Saturday, December 28, 2013

And it's a wrap!

But there still was a lot that I managed to do this year. 

# I climbed 13,500 feet of a mountain topped with snow. Can I write this in all caps? No big deal, I know. But it is a personal achievement. Massive.

# I experienced the magic of Ladakh. Pure love. 

# I got to watch Zakir Hussain, live, again. The man is magic.

# Attended my first 7.30 am south Indian wedding

# Accepted to face an issue and sought help

# Almost drowned

# Sneaked out of home one night for the first time

# Dealt with dad’s illness

# Voted for change

# Saw the white desert

# AGAIN did not see through the process of getting my driver’s license

# Did far fewer stupid things

# Stayed in a house boat

# Met a stranger for chai and realised there are others who are struggling more

# Struck a conversation with another stranger only to realise it is very hard to get someone to know me now

# Saw Bombay from the 35th floor of a Nariman Point building

# Had people send me flowers from beyond international borders

# Participated in a theatre workshop

# Tried very hard to find a new job

# Lost sleep

# Lost another person who I thought was a close friend 

# Joined a dating platform only to find every other interesting person uninteresting

# Danced a choreographed dance

# Attended exactly one month of salsa lessons

# Hard work in office got acknowledged 

# Fell in love with Harvey Specter

# Got closure

# Watched Suvvir grow into a monster baby

# Wanted to marry, was asked for marriage for wrong reasons, watched some great people come together in marriage, saw some close people’s marriages fall apart

# Bought a new lens

# Experienced massive lows at work

# Continued to struggle on the health front

# Bought and wore a lot of bling clothes

# Significant cut-down of alcohol also happened this year

# Rode an elephant after more than a decade

2014 is expected to bring newness. I honestly do not know if this blog will see through its eighth year, but I do hope it does. 

Another Year

End of last year, I felt I don't know what to expect from 2013. At all. It felt like I am approaching a blind turn. But I did not know if I should be slowing down.

I did not slow down. But I waited for things to change. I became the person who is too anxious about the future to live in the moment. Everyday decisions became a factor of unknown variables of the future. I never thought I would be this person, but I am. And today, I am aware of likely events of the future which will bring big change. But because nothing is certain as yet, I am just sitting and cracking my knuckles. Growing up, among other things, has made me more cautious and boring. 

Monday, December 16, 2013

Moment of doubt

How do you deal with the world on the day that you realise you are no longer the person you have been all your life?

Sunday, December 08, 2013

And I Wonder

For a few years now, I have related well with the phrase, “let it flow”. Sometimes I have tried to resist that flow, but on most occasions I have drifted along. Because I don’t think it is a matter of choice. Life has taken its own course. 

But these days I feel differently. I am hanging by threads that could snap any moment. I have no idea which ones to hold on to. I am not sure what choices to make. I am afraid I would fall. Again.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Monday, October 28, 2013

Holding Post

Uncertainty still looms. I continue to feel anxious. But there is a little more confidence, a little more security. 

Wednesday, October 09, 2013

That Happy Feeling

I do not know why, but I always feel the need to explain my absence from this space. Not today. Today, I am feeling light and happy. And I am focusing on only that. Through the day, I have felt productive, active, attractive, happy, satisfied, intelligent, and reassured that not all is blah. Yes, that painfully petty word that I tend to use all the time. This day, was not blah. It was bright and cheerful. 



Wednesday, September 11, 2013

27

The last few months have drained all the energy out of me. Work doesn’t seem to end. Negativity seems to have grown. There isn’t enough mind space to even control the mind. Mother pointed out that I have stopped talking. And while all this goes on, one day I got a craving to see the sea. Given the extent to which I have spoiled myself, I had to address that temptation. It is incredible how I let myself believe that a temptation is a need. It has its pros and cons. But I do not mind that mixed bag at all. So began the process of getting to the sea. The birthday present. 

After my trips to Odisha and Pondicherry I concluded that I like the west coast more than the east. The beaches and sand quality are better. But my much anticipated trip along the Konkan in the monsoons could not work out this year. So I sought something shorter. Contemplated going to Ganpatipule, but gave up because my planned dates clashed with the big Ganesh festivities. That left me with Goa. There is something very mass-ish about Goa that makes me want to stay away from it. Cheap, I know. Especially given that I have discovered that it does have more to offer beyond the Baga-Calangute madness. But that discovery happened only after I booked my tickets. 

