INDIA:

Today I want you all to come with me please. It has been a hot sultry day & the sun is setting beyond the Ganges, red, fuchsia, orange, purple, a painting in the making brushed with the wing-tips of the passing white egrets. Gurus sitting crossed legged on the banks of these ancient waters washing their long wise beards. Naked brown children with dancing eyes are splashing in the scarlet embers of another dying day. We sit embraced by the old roots of a banyan tree watching a long line of beautiful Indian ladies walking by the river. Their brown feet jingling anklets, wet & shining in the muddy water, their braceleted arms above their heads holding on to big baskets containing exotic wares. Their saris, the colours of tropical exotic birds, their long black hair swinging in tune with their swaying walk & golden earrings. As they approach us the aromas of spices pungent & mysterious, explode invading our senses, heady & exciting. They hand us a mug each of steaming Darjeeling chai, & from one of the baskets we are handed a plate of warm, home-made samosas. We are in nirvana as we sip & munch watching the night cover the river Ganges in a blanket of stars.