REMINISCENCES OF THE QUEEN OF HILLS- PART 2


PHOTOCREDIT:www.travelspro.com

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It was the season of roses, the queen of flowers then in April.

Having put up at the local tourist rest house, which was situated amidst the dense forest of fir trees, I along with my parents stayed there for months.

Every evening I walked through the paths that had the brownish color peeping through the greens, which proved that was the usual trail used by the local people there.

It was known to go inside the woods through the slopes was equally confusing and dangerous as the path could lead anywhere and there were umpteen ways ahead as we go deeper inside.

One evening I and my brother who is younger to me went for such an adventurous trip without informing my parents. We started with a nearby path and went on, enjoying the melody of cuckoos and songs of other birds .While walking we loved the small shrubs beside the path dangling with tiny flowers and even collected some fir cones to be displayed ,when we came back.

Lost in the charm of the elegant trees and the fresh air, we soon realized it was almost sunset and we still were far away from the main road. We didn’t have the idea of where this path was leading us to, so we continued walking swiftly.

It became dark in a while and we were amidst the dense woods.

Those days mobile phones weren’t launched in India nor had we heard of any such thing that existed.

So there wasn’t any question of GPS or SMS or calling up anyone for guidance. Afraid of the abuses that we would be getting for going alone in such a new place and that too within the forest was really making us cry.

Still I had to remain calm and composed to give confidence to my brother and with intuition we kept on choosing the ways, to ultimately reach another end of the hillside on the main road.

Sense of direction helped us to know where we must be and we headed towards our destination.

Those times when there were no gadgets available human mind was used more properly and efficiently. Our IQ levels weren’t as bad as they are now today.

We reached back an hour late and it was almost 7pm, pitch dark then.

Without creating any panic we entered the premises normally so that no could guess the fearful yet interesting adventure we went through  and we managed to save our skin.

 

To be contd…

 

PHOTOCREDIT:icetrail.blogspot.com

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For those who missed :the first part- http://wp.me/p1Zs7k-1sZ

REMINISCENCES OF THE QUEEN OF HILLS!


 

The long pine trees looked elegant and gigantic while I looked around the hilly region of Ranikhet, a place on the foothills of Himalayas, in the Almora district of Uttaranchal!

Nature truly appears to be at its best here, the place known as the queen of hills. It had been a  favorite place of the Britishers during summers, when they ruled India .Fortunately the name of the town didn’t change and it is still know as Ranikhet,sounded sweet and melodious as a beautiful song of the spring!

April 1991 :

This was my first visit to this scenic location which gave the longest view of the Himalayan range.

It was late evening by the time I reached and even in the month of April when the whole of India starts getting scorched by the sun, it was chilling and cold there.

Following day started with a glimpse of the most exhilarating view of the mountain Trishul which stands in the shape of a Trishul, an emblazon weapon carried by Lord Shiva.

The early dawn reflected on the peaks trident and they looked gorgeously golden.

PHOTOCREDIT:www.nainitalyatra.com

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Never had I seen such a pictures queue sight!

Later during the day a walk through the Mall road of the town ,I could feel the warmth of the local people which I experienced during the visit to the local market . Every pedestrian had a smile on his face irrespective of being strangers. The girls had pink crimson cheeks which got more red when they smiled.

There was only a single road which had shops on both sides and which ran for around a kilometer. That was all the place had to offer in its commercial aspect.

Small shops of woolens, grocery, daily needs, cosmetics, a few stationary shops and few vegetable vendors. This was all in the local  market besides the handloom outlets which sold the local handmade woolens.

There was a single photostudio, which had the facility of getting clicked, but the developing and printing part was done hundreds of kilometers away down  the hills in  another city in the plains.

Wonder in which world I lived, it felt like an old version of a filmy town situated in hills but the most beautiful I had ever seen.

My heart instantly had fallen in love with this enchanting place amidst the pine and fir trees.

The carved fir cones looked magnificent on the branches and were a piece of delight when fallen and collected by anyone.

PHOTOCREDIT:travel2tourist.wordpress.com

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The air I breathed had a pure smell and was fragrant with resins secreted by the fir trees, which was used to make turpentine oil! There were conical shaped tins attached to most of the trees to collect the falling gum from the slits made on the trunk. The scattered fir leaves formed a golden carpet on the slopes which was actually very slippery when I tried walking on it.

 

To be contd….

 

 

 

 

 

ADVENT OF SUMMER!


 
Bidding adieu to the blooming spring
 bedecks  who the earth as a queen
I embraced the scorching days of heat
with the advent of summer silently…
 
Sweltering heat burns the bod
falling waters are soothing halt
whilst holidays are more for fun
knoweth not mercy the glowing sun…
Yet along the shores
with a bright suntan
love the magic of  tides 
cool and vibrant !
 
Quenches the thirst of a drying throat
few sips of lemonade and iced melon
bright outfits add vibrancy
to the otherwise boring shores…
 
 Often while watering the lawn …
when the sprinkler moves somewhere else
the splashing  of the  cool spray
rejuvenates the heated soul.
 
summer
 
 
 
WRITTEN FOR   http://thewhitescape.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/lets-all-drabble-a-more/
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CHIMES OF THE WIND


PHOTOCREDIT: amatterofhowyouseeit.com
 
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Chimes of the wind sing
song of a nearby brook
melody echoes of the cuckoo shy
hiding in the mango bush.
 