Direct tickets from Delhi were obscenely expensive. So I wasted a few days just thinking whether I am willing to spend so much money on it. It doesn’t help to be aware that you can do a longer, more beautiful, more satisfying trip to a Ladakh with a little more money. I tried different combinations and figured that getting there through Pune could be significantly cheaper. And there is enough history (mine) in Pune for me to easily kill some time there. But the paucity of time meant I couldn’t take that detour both ways. 

I finally made a decision. It was going to be Delhi-Pune-Goa-Delhi. But before I booked my tickets I messaged Karan asking if he is willing to spend some time with me in Pune. We had had a few discussions in the recent past about how a trip was due but nothing had worked out. Clearly, he is busier than me. So I thought at least one Saturday could be put to good use. I don’t know whether he felt that he’d miss an opportunity if he didn’t come with me or just that he shouldn’t let me go alone that he offered to come along despite his restraining order.

Yes, I was going solo this time. Finally. Truly solo. I had tried getting a few people along but that wasn’t working out and the sea was really waiting for me. Karan’s offer was exciting. We had the successful 2011 road trip to Wayanad as evidence. So, suddenly I had a Pune-Goa-Pune road trip happening. ‘A’ level excitement! I booked my Pune flights and gave up on all the research I was undertaking. With Karan along, there was no need to plan for pit stops or hotels or absolutely anything else. 

That lasted a week. On the 3rd he told me it won’t work out. Broke my heart. And his. He had even got his car serviced. And I was back to going solo. Cost me a little to change flights and restart the research. But I managed it. I was not sure how I felt though - whether I was disappointed that he wasn’t coming or glad that I could finally take a trip alone. Nevertheless, I started from Delhi on the morning of 7th, as scheduled. 

Landing in Pune filled my heart with happiness. I never thought it could feel so good to be back there, but I was truly beaming while walking away from the aircraft. There was magic in the air. Karan was waiting outside for me. It was the first time I was being received in that city. Felt good. 

We went to Aromas in KP for breakfast. Fairly fancy place. It has replaced the much-loved Burger King. I had no clue – I was visiting after almost three years. I learned that the city now has big malls too. Back then, Central used to be the largest. Seems funny now. Anyway. We spent a few hours there and then headed for lunch. Yes, there wasn’t much to do beyond eating, drinking and talking. The Irish House had a warm ambience and good food. We went through my school scrapbooks, reminisced, laughed and gossiped through the afternoon. It was then time for Shudh Desi Romance. I liked the movie barring the end. Karan hated it. Typical. But we both liked the music. 


After some more inane conversations and a strangely lost 10 minutes in the parking, we rushed to catch my bus to Goa. 

I have known Karan for 15 years. Now we meet once every year or two. After spending those 12 hours with him I seemed to have re-developed that attachment and didn’t feel like leaving. Yes, I was disappointed that he wasn’t coming along. 

So began the solo sojourn. I have done innumerable solo plane, train and bus journeys, but never travelled by bus alone at night. So I chose a semi-sleeper bus over a sleeper one simply so I stay more in control. It was a slow bus and stopped on multiple occasions. I took one break close to midnight and stayed put in my seat the rest of the time. My co-passenger was another single girl. Smelly, but harmless. 

I was told to get off at Mapusa, the biggest hub in north Goa. I was to get a taxi from there for my hotel in Ashwem. Since I had no clue how many stops the bus would have before Mapusa, I stayed up for two hours trying to comprehend the conductor’s language every time he uttered a station’s name. But Mapusa is so big you cannot miss it. I got off at around 9 am and headed straight for the pre-paid taxi stand across the street.

The decision to stay at Ashwem was a result of a LOT of research for a non-commercial, non-rocky beach that was also safe and had good options to stay. I had booked myself at the pricey La Cabana because there weren’t too many places open yet and I was tired of figuring an affordable and safe place on the beach. Too many filters! I learned early that being safe on a solo trip comes at a cost. So I gave up the budgetary inhibitions and stopped bothering about what I could really do by saving 5-6K. 


Taxi ride with open windows = wind in the hair! :D :D It made me forget about the long and painful bus journey. We reached Ashwem in about 40 minutes. I made the driver wait while I went and checked my room. Hold on. My sea-facing villa! My happiness exchange was with the driver when I walked back to hand him the money. He saw my face and knew that I was more than satisfied with what I had seen. The sea! Ufff!! What living in hinterland can do to you!

