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April's
Musings
August 2007
Travel bug
I have done a lot of traveling recently with a first visit to
Morocco, being a real excitement. What a joy to go to someplace
new. Morocco was on my life list for a long time—and it
did not disappoint.
The souks, the medinas, the mint tea, the tea glasses, the carpets,
the spices, the copper the Jelabahs, the aromas of the cooking
Tanjines and tile work and cedar forests and Wooden balconies
and beautifully finished colored walls—it was a sensory
assault of the most wonderful kind. Today putting my Moroccan
kohl on my eyes and touching my silver hand of Fatima—brings
the trip back in focus with a smile. Sigh...
I just received a card from a friend in Delhi 'Happy Onam' it
said. Well—I replied thanks and quickly googled Onam to
find out what it is.
Good news - It looks like another wonderful trip could be in
order for next summer. Onam is a festival in India in the southern
coastal state of Kerala [local designation 'God's Own Country']
that occurs at the end of August and into early September every
year. It coincides with the harvest, and is tied up in Hindu
mythology and the annual return of the banished King 'Mahabali'
to his home in Kerala. Mahabali's last and only wish was to
return to his home of Kerala once a year. His 'subjects' lay
out the welcome mat. Caparisoned elephants—mounds of flowers
amazing boat races in the backwaters, sweets, south Indian foods,
the famous Kerala Kathakali dances, amazing costumes on the
performers and new clothes for all with dancing all around and
participation by everyone make this festival in the verdant
state of Kerala one to put on my life list. Kerala actually
calls this period national tourism week because there is just
so much going on.
I have seen the backwaters of Kerala and they are beautiful—and
I can imagine the beautiful curl prowed boats racing down them
with muscled young man at the oars, coconut palms overhead,
the tom tom of drums and clang of cymbals creating a frenzied
rhythm while on the banks are crowds of cheering dark skinned,
and long haired beauties that the state is also famous for.
Doesn't it sound like a living painting?
Artists—time to put Onam on the travel list.
April, in Vermont, for now.
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