ERRATA

It is with sincere apologies that the editor of this blog addresses an inaccuracy that appeared recently. The statement of measurement "5 cows" made in regards to the distance from the Golden Temple to the hotel the author resided in during her visit to Amritsar . This is a complete and utter (slight pun intended) fallacy. The author did not even observe 5 cows in all of the city of Amritsar in the period of March 22-24 (inclusive), let alone between monument and accommodations.

Please accept this apology. In light of such blatant, lying exaggeration one factual note - however, potentially more unbelievable than the false-cows: the existence of a mirage-like place called the Galaria. It confounded the India-adjusted senses and boggled the logical capacity of all linguistic likelihoods!

First off, that such a clean picturesque park existed, UNINHABITED only a few metres from the main road by a major tourist/pilgrimage site in a city of 1 million people is hard to conceptualize at all in India (for this author, at least). BUT that it also had well-manicured lawns, marble steps, fountains (albeit off), patios AND beautiful magenta-blooming shade-giving trees?! I almost teared up and was certainly speechless.

Tree in the Galaria outside the Golden Temple

It also had a lovely walking path (used by less than 10 people while I was there) and seeing that it was all shady and cool in the 30C degree + day... I was again surprised that there were so few people there!



So I sat myself down with my newly acquired book* on Sikh Philosophy and let my mind into this parkland oasis and allowed my senses a reprieve from the endless hectic show of which I tend to be a spectacle. (As all blonde (or red-) haired people in Asia can basically attest to.) Then I took a break from reading and just observed.



*Book note: I've gotta STOP buying books and start taking more pictures of flowers... the latter takes up WAY less suitcase space!



Rested.

And a little boy crossed the marble steps in front of me and a poem-like feeling crossed my mind.

barefoot and kicking

flower petals

Enter: A playful Breeze



to perpetuate the game -

tickling the blossoming branches

until one more floral ball

dives

in a delighted dance

into the arms of awaiting gravity

to twirl it gently

dip and spin

releasing softly to the



marble steps

to rest

poised

yet eagerly counting down

the next pair of bare

feet to come

and join the game.

After the Flower Kicker came the Flower Pickers

 THEN THIS HAPPENED! Little girls replaced the little boy and began to gather the flowers as I was taking some macro-floral shots. I gave them my photographic subject and then they...

Flower Girls (who ASKED me to take their photo - uh, YES!)

It was such a beautiful afternoon and I was even able to tell the portrait-girls that they were beautiful too! (my one minor accomplishment in Hindi... soon eradicated when they asked me a question about the picture that I was beyond useless to answer further than: A polite smile. I know I missed something...)

**oh and further note to the book-note: I am quite sure my 40Litre backpack must be, literally, 14Litres of books right now. Possibly 15L - too many Litres, L* too many Litres.