The villa :D

View from the room

The restaurant was even closer to the beach. I had a quick bite, dumped my bags, and went straight out on to the beach. As I walked away from the hotel I noticed that there really wasn’t anyone else there. The only people I saw were the other guests at the hotel. Some dogs started walking with me. The few cafes and restaurants I had read about online were all shut. And that made absolutely no difference to me. I just smiled and kept walking. Then came my ‘tu hi re’ moment! Know that Rahman-Hariharan number with Arvind? That! There was a massive rock going at least 50 metres into the sea asking to be climbed. And once there, how could I not have sung the song! Who cares about the ‘tu’; movie moments are not meant to be logical. 

From my Tu Hi Re rock

There are some people who cared and wanted regular updates from me. So I updated Karan, PK and Smita with the status and got back to the hotel. Slept. Relaxed. And then started walking out the hotel on the street. It was as aimless as it could get! Some shady people made some shady comments but fortunately, or unfortunately that matters only so much. I walked so much that I tired myself out even before I started walking back. To top it I lost my way. And 3.5 hours & at least 10 kms later I was home! In good time to hit the beach. But it was a day of bad decisions. My feet were so tired that I chose not to go towards the flat area that I had seen in the morning. I stayed close to the hotel which also had some rocks nearby. A big wave came and took me far. It was unnerving. I fought in panic, but not knowing how to swim can only help achieve so much in such a case. There were some people around but I don’t think anyone noticed. I was far above the ground. Even thinking about it is unsettling. The water did throw me back, but before I could make it far, I hit the rocks and lost balance again. And again I was floating. This time with bruises and a spasm-ing back. Came back to my room breathless and upset. One phone call and a breakdown also happened. 

But I recovered in good time. The remnants of a setting sun and my camera were distracting enough. I then ordered some food and wine and settled comfortably in front of the TV. 

During the walk earlier in the day

During the walk earlier in the day

Yes, spent a lot of money on this!

I woke up at leisure next morning, and again went for a walk on the beach. This time with the camera! The dogs recognized me. The waves scared me a little and I stayed away. But I did go back to that big rock and parked myself on it for a few hours. 


I did brave up to go for a dip in the evening. But this time to the flat lands a few hundred feet away. I slowly got comfortable and in some time was lying flat on my back. It was perfect. There were only two other people around. Some dogs were playing in the distance. The sea was calm. It touched me with ease, I tried to push work and other thoughts away, and those were my few moments of ultimate peace. 1-0-0 per cent, by the book, relaxation. 


I got good sleep that night. Next day was packed with plans for my camera. Waves, churches, ruins, I covered it all! Old Goa was a complete delight. I had called Raju, the driver from day 1 to show me around and for the final drop at the airport. He was my expression of enthusiasm. Kind of made up for all the quiet hours. He took me to a shady drivers’ restaurant for lunch. Hotel Vilsha! It felt funny eating there, but the amusement factor was so high that I happily added it to my list of adventures.

Got someone to click one for the record








The weather on this final day was so perfect that I managed to combat the work-related anxiety to a fair extent. 

I felt vulnerable and overwhelmed often enough through these four days. I was also upset about not finding some solutions that I wished to. But I am immensely pleased with myself for having done this. It started with going for movies alone. It makes one feel empowered, in control, or how Smita puts it – emancipated. I won’t lie – sometimes I do yearn for company, but that really isn’t reason enough to not do what I wish to. Nothing feels better than listening to your heart and doing exactly what it wants. It is only the heart that can take you through the best experiences in life. 

Cheers!

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Solo


Me. In colour. By the sea.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Open up

You are taking a personality quiz online and face a question which asks you if you feel people don’t get your problems. You feel silly admitting (even to yourself) that that is true. But when you pop three painkillers in a day (with pure hatred for the concept of painkillers) and find no relief even for an hour, you do wish somebody understood your problem. Because clearly nobody does. And clearly your pain is unbearable. 

Mental pain works the same way. The only difference is that the above is relatively more visible. That is all. And a lot of people do not seem to get it. 

