Keen for some more swamp alligators, we signed up for a kayak tour in the Manchac Swamp. Meeting at the pick up point in the French Quarter, we were confronted with a creepy looking black van where all the windows were blacked out. You know, one of those that looks like it belongs to a serial killer. The guide, Sam, seemed normal enough so we hopped right in.

Our fellow tour mates consisted of Sugetha, an alternative looking woman, her husband and their kid. Sugetha was originally from India but moved to America when she was little. She lived with her parents in Amish country near the Appalachian. As the only child of colour in her community, she stood out and wasn’t very welcomed. Sugetha was in New Orleans for a political conference. There was also another girl, let’s call her Earth Warrior or EW for short, in her mid to late 20s who was also in NOLA for another fringe political conference. She was a very expressive talker and told us about her walk around New Orleans the night before where she could ‘feel’ the water and ‘vibe of history’ in the air. She handed out flyers on the journey. Everyone in the van was vegan and spent the trip discussing political and environmental issues. Forget serial killers, I started to worry we were being taken to a cult reservation. They were actually very lovely though.

When we arrived at the swamp and unloaded the kayaks, EW, who hadn’t brought a hat, made one out of leaves and branches. I kid you not. It was a pretty impressive looking hat with a visor and everything. Jamille and I did paper, scissors and rock for who would sit in the back or front of the kayak. Although her rock beat my scissors, Jamille picked the back section having never kayaked before and not realising it was the harder part. The 2 hour trip through the swamp river proved to be a lovely, peaceful experience even if I didn’t get to see another alligator.