Bees and butterflies swirl and dance
encircling the blossoms in romance
playful air carries the heart
miles away through different paths…
 
Morning glory plays the music
of the golden dawn
unfurling petals whisper and toss
humming  on the beats of morn.
 
Caressing leaves ,the branches dangling
the soft breeze whispers in the ears
“Carrying forth the rhythm of nature
in my embraced arms
Here I come and stay for a while
to flow now to distant horizon…”
 
 

DIVINE EMBLAZON!


Earthy hues painted my soul with  pastels…
lost and perturbed lived I
in hedges or places palatial…
unsettled mind could not contain
the rue s of the glossy colors!
.
.
Divine emblazons made me bedazzle
with  sapphires,emeralds and pearls…
Vast sapphire studded sky  embraced
Warmth I found in the emerald of the earth ,
submersing my soul in the crimsoned vermillion
of the chromatic glow
of the burning ruby…
citrazine flowers fragranced my aura
perfume of which spread in the zephyr…
tinge of ultramarine blue defined
my image…
When I reached deep within…
As a pure white pearl
I emerged
from the altar of life’
where
enshrined
existed
the omnipresent thee!
PHOTOCREDIT:product.ganeshaspeaks.com
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POWER WINS AGAIN !


PHOTOCREDIT:1ms.net

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Roaring ferociously  the king of forest in the silent night, when the world sleeps and rests,

leaves tremble,shivers the wind,peace shook by the terror of the burning blink.

Noiseless steps moves forth and leaps, clasping the mind infinitely free

mesmerized the little lamb weak, by hypnotism cunningly.

Darkness prevails through the woods ,flora and fauna slumbers like mute,

Walking amidst the sleeping woods, the poor lamb hexed in misfortune.

A prey tonight, celebrates the king,the mighty ruler of power,

His eyes shine with arrogance and haughtiness, as if  won an important battle,

 Terrifying the weak again succeeds , the persisting rule of destiny,

Unless the modest stands with courage, fights the witching look with brazenness,

History shall repeat itself ,the meek will always  follow the swayer to the den…

What do you think! Does power rule our mind and destiny?

A NOMADIC WANDERER!


Wandering as a nomad
Through sands and seas,
I embraced the heaven above
As my destiny…

Amidst the crowd
dies my soul,
In the bushes of daffodils
Lives my heart profound...

..Up with the birds it flees and dips,
With melody exalting
submerged in the waters clean…
Far away deep in the woods
I walk or
Where the ember glows
on the horizon 
Moon kissing the stars...

Lay I on the sand wherein
Alone I stand
tis the temporaire abide
in the vast expanse...

Bliss is whence I revertere
in the embrace of
the creator
ending my voyage
on earth
as a nomadic wanderer!


PHOTOCREDIT:thestarsarelimitless.tumblr.com

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WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE: UP ( high above he dwells)


Weekly Photo Challenge: Up.

up in the air

up in the air

kites flying high

kites flying high

coloured horizon above

coloured horizon above

sri lankan architecture

sri lankan architecture

high in the clouds the minaret of grand mosque,abudhabi

high in the clouds the minaret of grand mosque,abudhabi

grand mosque abudhabi

grand mosque abudhabi

artistic and exquisite

artistic and exquisite

the interior ceiling of the Grand mosque,abu dhabi

the interior ceiling of the Grand mosque,abu dhabi

grand and exotic

grand and exotic

I , a minute being on earth,

as I gaze at the sky,

far above

I find life…

flying in the blue skies..

sometimes in form of fluffy clouds,

amidst which the kites fly,

in the heaven far above,

shades of crimson highlight

the twilight

from where  the creator

 keeps an eye

on the tiny world

assuming to be  high

.

.

on the ceilings

of the universe

where thousands crystals sparkle

here I lie on the ground

being scrupulous

of  life forever…

THE FOREST NYMPH !


In waters knee deep,
I waded through the flowing stream,
the cold water 
kissed  my senses freezing ...
Fishes swam and jumped ,
touching my toes to nibble,
the weeds loved to  hug
my calves ...
as I  slowly walked 
and stumbled...
the water splashed 
...few sparkling blue 
lights dazzled..
in the darkness ...
the shoal moved 
with beauteous grace
shimmering 
and shining...
...
glowing small lights flew 
above my head 
 vanished through the blue,
I saw the glow flies loving the night
as no one had ever could,
amidst the silent forest ,
a sudden splurge of radiance shone,
nymph of the forest appeared
to guide me 
to the  unknown!

PHOTOCREDITkootation.com - 
Forest_nymph_by_starscoldnight

HUMANITY WITHERS!


In voice against the shocking incidents happening
around the globe disturbing peace and humanity.

A hail for peace!
With tribute to the recent Boston incident!





Caged within the bars of peculiar whimsies, suffocated with intoxicating demeanor, strangled is the humanity dried and withered of its blossoms...   For loss of lives, countless,endless in far east or western stretches, responsible , the merchants of blood who spifflicate the atmosphere wrecking the idols of nature...     Every eye watches  and weeps, an injury or scar that is hurting deep , whether explosions in the land of oil, or another on the streets that shine...   Chaos, sadness,angst nurtures, what hath we done O! My brothers, Did thou not send you to live and love for we are the children of one How doth you forget and ruin, the statuette of humanity on earth!