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

People Matter

I prioritze people over everything else in life. I prioritize people who matter over every other important thing in life. I am yet to meet someone who gets that.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Learning

In the hope of doing, using, consuming something on a better day in future, you lose out on the best opportunities today. That dress won't be in fashion tomorrow. Wear it today. Feel good today. Eat that cheese-filled dish today. Tomorrow your stomach won't even be able to deal with it. Take that trip today. Tomorrow you won't have the time for it. Throw that party today. Tomorrow you won't have friends around to share the moments with. Wear that perfume today. Tomorrow you won’t even like its fragrance as much. Eat that chocolate today. It will expire by the time you go back to it. Express the love today. Life is short.

Go see the tiger. It might become extinct tomorrow. Climb that mountain now. Your knees might not be on your side tomorrow. Visit that far off destination today. Tomorrow there may be war. Have a baby today. Tomorrow you might go broke. Have all the sweets today. Teeth will decay with or without them.

Saving for a home or a rainy day is different. 

Monday, August 05, 2013

Words and emotions

How come you are unable to write even one line when you are feeling choked?

Sunday, August 04, 2013

Recently

I was on a flight from Patna to Delhi. Large part of the sector had a view of the Himalayas. I had been on the route last year and craved to be closer to the mountains. Having the same view this time gave an exceedingly satisfying feeling. Of having done it. I really will never get over Ladakh.

I was in Mumbai. A first during the monsoons. Goes without saying that I was dreading the gray and the rain. So much so that the thought of being around the sea did not even cross my mind. But it didn’t rain much, it was not humid, there was a lovely breeze for most part, and it suddenly dawned why people there love this weather. 

I had a meeting on the 35th floor of a building at Nariman Point. The view of the sea left me breathless. 

I got a new pair of sunglasses. I missed having a brown pair. Everyone should own a brown pair once in their lifetime. It gives the world such a lovely hue!

I met Ruchi after about five years or so. I am so glad I decided to spend that one hour with her. It is good to connect with happy fragments of the past. Even if they’re just that.

Suvvir turned one. Bhaiya and Megha made a good decision of not doing a big jing-bang of a party. It was a small gathering, Suvvir was comfortable and happy, and so was I.

I failed a written test. It was discouraging to say the least. 

I paid to go for a photo walk and socialize with strangers. That took the attempts to step out of the comfort zone to another level altogether.

I have been busier than I like. 

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Sun is Up; Mood is Up!

In the post about musical highlights in Ladakh, I don't know how I forgot to mention this song. 


Amit Trivedi, after all! Priyam had recommended this one.

I know its feel is centred around rain, but I choose to relate it to my happy weather. Of clear skies and a bright sun. In Ladakh, there was a moment when it had just stopped raining, the happy harmless clouds were back, the wind was chilly, and the sun was just beginning to sneak out from behind some peaks. That's when I listened to this song. It made me so unbelievably happy! 

It rained here like mad on Saturday. I didn't mind getting stranded and drenched because I was in no hurry to get anywhere and the only so-called glitch was that I had washed and blown dry my hair just two hours before that. But rain on a Monday is different shit. Blah shit. Today, however, the sun was up! Bright and shiny. And so was the mood. Listened to this song in a loop all day. I even wore orange. Ultimate happiness! :D

Monday, July 15, 2013

Exhausted

* White screen
* Ghosts on the back
* Forced collaboration
* Unforced errors
* Unnecessary ODing 
* Endless wait
* Hopeless hope
* Form 16
* Water wishes
* Wishful nights
* Noise cancellation
* Broken heart
* In a loop
* Uninspiring reflections
* Peaceful contact
* Disturbed sleep


Thursday, July 04, 2013

Thought Bubble

It might not be okay to be bitter. But it is not okay to keep compromising either.

Wednesday, July 03, 2013

Ladakh: Let It Flow

This was one of those road trips which needed no frill, no paraphernalia. But sound is an important part of my life. Much as smell is. I have almost no tolerance for the type that I don't like. 

I concluded that the drivers in Ladakh cannot drive without their music. And understandably so. So we were exposed to three types of music - latest dhinchak, 1990s' Nadeem-Shravan variety, and some traditional Ladakhi music. As you can imagine, while Pandey Ji's seeti is very entertaining, it can get on to your nerves. So I tried to maintain a balance between the drivers' music and my own. Places like More Plains could not have been experienced with anything ordinary!

