(Change In) A few Days and (change) For a Few Days!

First published on May 7, 2018, I needed to publish this again.  For many reasons. One, that I have witnessed this building as if it is something alive over the last many years.  The trees in front of these buildings ---are a marker of seasons and joy around us.  But things usually change very fast in this part of the world.  The trees that you see can turn into alive trees with leaves and all in two weeks.  And within a few weeks, they can start to shed them too.  Not as fast though, but the cherry blossom trees that are not too far from here (see the second picture)--come for less than a week. This year, I could not go this direction, which is only 5 minute walk away from where I live.  And before I knew the Cherry blossoms, came, bloomed and were gone --before I could capture my ritual pictures....of every season.  Just a reminder to the in the moment, and to capture joy in every moment. Please do click at the links below --to the videos I took --two years ago, of  the cherry blossoms. And please click here for another look of these buildings...

It truly changes fast, a cloudy day, a sunny day, a rainy day, give a completely new perspective ----the key word--Perspective!! 

So, the above picture was taken less than two weeks ago. Still cold, still snow.  And the bottom picture, well taken today.  And see these cherry blossoms, they last only for a few days!!  So, I went around taking much footage today with the idea of making a film.  For some reason, I am back to the love of images again.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlSwPtzf72c

And click here for another vision of this beautiful day in this beautiful town!!

A Fine Fisherman

So, this has been republished once already, but way back, 6.5 years ago.  And too quick after it was first published.  The boy must be a young adult now.  But this needed to be shared again and watched again.  Last this one was published on December 1, 2013.  In addition, now over 6 years later, this blog has at least 250 more articles, and now reposting some does not feel so bad, because of the time lapse between them.  Sometimes I have newer photographs and better insight into the events.  So, reposting feels like 'embellishing'.  I hope you think so too, and not that I am being lazy.

I do want to write a post about 'exponential work' how you develop your work slowly.  And, how over a period of time it accumulates, giving a sense of accomplishment and a way to learn and contribute. 

I still remember this boy.  I remember his smile and I remember his voice, like it was yesterday.  While all of that must have changed now--since he is an adult or close to it--(is 21 an adult?) this warms my heart.  I realise it is why I loved cameras and pictures and creating memories and writing journals.  

But i must say that it is important when it comes to journals, if the experiences we're not that great that to write them as they transform you, rather than note them as they hurt you.

This one however is just pure joy--even as I read it, I realised that i had forgotten the details I had put here. I just remembered the little boy, and that 'We do not fish prawns!

___________

Dear Readers:

I am going to start 'reposting' some old entries, to bring them back on the reading list.  Partly because I think they made an impact on me.  Partly, due to lack of time. But mostly because, we tend to not have the time to read and absorb --because we are constantly reading new material.  

However, whenever I do that, I will inform the readers at the outset.  In addition, this won't happen often. So, this practice should not be a cause for concern.  Thanks much.  

Any protests should be freely expressed.  Thanks again.

The following post was first published on March 17, 2013. 

I envy journalists who get to do talk to people on the streets.  They document life it is happening.  

I try to do it in my own way.  Capture the smiles that are overlooked by professional cameras.  

Here, I interviewed a young boy who looked excited to be fishing on an early sunday morning!!  It was the middle of winter.   Mornings were cold, and yet every morning there were a handful of people catching their lunch.  However, sunday morning there was a substantial number of people at the beach.  The ocean was not calm, breeze had a bite to it.  And there were some young people accompanied by adults practicing their fishing skills.  I met this beautiful young boy, whose name I cannot recall now.  I remember telling him that the name was unusual.  He said, 'Its a common name in South Africa.'

Bluff, Durban, South Africa, July 2012

In way, I am glad that I am not writing the boys name.  I did get permission from the older man who, had escorted this young boy, along with his two sons.   This boy was beautiful, so gentle, I could not resist striking a conversation with him.

Showing off skills

In the world outside of the US, the response to 'How many languages to you speak?' is usually more than one.  While there are many attempts to make spanish a second language in the US, being bilingual in a country where various languages are ingrained in everyday life is very different.  The US will take centuries to reach that level.  It does so only via english whose ability to incorporate words from different languages has lent to its versatility.  

In my travels, I am always fascinated by the ease of activities that people's environment allows them, a testimony to the adaptability of us humans.  In South Africa, as in Fiji, I saw young people frolic in water as did children in Botswana on land.  

