing the trend. Now, it has come to South Africa, and soon restaurant patrons in the country may have a broader range of water choices beyond the ordinary still or sparkling water.
“[Candice] Jansen is on a quest to awaken people to the value of water and make them fall in love with it again.
“That level of minerality will affect the taste of water, so no two waters are the same,” she said.
“Water has terroir, much like a wine, and it tends to have very natural components to it, which are naturally crafted. The nuance of water will be determined by where it comes from. So if there’s a lot of limescale, a lot of dolomitic rocks, that affects the taste,” she said.
There you have it, even at its most basic, there is so much more to water including its taste. And we literally, have to stop and savour it to really understand just how precious and luxurious it really is.
Cleansing and healing power
That said, it is also a natural cleanser, and for those in the know there is nothing as comforting as clean bedding and clothes when you have had to endure an unexpectedly long ill bed or arrive back home muddied and dirty from a camping trip. Treasured are those moments when the opportunity to dump soiled, smelly clothes into a machine arises, then being able to retrieve the most fresh, fragrant laundry later on. Cathartic almost – the power of water.
And since we are on the topic, it is prudent to lay emphasis on its age-old healing power. The calming effect on the human mind – is well, mind-blowing . What about tired or incapacitated muscles that are coaxed into functioning in aqueous environs; an especially galvanising gift for individuals enabled to enjoy movement by virtue of hydrotherapy and for whom the soothing properties of water are pure elation, even miraculous.
Fascinating backdrop
PubChem, an open chemistry database at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), describes water as follows: “Water (chemical formula: H2O) is a transparent fluid which forms the world’s streams, lakes, oceans and rain, and is the major constituent of the fluids of organisms.”
By God’s design and eternal grace, water is ubiquitous and the uncanny privilege of harnessing this power of nature for our use has been afforded to us; it is called hydropower. A recent article in Encyclopaedia Britannica dated 13 April 2023, describes it as follows: Hydroelectric power, also called hydropower, electricity produced from generators driven by turbines that convert the potential energy of falling or fast-flowing water into mechanical energy. In the early 21st century, hydroelectric power was the most widely utilized form of renewable energy; in 2019 it accounted for more than 18 percent of the world’s total power generation capacity.
Awe-inspiring moments
It thus comes as no surprise that water, as intrinsic to us all as it is, has become the incredible backdrop to the most awe-inspiring moments of our lives. Contemplate anew the absolute delight of diving into a refreshing, shimmering pool of cool water on a scorching day. Nothing beats that type of rejuvenation – especially if enjoyed with loved ones and heavenly gelato. In addition, many are the water-sport enthusiasts who have shared their fascination by and deep connection to the sea.
The discovery of the travertine pools known as the cotton castles of Pamukkale – a distinctive, personal highlight of a trip to Turkey – just blew my mind. Clambering over travertine stone and having the warm water gently lap and flow over my body while my eyes just engorged on the natural beauty around me has become one of those experiences for me – unforgettable as unexpected.
Places like Bath, England, are just enchantingly famous for this self-same reason, while enthralled Iceland tourists rave about the natural delight of its thermal springs, specifically the renowned Blue Lagoon – the steamy geothermal spa – that appear to be just the balm for their stress-wearied souls.
Considering our affinity to water, it is clearly no coincidence that most cities of antiquity started around a body of water. Some of the most unforgettable experiences and destinations are renowned precisely for this reason.
Castles and oceans meet
If you are inclined to visit a place where mythical castles and oceans meet, you are sure to find yourself in Edinburg, Scotland; or if you eager to experience the rare pleasure of a gondola ride, look no further than the canals of Venice, Italy; if inclined to savour the wonder of pastéis de nata, Fado music and cherry liqueur, then Lisbon, Portugal, is the place; keen to be entranced by culture and cuisine, visit Istanbul, Turkey; while a visit to Hong Kong for its superb cuisine likely won’t disappoint and cherry blossoms in full bloom trend as must-see attractions in Tokyo, Japan.
What about the world’s greatest cities situated along the meandering banks of rivers or on canals. Think city of love, Paris, on the River Seine; the eternal city, Rome, on the Tiber River, or one of the most famous of all, London, along the River Thames. The canals of the Netherlands evoke images of bicycles and tulips in cities like Amsterdam.
Privileged, indeed
How privileged we are to be able to sit near a lake on a balmy evening and watch the shimmery water reflect our hearts and dreams; to be able to walk with our nearest and dearest on the banks of famous rivers and make the most incredible of memories. How awesome that we can watch the great ocean, whose waves are halted by God, and see these crashing on the rocks; we feel safe, yet in awe and our hearts at one with ourselves, the world and others.
The true indulgence and beauty of it all is that it is accessible to anybody. A bit like beauty in the eye of the beholder, is it for those, who like true connoisseurs, are on the lookout for and intent on finding, sampling, enjoying, and finally savouring it. Those are the ones who experience the joie de vivre of this life and appreciate all of life’s little luxuries.
We are beyond blessed and the value we can ascribe to it is beyond priceless. Life on earth would simply be unimaginable without even a dollop of this precious resource; what luxury indeed.
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