Tonight I went out to search for flowers in the nearest marshland.
And what joy to find they are still there!
Even by the road some have survived –
In the stillness of the late evening
– I rejoice in their presence
At the end of this journey – I send my love to the mountains and valleys of Bhutan…
to all its beautiful dzongs and chortens…
to its pristine rural landscapes…
to the beauty of its religion and traditions…
to its lovely flowers and trees…
to its loving people…
and beautiful art…
to its healthy stone baths…
to its humorous games…
and to its beautiful children.
And my sincere gratefulness to our excellent guides, who really went out of their way to show us everything and to share their immense knowledge of the country and its people.
The lovely Jenny Adhikari (left) – find her here: https://www.beyondbordersnepal.com
And our eminent local guide, Rinzen (so sorry I never got his last name!). Thank you also for answering all our strange questions and spending precious time in the evenings to explain about life in Bhutan, its customs and religion!
We travelled happily with https://www.varldensresor.se/resor/himalaya/askdrakens-rike
Have you missed out on some posts in this Bhutan series – most of them are here :
Rinpung Dzong – Bhutan and Its People
Walking Home – Slow Contemplation
Thursday Thoughts – 108 Chortens and a Himalayan Panorama
Saving the World, and the Contents of a Pouch
Thursday Thoughts – Beyond Beauty
Thursday Thoughts – Thimpu in My Heart
Thursday Thoughts – Taktshang Goemba, or Tiger’s Nest
Much to do in the garden these days…
Cherries and plums are in flower
And I walk under the marvelous canopies, listening to the busy bees
Loving every flower and every sound –
– Today the Nightingale arrived
The wonder of every Spring – is something to be so grateful for
I never saw a child carrying or using a mobile phone in Bhutan. And even when grown-ups were using them, no child seemed interested. They just smiled, and played with their dolls, bicycle wheels or footballs…
Always smiling with that open face you never see in the western world any more.
I had a dream
Today I woke up to a wonderland in white – the most beautiful morning this winter.
International Women’s Day
The whole garden soft and soundless – and today was the funeral for Marie.
Somehow it seemed so right that she was given the most beautiful, this magically soft light, her last day.
She was a strong and remarkable woman. Warm, creative and so full of life – she will always be remembered, never forgotten. Thank you, Marie, for being my friend.
Bilradion släpper ut ljudkombinationer som tränger in i mitt påväghemkörningsmedvetande. En ny planet är funnen. Igen. Den här gången är den i storlek med Vår Jord. ”Betydelsefullt”. ”Viktigt”. Säger man där borta i USA. Men den är för nära sin stjärna, den nya planeten – och således alldeles för het. Ytterst vill man finna liv – naturligtvis. Och sen? Om vi finner liv? Vi har en ny värld att förstöra, nytt liv att döda, nytt. Om igen. Ingenting hos mänskligheten i mänsklighetens historia kan övertyga mig om att vi skulle ha lärt oss av gamla misstag. Lycklig skulle jag bli – om Du kunde övertyga mig om motsatsen.
7 years ago I started blogging with WordPress. I hoped for a way to communicate my thoughts and peculiarities – I think I wrote something about that on my About page…Since then I have met so many wonderful people out there, got so many beautiful friends and learned so much, growing with you over the years. Thank you, all!
So…Who was I 7 years ago? In many ways much the same – but then again not…
Today I am sharing my very first post – only in Swedish at that time. The English translation would be something like this:
Driving home I listen to the many sounds seeping out from the radio. A new planet has been discovered. Again. This time, the size of our own Planet Earth. ”Important”, they say over there, in the US. But this new planet is soaring too close to its star, and thus being too hot. Too hot for new Life to be found on its surface. Because that is what the scientists want to find – of course. And then? If we find Life? Then we have a new world to destroy, new living beings to kill. Again. Nothing in mankind or in the history of mankind can convince me that we have learned from history, from previous mistakes.
Nothing would make me happier than – if you could convince me otherwise.