Here the young boy explained to me, that prawns were not 'fished' but pumped out of the sand bed.  What would I know?  I grew up in a land locked city, where the only river was considered the 'other side' of town. 

But my favorite moment came when I said, 'So you know a lot about Fishing' and he responded. I have been fishing literally 'all my life'"

All your life little boy?  I wanted ask...

He must not be older than 13 years of age.  The sincerity of his answers and approach to his passion, 'fishing' touched me so much. I have watched these videos a few times since I took them. I hope you this will warm your heart, just as it does mine.

And remember, 'We don't fish prawns!!"

Books and Their Lovers, Stories and Their Holders

I have not talked about the state of the world, the virus that has held many of us hostage (no lockdown in Sweden and Norway though)--the changing systems, everything going digital and everything slowing down making us think and question where we have landed ourselves.

Much of it is connected to the whole idea of consumerism that the west started.  If anyone is interested, please listen to this talk on Western Democracy vs. Indian Dharmic State, that also focusses on Duties vs. Rights debate.  The audio is not very good, but it will give you an idea of how different it all is.  In addition, the place of Christianity in creating today's world, where God is both authoritative and a man. Christianity (and possibly Islam but I need to read more on that) is based on this "God Given Right' concept, a debate which has now gone on to abortion, gay-rights, minority rights etc.  What we have forgotten is, what is Humanity truly about. We have divided people into identities.  While Christianity might not have thought that far, it did divide the world into believers and non-believers.  The Church, lacking wisdom, did not realise where it was leading the world and the countries it converted our of force and manipulation.  Especially since so many nations were forced to abandon their nature friendly ways.

The above tweet is from a Greek pagan.  He told me that they had been hiding for centuries, holding their festivals during the Christian festivals so that no one would see that they were celebrating Pagan Gods.  Now slowly they are gathering momentum.  I have heard similar stories in Norway and some from African countries and a few in Latin America.  Christianity has the money, but it does not have people's support any longer.  

Here is another tweet from the same person who retweeted the picture of the street book shop.  We have a goddess of knowledge!!  I think pre-christian and pre-Islamic religions did too.  And Mother Mary held a high position in Europe for sometime, and still does in some Latin American countries.  But nothing can be compared to Hinduism where we had books, after books, commentaries and prayers and rituals and celebrations and that is why it was difficult to mess with this way of life and ultra hard to convert. We follow Dharma. A natural order of things, rather than a force to removing our connection with nature. A creator created this world, is a silly idea when rather than being created, it is an 'emanation' of energy. 

And since Hinduism is knowledge based, it emerges in the form of yoga and meditation and mindfulness and eco-friendly behaviours --because it is a system grounded in understanding man/woman in his/her context that is mother nature.  Nature is not for our enjoyment, though it can certainly provide us that.  We are it's extensions.  We hurt it, we hurt ourselves.

The word for 'rural'  in hindi is देहात-- 'Dehaat' --meaning our own extensions (or our body).  Here listen to one short lecture on what the rural means from a beautiful Indian filmmaker.  You may also subscribe to her channel, she is a great story teller, thought some of it is in hindi. 

Here she is again --her name just as beautiful as she--'Akanksha (aspiration)--she talks about the value of our own stories.  How important it is to own our own stories.  I started with that strength and lost it in the middle, just beginning to pick up the threads and hope to weave it in a tapestry that I was always meant to weave! 

Will write about the virus at some point. Have some interesting links to share. 

It been a few hectic months. Just had another publication.  

And now more on my future steps.  In the process, in this process of survival the person i forgot was myself. I never stopped writing, calling sending gifts to friends, family, relatives or colleagues ---everyone was celebrated but me.

The one thing I did do for the last decade was make travel my religion, and I wrote about different countries and gathered data there, I learnt about Sweden and Swedish --still learning.

But learning --when focussed on the outside, can be a way of running from the inside.

I need to return to myself. 

The above picture is from twitter.  Cut out the name of the person who posted it. That script, I cannot read, in transition it says, 'something great', its another Indian language.  You all can read the english part.

Look at this person, who obviously looks like he has very little (by the way, ten rupees is about 14-15 US cents). So absorbed is he--his mind in another world, may be learning, may be spinning tales....books are a way out.

But remember the biggest book we need to read, learn from, and master is our own body!1

Get out of your minds for a while---sit in gratitude of the vehicle that carries you!!