Now, a lot of my music is either dark or glum or such that I have already weaved a story around it. So I had to be selective about what I take for this trip. There was no room for emotional baggage. The peppy, Bappi Lahiri type of numbers that I especially took along did not really go with the mood. So I was down to a few songs. And there were a few highlights.



This is a multi-purpose track. Keep changing the setting and play it on loop. It works like magic.



Moved me to tears.



If this song doesn't make you feel like you are in love, what does?

Their magic is unmatched. Period.



All time favourite! On the trip, its first occurrence was towards the end of a very long day. We were all sleepy and cranky. And then the hero got us excited. Highly!



Remember I learned a little dance routine for Varun's cocktail? This was one of the songs we danced to then. And this is the song I danced to in the car. Love it!



After a long hour of silence, this song took the mood to another level altogether!


I sang without inhibition after long. And laughed too. Some sounds mean a lot more. 

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Ladakh: Take My Breath Away!

The modest start
The overnight bus journey till Manali was largely uneventful. As conscious as I was of the fact that I was headed to Ladakh, I could not think about or visualise anything beyond the view from my window. Gradually moving out of Delhi, out of the spaces that I do not even relate to from my South Delhi life, the bus gathered pace and I moved into another zone with my music. There is something about moving along at a constant speed and watching highway lights in the dark. It calms the mind like few other things can.

I was up after barely 2-3 hours of sleep. And this time the view had changed to lightning and rain. And the highway roads had changed to hilly winding roads. That was a rather unsettling environment. For the three summers that I had been planning this trip, the only factor for keeping early-June dates was rain. And goes without saying that the pessimist in me reacts first in such situations! So there was no question of sleep again. I endlessly wished (almost prayed, I think) for the rain to stop. It did by the time our supremely late bus reached Manali. The sun rules!

The expected nightmare; only worse
For some strange reason I was never convinced that stopping in Manali for a night would be a more efficient way of moving ahead. I didn’t believe that it won’t change the number of days required to complete the trip. I was clearly wrong. And I realised that only two days later. 

Marhi, where Swetha and I had breakfast last year, was completely different this time. While last time it was bustling with multiple eating joints, shops selling expensive accessories, hundreds of cars, and even more number of people, this time it was deserted. There was no sign of any shops or restaurants there. We just about spotted a gorgeous face selling Maggi from the back of an Alto. And a couple of guys who were selling bhutta. That’s all. 

Getting to Rohtang top? I expected a traffic jam, but since we were late, we faced incoming traffic on what could not even qualify as a single lane road. We had obnoxious people trying to overtake us. At one point we were made to stop right where a landslide was expected. Snow seemed to be shadowing the road. And it took us about four hours to get out of the traffic jam. 


Having been on the road for over 24 hours, my body started asking for a break. Sunset in Lahaul Valley was beautiful as ever, but I was beginning to feel sick. And by the time we reached our guest house in Keylong, I thought it was the end of the trip for me. Closed the 29 hours on the road by puking my gut out.  

The known terrain
I went till Baralacha La last July. Even though that was almost a year ago, this time it felt like I had experienced the place just yesterday. I knew the turns. I knew the place. Until I saw the amount of snow I did just before Suraj Taal. That was new. And I had so many visuals to compare. The browns with the white, the blues with the white, the colourful flowers of last year with the white! There was so much snow that my camera couldn’t even capture the contours of the different mountains. Suraj Taal was half frozen too. I remembered where Swetha had parked herself on a rock last year. All that was white. Pristine white.

Suraj Taal


The stunning scenes 
One of the reasons why mountains are considered majestic is because every turn brings something new with it. I can guarantee that the world’s best descriptive-writing cannot do justice to what I saw that day. I remember a river flowing on the other side. Snow had begun to melt and there were zig-zag trickles down otherwise brown and green mountains. In some places I saw a frozen top and heavy flow of water right underneath. The sky was becoming bluer by the moment. I had to take off my blue-tinted sunglasses to be sure of just how blue the sky was. Imagining faces and shapes in clouds was a thing from childhood. Here I was seeing everything from dinosaurs to old men to peacocks to panthers to you-name-it! Most rocks were barren but surfaces changed from uneven to smooth like one could go sliding on them. The only sign of habitation was of the army. It was sunny. It was cold. It was so dusty that I couldn’t feel my fingers anymore. My palette could only taste dust. But nature had taken over completely. My camera and I were trying hard to keep up.





