Spring, finally...

It started snowing at the end of November. The first time is always the most memorable. The beautiful landscape all around, completely transformed, from the mellow red, amber and yellow of fall, to a dazzling pure white of winter. Everywhere around you, as far as you can see, stretches a blanket of white fluffiness.
And then, the fun part - sledding, tubing, snowshoeing, skiing, the list just goes on. But the best part is sitting by a wood-stove with a cup of coffee and a good book, watching the snowflakes glide down outside the window. I never got tired of admiring the beauty of winter.
But by the end of four straight months of deep freeze, somewhere in the back of my mind, I missed 'green'. And not only me, but everyone around me. Everyone craves for something fresh. Hopeful eyes gaze up to tree-branches looking for new buds ready to pop out. Farmers and gardeners count down to the days when they can sow their seeds. Snow, ice and cold is no longer a novelty. To put it in very simple and non-poetic terms - 'one gets BORED of it'. The days are definitely longer, but still there is no sign of spring.
And even nature acts as if it is almost teasing us. There will be a week of tantalizingly warm days, and you're almost sure that all the snow will definitely melt now. But on the weekend, it will suddenly get overcast and bring five inches of snow. It is pure torture! But maybe even nature gets tired of it, and at last, ends the game.
The snow melts, as the days pass, it melts faster and faster. Patches of brown grass and dirt start appearing. Frozen streams and brooks open up and start gushing. Birds start chirping everywhere. But nothing quite makes your day as this - the sight of the first flower of spring. A tiny little flower on the edge of a little patch of dry grass. Soon enough, there'll be lots more blooming, but for now, just one is enough. It is the surest sign that spring if finally, and definitely, here!
It's a miracle what a tiny thing like a flower can do for your mood!

For the love of mountains....

A few years ago, I went on my first big trek. I went to the Himalayas. It was a great and amazing experience. At that time, I was in seventh grade. And though everything about trekking was new for me, everything awed me, I seemed to me that I fit right in. That was one thing that made me really happy!
Also, I think that trek was one thing that inspired me to take up photography. And though this was a few years ago, I am amazed at how many details I can accurately remember. Although I still blame myself for not taking more photos, I managed to recollect most of it without them. This is a short essay that I wrote about it.

A Trip to Paradise

As I stepped out of the room, the cool morning wind sent a slight shiver down my neck. The air was crisp and clear and the surroundings were breathtaking. I almost forgot where I was, but the clank of utensils being packed and the rustle of the backpack on my shoulder brought everything back. I was trekking in the Himalayas!
We started out with great enthusiasm. No words can fully describe the beauty of the surroundings. The landscape was like a jeweled painting. The jade of the pine trees, the sapphire of the sky and the crystals of the distant icy peaks completed this work of art. The constant gushing of the river besides us was like a soothing song, and the sunshine bouncing of the ripples speckled the water with gold and silver. Little streams peeked out of ferns and scrambled over pebbles on their way to join the river. Birds chirped and butterflies flitted in and out of bushes.
But the fresh morning was nothing compared to the silent beauty of the night. As the sun went down, it was a different world altogether. There were no sounds to be heard except the constant gushing of the river. The sky above us was a deep blue velvety blanket with millions of diamonds strewn across. The great icy peaks in the distance glittered in the pale moonlight. Mountains rose in a circle all around us. The air was soft and chilly, fragrant with numerous flowers and herbs. I can still see the whole scene in my mind.
The days on the trek were some of the most memorable ones for me. I still remember every moment as if it happened yesterday. The cool wind on my cheek, the first touch of snow, the warmth of the glass of 'chai' in my hands and the laughter and songs around the campfire at night. These memories shall stay with me forever and remind me of my experience. They also remind me of the Mughal emperor, who was so moved by the beauty of nature, that he proclaimed,
"yA firdaus barrUhe jamInAst,
amInAsto amInAsto amInAst!"
"If there be a paradise on earth,
It is here, it is here, it is here!"
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So that was my experience, I don't know how much i was able to express through my writing, but I tried!

After that, I did not really get a chance to go on any big treks. But now, I am here in New Hampshire, USA, and I am going for a winter trip in the White mountains. This is bound to be one of the many memorable events that i have been in, while on this exchange program. Let's see what that will inspire me to do!

Initial thoughts on blogging.

Usually, I am not huge on techy and geeky stuff. I manage to survive on the meagre basics of gmail,wikipedia and youtube. Starting my blog just seemed to me like crossing over to the dark side....!
But seeing my absolute non-tech parents experiment with technology and my dad even set up his own blog has given me an inferiority complex! (just kidding aai, baba.)
I mean c'mon, I am the one who's sixteen, I am the one who grew up in the internet age, I am the one who knew how to send an email before I knew how to post a letter! And so, not wanting to be a serious insult to my generation :) I have started this blog.....
I can already tell you that this is going to be filled with random thoughts, experiences, opinions, and just sometimes, a good piece of writing!

So here's to my taking the first step in the blogworld - "Cheers!!!"