text and images britt-arnhild
In a book I am reading back home, Flora´s Empire, about British garden influence in India, a French historian is quoted:
"The plains of Mysore.......the most beautiful habitation that nature has to offer to mankind upon earth"
I am not completely sure that I agree about that, but I do love the afternoon walks Sheri and I have been taking. Every afternoon at 5.30 sharp, we go for a walk in the neighbourhood.
Sheri is an observer, she loves nature and she is filled with knowledge.
While we walk she points out flowers and trees to me. She shares their names and their medical use if they have any. And often she has a tale to tell from her childhood. Sheri now lives in Rome, but she grew up in India, here in Mysore.
One afternoon we spotted some tiny, bright red seeds on the ground. Sheri looked up the see where they came from, and yes, there was a Coral Seed Tree.
Since we found the tree we have gathered seeds for me to take home, and now I have a small bag full. I have bought a beautiful enameled little bowl at an art center downtown Mysore. I will fill it with the red seeds and keep it on my desk.
Another day a man was cutting grass along the road, by hand. He probably has a cow at home, and now, after work, he needed grass for her.
I have so much to learn from the way the take care of and use the resources available here in India.
Do you remember one of my Indian posts from four years ago, when Vinay, the driver, spoke with the snakes in Mysore Zoo? (you find the post here).
A cobra was passing over the road where we have our afternoon walks the other day, luckily we were in the car then.
Vinay has been bitten by a cobra since last time I was here. He has now lost one finger, and has deep scars up both his arms.
When you read this, I will be on a plane somewhere. On my way back to Norway, winter and a sleeping nature.
Terje has primised me no icy road for at least the first couple of weeks, so I might continue with my afternoon walks. But it will be dark. It will be different.
But beauty can be found everywhere.
As long as you know how to look for it.
