The real life in pictures

Hello! I'm back in Hyderabad. Again. I'm tired, I'm a spotted freak, I feel sick, I am officially a pauper, and I have nothing I feel like writing about so just for the sake of being undead I will post some pictures - also as is running tradition. And also because we all can never get enough of pictures of life in Mizoram.

First, my adorable nephew :) I'll forever be grateful to my sister for having him because even though he's only been on this earth for 9 months, I can't understand how we were ever happy without him before he came along.

And of course, it's only fair that I share pictures of where I spent the most time which was the Sih Tuikhur. Lovely isn't it?

I couldn't get enough of the lushness and greenness and the organic-ness of the place. And all the warm memories it awakens. I'd go there to wash clothes (well...to be very frank, I only helped others with the laundry) but I went mostly to wash my hair and soak my feet in the pure unprocessed spring water and to just be free and happy. There were Himalayan Balsams (ram nuaithang) blooming everywhere - pretty and natural like the water.The clear (albeit algae infested) water -
I remember many nights when we were kids sleeping over at a friend's who lived very close to this tuikhur (watering hole). After her parents were asleep, we'd steal out of the house, quietly tiptoe down to the tuikhur, trembling - half with excitement, and half with fright (it was always supposed to have many resident spirits after all), take off our clothes to commit the forbidden act......of jumping into the tuikhur :) We'd sit there, shivering in the icy water, in utter darkness with only the sound of the wind in the trees and crickets chirping and frogs croaking and swap schoolgirl secrets. Then we'd creep back to her room and jump under warm blankets and fall into peaceful sleep. And in the morning the water would be clear and undisturbed and no one would know that three little girls had 'swam' in the water in the night.

The area used to be thicker with trees and bamboos when we were kids but I was glad to see some bamboos still standing despite the fact that there was now a big school where there used to be plum trees to steal big juicy plums from, chestnut trees, wild berry bushes where we'd hog till our stomachs gave up and we'd all end up with the runs.

And for Bozo too, my city apartment dog, this place was paradise. He'd trot off chasing butterflies and green and blue and red dragonflies, and looking at him romp about I swear he could tell this was fresh air he was breathing, different from the polluted air he's used to. It made me very happy to see him so..happy.

In any case, for all of us who never get to spend enough time at home, I want to remind you all of how beautiful it is out there. When the sun is setting and the earth is still damp from rain and the cool mountain breeze is blowing in your face, and you're standing on top of a hill looking down at Aizawl knowing you're looking at home, there is no other place in this world more special than this. Or prettier. Maybe it's the kind of pretty you feel, not see. Which is even better because I would hate it if it looked as pretty to a person who's seeing it for the first time as it does in my eyes. That's right. No joke. I'm a jealous possessive bitch.

And don't forget the sky people! Folks out here don't get treats like this that we so often take for granted out there. I think even the clouds love us better because they never bother to dress up when they come out here :P In fact, they're rather drab and dull always, people don't even bother looking at them. And there you can just stare at the clouds for hours on end...

So don't forget to salute the land and the setting sun for such a spectacular display of beauty. And do it with your friends because you get a few laughs out of it as well, and that's good for your hearts :)

Well for someone who said she doesn't have a lot to say, I've said a lot. And I'm only stopping now because stupid Picasa is acting up. Well, I'll be working from home for the next few days and I'm going to be bored out of my wits so I'll be posting regularly anyway so let Picasa sulk. I'm going to borrow a burqa from the lady next door and go out for dinner.