This is maybe many people’s dream of a relaxing vacation – but luckily we are all different. We are all sailors on this vast ocean – but we are all different vessels and we all sail according to what we have learned, so far.
Also I dream of light and warm winds – especially during the Swedish winter. But I can more relate to these guys, who seek a space of their own with enough room and silence to let their thoughts run free. Reading a book…
…fishing the blue waves…
…or just contemplating life, sitting at the edge of the ocean.
All different vessels, but sailing together. Let us take good care of each other while we are here – Life is a wonderful gift.
”Have you ever tried to sum up your blogging year
in a photo?” says my dear friend Gallivanta, at silkannthreades.
If I could find one picture, one picture only, that would be a symbol of my 2017?
I know what, and who, has been on my mind every day this year. We walk together every day and we talk every day. But many things she no longer remembers. When I talk about the old days, her childhood and when her grandchildren were small – she smiles. Glimpses. For a short moment there is that old shine in her eyes. My Mother.
She is in my thoughts every hour of the day.
To sum up my blogging year is more difficult. Travel, colorful places, family, good friends, nature, animals…and photography. The inner journey. Despite all my travels and meetings with lovely people and lovely places – a day alone with my thoughts has always been my best day.
When I think back, there are so many wonderful people who left us this year, both famous legends and close friends. The frailty of life. In so many countries and places on Earth, things have changed for the worse. Our planet, our world, is suffering.
True, there has been much light, but maybe more of darkness in the world this year, 2017. Still, I always search for the Magic…in everything. I try to see the beauty in every grain of sand, and I hope I can convey at least some of it to you as well. I need this magic – to look away from the darkness, to survive. I guess there might be more people than me who feel the same.
So. The header photo is my choice, dear Amanda.
Thursday again. The days and weeks and years rush by – and I am still here. I am very grateful for that. Today is Thanksgiving in the US – and we have much to be thankful and grateful for, even if we do not celebrate this special day in Sweden.
I am grateful for so many wonders in the world.
Being able to walk in the forest, in Nature, which means so much to me.
Being able to see and enjoy our world. From the great panoramas down to spiders’ webs.
I can feel, I can write, I can speak…I can even take pictures of the wonders that surround us…just to keep them with me a little bit longer.
And I can share some of them with great blogging friends, readers and followers – I am so grateful to all of you!
I still have my family, loving parents, and many of my best friends from my childhood…
…even if I know the path is narrowing.
So, Thank you for letting me be born in a free country, with loving parents and good friends. Surrounded by deep forests and open meadows.
I will try my best to be an open-minded, loving and caring person – always.
Yesterday morning I went with Totti for our daily morning walk – but soon realized that this morning would be something special. Frosty, no wind, sun from a clear blue sky. This grey autumn, there has not been many opportunities for the two of us to really enjoy the early mornings… so, I went back after three minutes, grabbed my camera and the car keys – and off we went.
The path starts 5 minutes from my home, up in the forest. No cows today, they have been taken to the barn for the winter. Silence, but for some small birds chirping happily in the first rays of sun. Follow the path down and turn right at the bend, and you will soon see…
…your own shadow on the left side of the path, in the golden morning light.
In the corner, down to the right, the shadow of Totti is sitting down, waiting patiently for me to go on walking. And not only his shadow…himself as well…
On turning right, the sun is peeping through the old trees in the east, gently providing long shadows and turning the frost into shiny green.
Totti is enjoying the fresh air and some good rolls in the leaves. Breathing is easy – and I feel so grateful for being alive on a day like this.
As we walk down the path, I look right – and a wall of glorious trees is looking back at me. This is indeed my country.
This morning, I will remember during the long and rainy winter days to come. But now, both Totti and me are getting hungry for breakfast… having spent some refreshing, silent hours in our favorite landscape.
I hope you are returning with me – or else you will not have any breakfast!
(As usual, click for a larger view.)
Leya 
Du måste vara inloggad för att kunna skicka en kommentar.