when questions had answers, when answers raised questions, that led to more answers,
but now questions lead to more questions and the answers have become elusive

just how much has time lost in me?
becomes more and more evident, with the way reality is more removed from me, the reality that used to exist around.

gone are those days of innocence when the matter of heart was the matter of the brain.

the chill making it evident, that the spring is yet to take full control of the temperatures. the conditions settle in and get the expectations rising, the clear sky, chill factor and gentle breeze during the arctic winters are the special recipe for a natural wonder.

pretty much right on cue, mirroring the breeze. on the sky above a soothing green tinge appears with curls about itself. in progression, bands are formed with varying brightness as they swirl around, with the little twists and turns in swift fluid motions.  and then the competition heats up and the next band comes in, also swirling around with the same predictable twists and turns. just as i think they are competing against each other in an attempt to outclass the competition. the tender motion bring them together in a soulful merger together as they continue with the show. the motion is etched into one’s mind, the manner in which they proceed, progress and transform about in their own way.

a reflection of jugalbhandi like features, between two musical instruments. one starts off and the  next one joins in, first of  as competing renditions each matching and trying to exceed the others grasp of rhythms and then they resolve and merge their melody into one single melody to enthrall the audience.

standing along with the elements, looking up at the skies as they get painted with colors that nature mixed and dazzled across the wide canvas. each moment bring in something new and astonishing to feel the mind with the endless imagination of the possible shapes and sizes they would take. there in the presence of the lights, standing under the wide ranging and varying colours, the proportions become obvious, with rays of lights coming outwards from a single point as if the presiding powers guiding the minuscule subject from the darkness of the night to the possible source of light in life

at night all one could do was look up and stand as witness to the thorough variations that nature has within itself. a night of contrasts, two guys out in the cold and freezing ourselves off, when compared to a handful of local people who passed on, not excited or bothered by the lights above as it has grown over them. but more amused at the foreigners staring at the sky unable to close the gaping mouth.

This time the places are everything  that between Oulu and Narvik, Bodo, Salthdal. spanning across Finland, Sweden, Norway.

This has become a rudimentary start post before every trip, with the follow up posts never seeing the light of day. still pending are the trips to Norway, Savonlinna, Iceland, France

also the Creature and Bird photobook by Andrew Zuckerman.

Each has been a worthy addition and money well spent, except for having over stressed the bag with too many things and now it has opened up at a few seams.

There has also been some upgrades at work with what i am doing.

Easter trip to Norway via Sweden this time, and areas below Tromso. with a planned vacation to India in May.

End of status update

but this time around, its a change in my address

25 years, and close to 20 changes in my address, some within a city, some to new cities, and some to new countries.

now i demand change for i am used to this, and without this change the monotonous life seems even more monotonous and ordered.

but for the last few times, the change is not surprising, for its only me who is been changing places, while my family sits in the same place. and i am aware of the impending change coming, because i decide on it.

i miss the feeling of not being able to grieve for what i will miss and for what i am missing. i miss the feeling of knowing about the change only in the last minute and going to a new place without any idea about what to expect. i partially miss the nervousness about meeting new friends and people that i meet in the new places, for now i am in place where social contact is reserved by right

rugged peaks, gorges, lakes and valleys. marooned islands, turquoise blue beaches and white sands. as the sun comes down.

walking on a trail, alone surrounded by the space around and nothing else, nature echoing and answering the questions, throwing trails and tribulation onto the paths to strengthen and steady the wavering mind.

free as in freedom

happiness is only real, when shared.

A broken vessel, an empty shell, what is a man without mind, without memory? A ghost? A body in search of a soul?

With no compass to guide us, how can we know if our destiny is to seek the good, or obey the demons that whisper in our ears?

The blank slate hungers to be written upon. The body thrives when the heart has a mission. – Heroes

zipping them together and sealing all the open ends. entering the first gas chamber, as the temperature takes a dip.

through the shaft, i move down to the lower layers to near the door to the second gas chamber.

clicking and a push, the winds rushes through and i move into the second chamber. this time the temperature plummets. the varied shapes of the inhabitants start to size me up and move closer, as the space closes in.

the breathing becoming more measured and frenzied at the same time, as lips dry up and the face starts to feel the stinging probes of the inhabitants, as they ready for the assault.

in a flash, my hands and palm open up to expose the skin, the inhabitants seize the moment and draw first blood.

So this time the haunts for Christmas for me are : Amsterdam, France and Barcelona.

one fine night after a 10 mins discussion, me and karthick decided Amsterdam. it was the cheapest flight out of Finland that was in the heart of Europe. next day ramanan joins in before noon, and by afternoon kiran and balaji became the able accomplices for this trip. the trip is all about reaching Amsterdam, rent a car have dinner there and then cross through Belgium, Luxembourg, with halts in France heading towards Barcelona.

with only one night of booking for accommodation, i plan to have highway stops as the bed for the remaining days. good food, excellent wine and vineyards, and followed by more food and a pass on the highest bridge on the world. all part of the trip.

in 5 days time, i will have landed in Iceland. i have gotten a minimum 3000 km route at this moment, all subject to change based on the daily weather conditions.
enough places listed in the map to see, photograph and be part of

and as a starter i am putting the points listed in the Iceland map that i plan to go through.

iceland map points

and on a side note, i have added a canon speedlite 580EX II and wireless transceiver to my camera kit. what results and inquisitiveness in me, it produces are to be seen.