A mountain dream

Aug. 18, 2011

I sway right and left and I believe I'm in a dream. And I was! My bus was turning around the corners and taking those hairpin curves making me slide across the seat only in the labyrinth of my head I was bobbing up and down on a boat. I wake up to see green ravines just outside my window and mountains far away brushing aside the clouds to let everyone see its magnificent chest.

As the bus curves, all I can think of is why hadn't I come here earlier. Why hadn't the mountains beckoned me before. What all had I missed... plenty I assume and I realise I was right....

As the mists refuse to clear, my imagination runs wild and I just hope I was doing them some justice in the windows of my mind.

A couple of buses and a lot of help later, I walk into the prettiest apartment ever... Oh not in the royal sense but the one that sets the mood for love in a lonely apartment up above a hill with a brook rippling past in search of its dream and sunshine streaming through its french windows... Carpeted floors, lots of cushions, blue-green blankets and Rajasthani horses draped over a couple of matresses... these make up most of my living room. Oh yes... there is more that just that.. In case the beauty of it all bores you, there's  a shelf full of books to stimulate any conversation...

A drowsy kitchen, a warm bathroom and of course a carpeted bedroom with cots and curtained windows for good measure.. Am I glad!! Oh hell yes!! :)

Oh no! I dont decide to stay here for it will intoxicate me. I will never be able to get out, if it spins its silken web around me..

A walk around Bhagsu town will do me good... some mountain air and some fresh faces.. just what I need.. I head out in the direction of a water fall... by now I realise I'm not fit enough at all.. I'm a plains girl, defintely... Hoping the moutain air will lighten up my body as well..

The climb up is ardous but easy on my limbs somehow.. The many tea shops help me... and I reach the begining of the waterfall.. Ice cold... that I could die.. but water hoping and skipping around rocks and bushes calms the city in me.

I would have been glad if that was the end.. but nay.. never say never on the mountains.. ther's always more up there and yes there was the shiva cafe... Intrigued, I tred up... and no it wasn't too much for the plateau girl. And I'm glad..

At least there is a path heaven bound for you, unlike most treks... And you reach a swimming pool.. Ooooh not with your chemically treated water but one what spills over fresh from the mountains.. It fills up the pool... and it has nagina to watch over it.. or rather to lord over it... The cafe had everything you would imagine with a name like shiva.. Psychedelic dna artwork in bubblegum yellow twists and turns from the ceiling down... Shiva is all over either in the music or on the walls.. The trident isn't missing either...

With the smoky mountains as a backdrop, care for a cup of hot chocolate, fluffy pancakes and a game of carrom or scrabble... Please take up the invitation or pass it along to another traveller??