When Paul Connolly followed a band of underground explorers in Melbourne, suburb of Hawthorn, whom seeks solace-and adventures- in dark places like drains or pipes, i can't help but envy them.
Even though all these adventures in pipes or drains are dangerous (there may be times when strong currents of water may unexpectedly gush out when you least know it and it could drown you), it still holds thrills and excitement of venturing into the unknown. In my homeland in Singapore, there are no such people that would venture inside drains or pipes. Partially is because they know that it is dangerous or dirty, and another is mostly attributed to our government, which has placed green railings to prevent people from going in. Also, once a person has gone inside the drain, there might be a chance that he/she might not be able to get out of the drain as the drain is so deep, with no steps or any grips to help yourself up.
However, near my home, there is a big drain that leads to the sea. When it is low tide, you can just enter the drain. However, when there is high tide, you could not even see the drain at all.
When I was young, I used to be a tomboy. I like to adventure with two boys and another girl. Once, we went to the drain when it was low tide but they did not walk further in. Intrigued by the darkness and the water dripping sounds from inside, I walked a little bit in to see how it looks like from inside the drain. However, all that I saw were just passages that enable water to go out to the sea from unknown places. My female friend told me to go out of the drain and since she was not following me, I ended my curiosity there and then and from then onwards, I have never adventured the drain again.
At that time, I was just a mere age of 15. Now, thinking back, I really thanked God for letting nothing happen to me. I could have just died there and then if there was water coming out of the drain to the sea. I do not know how to swim then, and I still do not know much till now. Reading the article, Cave Clan by Paul Connolly, made me a little envious of those people whom are in the cave clan. It sure must be nice to escape into silence and peace that the drains and pipes bring when the outside world is always bustling with noise and activities. I am a person whom likes peace and I seek solace in the dark. Thus, thinking that in other parts of the world, there are people like me, I can’t help but feel a little tinge of happiness.
However, although seeking peace in drains and pipes may be exhilarating, it might be very dangerous. One of the person whom bought Paul inside the pipe told him of a real story where two boys, both aged 14, went to adventure drains when it was about to rain. They wanted to join the cave clan, however, were told that they had to wait till they were 18. Being impatient, they went to adventure by themselves. When the strong waters coursed down the drain, they tried to cling onto the drain’s supporting pillars. However, it was not long before both of them lost their grip and got pulled into the torrent. One boy died while the other survived. When one of the boys did not return home that day, his worried parents lodged a police report. Police combed for him throughout the whole city. It was only about after a week when they found his body about a 100 kilometre downstream of the drain, wedged under the branch of a willow tree. Since that incident, the police has searched the site daily and renewed appeals for children to stay away from creeks, drains and pipes.
It must be very heartbreaking for the parents of the boy whom had died. To raise your own child till the age of 14 where, due to a moment of folly or fun, he is gone from you forever. Thus, before you guys ever do something foolish in a moment of curiosity or folly like me in the past, think about your loved ones and how sad they will be if you were to ever do something dangerous and were to get injured or lost your life because of it.
Here are more information of the cave clan for those interested to find out what they do etc. However, think before joining. It may bring peace and solace and you might meet more people of your kind. However, note that it is also dangerous and risky at times. So, tread with caution i would say (:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_Clan
http://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/melbourne_details.php?id=5114
Source
Connolly, P.(2004) Cave Clan. Reader's Digest January 2004, 74-80
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