Nature Gems

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks – JOHN MUIR

1. Early Morning Delights

“Good Morning!” croon the birds with the soft rustle of the leaves; their notes filtering through the languor of the fading darkness.

The break of dawn offers a profusion of glory – the twinkling morning star and the shimmering moon softly paling behind the horizon, the rising sun gushing forth its shine: painting the skies in successive strokes of rainbow colors : pastels, rose, golden, titian, cyan, azure and what not …

At this godsend hour, serenity is like a prayer. Humanity is fleetingly frozen at its best – alive faces exuding joy with the glowing promise of a new beginning, hardly ever conjuring up images of the tired silhouettes they tend to become later in the day …

The pristine morning air, too, is a feast in itself – bracing the senses and every fiber of life reveling in its halo. Every blade of grass moves with a rapturous rhythm and tiny buds begin to blossom with gusto …

At daybreak, the world is my oyster. I am a queen, reigning supreme in an unsurpassed dimension; A bird with unclipped wings, soaring high! What a wondrous salutation to an unfolding day – with sparkle in the eyes and song in the heart!

2. Of Stars and Rainbows

“We don’t ever get to see any stars in Tokyo …” exclaimed my Japanese friend on her very first visit to India, seeing the stars twinkle bright in the night skies above. I was really taken aback, for sure – as I took it for granted that these sparkles are all-pervasive. I could not fathom my life without stars, while she happily clicked pictures, as if her life depended on it …

The following week, after a rainy day, we went for an evening walk. Suddenly, I heard her scream loudly – I freaked out and then realized she was dancing and pointing out at a pretty rainbow arc in the sky. She had never seen one before in Japan. All this was getting so surreal for me …

Over the years, as our friendship blossomed, we shared our tales and secrets, travel experiences, dolls, kimono and sari lessons. We moved on with our lives. However, the stars and rainbows episode remains so vividly etched in my memory forever.

Imagine a world without stars and rainbows – I feel so blessed to be part of this magic that not everyone gets to unfold regularly …Cherish this!

3. Dazzling Sunsets – Oh My!

Sunsets dazzle me and I go miles and miles to catch them. Larger than life – a very spiritual, visceral experience: the beauty, the feelings evoked, the calmness, the vastness – I soak in awe and grandeur … there is gratitude and a graceful folding up of the day and a sense of surrender at the threshold of renewal – totally in tune with the Universe!

4. Touching Magic @Arctic

I still pinch myself for this surreal experience of a lifetime- unique, miraculous and sublime! The showering dance of lights, stars and colors every night in a wilderness island in northern Arctic, accessible only by floatplane. WOW – what a gift to cherish for a lifetime! As if Gods descended from heaven and connected in spirit – Something straight out of a most beautiful dream!