Overjoyed
After Pang, I sat in the car nonchalantly, focusing on the way the sky was opening up. I did not know we were hitting More Plains. I had read about it, I had seen pictures, but was I in for a surprise or what! The car was speeding. The past few hours of barren landscape changed to green patches, clearer skies, herds of cattle, and a big civilization of clouds. The grass was greener on the other side. Again I wished I was biking through that place, not looking at only one side. Right then my Shuffle threw up a song which I had barely noticed before. The view, the wind and the music placed my dreams and my freedom right in front of my eyes. It overwhelmed me. The tears didn’t make their way out but I felt my soul cry out in happiness. Or something like that. I do not think I had ever felt like that before. Or if anything else has the ability to make me feel like that. 






Water delights
I was always very keen on seeing Tso Moriri. The more the water in a trip, the happier I am. It is a simple phenomenon. And because we were going to Tso Moriri, we also got to see Tso Kar, Startspuk Tso and Tso Kiagar on the way. We named Tso Kiagar Chhotu Tso because nobody knew the name at the time. I cannot write enough about how excited I feel when around a water body. From oceans to ponds, it is always something magical. 

Tso Kar
Tso Moriri! As if the blue in the sky was not enough!

Tso Moriri is at an altitude higher than 15000 feet. I knew it was going to be our coldest night. My body didn’t like the idea of being there. But how could I have missed that pink sunset over the lake! Or the lightness I felt just by spending some time by the lake even though the previous night was exhausting to say the least. I was beaming when we crossed Chhotu Tso in the morning. Such was its effect. 

Chhotu Tso


It finally sunk in
While we saw the ‘welcome to Ladakh’ signs much earlier, for me, it sunk in when we were a couple of kilometres outside of Leh. I was sprawled in the backseat of the car at the time. Touching the window glass was the best that I could do to feel the realness of the place, of being there! Finally! I was in Ladakh. Oh my god, I was in Ladakh! All the people who have been saying that I don’t smile anymore should have been there. 

We zipped through into the city. It felt as if I entered an inhabited land after ages. It felt good. 



For the record, by then I had seen mountains in white, green, brown, fawn, purple and red hues.

The magic of Pangong! 
I am glad we did not skip it, which we were considering at one point. The weather was rough and the roads were rougher. The drive wasn’t long, but it was cold and all the landslide stories I’d heard were easy to identify with at the time. On the way we saw a board according to which we should not have been there at that time of the day. It started with rain in Leh and became snow at Chang La. And our driver was jumping about in a t-shirt. It was summer, after all! In essence, getting there was hard. It was raining even at the lake in the evening. I chose to look towards China just to avoid some cold and painful hits on the face. I missed the sun.



The king of Chang La!
Do you think nature cares that it's China on the other side?

The sun played hide and seek in the morning. Its presence was comforting, not just physically. The waters were relatively peaceful. It was good to not have any people around (unlike the previous evening). I think the water felt the noise people were making. And that’s why I sat still by the banks. Stillness is hard to deal with in the city. There, it was priceless.



Hide!

As soon as I turned to walk back to the inn, the sun popped out again. I turned around, in obvious acknowledgment. We exchanged that passionate glare. I was contented. 

Seek! :D

The drive back on the same route was pure ecstasy! We had clear skies for most part. The clouds were again cottony. My camera and I hung from the car window – doggie style! 



Movie reel
As we left Leh for Kargil, the empty velvet roads and mountains on both sides seemed to come straight out of a movie. There was nothing to say or be in awe of after all that we had seen. But when wind was the only sound and the smooth splendour of the drive was there to indulge in, it felt peaceful and perfect. If only there was a convertible Mercedez and a hero to drive with! 




Unreal
The last leg of the drive to Srinagar was wet and cold. It rained all along. The landscape had changed to lush green. Cotton clouds had made way for the misty ones that flirted with snow-capped peaks. The mountains there gave an impression that they had a civilization settled in them. The oak brown background seemed to have some black paint all over it. It was literally like art work on the canvas. So completely engrossing and enchanting!

The clouds, snow and sky were one

I did not click any pictures of a lot of these views that I have described above. I guess I don't need to spell out why.

PS - I have never taken longer to put a post together!