Sunday, October 30, 2011

Lights, sound, action...

As I compose this note my friends and family in North America are getting their best costume ready for Fright Night, my current neighbours and colleagues are wrapping up Diwali/Tihar & The Festival of Lights, while my extended family and friends in the UK are getting ready to blow up Guy Fawkes. The history of celebrating (and the cynics out there would say profiting from) our past, present and future never seems to elude humans of all ages!! :-} Yet, when one is surrounded by humble daily existence, one is constantly reminded of the simplicities that bring such joy and comfort, without the expense, without the hoopla, without having to go too far... Friends and family are obviously part of this equation, but when beyond those connections, it is nature that can bring you down to earth in the most serene, gratifying and peaceful way.
Nepal offers this and more, and as I share some visions of our recent trip to Bardia National Park, reminisce about the last time you went for a walk in the forest (some of my doggie friends will say yesterday of course :-B), but looked through the trees to see refractions of light or glistening cobwebs, heard the diversity in feathered-friend songs, and witnessed the march of critters, large and small up a tree, behind a log or down a forged path. I hope many of you, dog owners or not, can answer: within the last 24 hours. Enjoy!!











**Please Note: the pictures of the lounging crocodile, the elephant herd, the spotted deer, the common kingfisher and the Bengal tiger are all copyright and courtesy of Mr. Mark D. Read.