Skip to main content

এক যে আছে দেশ।


 
-In my country you give the first line of the story! Karen, in Out of Africa. 



What would the first line be for me? 

Africa came into my life with চা৺দের পাহাড়। And I always wanted to be like Joy Adamson or Jane Goodall. Live in the wild. 

Didn't happen. Lead a humdrum life, grew old and arthritic. 

But Africa did happen from a chance discovery of a childhood school mate, whom I call the queen of Africa. Mau helped me with my dream the second time. 

Traversing in her land cruiser, from the foothills of Kilimanjaro to the Savannah of Masai Mara, Africa can never grow old. It springs surprises when you are complacent and amazes you even if you have come with an attitude of I have seen it all.


PC Abhro

Last time I missed the king, but this time I found him courting his sweetheart. The honeymoon couple ready for action, as our guide said. 


PC Abhro

Herds of elephants surrounding our car and crossing the road. Stay silent, they hate noise! Warning. 

Leopard n cheetahs up close. 


PC : Abhro 

Snake in the room. 

Car getting stuck in the quagmire at Mara and lions lurking close. Chant Hanuman Chalisa! 

- How did the car come out? 

- Big Monkey did it! 

Dancing with the Masai warriors. And they did not wear masks, and that made me too uncomfortable! 




There is a story in every nook. Sunrise from the hot air balloon looked wonderful as we sang আহা কি আনন্দ আকাশে বাতাসে..... 


As I walked away I drew my breath.. Filled my lungs, filled my heart.... One last time! 



If never, then this is it. Thousands of pictures in my memory card, but the best ones are in my heart! 

Early morning I woke up to the cooing of the pigeons, but last week it was a Hyena next to the moat where our tent was. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A holiday with self :)

A long overdue blog about the path that I was seeking , or did the path seek me out ? Over the years the sheen of belief was wearing off and I was beginning to question the master about the magic - about faith becoming commercial, about what Bhaskar stated, "This is all about money".  Packing my bags off and going solo isn't very uncommon in my life, but this time I was not on work per se. Checking-in into the Ashram, was on my bucket-list for ever-since, and it was an amazing experience. Despite the crowd, the ambiance just reverberated with a mix of reverence, energy , faith, hope, prayer - and questions too ! Like I mentioned before meditation was not about spiritual pyrotechnics, but a metaphor connected to life. Like the corner I chose had a vantage view of the stage and despite a stench that started emanating from the corner, I just could not leave that place, for the view that corner offered got me stuck there. Life is like that, we are often stuck in the rut , ...
14 comments
Read more

The 3 men in my life!

That's a strange caption I chose ! But for me,  am in a sentimental nostalgic mood - It's not easy for me to watch, as the first man around whom my world revolved stumble, totter and be spaced out ! Of course his spirit is still strong and I ensure that he is never left alone or lonely ,but I guess I can't...in the end he is alone with his thoughts! Of course I am talking of Baba ! He still is my priority at times over Bhaskar , who suffers silently . Baba and Bhaskar can still be jealous over each other when I buy something for one and leave the other out. So it has been a habit now to buy 2 identical things for the two, cos I know they will end up comparing ! The third one is going to be 21 in two days time ! And aren't I glad that he has grown up ! I was not really the best of smoochie-woochie -baby -talkie mothers ! I guess that's the reason why Chibu still feels embarrassed when hugged ! But at times I am amazed that 21 years flew by...I still can remember ...
10 comments
Read more

Morning bells are ringing ......

Heidi lived in Alps with her Alms uncle - I read this story in a book that was called The Big Big Story Book and it had a compilation of amazing stories that were my first foray into the world of English story books. Recently on a long flight I watched the movie much to delight of the young steward who was our attendant that night. My first glimpse of the Alps was from our flight ...the dawn breaking to spread the orange hues over the snowy terrain...looked mesmerizing even to someone who is not too fond of the mountains. Switzerland was beautiful, with its manicured terrain and flowers like pretty maids all in a row, picture perfect setting and breathtaking, like a touch me not porcelain beauty. Coming from my "elo melo" city I wondered how people managed to keep a country so organized , I have trouble keeping my room in ship shape...... No, I would not like to live there ......it's too distant and too cold ,but what I will carry in my heart is  the awesome time .......
10 comments
Read more